13 “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man,[a](A) coming(B) with the clouds of heaven.(C) He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority,(D) glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him.(E) His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom(F) is one that will never be destroyed.(G)

The Interpretation of the Dream

15 “I, Daniel, was troubled in spirit, and the visions that passed through my mind disturbed me.(H) 16 I approached one of those standing there and asked him the meaning of all this.

“So he told me and gave me the interpretation(I) of these things: 17 ‘The four great beasts are four kings that will rise from the earth. 18 But the holy people(J) of the Most High will receive the kingdom(K) and will possess it forever—yes, for ever and ever.’(L)

19 “Then I wanted to know the meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others and most terrifying, with its iron teeth and bronze claws—the beast that crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. 20 I also wanted to know about the ten horns(M) on its head and about the other horn that came up, before which three of them fell—the horn that looked more imposing than the others and that had eyes and a mouth that spoke boastfully.(N) 21 As I watched, this horn was waging war against the holy people and defeating them,(O) 22 until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the holy people of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom.(P)

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Footnotes

  1. Daniel 7:13 The Aramaic phrase bar enash means human being. The phrase son of man is retained here because of its use in the New Testament as a title of Jesus, probably based largely on this verse.

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