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Daniel 10-12
New King James Version

Vision of the Glorious Man

10 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a message was revealed to Daniel, whose (A)name was called Belteshazzar. The message was true, [a]but the appointed time was long; and he understood the message, and had understanding of the vision. 2 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. 3 I ate no [b]pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.

4 Now on the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, that is, the [c]Tigris, 5 I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, a certain man clothed in (B)linen, whose waist was (C)girded with gold of Uphaz! 6 His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like torches of fire, his arms and feet like burnished bronze in color, (D)and the sound of his words like the voice of a multitude.

7 And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see the vision; but a great terror fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves. 8 Therefore I was left alone when I saw this great vision, and no strength remained in me; for my [d]vigor was turned to [e]frailty in me, and I retained no strength. 9 Yet I heard the sound of his words; and while I heard the sound of his words I was in a deep sleep on my face, with my face to the ground.

Prophecies Concerning Persia and Greece

10 (E)Suddenly, a hand touched me, which made me tremble on my knees and on the palms of my hands. 11 And he said to me, “O Daniel, (F)man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you.” While he was speaking this word to me, I stood trembling.

12 Then he said to me, (G)“Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, (H)your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. 13 (I)But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, (J)Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia. 14 Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people (K)in the latter days, (L)for the vision refers to many days yet to come.”

15 When he had spoken such words to me, (M)I [f]turned my face toward the ground and became speechless. 16 And suddenly, (N)one having the likeness of the [g]sons of men (O)touched my lips; then I opened my mouth and spoke, saying to him who stood before me, “My lord, because of the vision (P)my sorrows have [h]overwhelmed me, and I have retained no strength. 17 For how can this servant of my lord talk with you, my lord? As for me, no strength remains in me now, nor is any breath left in me.”

18 Then again, the one having the likeness of a man touched me and strengthened me. 19 (Q)And he said, “O man greatly beloved, (R)fear not! Peace be to you; be strong, yes, be strong!”

So when he spoke to me I was strengthened, and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.”

20 Then he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? And now I must return to fight (S)with the prince of Persia; and when I have gone forth, indeed the prince of Greece will come. 21 But I will tell you what is noted in the Scripture of Truth. (No one upholds me against these, (T)except Michael your prince.

Warring Kings of North and South

11 “Also (U)in the first year of (V)Darius the Mede, I, even I, stood up to confirm and strengthen him.) 2 And now I will tell you the truth: Behold, three more kings will arise in Persia, and the fourth shall be far richer than them all; by his strength, through his riches, he shall stir up all against the realm of Greece. 3 Then (W)a mighty king shall arise, who shall rule with great dominion, and (X)do according to his will. 4 And when he has arisen, (Y)his kingdom shall be broken up and divided toward the four winds of heaven, but not among his posterity (Z)nor according to his dominion with which he ruled; for his kingdom shall be uprooted, even for others besides these.

Warring Kings of North and South

5 “Also the king of the South shall become strong, as well as one of his princes; and he shall gain power over him and have dominion. His dominion shall be a great dominion. 6 And at the end of some years they shall join forces, for the daughter of the king of the South shall go to the king of the North to make an agreement; but she shall not retain the power of her [i]authority, and neither he nor his [j]authority shall stand; but she shall be given up, with those who brought her, and with him who begot her, and with him who strengthened her in those times. 7 But from a branch of her roots one shall arise in his place, who shall come with an army, enter the fortress of the king of the North, and deal with them and prevail. 8 And he shall also carry their gods captive to Egypt, with their [k]princes and their precious articles of silver and gold; and he shall continue more years than the king of the North.

9 “Also the king of the North shall come to the kingdom of the king of the South, but shall return to his own land. 10 However his sons shall stir up strife, and assemble a multitude of great forces; and one shall certainly come (AA)and overwhelm and pass through; then he shall return (AB)to his fortress and stir up strife.

11 “And the king of the South shall be (AC)moved with rage, and go out and fight with him, with the king of the North, who shall muster a great multitude; but the (AD)multitude shall be given into the hand of his enemy. 12 When he has taken away the multitude, his heart will be [l]lifted up; and he will cast down tens of thousands, but he will not prevail. 13 For the king of the North will return and muster a multitude greater than the former, and shall certainly come at the end of some years with a great army and much equipment.

14 “Now in those times many shall rise up against the king of the South. Also, [m]violent men of your people shall exalt themselves [n]in fulfillment of the vision, but they shall (AE)fall. 15 So the king of the North shall come and (AF)build a siege mound, and take a fortified city; and the [o]forces of the South shall not withstand him. Even his choice troops shall have no strength to resist. 16 But he who comes against him (AG)shall do according to his own will, and (AH)no one shall stand against him. He shall stand in the Glorious Land with destruction in his [p]power.

17 “He shall also (AI)set his face to enter with the strength of his whole kingdom, and [q]upright ones with him; thus shall he do. And he shall give him the daughter of women to destroy it; but she shall not stand with him, (AJ)or be for him. 18 After this he shall turn his face to the coastlands, and shall take many. But a ruler shall bring the reproach against them to an end; and with the reproach removed, he shall turn back on him. 19 Then he shall turn his face toward the fortress of his own land; but he shall (AK)stumble and fall, (AL)and not be found.

20 “There shall arise in his place one who imposes taxes on the glorious kingdom; but within a few days he shall be destroyed, but not in anger or in battle. 21 And in his place (AM)shall arise a vile person, to whom they will not give the honor of royalty; but he shall come in peaceably, and seize the kingdom by intrigue. 22 With the [r]force of a (AN)flood they shall be swept away from before him and be broken, (AO)and also the prince of the covenant. 23 And after the league is made with him (AP)he shall act deceitfully, for he shall come up and become strong with a small number of people. 24 He shall enter peaceably, even into the richest places of the province; and he shall do what his fathers have not done, nor his forefathers: he shall disperse among them the plunder, [s]spoil, and riches; and he shall devise his plans against the strongholds, but only for a time.

25 “He shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the South with a great army. And the king of the South shall be stirred up to battle with a very great and mighty army; but he shall not stand, for they shall devise plans against him. 26 Yes, those who eat of the portion of his delicacies shall destroy him; his army shall [t]be swept away, and many shall fall down slain. 27 Both these kings’ hearts shall be bent on evil, and they shall speak lies at the same table; but it shall not prosper, for the end will still be at the (AQ)appointed time. 28 While returning to his land with great riches, his heart shall be moved against the holy covenant; so he shall do damage and return to his own land.

The Northern King’s Blasphemies

29 “At the appointed time he shall return and go toward the south; but it shall not be like the former or the latter. 30 (AR)For ships from [u]Cyprus shall come against him; therefore he shall be grieved, and return in rage against the holy covenant, and do damage.

“So he shall return and show regard for those who forsake the holy covenant. 31 And [v]forces shall be mustered by him, (AS)and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation. 32 Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall [w]corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits. 33 And those of the people who understand shall instruct many; yet for many days they shall fall by sword and flame, by captivity and plundering. 34 Now when they fall, they shall be aided with a little help; but many shall join with them by [x]intrigue. 35 And some of those of understanding shall fall, (AT)to refine them, purify them, and make them white, until the time of the end; because it is still for the appointed time.

36 “Then the king shall do according to his own will: he shall (AU)exalt and magnify himself above every god, shall speak blasphemies against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the wrath has been accomplished; for what has been determined shall be done. 37 He shall regard neither the [y]God of his fathers nor the desire of women, (AV)nor regard any god; for he shall exalt himself above them all. 38 But in their place he shall honor a god of fortresses; and a god which his fathers did not know he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and pleasant things. 39 Thus he shall act against the strongest fortresses with a foreign god, which he shall acknowledge, and advance its glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and divide the land for [z]gain.

The Northern King’s Conquests

40 “At the (AW)time of the end the king of the South shall attack him; and the king of the North shall come against him (AX)like a whirlwind, with chariots, (AY)horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter the countries, overwhelm them, and pass through. 41 He shall also enter the Glorious Land, and many countries shall be overthrown; but these shall escape from his hand: (AZ)Edom, Moab, and the [aa]prominent people of Ammon. 42 He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of (BA)Egypt shall not escape. 43 He shall have power over the treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; also the Libyans and Ethiopians shall follow (BB)at his heels. 44 But news from the east and the north shall trouble him; therefore he shall go out with great fury to destroy and annihilate many. 45 And he shall plant the tents of his palace between the seas and (BC)the glorious holy mountain; (BD)yet he shall come to his end, and no one will help him.

Prophecy of the End Time

12 “At that time Michael shall stand up,
The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people;
(BE)And there shall be a time of trouble,
Such as never was since there was a nation,
Even to that time.
And at that time your people (BF)shall be delivered,
Every one who is found (BG)written in the book.
2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake,
(BH)Some to everlasting life,
Some to shame (BI)and everlasting [ab]contempt.
3 Those who are wise shall (BJ)shine
Like the brightness of the firmament,
(BK)And those who turn many to righteousness
(BL)Like the stars forever and ever.

4 “But you, Daniel, (BM)shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall (BN)run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”

5 Then I, Daniel, looked; and there stood two others, one on this riverbank and the other on that (BO)riverbank. 6 And one said to the man clothed in (BP)linen, who was above the waters of the river, (BQ)“How long shall the fulfillment of these wonders be?”

7 Then I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he (BR)held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by Him (BS)who lives forever, (BT)that it shall be for a time, times, and half a time; (BU)and when the power of (BV)the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished.

8 Although I heard, I did not understand. Then I said, “My lord, what shall be the end of these things?”

9 And he said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. 10 (BW)Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, (BX)but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but (BY)the wise shall understand.

11 “And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days. 12 Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days.

13 “But you, go your way till the end; (BZ)for you shall rest, (CA)and will arise to your inheritance at the end of the days.”

Footnotes

  1. Daniel 10:1 Or and of great conflict;
  2. Daniel 10:3 desirable
  3. Daniel 10:4 Heb. Hiddekel
  4. Daniel 10:8 Lit. splendor
  5. Daniel 10:8 Lit. ruin
  6. Daniel 10:15 Lit. set
  7. Daniel 10:16 Theodotion, Vg. the son; LXX a hand
  8. Daniel 10:16 Or turned upon
  9. Daniel 11:6 Lit. arm
  10. Daniel 11:6 Lit. arm
  11. Daniel 11:8 Or molded images
  12. Daniel 11:12 Proud
  13. Daniel 11:14 Or robbers, lit. sons of breakage
  14. Daniel 11:14 Lit. to establish
  15. Daniel 11:15 Lit. arms
  16. Daniel 11:16 Lit. hand
  17. Daniel 11:17 Or bring equitable terms
  18. Daniel 11:22 Lit. arms
  19. Daniel 11:24 booty
  20. Daniel 11:26 Or overflow
  21. Daniel 11:30 Heb. Kittim, western lands, especially Cyprus
  22. Daniel 11:31 Lit. arms
  23. Daniel 11:32 pollute
  24. Daniel 11:34 Or slipperiness, flattery
  25. Daniel 11:37 Or gods
  26. Daniel 11:39 profit
  27. Daniel 11:41 Lit. chief of the sons of Ammon
  28. Daniel 12:2 Lit. abhorrence
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Daniel 10-12
Christian Standard Bible

Vision of a Glorious One

10 In the third year of King Cyrus of Persia,(A) a message was revealed to Daniel, who was named Belteshazzar.(B) The message was true and was about a great conflict. He understood the message and had understanding of the vision.(C)

2 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three full weeks.(D) 3 I didn’t eat any rich food,(E) no meat or wine entered my mouth, and I didn’t put any oil on my body until the three weeks were over. 4 On the twenty-fourth day of the first month,[a] as I was standing on the bank of the great river,(F) the Tigris, 5 I looked up, and there was a man dressed in linen,(G) with a belt of gold(H) from Uphaz[b](I) around his waist. 6 His body was like beryl,[c] his face like the brilliance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches,(J) his arms and feet like the gleam of polished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude.(K)

7 Only I, Daniel, saw the vision.(L) The men who were with me did not see it,(M) but a great terror fell on them,(N) and they ran and hid. 8 I was left alone, looking at this great vision.(O) No strength was left in me; my face grew deathly pale,[d](P) and I was powerless. 9 I heard the words he said, and when I heard them I fell into a deep sleep,[e](Q) with my face to the ground.

Angelic Conflict

10 Suddenly, a hand touched me and set me shaking on my hands and knees. 11 He said to me, “Daniel, you are a man treasured by God.[f](R) Understand the words that I’m saying to you. Stand on your feet,(S) for I have now been sent to you.”(T) After he said this to me, I stood trembling.

12 “Don’t be afraid,(U) Daniel,” he said to me, “for from the first day that you purposed to understand and to humble yourself before your God,(V) your prayers were heard. I have come because of your prayers.(W) 13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia opposed me for twenty-one days. Then Michael,(X) one of the chief princes, came to help me after I had been left there with the kings of Persia.(Y) 14 Now I have come to help you understand what will happen to your people in the last days,(Z) for the vision refers to those days.”(AA)

15 While he was saying these words to me, I turned my face toward the ground and was speechless.(AB) 16 Suddenly one with human likeness(AC) touched my lips.(AD) I opened my mouth and said to the one standing in front of me, “My lord, because of the vision, anguish overwhelms me and I am powerless.(AE) 17 How can someone like me,(AF) your servant,[g] speak with someone like you, my lord? Now I have no strength, and there is no breath in me.”

18 Then the one with a human appearance touched me again and strengthened me.(AG) 19 He said, “Don’t be afraid,(AH) you who are[h] treasured by God.(AI) Peace to you; be very strong!” (AJ)

As he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.”(AK)

20 He said, “Do you know why I’ve come to you? I must return at once to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I leave, the prince of Greece will come.(AL) 21 However, I will tell you what is recorded in the book of truth. (No one has the courage to support me against those princes except Michael,(AM) your prince.

11 In the first year of Darius the Mede,(AN) I stood up to strengthen and protect him.) 2 Now I will tell you the truth.(AO)

Prophecies about Persia and Greece

“Three more kings will arise in Persia, and the fourth will be far richer than the others. By the power he gains through his riches, he will stir up everyone against the kingdom of Greece.(AP) 3 Then a warrior king will arise; he will rule a vast realm and do whatever he wants.(AQ) 4 But as soon as he is established, his kingdom will be broken up and divided to the four winds of heaven,(AR) but not to his descendants; it will not be the same kingdom that he ruled, because his kingdom will be uprooted and will go to others besides them.(AS)

Kings of the South and the North

5 “The king of the South(AT) will grow powerful, but one of his commanders will grow more powerful and will rule a kingdom greater than his. 6 After some years they will form an alliance, and the daughter of the king of the South will go to the king of the North(AU) to seal the agreement. She will not retain power, and his strength will not endure. She will be given up, together with her entourage, her father,[i] and the one who supported her during those times. 7 In the place of the king of the South, one from her family[j] will rise up, come against the army, and enter the fortress of the king of the North. He will take action against them and triumph. 8 He will take even their gods captive to Egypt, with their metal images and their precious articles of silver and gold.(AV) For some years he will stay away from the king of the North, 9 who will enter the kingdom of the king of the South and then return to his own land.

10 “His sons will mobilize for war and assemble a large number of armed forces. They will advance, sweeping through like a flood,[k](AW) and will again wage war as far as his fortress. 11 Infuriated, the king of the South will march out to fight with the king of the North, who will raise a large army, but they will be handed over to his enemy. 12 When the army is carried off, he will become arrogant and cause tens of thousands to fall, but he will not triumph. 13 The king of the North will again raise a multitude larger than the first. After some years[l](AX) he will advance with a great army and many supplies.

14 “In those times many will rise up against the king of the South. Violent ones among your own people will assert themselves to fulfill a vision, but they will fail. 15 Then the king of the North will come, build up a siege ramp,(AY) and capture a well-fortified city. The forces of the South will not stand; even their select troops will not be able to resist. 16 The king of the North who comes against him will do whatever he wants,(AZ) and no one can oppose him. He will establish himself in the beautiful land[m](BA) with total destruction in his hand. 17 He will resolve(BB) to come with the force of his whole kingdom and will reach an agreement with him.[n] He will give him a daughter in marriage[o] to destroy it,[p] but she will not stand with him or support him. 18 Then he will turn his attention to the coasts and islands[q](BC) and capture many. But a commander will put an end to his taunting; instead, he will turn his taunts against him.(BD) 19 He will turn his attention back to the fortresses of his own land, but he will stumble, fall,(BE) and be no more.(BF)

20 “In his place one will arise who will send out a tax collector(BG) for the glory of the kingdom; but within a few days he will be broken, though not in anger[r] or in battle.

21 “In his place a despised(BH) person will arise; royal honors will not be given to him, but he will come during a time of peace[s](BI) and seize the kingdom by intrigue. 22 A flood of forces will be swept away before him; they will be broken, as well as the covenant prince. 23 After an alliance is made with him, he will act deceitfully. He will rise to power with a small nation.[t] 24 During a time of peace,[u] he will come into the richest parts of the province(BJ) and do what his fathers and predecessors never did. He will lavish plunder, loot, and wealth on his followers, and he will make plans against fortified cities, but only for a time.

25 “With a large army he will stir up his power and his courage against the king of the South. The king of the South will prepare for battle with an extremely large and powerful army, but he will not succeed, because plots will be made against him. 26 Those who eat his provisions(BK) will destroy him; his army will be swept away, and many will fall slain. 27 The two kings, whose hearts are bent on evil, will speak lies(BL) at the same table but to no avail, for still the end will come at the appointed time.(BM) 28 The king of the North will return to his land with great wealth, but his heart will be set against the holy covenant;[v] he will take action, then return to his own land.

29 “At the appointed time he will come again to the South, but this time[w] will not be like the first. 30 Ships of Kittim[x](BN) will come against him, and being intimidated, he will withdraw. Then he will rage against the holy covenant and take action. On his return, he will favor those who abandon the holy covenant. 31 His forces will rise up and desecrate the temple fortress. They will abolish the regular sacrifice(BO) and set up the abomination of desolation.(BP) 32 With flattery he will corrupt those who act wickedly toward the covenant, but the people who know their God will be strong and take action.(BQ) 33 Those who have insight among the people(BR) will give understanding to many, yet they will fall by the sword and flame,(BS) and they will be captured and plundered for a time. 34 When they fall, they will be helped by some, but many others will join them insincerely.(BT) 35 Some of those who have insight will fall so that they may be refined,(BU) purified, and cleansed(BV) until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time.

36 “Then the king will do whatever he wants.(BW) He will exalt and magnify himself above every god,(BX) and he will say outrageous things against the God of gods.(BY) He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed,(BZ) because what has been decreed will be accomplished. 37 He will not show regard for the gods[y] of his ancestors, the god desired by women, or for any other god,(CA) because he will magnify himself above all. 38 Instead, he will honor a god of fortresses—a god his ancestors did not know—with gold, silver, precious stones, and riches. 39 He will deal with the strongest fortresses with the help of a foreign god. He will greatly honor those who acknowledge him,[z] making them rulers over many and distributing land as a reward.

40 “At the time of the end, the king of the South will engage him in battle, but the king of the North will storm against him(CB) with chariots, horsemen, and many ships. He will invade countries and sweep through them like a flood.(CC) 41 He will also invade the beautiful land,(CD) and many will fall. But these will escape from his power: Edom, Moab, and the prominent people[aa] of the Ammonites.(CE) 42 He will extend his power against the countries, and not even the land of Egypt will escape. 43 He will get control over the hidden treasures of gold and silver and over all the riches of Egypt. The Libyans and Cushites will also be in submission.[ab](CF) 44 But reports from the east(CG) and the north will terrify him, and he will go out with great fury to annihilate and completely destroy many. 45 He will pitch his royal tents between the sea and[ac] the beautiful holy mountain,(CH) but he will meet his end with no one to help him.

12 At that time
Michael,(CI) the great prince
who stands watch over your people, will rise up.
There will be a time of distress(CJ)
such as never has occurred(CK)
since nations came into being until that time.(CL)
But at that time all your people
who are found written in the book(CM) will escape.(CN)
2 Many who sleep in the dust(CO)
of the earth will awake,
some to eternal life,(CP)
and some to disgrace and eternal contempt.(CQ)
3 Those who have insight will shine
like the bright expanse of the heavens,(CR)
and those who lead many to righteousness,(CS)
like the stars forever and ever.

4 “But you, Daniel, keep these words secret(CT) and seal the book(CU) until the time of the end.(CV) Many will roam about,(CW) and knowledge will increase.”[ad]

5 Then I, Daniel, looked, and two others were standing there, one on this bank of the river and one on the other. 6 One of them said to the man dressed in linen,(CX) who was above the water of the river,(CY) “How long until the end(CZ) of these wondrous things?” 7 Then I heard the man dressed in linen, who was above the water of the river. He raised both his hands[ae](DA) toward heaven and swore by him who lives eternally(DB) that it would be for a time, times, and half a time.(DC) When the power of the holy people is shattered, all these things will be completed.

8 I heard but did not understand. So I asked, “My lord, what will be the outcome of these things?” (DD)

9 He said, “Go on your way, Daniel, for the words are secret(DE) and sealed until the time of the end.(DF) 10 Many will be purified,(DG) cleansed, and refined,(DH) but the wicked will act wickedly;(DI) none of the wicked will understand, but those who have insight will understand.(DJ) 11 From the time the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation(DK) is set up,(DL) there will be 1,290 days. 12 Happy is the one who waits(DM) for and reaches 1,335 days. 13 But as for you, go on your way to the end;[af] you will rest, and then you will rise[ag] to receive(DN) your allotted inheritance at the end of the days.”

Footnotes

  1. 10:4 = Nisan (March–April)
  2. 10:5 Some Hb mss read Ophir
  3. 10:6 The identity of this stone is uncertain.
  4. 10:8 Lit my splendor was turned on me to ruin
  5. 10:9 Lit a sleep on my face
  6. 10:11 by God added for clarity, also in v. 19
  7. 10:17 Lit Can I, a servant of my lord
  8. 10:19 Lit afraid, man
  9. 11:6 Some Hb mss, Theod read the child; Syr, Vg read her children
  10. 11:7 Lit from the shoot of her roots
  11. 11:10 Lit advance and overflow and pass through
  12. 11:13 Lit At the end of the times
  13. 11:16 = Israel
  14. 11:17 = the king of the South
  15. 11:17 Lit him the daughter of women
  16. 11:17 Perhaps the kingdom
  17. 11:18 of the Mediterranean
  18. 11:20 Or not openly
  19. 11:21 Or come without warning
  20. 11:23 Or a few people
  21. 11:24 Or Without warning
  22. 11:28 Or the Jewish people and religion
  23. 11:29 Lit but the last
  24. 11:30 = the Romans
  25. 11:37 Or God
  26. 11:39 Or those he acknowledges
  27. 11:41 Lit the first
  28. 11:43 Lit Cushites at his steps
  29. 11:45 Or the seas at
  30. 12:4 LXX reads and the earth will be filled with unrighteousness
  31. 12:7 Lit raised his right and his left
  32. 12:13 LXX omits to the end
  33. 12:13 Or stand
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Daniel 10-12
New International Version

Daniel’s Vision of a Man

10 In the third year of Cyrus(A) king of Persia, a revelation was given to Daniel (who was called Belteshazzar).(B) Its message was true(C) and it concerned a great war.[a] The understanding of the message came to him in a vision.

2 At that time I, Daniel, mourned(D) for three weeks. 3 I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips;(E) and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over.

4 On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank(F) of the great river, the Tigris,(G) 5 I looked up(H) and there before me was a man dressed in linen,(I) with a belt of fine gold(J) from Uphaz around his waist. 6 His body was like topaz,(K) his face like lightning,(L) his eyes like flaming torches,(M) his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze,(N) and his voice(O) like the sound of a multitude.

7 I, Daniel, was the only one who saw the vision; those who were with me did not see it,(P) but such terror overwhelmed them that they fled and hid themselves. 8 So I was left alone,(Q) gazing at this great vision; I had no strength left,(R) my face turned deathly pale(S) and I was helpless.(T) 9 Then I heard him speaking, and as I listened to him, I fell into a deep sleep, my face to the ground.(U)

10 A hand touched me(V) and set me trembling on my hands and knees.(W) 11 He said, “Daniel, you who are highly esteemed,(X) consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you, and stand up,(Y) for I have now been sent to you.” And when he said this to me, I stood up trembling.

12 Then he continued, “Do not be afraid,(Z) Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble(AA) yourself before your God, your words(AB) were heard, and I have come in response to them.(AC) 13 But the prince(AD) of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael,(AE) one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. 14 Now I have come to explain(AF) to you what will happen to your people in the future,(AG) for the vision concerns a time yet to come.(AH)”

15 While he was saying this to me, I bowed with my face toward the ground and was speechless.(AI) 16 Then one who looked like a man[b] touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and began to speak.(AJ) I said to the one standing before me, “I am overcome with anguish(AK) because of the vision, my lord, and I feel very weak. 17 How can I, your servant, talk with you, my lord? My strength is gone and I can hardly breathe.”(AL)

18 Again the one who looked like a man touched(AM) me and gave me strength.(AN) 19 “Do not be afraid, you who are highly esteemed,”(AO) he said. “Peace!(AP) Be strong now; be strong.”(AQ)

When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Speak, my lord, since you have given me strength.”(AR)

20 So he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? Soon I will return to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I go, the prince of Greece(AS) will come; 21 but first I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth.(AT) (No one supports me against them except Michael,(AU) your prince. 11 1 And in the first year of Darius(AV) the Mede, I took my stand to support and protect him.)

The Kings of the South and the North

2 “Now then, I tell you the truth:(AW) Three more kings will arise in Persia, and then a fourth, who will be far richer than all the others. When he has gained power by his wealth, he will stir up everyone against the kingdom of Greece.(AX) 3 Then a mighty king will arise, who will rule with great power and do as he pleases.(AY) 4 After he has arisen, his empire will be broken up and parceled out toward the four winds of heaven.(AZ) It will not go to his descendants, nor will it have the power he exercised, because his empire will be uprooted(BA) and given to others.

5 “The king of the South will become strong, but one of his commanders will become even stronger than he and will rule his own kingdom with great power. 6 After some years, they will become allies. The daughter of the king of the South will go to the king of the North to make an alliance, but she will not retain her power, and he and his power[c] will not last. In those days she will be betrayed, together with her royal escort and her father[d] and the one who supported her.

7 “One from her family line will arise to take her place. He will attack the forces of the king of the North(BB) and enter his fortress; he will fight against them and be victorious. 8 He will also seize their gods,(BC) their metal images and their valuable articles of silver and gold and carry them off to Egypt.(BD) For some years he will leave the king of the North alone. 9 Then the king of the North will invade the realm of the king of the South but will retreat to his own country. 10 His sons will prepare for war and assemble a great army, which will sweep on like an irresistible flood(BE) and carry the battle as far as his fortress.

11 “Then the king of the South will march out in a rage and fight against the king of the North, who will raise a large army, but it will be defeated.(BF) 12 When the army is carried off, the king of the South will be filled with pride and will slaughter many thousands, yet he will not remain triumphant. 13 For the king of the North will muster another army, larger than the first; and after several years, he will advance with a huge army fully equipped.

14 “In those times many will rise against the king of the South. Those who are violent among your own people will rebel in fulfillment of the vision, but without success. 15 Then the king of the North will come and build up siege ramps(BG) and will capture a fortified city. The forces of the South will be powerless to resist; even their best troops will not have the strength to stand. 16 The invader will do as he pleases;(BH) no one will be able to stand against him.(BI) He will establish himself in the Beautiful Land and will have the power to destroy it.(BJ) 17 He will determine to come with the might of his entire kingdom and will make an alliance with the king of the South. And he will give him a daughter in marriage in order to overthrow the kingdom, but his plans[e] will not succeed(BK) or help him. 18 Then he will turn his attention to the coastlands(BL) and will take many of them, but a commander will put an end to his insolence and will turn his insolence back on him.(BM) 19 After this, he will turn back toward the fortresses of his own country but will stumble and fall,(BN) to be seen no more.(BO)

20 “His successor will send out a tax collector to maintain the royal splendor.(BP) In a few years, however, he will be destroyed, yet not in anger or in battle.

21 “He will be succeeded by a contemptible(BQ) person who has not been given the honor of royalty.(BR) He will invade the kingdom when its people feel secure, and he will seize it through intrigue. 22 Then an overwhelming army will be swept away(BS) before him; both it and a prince of the covenant will be destroyed.(BT) 23 After coming to an agreement with him, he will act deceitfully,(BU) and with only a few people he will rise to power. 24 When the richest provinces feel secure, he will invade them and will achieve what neither his fathers nor his forefathers did. He will distribute plunder, loot and wealth among his followers.(BV) He will plot the overthrow of fortresses—but only for a time.

25 “With a large army he will stir up his strength and courage against the king of the South. The king of the South will wage war with a large and very powerful army, but he will not be able to stand because of the plots devised against him. 26 Those who eat from the king’s provisions will try to destroy him; his army will be swept away, and many will fall in battle. 27 The two kings, with their hearts bent on evil,(BW) will sit at the same table and lie(BX) to each other, but to no avail, because an end will still come at the appointed time.(BY) 28 The king of the North will return to his own country with great wealth, but his heart will be set against the holy covenant. He will take action against it and then return to his own country.

29 “At the appointed time he will invade the South again, but this time the outcome will be different from what it was before. 30 Ships of the western coastlands(BZ) will oppose him, and he will lose heart.(CA) Then he will turn back and vent his fury(CB) against the holy covenant. He will return and show favor to those who forsake the holy covenant.

31 “His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice.(CC) Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation.(CD) 32 With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist(CE) him.

33 “Those who are wise will instruct(CF) many, though for a time they will fall by the sword or be burned or captured or plundered.(CG) 34 When they fall, they will receive a little help, and many who are not sincere(CH) will join them. 35 Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined,(CI) purified and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time.

The King Who Exalts Himself

36 “The king will do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify himself(CJ) above every god and will say unheard-of things(CK) against the God of gods.(CL) He will be successful until the time of wrath(CM) is completed, for what has been determined must take place.(CN) 37 He will show no regard for the gods of his ancestors or for the one desired by women, nor will he regard any god, but will exalt himself above them all. 38 Instead of them, he will honor a god of fortresses; a god unknown to his ancestors he will honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and costly gifts. 39 He will attack the mightiest fortresses with the help of a foreign god and will greatly honor those who acknowledge him. He will make them rulers over many people and will distribute the land at a price.[f]

40 “At the time of the end the king of the South(CO) will engage him in battle, and the king of the North will storm(CP) out against him with chariots and cavalry and a great fleet of ships. He will invade many countries and sweep through them like a flood.(CQ) 41 He will also invade the Beautiful Land.(CR) Many countries will fall, but Edom,(CS) Moab(CT) and the leaders of Ammon will be delivered from his hand. 42 He will extend his power over many countries; Egypt will not escape. 43 He will gain control of the treasures of gold and silver and all the riches of Egypt,(CU) with the Libyans(CV) and Cushites[g] in submission. 44 But reports from the east and the north will alarm him, and he will set out in a great rage to destroy and annihilate many. 45 He will pitch his royal tents between the seas at[h] the beautiful holy mountain.(CW) Yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him.

The End Times

12 “At that time Michael,(CX) the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress(CY) such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book(CZ)—will be delivered.(DA) 2 Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake:(DB) some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.(DC) 3 Those who are wise[i](DD) will shine(DE) like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness,(DF) like the stars for ever and ever.(DG) 4 But you, Daniel, roll up and seal(DH) the words of the scroll until the time of the end.(DI) Many will go here and there(DJ) to increase knowledge.”

5 Then I, Daniel, looked, and there before me stood two others, one on this bank of the river and one on the opposite bank.(DK) 6 One of them said to the man clothed in linen,(DL) who was above the waters of the river, “How long will it be before these astonishing things are fulfilled?”(DM)

7 The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, lifted his right hand(DN) and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by him who lives forever,(DO) saying, “It will be for a time, times and half a time.[j](DP) When the power of the holy people(DQ) has been finally broken, all these things will be completed.(DR)”

8 I heard, but I did not understand. So I asked, “My lord, what will the outcome of all this be?”

9 He replied, “Go your way, Daniel, because the words are rolled up and sealed(DS) until the time of the end.(DT) 10 Many will be purified, made spotless and refined,(DU) but the wicked will continue to be wicked.(DV) None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.(DW)

11 “From the time that the daily sacrifice(DX) is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation(DY) is set up, there will be 1,290 days.(DZ) 12 Blessed is the one who waits(EA) for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days.(EB)

13 “As for you, go your way till the end.(EC) You will rest,(ED) and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance.(EE)”

Footnotes

  1. Daniel 10:1 Or true and burdensome
  2. Daniel 10:16 Most manuscripts of the Masoretic Text; one manuscript of the Masoretic Text, Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint Then something that looked like a human hand
  3. Daniel 11:6 Or offspring
  4. Daniel 11:6 Or child (see Vulgate and Syriac)
  5. Daniel 11:17 Or but she
  6. Daniel 11:39 Or land for a reward
  7. Daniel 11:43 That is, people from the upper Nile region
  8. Daniel 11:45 Or the sea and
  9. Daniel 12:3 Or who impart wisdom
  10. Daniel 12:7 Or a year, two years and half a year
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