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Daniel 5-8
Contemporary English Version
Daniel 5-8
Contemporary English Version
King Belshazzar's Banquet
5 One evening, King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for a thousand of his highest officials, and he drank wine with them. 2 He got drunk and ordered his servants to bring in the gold and silver cups his father Nebuchadnezzar[a] had taken from the temple in Jerusalem. Belshazzar wanted the cups, so that he and all his wives and officials could drink from them.
3-4 (A) When the gold cups were brought in, everyone at the banquet drank from them and praised their idols made of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.
5 Suddenly a human hand was seen writing on the plaster wall of the palace. The hand was just behind the lampstand, and the king could see it writing. 6 He was so frightened that his face turned pale, his knees started shaking, and his legs became weak.
7 The king called in his advisors, who claimed they could talk with the spirits of the dead and understand the meanings found in the stars. He told them, “The man who can read this writing and tell me what it means will become the third most powerful man in my kingdom. He will wear robes of royal purple and a gold chain around his neck.”
8 All of King Belshazzar's highest officials came in, but not one of them could read the writing or tell what it meant, 9 and they were completely puzzled. Now the king was more afraid than ever before, and his face turned white as a ghost.
10 When the queen heard the king and his officials talking, she came in and said:
Your Majesty, I hope you live forever! Don't be afraid or look so pale. 11 In your kingdom there is a man who has been given special powers by the holy gods. When your father Nebuchadnezzar was king, this man was known to be as smart, intelligent, and wise as the gods themselves. Your father put him in charge of all who claimed they could talk with the spirits or understand the meanings in the stars or tell about the future. 12 He also changed the man's name from Daniel to Belteshazzar. Not only is he wise and intelligent, but he can explain dreams and riddles and solve difficult problems. Send for Daniel, and he will tell you what the writing means.
13 When Daniel was brought in, the king said:
So you are Daniel, one of the captives my father brought back from Judah! 14 I was told that the gods have given you special powers and that you are intelligent and very wise. 15 Neither my advisors nor the men who talk with the spirits of the dead could read this writing or tell me what it means. 16 But I have been told that you understand everything and that you can solve difficult problems. Now then, if you can read this writing and tell me what it means, you will become the third most powerful man in my kingdom. You will wear royal purple robes and have a gold chain around your neck.
17 Daniel answered:
Your Majesty, I will read the writing and tell you what it means. But you may keep your gifts or give them to someone else. 18 Sir, the Most High God made your father a great and powerful man and brought him much honor and glory. 19 God did such great things for him that people of all nations and races shook with fear.
Your father had the power of life or death over everyone, and he could honor or ruin anyone he chose. 20 But when he became proud and stubborn, his glorious kingdom was taken from him. 21 His mind became like that of an animal, and he was forced to stay away from people and live with wild donkeys. Your father ate grass like an ox, and he slept outside where his body was soaked with dew. He was forced to do this until he learned that the Most High God rules all kingdoms on earth and chooses their kings.
22 King Belshazzar, you knew all of this, but you still refused to honor the Lord who rules from heaven. 23 Instead, you turned against him and ordered the cups from his temple to be brought here, so that you and your wives and officials could drink wine from them. You praised idols made of silver, gold, bronze, iron, wood, and stone, even though they cannot see or hear or think. You refused to worship the God who gives you breath and controls everything you do. 24 That's why he sent the hand to write this message on the wall.
25-28 The words written there are mene, which means “numbered,” tekel, which means “weighed,” and parsin,[b] which means “divided.” God has numbered the days of your kingdom and has brought it to an end. He has weighed you on his balance scales, and you fall short of what it takes to be king. So God has divided your kingdom between the Medes and the Persians.
29 Belshazzar gave a command for Daniel to be made the third most powerful man in his kingdom and to be given a purple robe and a gold chain.
30 That same night, the king was killed. 31 Then Darius the Mede, who was 62 years old, took over his kingdom.
Daniel in a Pit of Lions
6 Darius divided his kingdom into 120 states and placed a governor in charge of each one. 2 In order to make sure that his government was run properly, Darius put three other officials in charge of the governors. One of these officials was Daniel. 3 And he did his work so much better than the other governors and officials that the king decided to let him govern the whole kingdom.
4 The other men tried to find something wrong with the way Daniel did his work for the king. But they could not accuse him of anything wrong, because he was honest and faithful and did everything he was supposed to do. 5 Finally, they said to one another, “We will never be able to bring any charge against Daniel, unless it has to do with his religion.”
6 They all went to the king and said:
“Your Majesty, we hope you live forever! 7 (B) All of your officials, leaders, advisors, and governors agree that you should make a law forbidding anyone to pray to any god or human except you for the next 30 days. Everyone who disobeys this law must be thrown into a pit of lions. 8 Order this to be written and then sign it, so it cannot be changed, just as no written law of the Medes and Persians can be changed.”
9 So King Darius made the law and had it written down.
10 Daniel heard about the law, but when he returned home, he went upstairs and prayed in front of the window that faced Jerusalem. In the same way that he had always done, he knelt down in prayer three times a day, giving thanks to God.
11 The men who had spoken to the king watched Daniel and saw him praying to his God for help. 12 They went back to the king and said, “Didn't you make a law that forbids anyone to pray to any god or human except you for the next 30 days? And doesn't the law say that everyone who disobeys it will be thrown into a pit of lions?”
“Yes, that's the law I made,” the king agreed. “And just like all written laws of the Medes and Persians, it cannot be changed.”
13 The men then told the king, “That Jew named Daniel, who was brought here as a captive, refuses to obey you or the law that you ordered to be written. And he still prays to his god three times a day.” 14 The king was really upset to hear about this, and for the rest of the day he tried to think how he could save Daniel.
15 At sunset the men returned and said, “Your Majesty, remember that no written law of the Medes and Persians can be changed, not even by the king.”
16 (C) So Darius ordered Daniel to be brought out and thrown into a pit of lions. But he said to Daniel, “You have been faithful to your God, and I pray that he will rescue you.”
17 A stone was rolled over the pit, and it was sealed. Then Darius and his officials stamped the seal to show that no one should let Daniel out. 18 All night long the king could not sleep. He did not eat anything, and he would not let anyone come in to entertain him.
19 At daybreak the king got up and ran to the pit. 20 He was anxious and shouted, “Daniel, you were faithful and served your God. Was he able to save you from the lions?”
21 Daniel answered, “Your Majesty, I hope you live forever! 22 (D) My God knew that I was innocent, and he sent an angel to keep the lions from eating me. Your Majesty, I have never done anything to hurt you.”
23 The king was relieved to hear Daniel's voice, and he gave orders for him to be taken out of the pit. Daniel's faith in his God had kept him from being harmed. 24 And the king ordered the men who had brought charges against Daniel to be thrown into the pit, together with their wives and children. But before they even reached the bottom, the lions ripped them to pieces.
25 King Darius then sent this message to all people of every nation and race in the world:
“Greetings to all of you!
26 I command everyone
in my kingdom
to worship and honor
the God of Daniel.
He is the living God,
the one who lives forever.
His power and his kingdom
will never end.
27 He rescues people
and sets them free
by working great miracles.
Daniel's God has rescued him
from the power of the lions.”
28 All went well for Daniel while Darius was king, and even when Cyrus the Persian ruled.[c]
Daniel's Vision of the Four Beasts
7 1-2 Daniel wrote:
In the first year of King Belshazzar[d] of Babylonia, I had some dreams and visions while I was asleep one night, and I wrote them down.
The four winds were stirring up the mighty sea, 3 (E) when suddenly four powerful beasts came out of the sea. Each beast was different. 4 (F) The first was like a lion with the wings of an eagle. As I watched, its wings were pulled off. Then it was lifted to an upright position and made to stand on two feet, just like a human, and it was given a human mind.
5 The second beast looked like a bear standing on its hind legs.[e] It held three ribs in its teeth, and it was told, “Attack! Eat all the flesh you want.”
6 The third beast was like a leopard—except that it had four wings and four heads. It was given authority to rule.
7 (G) The fourth beast was stronger and more terrifying than the others. Its huge teeth were made of iron, and what it didn't grind with its teeth, it smashed with its feet. It was different from the others, and it had horns on its head—ten of them. 8 (H) Just as I was thinking about these horns, a smaller horn appeared, and three of the other horns were pulled up by the roots to make room for it. This horn had the eyes of a human and a mouth that spoke with great arrogance.
Judgment
Daniel wrote:
9 (I) Thrones were set up
while I was watching,
and the Eternal God[f]
took his place.
His clothing and his hair
were white as snow.
His throne was a blazing fire
with fiery wheels,
10 (J) and flames were dashing out
from all around him.
Countless thousands
were standing there
to serve him.
The time of judgment began,
and the books[g] were opened.
11 I watched closely to see what would happen to this smaller horn because of the arrogant things it was saying. Then before my very eyes, the fourth beast was killed and its body destroyed by fire. 12 The other three beasts had their authority taken from them, but they were allowed to live a while longer.[h] 13 (K) As I continued to watch the vision that night,
I saw what looked like
a son of man[i]
coming with the clouds of heaven,
and he was presented
to the Eternal God.[j]
14 (L) He was crowned king
and given power and glory,
so that all people
of every nation and race
would serve him.
He will rule forever,
and his kingdom is eternal,
never to be destroyed.
The Meaning of Daniel's Vision
15 Daniel wrote:
I was terrified by these visions, and I didn't know what to think. 16 So I asked one of those standing there,[k] and he explained, 17 “The four beasts are four earthly kingdoms. 18 (M) But God Most High will give his kingdom to his chosen ones, and it will be theirs forever and ever.”
19 I wanted to know more about the fourth beast,[l] because it was so different and much more terrifying than the others. What was the meaning of its iron teeth and bronze claws and of its feet that smashed what the teeth and claws had not ground and crushed? 20 I also wanted to know more about all ten of those horns on its head. I especially wanted to know more about the one that took the place of three of the others—the horn that had eyes and spoke with arrogance and seemed greater than the others. 21 (N) While I was looking, this horn attacked God's chosen ones and was winning the battle. 22 (O) Then God Most High, the Eternal God,[m] came and judged in favor of his chosen ones, because the time had arrived for them to be given the kingdom.
23 Then I was told
by the one standing there:
“The fourth beast
will be a fourth kingdom
to appear on earth.
It will be different
from all the others—
it will trample the earth
and crush it to pieces.
24 (P) All ten of those horns are kings
who will come from this kingdom,
and one more will follow.
This horn will be different
from the others,
and it will conquer
three other kings.
25 (Q) “This king will speak evil
of God Most High,
and he will be cruel
to God's chosen ones.
He will try to change God's Law
and the sacred seasons.
And he will be able to do this
for a time, two times,
and half a time.[n]
26 But he will finally be judged,
and his kingdom
completely destroyed.
27 (R) “Then the greatest kingdom of all
will be given to the chosen ones
of God Most High.
His kingdom will be eternal,
and all others will serve
and obey him.”
28 That was what I saw and heard. I turned pale with fear and kept it all to myself.
Vision of a Ram and a Goat
8 Daniel wrote:
In the third year of King Belshazzar of Babylonia,[o] I had a second vision 2 in which I was in Susa, the chief city of Babylonia's Elam Province. I was beside the Ulai River,[p] 3 when I looked up and saw a ram standing there with two horns on its head—both of them were long, but the second one was longer than the first. 4 The ram went charging toward the west, the north, and the south. No other animals were strong enough to oppose him, and nothing could save them from his power. So he did as he pleased and became even more powerful.
5 I kept on watching and saw a goat come from the west and charge across the entire earth, without even touching the ground. Between his eyes was a powerful horn,[q] 6 and with tremendous anger the goat started toward the ram that I had seen beside the river.[r] 7 The goat was so fierce that its attack broke both horns of the ram, leaving him powerless. Then the goat trampled on the ram, and no one could do anything to help. 8 After this, the goat became even more powerful. But at the peak of his power, his mighty horn was broken, and four other mighty horns took its place—one pointing to the north and one to the east, one to the south and one to the west.
9 A little horn came from one of these, and its power reached to the south, the east, and even to the holy land.[s] 10 (S) It became so strong that it attacked the stars in the sky, which were heaven's army.[t] Then it threw some of them down to the earth and trampled on them. 11-12 It humiliated heaven's army and dishonored its leader[u] by keeping him from offering the daily sacrifices. In fact, it was so terrible that it even disgraced the temple and wiped out true worship. It also did everything else it wanted to do.
13 Then one of the holy angels asked another, “When will the daily sacrifices be offered again? What about this horrible rebellion? When will the temple and heaven's army no longer be trampled in the dust?”
14 The other answered, “It will be 2,300 evenings and mornings before the temple is dedicated and in use again.”
Gabriel Interprets the Vision
15 Daniel wrote:
I was trying to figure out the meaning of the vision, when someone suddenly appeared there beside me. 16 (T) And from beside the Ulai River,[v] a voice like that of a human said, “Gabriel, help him understand the vision.”
17 Gabriel came over, and I fell to the ground in fear. Then he said, “You are merely a human, but you need to understand that this vision is about the end of time.”
18 While he was speaking, I fell facedown in a deep sleep. But he lifted me to my feet 19 and said:
Listen, and I will tell you what will happen at the end of time, when God has chosen to show his anger. 20 The two horns of the ram are the kings of Media and Persia, 21 the goat is the kingdom of Greece, and the powerful horn between his eyes is the first of its kings. 22 After this horn is broken, four other kingdoms will appear, but they won't be as strong.
23 When these rulers have become as evil as possible, their power will end, and then a king who is dangerous and cannot be trusted will appear. 24 He will gain strength, but not on his own, and he will cause terrible destruction. He will wipe out powerful leaders and God's people as well. 25 His deceitful lies will make him so successful, that he will think he is really great. Suddenly he will kill many people, and he will even attack God, the Supreme Ruler. But God will crush him!
26 This vision about the evenings and mornings is true, but these things won't happen for a long time, so don't tell it to others.
27 After this, I was so worn out and weak that it was several days before I could get out of bed and go about my duties for the king. I was disturbed by this vision that made no sense to me.
Footnotes
- 5.2 his father Nebuchadnezzar: Belshazzar was actually the son of King Nabonidus, who was from another family. But in ancient times, it was possible to refer to a previous king as the “father” of the present king.
- 5.25-28 mene … tekel … parsin: In the Aramaic text of verse 25, the words “mene, tekel, parsin,” are used, and in verses 26-28 the words “mene, tekel, peres” (the singular of “parsin”) are used. “Parsin” means “divided,” but “peres” can mean either “divided” or “Persia.”
- 6.28 Cyrus the Persian ruled: 539–530 b.c.
- 7.1,2 first year of King Belshazzar: 554 b.c.
- 7.5 standing on its hind legs: Or “higher on one side than the other” or “with a paw lifted up.”
- 7.9 Eternal God: Aramaic “Ancient of Days.”
- 7.10 books: Containing the record of the good and evil that each person has done.
- 7.12 a while longer: Aramaic “for a time and a season.”
- 7.13 son of man: Or “human.” In Aramaic “son of man” may mean a human or even “oneself” (“I” or “me”). Jesus often used the phrase “the Son of Man” when referring to himself.
- 7.13 Eternal God: See the note at 7.9.
- 7.16 one of those standing there: Possibly an angel sent to interpret the visions or one of those thousands mentioned in verse 10.
- 7.19 fourth beast: See verses 7,8.
- 7.22 Eternal God: See the note at 7.9.
- 7.25 for … time: Or “for a year, two years, and half a year.”
- 8.1 third year … Babylonia: 552 b.c., two years after the first vision (see 7.1,2).
- 8.2 River: Or “Gate.”
- 8.5 powerful horn: Hebrew “horn of vision.”
- 8.6 river: See the note at 8.2.
- 8.9 holy land: Hebrew “the lovely land.”
- 8.10 heaven's army: In verses 10-13 the Hebrew word translated “heaven's army” may also mean “God's people.”
- 8.11,12 leader: Hebrew “prince.”
- 8.16 River: See the note at 8.2.
Daniel 5-8
New International Version
Daniel 5-8
New International Version
The Writing on the Wall
5 King Belshazzar(A) gave a great banquet(B) for a thousand of his nobles(C) and drank wine with them. 2 While Belshazzar was drinking(D) his wine, he gave orders to bring in the gold and silver goblets(E) that Nebuchadnezzar his father[a] had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines(F) might drink from them.(G) 3 So they brought in the gold goblets that had been taken from the temple of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines drank from them. 4 As they drank the wine, they praised the gods(H) of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone.(I)
5 Suddenly the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand in the royal palace. The king watched the hand as it wrote. 6 His face turned pale(J) and he was so frightened(K) that his legs became weak(L) and his knees were knocking.(M)
7 The king summoned the enchanters,(N) astrologers[b](O) and diviners.(P) Then he said to these wise(Q) men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this writing and tells me what it means will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around his neck,(R) and he will be made the third(S) highest ruler in the kingdom.”(T)
8 Then all the king’s wise men(U) came in, but they could not read the writing or tell the king what it meant.(V) 9 So King Belshazzar became even more terrified(W) and his face grew more pale. His nobles were baffled.
10 The queen,[c] hearing the voices of the king and his nobles, came into the banquet hall. “May the king live forever!”(X) she said. “Don’t be alarmed! Don’t look so pale! 11 There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods(Y) in him. In the time of your father he was found to have insight and intelligence and wisdom(Z) like that of the gods.(AA) Your father, King Nebuchadnezzar, appointed him chief of the magicians, enchanters, astrologers and diviners.(AB) 12 He did this because Daniel, whom the king called Belteshazzar,(AC) was found to have a keen mind and knowledge and understanding, and also the ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles(AD) and solve difficult problems.(AE) Call for Daniel, and he will tell you what the writing means.(AF)”
13 So Daniel was brought before the king, and the king said to him, “Are you Daniel, one of the exiles my father the king brought from Judah?(AG) 14 I have heard that the spirit of the gods(AH) is in you and that you have insight, intelligence and outstanding wisdom.(AI) 15 The wise men and enchanters were brought before me to read this writing and tell me what it means, but they could not explain it.(AJ) 16 Now I have heard that you are able to give interpretations and to solve difficult problems.(AK) If you can read this writing and tell me what it means, you will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around your neck,(AL) and you will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.”(AM)
17 Then Daniel answered the king, “You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else.(AN) Nevertheless, I will read the writing for the king and tell him what it means.
18 “Your Majesty, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar(AO) sovereignty and greatness and glory and splendor.(AP) 19 Because of the high position he gave him, all the nations and peoples of every language dreaded and feared him. Those the king wanted to put to death, he put to death;(AQ) those he wanted to spare, he spared; those he wanted to promote, he promoted; and those he wanted to humble, he humbled.(AR) 20 But when his heart became arrogant and hardened with pride,(AS) he was deposed from his royal throne(AT) and stripped(AU) of his glory.(AV) 21 He was driven away from people and given the mind of an animal; he lived with the wild donkeys and ate grass like the ox; and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until he acknowledged that the Most High God is sovereign(AW) over all kingdoms on earth and sets over them anyone he wishes.(AX)
22 “But you, Belshazzar, his son,[d] have not humbled(AY) yourself, though you knew all this. 23 Instead, you have set yourself up against(AZ) the Lord of heaven. You had the goblets from his temple brought to you, and you and your nobles, your wives(BA) and your concubines drank wine from them. You praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand.(BB) But you did not honor the God who holds in his hand your life(BC) and all your ways.(BD) 24 Therefore he sent the hand that wrote the inscription.
25 “This is the inscription that was written:
mene, mene, tekel, parsin
26 “Here is what these words mean:
Mene[e]: God has numbered the days(BE) of your reign and brought it to an end.(BF)
27 Tekel[f]: You have been weighed on the scales(BG) and found wanting.(BH)
28 Peres[g]: Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes(BI) and Persians.”(BJ)
29 Then at Belshazzar’s command, Daniel was clothed in purple, a gold chain was placed around his neck,(BK) and he was proclaimed the third highest ruler in the kingdom.(BL)
30 That very night Belshazzar,(BM) king(BN) of the Babylonians,[h] was slain,(BO) 31 and Darius(BP) the Mede(BQ) took over the kingdom, at the age of sixty-two.[i]
Daniel in the Den of Lions
6 [j]It pleased Darius(BR) to appoint 120 satraps(BS) to rule throughout the kingdom, 2 with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel.(BT) The satraps were made accountable(BU) to them so that the king might not suffer loss. 3 Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.(BV) 4 At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges(BW) against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. 5 Finally these men said, “We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.”(BX)
6 So these administrators and satraps went as a group to the king and said: “May King Darius live forever!(BY) 7 The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors(BZ) have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or human being during the next thirty days, except to you, Your Majesty, shall be thrown into the lions’ den.(CA) 8 Now, Your Majesty, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”(CB) 9 So King Darius put the decree in writing.
10 Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward(CC) Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees(CD) and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.(CE) 11 Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help.(CF) 12 So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: “Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human being except to you, Your Majesty, would be thrown into the lions’ den?”
The king answered, “The decree stands—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”(CG)
13 Then they said to the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah,(CH) pays no attention(CI) to you, Your Majesty, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day.” 14 When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed;(CJ) he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him.
15 Then the men went as a group to King Darius and said to him, “Remember, Your Majesty, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed.”(CK)
16 So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den.(CL) The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue(CM) you!”
17 A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed(CN) it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel’s situation might not be changed. 18 Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating(CO) and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep.(CP)
19 At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. 20 When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?”(CQ)
21 Daniel answered, “May the king live forever!(CR) 22 My God sent his angel,(CS) and he shut the mouths of the lions.(CT) They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight.(CU) Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.”
23 The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound(CV) was found on him, because he had trusted(CW) in his God.
24 At the king’s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions’ den,(CX) along with their wives and children.(CY) And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.(CZ)
25 Then King Darius wrote to all the nations and peoples of every language(DA) in all the earth:
“May you prosper greatly!(DB)
26 “I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence(DC) the God of Daniel.(DD)
“For he is the living God(DE)
and he endures forever;(DF)
his kingdom will not be destroyed,
his dominion will never end.(DG)
27 He rescues and he saves;(DH)
he performs signs and wonders(DI)
in the heavens and on the earth.
He has rescued Daniel
from the power of the lions.”(DJ)
28 So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus[k](DK) the Persian.(DL)
Daniel’s Dream of Four Beasts
7 In the first year of Belshazzar(DM) king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream, and visions(DN) passed through his mind(DO) as he was lying in bed.(DP) He wrote(DQ) down the substance of his dream.
2 Daniel said: “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me were the four winds of heaven(DR) churning up the great sea. 3 Four great beasts,(DS) each different from the others, came up out of the sea.
4 “The first was like a lion,(DT) and it had the wings of an eagle.(DU) I watched until its wings were torn off and it was lifted from the ground so that it stood on two feet like a human being, and the mind of a human was given to it.
5 “And there before me was a second beast, which looked like a bear. It was raised up on one of its sides, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told, ‘Get up and eat your fill of flesh!’(DV)
6 “After that, I looked, and there before me was another beast, one that looked like a leopard.(DW) And on its back it had four wings like those of a bird. This beast had four heads, and it was given authority to rule.
7 “After that, in my vision(DX) at night I looked, and there before me was a fourth beast—terrifying and frightening and very powerful. It had large iron(DY) teeth; it crushed and devoured its victims and trampled(DZ) underfoot whatever was left.(EA) It was different from all the former beasts, and it had ten horns.(EB)
8 “While I was thinking about the horns, there before me was another horn, a little(EC) one, which came up among them; and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. This horn had eyes like the eyes of a human being(ED) and a mouth that spoke boastfully.(EE)
9 “As I looked,
“thrones were set in place,
and the Ancient of Days(EF) took his seat.(EG)
His clothing was as white as snow;(EH)
the hair of his head was white like wool.(EI)
His throne was flaming with fire,
and its wheels(EJ) were all ablaze.
10 A river of fire(EK) was flowing,
coming out from before him.(EL)
Thousands upon thousands attended him;
ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.
The court was seated,
and the books(EM) were opened.
11 “Then I continued to watch because of the boastful words the horn was speaking.(EN) I kept looking until the beast was slain and its body destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire.(EO) 12 (The other beasts had been stripped of their authority, but were allowed to live for a period of time.)
13 “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man,[l](EP) coming(EQ) with the clouds of heaven.(ER) He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority,(ES) glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him.(ET) His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom(EU) is one that will never be destroyed.(EV)
The Interpretation of the Dream
15 “I, Daniel, was troubled in spirit, and the visions that passed through my mind disturbed me.(EW) 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(EX) of these things: 17 ‘The four great beasts are four kings that will rise from the earth. 18 But the holy people(EY) of the Most High will receive the kingdom(EZ) and will possess it forever—yes, for ever and ever.’(FA)
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(FB) 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.(FC) 21 As I watched, this horn was waging war against the holy people and defeating them,(FD) 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.(FE)
23 “He gave me this explanation: ‘The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it.(FF) 24 The ten horns(FG) are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings. 25 He will speak against the Most High(FH) and oppress his holy people(FI) and try to change the set times(FJ) and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time.[m](FK)
26 “‘But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed(FL) forever. 27 Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of all the kingdoms(FM) under heaven will be handed over to the holy people(FN) of the Most High.(FO) His kingdom will be an everlasting(FP) kingdom, and all rulers will worship(FQ) and obey him.’
28 “This is the end of the matter. I, Daniel, was deeply troubled(FR) by my thoughts,(FS) and my face turned pale,(FT) but I kept the matter to myself.”
Daniel’s Vision of a Ram and a Goat
8 In the third year of King Belshazzar’s(FU) reign, I, Daniel, had a vision,(FV) after the one that had already appeared to me. 2 In my vision I saw myself in the citadel of Susa(FW) in the province of Elam;(FX) in the vision I was beside the Ulai Canal. 3 I looked up,(FY) and there before me was a ram(FZ) with two horns, standing beside the canal, and the horns were long. One of the horns was longer than the other but grew up later. 4 I watched the ram as it charged toward the west and the north and the south. No animal could stand against it, and none could rescue from its power.(GA) It did as it pleased(GB) and became great.
5 As I was thinking about this, suddenly a goat with a prominent horn between its eyes came from the west, crossing the whole earth without touching the ground. 6 It came toward the two-horned ram I had seen standing beside the canal and charged at it in great rage. 7 I saw it attack the ram furiously, striking the ram and shattering its two horns. The ram was powerless to stand against it; the goat knocked it to the ground and trampled on it,(GC) and none could rescue the ram from its power.(GD) 8 The goat became very great, but at the height of its power the large horn was broken off,(GE) and in its place four prominent horns grew up toward the four winds of heaven.(GF)
9 Out of one of them came another horn, which started small(GG) but grew in power to the south and to the east and toward the Beautiful Land.(GH) 10 It grew until it reached(GI) the host of the heavens, and it threw some of the starry host down to the earth(GJ) and trampled(GK) on them. 11 It set itself up to be as great as the commander(GL) of the army of the Lord;(GM) it took away the daily sacrifice(GN) from the Lord, and his sanctuary was thrown down.(GO) 12 Because of rebellion, the Lord’s people[n] and the daily sacrifice were given over to it. It prospered in everything it did, and truth was thrown to the ground.(GP)
13 Then I heard a holy one(GQ) speaking, and another holy one said to him, “How long will it take for the vision to be fulfilled(GR)—the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, the rebellion that causes desolation, the surrender of the sanctuary and the trampling underfoot(GS) of the Lord’s people?”
14 He said to me, “It will take 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary will be reconsecrated.”(GT)
The Interpretation of the Vision
15 While I, Daniel, was watching the vision(GU) and trying to understand it, there before me stood one who looked like a man.(GV) 16 And I heard a man’s voice from the Ulai(GW) calling, “Gabriel,(GX) tell this man the meaning of the vision.”(GY)
17 As he came near the place where I was standing, I was terrified and fell prostrate.(GZ) “Son of man,”[o] he said to me, “understand that the vision concerns the time of the end.”(HA)
18 While he was speaking to me, I was in a deep sleep, with my face to the ground.(HB) Then he touched me and raised me to my feet.(HC)
19 He said: “I am going to tell you what will happen later in the time of wrath,(HD) because the vision concerns the appointed time(HE) of the end.[p](HF) 20 The two-horned ram that you saw represents the kings of Media and Persia.(HG) 21 The shaggy goat is the king of Greece,(HH) and the large horn between its eyes is the first king.(HI) 22 The four horns that replaced the one that was broken off represent four kingdoms that will emerge from his nation but will not have the same power.
23 “In the latter part of their reign, when rebels have become completely wicked, a fierce-looking king, a master of intrigue, will arise. 24 He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause astounding devastation and will succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy those who are mighty, the holy people.(HJ) 25 He will cause deceit(HK) to prosper, and he will consider himself superior. When they feel secure, he will destroy many and take his stand against the Prince of princes.(HL) Yet he will be destroyed, but not by human power.(HM)
26 “The vision of the evenings and mornings that has been given you is true,(HN) but seal(HO) up the vision, for it concerns the distant future.”(HP)
27 I, Daniel, was worn out. I lay exhausted(HQ) for several days. Then I got up and went about the king’s business.(HR) I was appalled(HS) by the vision; it was beyond understanding.
Footnotes
- Daniel 5:2 Or ancestor; or predecessor; also in verses 11, 13 and 18
- Daniel 5:7 Or Chaldeans; also in verse 11
- Daniel 5:10 Or queen mother
- Daniel 5:22 Or descendant; or successor
- Daniel 5:26 Mene can mean numbered or mina (a unit of money).
- Daniel 5:27 Tekel can mean weighed or shekel.
- Daniel 5:28 Peres (the singular of Parsin) can mean divided or Persia or a half mina or a half shekel.
- Daniel 5:30 Or Chaldeans
- Daniel 5:31 In Aramaic texts this verse (5:31) is numbered 6:1.
- Daniel 6:1 In Aramaic texts 6:1-28 is numbered 6:2-29.
- Daniel 6:28 Or Darius, that is, the reign of Cyrus
- 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.
- Daniel 7:25 Or for a year, two years and half a year
- Daniel 8:12 Or rebellion, the armies
- Daniel 8:17 The Hebrew phrase ben adam means human being. The phrase son of man is retained as a form of address here because of its possible association with “Son of Man” in the New Testament.
- Daniel 8:19 Or because the end will be at the appointed time
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