Daniel 7:15-8:25

New International Version

The Interpretation of the Dream

¹⁵ “I, Daniel, was troubled in spirit, and the visions that passed through my mind disturbed me.^{(A) 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^(B) of these things: ¹⁷ ‘The four great beasts are four kings that will rise from the earth. ¹⁸ But the holy people^(C) of the Most High will receive the kingdom^(D) and will possess it forever—yes, for ever and ever.’^(E)

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^(F) 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.^{(G) 21} As I watched, this horn was waging war against the holy people and defeating them,^{(H) 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.^(I)

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.^{(J) 24} The ten horns^(K) 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^(L) and oppress his holy people^(M) and try to change the set times^(N) and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time.^[a](O)

²⁶ “‘But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed^(P) forever. ²⁷ Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of all the kingdoms^(Q) under heaven will be handed over to the holy people^(R) of the Most High.^(S) His kingdom will be an everlasting^(T) kingdom, and all rulers will worship^(U) and obey him.’

²⁸ “This is the end of the matter. I, Daniel, was deeply troubled^(V) by my thoughts,^(W) and my face turned pale,^(X) 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^(Y) reign, I, Daniel, had a vision,^(Z) after the one that had already appeared to me. ² In my vision I saw myself in the citadel of Susa^(AA) in the province of Elam;^(AB) in the vision I was beside the Ulai Canal. ³ I looked up,^(AC) and there before me was a ram^(AD) 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.^(AE) It did as it pleased^(AF) 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,^(AG) and none could rescue the ram from its power.^{(AH) 8} The goat became very great, but at the height of its power the large horn was broken off,^(AI) and in its place four prominent horns grew up toward the four winds of heaven.^(AJ)

⁹ Out of one of them came another horn, which started small^(AK) but grew in power to the south and to the east and toward the Beautiful Land.^{(AL) 10} It grew until it reached^(AM) the host of the heavens, and it threw some of the starry host down to the earth^(AN) and trampled^(AO) on them. ¹¹ It set itself up to be as great as the commander^(AP) of the army of the Lord;^(AQ) it took away the daily sacrifice^(AR) from the Lord, and his sanctuary was thrown down.^{(AS) 12} Because of rebellion, the Lord’s people^[b] and the daily sacrifice were given over to it. It prospered in everything it did, and truth was thrown to the ground.^(AT)

¹³ Then I heard a holy one^(AU) speaking, and another holy one said to him, “How long will it take for the vision to be fulfilled^(AV)—the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, the rebellion that causes desolation, the surrender of the sanctuary and the trampling underfoot^(AW) of the Lord’s people?”

¹⁴ He said to me, “It will take 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary will be reconsecrated.”^(AX)

The Interpretation of the Vision

¹⁵ While I, Daniel, was watching the vision^(AY) and trying to understand it, there before me stood one who looked like a man.^{(AZ) 16} And I heard a man’s voice from the Ulai^(BA) calling, “Gabriel,^(BB) tell this man the meaning of the vision.”^(BC)

¹⁷ As he came near the place where I was standing, I was terrified and fell prostrate.^(BD) “Son of man,”^[c] he said to me, “understand that the vision concerns the time of the end.”^(BE)

¹⁸ While he was speaking to me, I was in a deep sleep, with my face to the ground.^(BF) Then he touched me and raised me to my feet.^(BG)

¹⁹ He said: “I am going to tell you what will happen later in the time of wrath,^(BH) because the vision concerns the appointed time^(BI) of the end.^{[d](BJ) 20} The two-horned ram that you saw represents the kings of Media and Persia.^{(BK) 21} The shaggy goat is the king of Greece,^(BL) and the large horn between its eyes is the first king.^{(BM) 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.^{(BN) 25} He will cause deceit^(BO) 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.^(BP) Yet he will be destroyed, but not by human power.^(BQ)