Daniel 7
New American Standard Bible
Vision of the Four Beasts
7 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel saw a (A)dream and visions [a]in his mind as he lay on his bed; then he (B)wrote the dream down and told the [b]following summary of [c]it. 2 Daniel [d]said, “I was (C)looking in my vision by night, and behold, the (D)four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. 3 And four great (E)beasts were coming up from the sea, different from one another. 4 The first was (F)like a lion but had the wings of an eagle. I kept looking until its wings were plucked, and it was lifted up from the ground and set up on two feet like a man; a human [e]mind also was given to it. 5 And behold, another beast, a second one, resembling a bear. And it was raised up on one side, and three ribs were in its mouth between its teeth; and they said this to it: ‘Arise, devour much meat!’ 6 After this I kept looking, and behold, another one, (G)like a leopard, which had on its [f]back four wings of a bird; the beast also had (H)four heads, and dominion was given to it. 7 After this I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, a (I)fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and extremely strong; and it had large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed, and trampled down the remainder with its feet; and it was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had (J)ten horns. 8 While I was thinking about the horns, behold, (K)another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the previous horns were plucked out before it; and behold, [g]this horn possessed eyes like human eyes, and (L)a mouth uttering great boasts.
The Ancient of Days Reigns
9 “I kept looking
Until (M)thrones were set up,
And the Ancient of Days took His seat;
His (N)garment was white as snow,
And the (O)hair of His head like pure wool.
His (P)throne was [h]ablaze with flames,
Its (Q)wheels were a burning fire.
10 A river of (R)fire was flowing
And coming out from before Him;
(S)Thousands upon thousands were serving Him,
And myriads upon myriads were standing before Him;
The (T)court [i]convened,
And (U)the books were opened.
11 Then I kept looking because of the sound of the [j]boastful words which the horn was speaking; I kept looking until the beast was killed, and its body was destroyed and given to the (V)burning [k]fire. 12 As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but an extension of life was granted to them for an appointed period of time.
The Son of Man Presented
13 “I kept looking in the night visions,
And behold, with the clouds of heaven
One like a son of man was coming,
And He came up to the Ancient of Days
And was presented before Him.
14 And to Him was given (W)dominion,
Honor, and [l](X)a kingdom,
(Y)So that all the peoples, nations, and populations of all [m]languages
Might serve Him.
(Z)His dominion is an everlasting dominion
Which will not pass away;
(AA)And His kingdom is one
Which will not be destroyed.
The Vision Interpreted
15 “As for me, Daniel, my spirit was distressed within [n]me, and the (AB)visions [o]in my mind kept (AC)alarming me. 16 I approached one of those who were (AD)standing by and began requesting of him the [p]exact meaning of all this. So he (AE)told me and made known to me the interpretation of these things: 17 ‘These great beasts, which are four in number, are four kings who will arise from the earth. 18 But the [q](AF)saints of the Highest One will (AG)receive the kingdom and take possession of the kingdom forever, [r]for all ages to come.’
19 “Then I desired to know the [s]exact meaning of the (AH)fourth beast, which was different from all [t]the others, exceedingly dreadful, with its teeth of iron and its claws of bronze, and which devoured, crushed, and trampled down the remainder with its feet, 20 and the meaning of the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up, and before which three of the horns fell, namely, that horn which had eyes and a mouth uttering great boasts, and [u]which was larger in appearance than its associates. 21 I kept looking, and that horn was (AI)waging war with the [v]saints and prevailing against them, 22 until the Ancient of Days came and (AJ)judgment was [w]passed in favor of the [x]saints of the Highest One, and the time arrived when the [y]saints took possession of the kingdom.
23 “This is what he said: ‘The fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom on the earth which will be different from all the other kingdoms, and will devour the whole earth and trample it down and crush it. 24 As for the (AK)ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings will arise; and another will arise after them, and he will be different from the previous ones and will [z]humble three kings. 25 And he will [aa](AL)speak against the (AM)Most High and (AN)wear down the [ab]saints of the Highest One, and he will intend to make (AO)alterations in times and in law; and [ac]they will be handed over to him for a [ad](AP)time, [ae]times, and half a [af]time. 26 But the court will [ag]convene for judgment, and his dominion will be (AQ)taken away, [ah]annihilated and destroyed [ai]forever. 27 Then the [aj](AR)sovereignty, the dominion, and the greatness of all the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to the people of the [ak]saints of the Highest One; His kingdom will be an (AS)everlasting kingdom, and all the empires will (AT)serve and obey Him.’
28 “[al]At this point the revelation ended. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts were (AU)greatly alarming me and my [am]face became pale, but I (AV)kept the matter [an]to myself.”
Footnotes
- Daniel 7:1 Lit of his head
- Daniel 7:1 Or beginning
- Daniel 7:1 Lit words
- Daniel 7:2 Lit began speaking and said
- Daniel 7:4 Lit heart
- Daniel 7:6 Or sides
- Daniel 7:8 Lit in this horn were eyes
- Daniel 7:9 Lit flames of fire
- Daniel 7:10 Lit took its place
- Daniel 7:11 Lit great
- Daniel 7:11 Lit of the fire
- Daniel 7:14 Or sovereignty
- Daniel 7:14 Lit tongues
- Daniel 7:15 Lit its sheath
- Daniel 7:15 Lit of my head
- Daniel 7:16 Lit what was certain
- Daniel 7:18 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
- Daniel 7:18 Lit and unto the age of the ages
- Daniel 7:19 Lit truth concerning
- Daniel 7:19 Lit of them
- Daniel 7:20 Lit its appearance was larger
- Daniel 7:21 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
- Daniel 7:22 Lit given for
- Daniel 7:22 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
- Daniel 7:22 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
- Daniel 7:24 Or humiliate
- Daniel 7:25 Lit speak words
- Daniel 7:25 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
- Daniel 7:25 I.e., the saints
- Daniel 7:25 I.e., year(s)
- Daniel 7:25 I.e., year(s)
- Daniel 7:25 I.e., year(s)
- Daniel 7:26 Lit take its place
- Daniel 7:26 Lit to annihilate and to destroy
- Daniel 7:26 Lit to the end
- Daniel 7:27 Or kingdom
- Daniel 7:27 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
- Daniel 7:28 Lit To here the end of the word
- Daniel 7:28 Lit brightness was changing upon me
- Daniel 7:28 Lit in my heart
Daniel 7
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Visions of the Four Beasts
7 In the first year of King Belshazzar of Babylon, Daniel had a dream and visions of his head as he lay in bed. Then he wrote down the dream:[a](A) 2 I,[b] Daniel, saw in my vision by night the four winds of heaven stirring up the great sea, 3 and four great beasts came up out of the sea, different from one another.(B) 4 The first was like a lion and had eagles’ wings. Then, as I watched, its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a human being, and a human mind was given to it.(C) 5 Another beast appeared, a second one, that looked like a bear. It was raised up on one side, had three tusks[c] in its mouth among its teeth, and was told, “Arise, devour many bodies!” 6 After this, as I watched, another appeared, like a leopard. The beast had four wings of a bird on its back and four heads, and dominion was given to it.(D) 7 After this I saw in the visions by night a fourth beast, terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth and was devouring, breaking in pieces, and stamping what was left with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that preceded it, and it had ten horns.(E) 8 I was considering the horns when another horn appeared, a little one that came up among them. Three of the original horns were plucked up from before it. There were eyes like human eyes in this horn and a mouth speaking arrogantly.(F)
Judgment before the Ancient One
9 As I watched,
thrones were set in place,
and an Ancient One[d] took his throne;
his clothing was white as snow
and the hair of his head like pure wool;
his throne was fiery flames,
and its wheels were burning fire.(G)
10 A stream of fire issued
and flowed out from his presence.
A thousand thousands served him,
and ten thousand times ten thousand stood attending him.
The court sat in judgment,
and the books were opened.(H)
11 I watched then because of the noise of the arrogant words that the horn was speaking. And as I watched, the beast was put to death and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire.(I) 12 As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time. 13 As I watched in the night visions,
I saw one like a human being[e]
coming with the clouds of heaven.
And he came to the Ancient One[f]
and was presented before him.(J)
14 To him was given dominion
and glory and kingship,
that all peoples, nations, and languages
should serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that shall not pass away,
and his kingship is one
that shall never be destroyed.(K)
Daniel’s Visions Interpreted
15 As for me, Daniel, my spirit was troubled within me,[g] and the visions of my head terrified me.(L) 16 I approached one of the attendants to ask him the truth concerning all this. So he said that he would disclose to me the interpretation of the matter:(M) 17 “As for these four great beasts, four kings shall arise out of the earth. 18 But the holy ones of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever—forever and ever.”(N)
19 Then I desired to know the truth concerning the fourth beast, which was different from all the rest, exceedingly terrifying, with its teeth of iron and claws of bronze, and which devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet; 20 and concerning the ten horns that were on its head, and concerning the other horn that came up and before which three others had fallen—the horn that had eyes and a mouth that spoke arrogantly and that seemed greater than the others. 21 As I looked, that horn made war with the holy ones and was prevailing over them,(O) 22 until the Ancient One[h] came; then judgment was given for the holy ones of the Most High, and the time arrived when the holy ones gained possession of the kingdom.(P)
23 This is what he said: “As for the fourth beast,
there shall be a fourth kingdom on earth
that shall be different from all the other kingdoms;
it shall devour the whole earth
and trample it down and break it to pieces.(Q)
24 As for the ten horns,
out of this kingdom ten kings shall arise,
and another shall arise after them.
This one shall be different from the former ones
and shall put down three kings.(R)
25 He shall speak words against the Most High,
shall wear out the holy ones of the Most High,
and shall attempt to change the ritual calendar and the law,
and they shall be given into his power
for a time, two times,[i] and half a time.(S)
26 Then the court shall sit in judgment,
and his dominion shall be taken away,
to be consumed and totally destroyed.(T)
27 The kingship and dominion
and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven
shall be given to the people of the holy ones of the Most High;
their kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom,
and all dominions shall serve and obey them.”(U)
28 Here the account ends. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly terrified me, and my face turned pale, but I kept the matter in my mind.(V)
Footnotes
- 7.1 Q ms Theodotion: MT adds the beginning of the words; he said
- 7.2 Theodotion: Aram Daniel answered and said, I
- 7.5 Or ribs
- 7.9 Aram an Ancient of Days
- 7.13 Aram one like a son of man
- 7.13 Aram the Ancient of Days
- 7.15 Aram troubled in its sheath
- 7.22 Aram the Ancient of Days
- 7.25 Aram a time, times
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.