Daniel 7
New Living Translation
Daniel’s Vision of Four Beasts
7 Earlier, during the first year of King Belshazzar’s reign in Babylon,[a] Daniel had a dream and saw visions as he lay in his bed. He wrote down the dream, and this is what he saw.
2 In my vision that night, I, Daniel, saw a great storm churning the surface of a great sea, with strong winds blowing from every direction. 3 Then four huge beasts came up out of the water, each different from the others.
4 The first beast was like a lion with eagles’ wings. As I watched, its wings were pulled off, and it was left standing with its two hind feet on the ground, like a human being. And it was given a human mind.
5 Then I saw a second beast, and it looked like a bear. It was rearing up on one side, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. And I heard a voice saying to it, “Get up! Devour the flesh of many people!”
6 Then the third of these strange beasts appeared, and it looked like a leopard. It had four bird’s wings on its back, and it had four heads. Great authority was given to this beast.
7 Then in my vision that night, I saw a fourth beast—terrifying, dreadful, and very strong. It devoured and crushed its victims with huge iron teeth and trampled their remains beneath its feet. It was different from any of the other beasts, and it had ten horns.
8 As I was looking at the horns, suddenly another small horn appeared among them. Three of the first horns were torn out by the roots to make room for it. This little horn had eyes like human eyes and a mouth that was boasting arrogantly.
9 I watched as thrones were put in place
and the Ancient One[b] sat down to judge.
His clothing was as white as snow,
his hair like purest wool.
He sat on a fiery throne
with wheels of blazing fire,
10 and a river of fire was pouring out,
flowing from his presence.
Millions of angels ministered to him;
many millions stood to attend him.
Then the court began its session,
and the books were opened.
11 I continued to watch because I could hear the little horn’s boastful speech. I kept watching until the fourth beast was killed and its body was destroyed by fire. 12 The other three beasts had their authority taken from them, but they were allowed to live a while longer.[c]
13 As my vision continued that night, I saw someone like a son of man[d] coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient One and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, honor, and sovereignty over all the nations of the world, so that people of every race and nation and language would obey him. His rule is eternal—it will never end. His kingdom will never be destroyed.
The Vision Is Explained
15 I, Daniel, was troubled by all I had seen, and my visions terrified me. 16 So I approached one of those standing beside the throne and asked him what it all meant. He explained it to me like this: 17 “These four huge beasts represent four kingdoms that will arise from the earth. 18 But in the end, the holy people of the Most High will be given the kingdom, and they will rule forever and ever.”
19 Then I wanted to know the true meaning of the fourth beast, the one so different from the others and so terrifying. It had devoured and crushed its victims with iron teeth and bronze claws, trampling their remains beneath its feet. 20 I also asked about the ten horns on the fourth beast’s head and the little horn that came up afterward and destroyed three of the other horns. This horn had seemed greater than the others, and it had human eyes and a mouth that was boasting arrogantly. 21 As I watched, this horn was waging war against God’s holy people and was defeating them, 22 until the Ancient One—the Most High—came and judged in favor of his holy people. Then the time arrived for the holy people to take over the kingdom.
23 Then he said to me, “This fourth beast is the fourth world power that will rule the earth. It will be different from all the others. It will devour the whole world, trampling and crushing everything in its path. 24 Its ten horns are ten kings who will rule that empire. Then another king will arise, different from the other ten, who will subdue three of them. 25 He will defy the Most High and oppress the holy people of the Most High. He will try to change their sacred festivals and laws, and they will be placed under his control for a time, times, and half a time.
26 “But then the court will pass judgment, and all his power will be taken away and completely destroyed. 27 Then the sovereignty, power, and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be given to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom will last forever, and all rulers will serve and obey him.”
28 That was the end of the vision. I, Daniel, was terrified by my thoughts and my face was pale with fear, but I kept these things to myself.
Daniel 7
Legacy Standard Bible
The Vision of the Four Beasts
7 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel saw a (A)dream and visions in his head as he lay on his bed; then he (B)wrote the dream down and said the [a]following summary of the matter. 2 Daniel answered and 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 and had the wings of an eagle. I kept looking until its wings were plucked, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man; and a heart of a man was given to it. 5 And behold, another beast, a second one in the likeness of a bear. And it was raised up on one side, and three ribs were in its mouth between its teeth; and thus they said to it, ‘Arise, devour much meat!’ 6 After this I kept looking, and behold, another one, (G)like a leopard, which had on its [b]back four wings of a bird; the beast also had (H)four heads, and [c]dominion was given to it. 7 After this I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, a (I)fourth beast, fearsome and terrifying and extraordinarily 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 contemplating the horns, behold, (K)another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were pulled out by the roots before it; and behold, [d]this horn possessed eyes like the eyes of a man and (L)a mouth speaking great boasts.
The Ancient of Days
9 “I kept looking
Until (M)thrones were set up,
And the Ancient of Days was seated;
His (N)clothing was like white snow
And the (O)hair of His head like pure wool.
His (P)throne was [e]ablaze with fire,
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 attending Him,
And myriads upon myriads were standing before Him;
The (T)court sat,
And (U)the books were opened.
11 Then I kept looking because of the sound of the great 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 [f]fire. 12 As for the rest of the beasts, their [g]dominion was taken away, but an extension of life was given to them for an appointed season of time.
The Son of Man
13 “I kept looking in the night visions,
And behold, with the clouds of heaven
One like a (W)Son of Man was coming,
And He came up to the Ancient of Days
And came near before Him.
14 And to Him was given [h](X)dominion,
Glory, and (Y)a kingdom,
(Z)That all the peoples, nations, and men of every tongue
Might serve Him.
(AA)His [i]dominion is an everlasting [j]dominion
Which will not be taken away;
(AB)And His kingdom is one
Which will not be destroyed.
The Vision Interpreted
15 “As for me, Daniel, my spirit was distressed [k]within me, and the (AC)visions of my head kept (AD)alarming me. 16 I came near to one of those who were (AE)standing by and began seeking out from him the [l]exact meaning of all this. So he (AF)said it to 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 [m](AG)saints of the Highest One will (AH)receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, [n]for all ages to come.’
19 “Then I desired to know the [o]exact meaning of the (AI)fourth beast, which was different from all [p]the others, extraordinarily fearsome, 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 them fell, namely, that horn which had eyes and a mouth speaking great boasts and [q]which was larger in appearance than its associates. 21 I kept looking, and that horn was (AJ)waging war with the saints and overcoming them 22 until the Ancient of Days came and (AK)judgment was given in favor of the saints of the Highest One, and the season arrived when the saints took possession of the kingdom.
23 “Thus 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 tread it down and crush it. 24 As for the (AL)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 make low three kings. 25 He will (AM)speak words against the (AN)Most High and (AO)wear down the saints of the Highest One, and he will intend to make (AP)changes in seasons and in law; and [r]they will be given into his hand for a [s](AQ)time, [t]times, and half a [u]time. 26 But the court will sit for judgment, and his dominion will be (AR)taken away, [v]annihilated and destroyed [w]forever. 27 Then the [x](AS)reign, the dominion, and the greatness of all the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to the people of the saints of the Highest One; His kingdom will be an (AT)everlasting kingdom, and all the dominions will (AU)serve and obey Him.’
28 “[y]At this point the matter of this revelation ended. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts were (AV)greatly alarming me, and the [z]splendor of my face changed, but I (AW)kept the matter in my heart.”
Footnotes
- Daniel 7:1 Or beginning
- Daniel 7:6 Or sides
- Daniel 7:6 Or powerful reign; or in Heb powerful rule
- Daniel 7:8 Lit in this horn were eyes
- Daniel 7:9 Lit flames of fire
- Daniel 7:11 Lit of the fire
- Daniel 7:12 Or powerful reign; or in Heb powerful rule
- Daniel 7:14 Or powerful reign; or in Heb powerful rule
- Daniel 7:14 Or powerful reign; or in Heb powerful rule
- Daniel 7:14 Or powerful reign; or in Heb powerful rule
- Daniel 7:15 Lit in the midst of its sheath
- Daniel 7:16 Lit truth concerning
- Daniel 7:18 Lit holy ones, so in ch
- 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 7:25 The saints
- Daniel 7:25 Year(s)
- Daniel 7:25 Year(s)
- Daniel 7:25 Year(s)
- Daniel 7:26 Lit to annihilate and to destroy
- Daniel 7:26 Lit to the end
- Daniel 7:27 Or kingdom
- Daniel 7:28 Lit To here the end of the word
- Daniel 7:28 Lit brightness was changing upon me
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