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Daniel 7-9
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.”

Vision of the Ram and Goat

8 In the third year of the reign of Belshazzar the king, a vision appeared to me, [ao]Daniel, subsequent to the one which appeared to me [ap]previously. 2 I (AW)looked in the vision, and while I was looking, I was in the citadel of (AX)Susa, which is in the province of (AY)Elam; and I looked in the vision, and I myself was beside the Ulai Canal. 3 Then I raised my eyes and looked, and behold, a (AZ)ram which had two horns was standing in front of the canal. Now the two horns were [aq]long, but one was [ar]longer than the other, with the [as]longer one coming up last. 4 I saw the ram (BA)butting westward, northward, and southward, and no other beasts could stand against him nor was there anyone to rescue from his [at]power, but (BB)he did as he pleased and made himself great.

5 While I was observing, behold, a male goat was coming from the west over the surface of the entire earth without touching the ground; and the goat had a (BC)prominent horn between his eyes. 6 He came up to the ram that had the two horns, which I had seen standing in front of the canal, and rushed at him in his mighty wrath. 7 And I saw him come up beside the ram, and he was enraged at him; and he struck the ram and smashed his two horns, and the ram had no strength to withstand him. So he hurled him to the ground and trampled on him, and there was no one to rescue the ram from his [au]power. 8 Then the male goat made himself exceedingly great. But once (BD)he became powerful, the (BE)large horn was broken; and in its place four prominent horns came up toward the (BF)four winds of heaven.

The Little Horn

9 And out of one of them came a rather (BG)small horn which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the [av](BH)Beautiful Land. 10 It grew up to the heavenly [aw]lights, and some of the [ax]lights, [ay]that is, some of the (BI)stars it threw down to the earth, and it (BJ)trampled them. 11 It even (BK)exalted itself [az]to be equal with the [ba]Commander of the army; and it removed the (BL)regular sacrifice from Him, and the place of His sanctuary was overthrown. 12 And because of [bb]an offense the army will be given to the horn along with the regular sacrifice; and it will (BM)hurl truth to the ground and do as it pleases and be successful. 13 Then I heard a (BN)holy one speaking, and another holy one said to that particular one who was speaking, “(BO)How long will the vision about the regular sacrifice apply, [bc]while the offense causes horror, so as to allow both the sanctuary and the army [bd]to be (BP)trampled?” 14 And he said to me, “For (BQ)2,300 evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary will be [be]properly restored.”

Interpretation of the Vision

15 When (BR)I, Daniel, had seen the vision, I sought [bf]to understand it; and behold, standing before me was one [bg]who looked like a (BS)man. 16 And I heard the voice of a man between the banks of Ulai, and he called out and said, “(BT)Gabriel, explain the vision to this man.” 17 So he came near to where I was standing, and when he came I was frightened and (BU)fell on my face; and he said to me, “Son of man, understand that the vision pertains to the (BV)time of the end.”

18 Now while he was talking with me, I was (BW)dazed with my face to the ground; but he (BX)touched me and made me stand at my place. 19 And he said, “Behold, I am going to (BY)inform you of what will occur at the final period of the indignation, because it pertains to the appointed time of the end.

The Ram’s Identity

20 The (BZ)ram which you saw with the two horns represents the kings of Media and Persia.

The Goat

21 The shaggy [bh]goat represents the [bi]kingdom of Greece, and the large horn that is between his eyes is the first king. 22 The (CA)broken horn and the four horns that came up in its place represent four kingdoms which will arise from his nation, although not with his power.

23 And in the latter period of their [bj]dominion,
When the wrongdoers have [bk]run their course,
A king will arise,
[bl]Insolent and skilled in [bm]intrigue.
24 And his power will be mighty, but not by his own power,
And he will [bn](CB)destroy to an extraordinary degree
And be successful and do as he pleases;
He will [bo]destroy mighty men and [bp]the holy people.
25 And through his shrewdness
He will make deceit a success by his [bq]influence;
And he will make himself great in his [br]own mind,
And he will [bs]destroy many while they are [bt]at ease.
He will even [bu](CC)oppose the Prince of princes,
But he will be broken (CD)without [bv]human agency.
26 And the vision of the evenings and mornings
Which has been told is (CE)true;
But as for you, (CF)keep the vision secret,
Because it pertains to many (CG)days in the future.”

27 Then I, Daniel, was [bw](CH)exhausted and sick for days. Then I got up and (CI)carried on the king’s business; but I was astounded at the vision, and there was no one to explain it.

Daniel’s Prayer for His People

9 In the first year of (CJ)Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of Median descent, who was made king over the kingdom of the Chaldeans— 2 in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, observed in the books the number of the years which was revealed as the word of the Lord to (CK)Jeremiah the prophet for the completion of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, (CL)seventy years. 3 So I gave my [bx]attention to the Lord God, to seek Him by prayer and pleading, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. 4 I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed, and said, “Oh, Lord, the (CM)great and awesome God, who (CN)keeps His covenant and faithfulness for those who love Him and keep His commandments, 5 (CO)we have sinned, we have done wrong, and [by]acted wickedly and (CP)rebelled, even (CQ)turning aside from Your commandments and ordinances. 6 Moreover, we have not (CR)listened to Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings, our leaders, our fathers, and all the people of the land.

7 “(CS)Righteousness belongs to You, Lord, but to us [bz](CT)open shame, as it is this day—to the men of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and all Israel, those who are nearby and those who are far away in (CU)all the countries to which You have driven them, because of their unfaithful deeds which they have committed against You. 8 [ca]Open shame belongs to us, Lord, to our kings, our leaders, and our fathers, because we have sinned against You. 9 To the Lord our God belong (CV)compassion and forgiveness, [cb]because we have (CW)rebelled against Him; 10 and we have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in His [cc]teachings which He (CX)set before us through His servants the prophets. 11 Indeed, (CY)all Israel has violated Your Law and turned aside, not obeying Your voice; so the (CZ)curse has gushed forth on us, along with the oath which is written in the Law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against Him. 12 So He has (DA)confirmed His words which He had spoken against us and against our [cd](DB)rulers who ruled us, to bring on us great disaster; for under the entire heaven there has (DC)not been done anything like what was done in Jerusalem. 13 Just as it is written in the (DD)Law of Moses, all this disaster has come on us; yet we have (DE)not [ce]sought the favor of the Lord our God by (DF)turning from our wrongdoing and [cf]giving attention to Your truth. 14 So the Lord has [cg](DG)kept the disaster in store and brought it on us; for the Lord our God is (DH)righteous with respect to all His deeds which He has done, but we have not obeyed His voice.

15 “And now, Lord, our God, You who (DI)brought Your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand and (DJ)made a name for Yourself, as it is this day—we have sinned, we have been wicked. 16 Lord, in accordance with all Your [ch]righteous acts, let now Your (DK)anger and Your wrath turn away from Your city Jerusalem, Your (DL)holy mountain; for because of our sins and the wrongdoings of our fathers, Jerusalem and Your people have become an (DM)object of taunting to all those around us. 17 So now, our God, listen to the prayer of Your servant and to his pleas, and for [ci]Your sake, Lord, (DN)let Your face shine on Your (DO)desolate sanctuary. 18 My God, (DP)incline Your ear and hear! Open Your eyes and (DQ)see our desolations and the city which is (DR)called by Your name; for we are not [cj](DS)presenting our pleas before You based on [ck]any merits of our own, but based on Your great compassion. 19 Lord, hear! Lord, forgive! Lord, listen and take action! For Your own sake, my God, (DT)do not delay, because Your city and Your people are called by Your name.”

Gabriel Brings an Answer

20 While I was still (DU)speaking and praying, and (DV)confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and [cl]presenting my plea before the Lord my God in behalf of the holy mountain of my God, 21 while I was still speaking in prayer, the man (DW)Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision [cm]previously, [cn]came to me [co]in my extreme weariness about the time of the (DX)evening offering. 22 And he instructed me and talked with me and said, “Daniel, I have come now to give you insight with (DY)understanding. 23 At the (DZ)beginning of your pleas the [cp]command was issued, and I have come to tell you, because you are [cq](EA)highly esteemed; so pay attention to the message and gain (EB)understanding of the vision.

Seventy Weeks and the Messiah

24 “Seventy [cr](EC)weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to [cs]finish the wrongdoing, to [ct]make an end of sin, to (ED)make atonement for guilt, to bring in (EE)everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and [cu]prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy Place. 25 So you are to know and understand that from the issuing of a [cv](EF)decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem, until [cw](EG)Messiah the (EH)Prince, there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with [cx]streets and moat, even in times of distress. 26 Then after the sixty-two weeks, the [cy]Messiah will be (EI)cut off and have [cz]nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will (EJ)destroy the city and the sanctuary. And [da]its end will come with a (EK)flood; even to the end [db]there will be war; desolations are determined. 27 And he will confirm a covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of [dc](EL)abominations will come the one who [dd]makes desolate, until a (EM)complete destruction, one that is [de]decreed, gushes forth on the one who [df]makes desolate.”

Footnotes

  1. Daniel 7:1 Lit of his head
  2. Daniel 7:1 Or beginning
  3. Daniel 7:1 Lit words
  4. Daniel 7:2 Lit began speaking and said
  5. Daniel 7:4 Lit heart
  6. Daniel 7:6 Or sides
  7. Daniel 7:8 Lit in this horn were eyes
  8. Daniel 7:9 Lit flames of fire
  9. Daniel 7:10 Lit took its place
  10. Daniel 7:11 Lit great
  11. Daniel 7:11 Lit of the fire
  12. Daniel 7:14 Or sovereignty
  13. Daniel 7:14 Lit tongues
  14. Daniel 7:15 Lit its sheath
  15. Daniel 7:15 Lit of my head
  16. Daniel 7:16 Lit what was certain
  17. Daniel 7:18 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
  18. Daniel 7:18 Lit and unto the age of the ages
  19. Daniel 7:19 Lit truth concerning
  20. Daniel 7:19 Lit of them
  21. Daniel 7:20 Lit its appearance was larger
  22. Daniel 7:21 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
  23. Daniel 7:22 Lit given for
  24. Daniel 7:22 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
  25. Daniel 7:22 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
  26. Daniel 7:24 Or humiliate
  27. Daniel 7:25 Lit speak words
  28. Daniel 7:25 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
  29. Daniel 7:25 I.e., the saints
  30. Daniel 7:25 I.e., year(s)
  31. Daniel 7:25 I.e., year(s)
  32. Daniel 7:25 I.e., year(s)
  33. Daniel 7:26 Lit take its place
  34. Daniel 7:26 Lit to annihilate and to destroy
  35. Daniel 7:26 Lit to the end
  36. Daniel 7:27 Or kingdom
  37. Daniel 7:27 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
  38. Daniel 7:28 Lit To here the end of the word
  39. Daniel 7:28 Lit brightness was changing upon me
  40. Daniel 7:28 Lit in my heart
  41. Daniel 8:1 Lit I, Daniel
  42. Daniel 8:1 Lit at the beginning
  43. Daniel 8:3 Lit high(er)
  44. Daniel 8:3 Lit high(er)
  45. Daniel 8:3 Lit high(er)
  46. Daniel 8:4 Lit hand
  47. Daniel 8:7 Lit hand
  48. Daniel 8:9 I.e., Israel
  49. Daniel 8:10 Lit host
  50. Daniel 8:10 Lit host
  51. Daniel 8:10 Or and some of the stars
  52. Daniel 8:11 Lit up to the
  53. Daniel 8:11 Or Prince
  54. Daniel 8:12 Or a wrongdoing
  55. Daniel 8:13 Or possibly and the offense that horrifies
  56. Daniel 8:13 Lit as a trampling
  57. Daniel 8:14 Lit justified
  58. Daniel 8:15 Lit understanding
  59. Daniel 8:15 Lit like the appearance of a man
  60. Daniel 8:21 Lit buck
  61. Daniel 8:21 Lit king
  62. Daniel 8:23 Or kingdom
  63. Daniel 8:23 Lit finished
  64. Daniel 8:23 Lit Strong of face
  65. Daniel 8:23 Or ambiguous speech
  66. Daniel 8:24 Or ruin extraordinary things
  67. Daniel 8:24 Or ruin
  68. Daniel 8:24 Lit people of the saints
  69. Daniel 8:25 Lit hand
  70. Daniel 8:25 Lit heart
  71. Daniel 8:25 Or ruin
  72. Daniel 8:25 Or secure
  73. Daniel 8:25 Lit stand against
  74. Daniel 8:25 Lit hand
  75. Daniel 8:27 Or done in
  76. Daniel 9:3 Lit face
  77. Daniel 9:5 Or made ourselves guilty
  78. Daniel 9:7 Lit the shame of face
  79. Daniel 9:8 Lit The shame of face
  80. Daniel 9:9 Or though
  81. Daniel 9:10 Or laws
  82. Daniel 9:12 Lit judges who judged us
  83. Daniel 9:13 Lit softened the face of
  84. Daniel 9:13 Or having insight into
  85. Daniel 9:14 Lit watched over the evil
  86. Daniel 9:16 Lit righteousnesses
  87. Daniel 9:17 Lit the sake of the Lord
  88. Daniel 9:18 Lit casting down
  89. Daniel 9:18 Lit our righteousnesses
  90. Daniel 9:20 Lit casting down
  91. Daniel 9:21 Lit at the beginning
  92. Daniel 9:21 Lit was reaching; or touching
  93. Daniel 9:21 Or in swift flight
  94. Daniel 9:23 Lit word went out
  95. Daniel 9:23 Lit desirable; or precious
  96. Daniel 9:24 Or units of seven, and so throughout the ch
  97. Daniel 9:24 Or bring to an end
  98. Daniel 9:24 Another reading is seal up sins
  99. Daniel 9:24 Lit prophet
  100. Daniel 9:25 Lit word
  101. Daniel 9:25 Or an anointed one
  102. Daniel 9:25 Or city square
  103. Daniel 9:26 Or anointed one
  104. Daniel 9:26 Or no one
  105. Daniel 9:26 Or his
  106. Daniel 9:26 Or war will be decreed for desolations
  107. Daniel 9:27 Or detestable things
  108. Daniel 9:27 Or causes horror
  109. Daniel 9:27 Or determined
  110. Daniel 9:27 Or causes horror
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Daniel 7-9
New International Version

Daniel’s Dream of Four Beasts

7 In the first year of Belshazzar(A) king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream, and visions(B) passed through his mind(C) as he was lying in bed.(D) He wrote(E) 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(F) churning up the great sea. 3 Four great beasts,(G) each different from the others, came up out of the sea.

4 “The first was like a lion,(H) and it had the wings of an eagle.(I) 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!’(J)

6 “After that, I looked, and there before me was another beast, one that looked like a leopard.(K) 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(L) at night I looked, and there before me was a fourth beast—terrifying and frightening and very powerful. It had large iron(M) teeth; it crushed and devoured its victims and trampled(N) underfoot whatever was left.(O) It was different from all the former beasts, and it had ten horns.(P)

8 “While I was thinking about the horns, there before me was another horn, a little(Q) 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(R) and a mouth that spoke boastfully.(S)

9 “As I looked,

“thrones were set in place,
    and the Ancient of Days(T) took his seat.(U)
His clothing was as white as snow;(V)
    the hair of his head was white like wool.(W)
His throne was flaming with fire,
    and its wheels(X) were all ablaze.
10 A river of fire(Y) was flowing,
    coming out from before him.(Z)
Thousands upon thousands attended him;
    ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.
The court was seated,
    and the books(AA) were opened.

11 “Then I continued to watch because of the boastful words the horn was speaking.(AB) I kept looking until the beast was slain and its body destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire.(AC) 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,[a](AD) coming(AE) with the clouds of heaven.(AF) He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority,(AG) glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him.(AH) His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom(AI) is one that will never be destroyed.(AJ)

The Interpretation of the Dream

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

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(AP) 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.(AQ) 21 As I watched, this horn was waging war against the holy people and defeating them,(AR) 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.(AS)

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.(AT) 24 The ten horns(AU) 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(AV) and oppress his holy people(AW) and try to change the set times(AX) and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time.[b](AY)

26 “‘But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed(AZ) forever. 27 Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of all the kingdoms(BA) under heaven will be handed over to the holy people(BB) of the Most High.(BC) His kingdom will be an everlasting(BD) kingdom, and all rulers will worship(BE) and obey him.’

28 “This is the end of the matter. I, Daniel, was deeply troubled(BF) by my thoughts,(BG) and my face turned pale,(BH) 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(BI) reign, I, Daniel, had a vision,(BJ) after the one that had already appeared to me. 2 In my vision I saw myself in the citadel of Susa(BK) in the province of Elam;(BL) in the vision I was beside the Ulai Canal. 3 I looked up,(BM) and there before me was a ram(BN) 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.(BO) It did as it pleased(BP) 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,(BQ) and none could rescue the ram from its power.(BR) 8 The goat became very great, but at the height of its power the large horn was broken off,(BS) and in its place four prominent horns grew up toward the four winds of heaven.(BT)

9 Out of one of them came another horn, which started small(BU) but grew in power to the south and to the east and toward the Beautiful Land.(BV) 10 It grew until it reached(BW) the host of the heavens, and it threw some of the starry host down to the earth(BX) and trampled(BY) on them. 11 It set itself up to be as great as the commander(BZ) of the army of the Lord;(CA) it took away the daily sacrifice(CB) from the Lord, and his sanctuary was thrown down.(CC) 12 Because of rebellion, the Lord’s people[c] and the daily sacrifice were given over to it. It prospered in everything it did, and truth was thrown to the ground.(CD)

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

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

The Interpretation of the Vision

15 While I, Daniel, was watching the vision(CI) and trying to understand it, there before me stood one who looked like a man.(CJ) 16 And I heard a man’s voice from the Ulai(CK) calling, “Gabriel,(CL) tell this man the meaning of the vision.”(CM)

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

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

19 He said: “I am going to tell you what will happen later in the time of wrath,(CR) because the vision concerns the appointed time(CS) of the end.[e](CT) 20 The two-horned ram that you saw represents the kings of Media and Persia.(CU) 21 The shaggy goat is the king of Greece,(CV) and the large horn between its eyes is the first king.(CW) 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.(CX) 25 He will cause deceit(CY) 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.(CZ) Yet he will be destroyed, but not by human power.(DA)

26 “The vision of the evenings and mornings that has been given you is true,(DB) but seal(DC) up the vision, for it concerns the distant future.”(DD)

27 I, Daniel, was worn out. I lay exhausted(DE) for several days. Then I got up and went about the king’s business.(DF) I was appalled(DG) by the vision; it was beyond understanding.

Daniel’s Prayer

9 In the first year of Darius(DH) son of Xerxes[f](DI) (a Mede by descent), who was made ruler over the Babylonian[g] kingdom— 2 in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the word of the Lord given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy(DJ) years. 3 So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting,(DK) and in sackcloth and ashes.(DL)

4 I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed:(DM)

“Lord, the great and awesome God,(DN) who keeps his covenant of love(DO) with those who love him and keep his commandments, 5 we have sinned(DP) and done wrong.(DQ) We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away(DR) from your commands and laws.(DS) 6 We have not listened(DT) to your servants the prophets,(DU) who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes and our ancestors,(DV) and to all the people of the land.

7 “Lord, you are righteous,(DW) but this day we are covered with shame(DX)—the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, both near and far, in all the countries where you have scattered(DY) us because of our unfaithfulness(DZ) to you.(EA) 8 We and our kings, our princes and our ancestors are covered with shame, Lord, because we have sinned against you.(EB) 9 The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving,(EC) even though we have rebelled against him;(ED) 10 we have not obeyed the Lord our God or kept the laws he gave us through his servants the prophets.(EE) 11 All Israel has transgressed(EF) your law(EG) and turned away, refusing to obey you.

“Therefore the curses(EH) and sworn judgments(EI) written in the Law of Moses, the servant of God, have been poured out on us, because we have sinned(EJ) against you. 12 You have fulfilled(EK) the words spoken against us and against our rulers by bringing on us great disaster.(EL) Under the whole heaven nothing has ever been done like(EM) what has been done to Jerusalem.(EN) 13 Just as it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come on us, yet we have not sought the favor of the Lord(EO) our God by turning from our sins and giving attention to your truth.(EP) 14 The Lord did not hesitate to bring the disaster(EQ) on us, for the Lord our God is righteous in everything he does;(ER) yet we have not obeyed him.(ES)

15 “Now, Lord our God, who brought your people out of Egypt with a mighty hand(ET) and who made for yourself a name(EU) that endures to this day, we have sinned, we have done wrong. 16 Lord, in keeping with all your righteous acts,(EV) turn away(EW) your anger and your wrath(EX) from Jerusalem,(EY) your city, your holy hill.(EZ) Our sins and the iniquities of our ancestors have made Jerusalem and your people an object of scorn(FA) to all those around us.

17 “Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, Lord, look with favor(FB) on your desolate sanctuary. 18 Give ear,(FC) our God, and hear;(FD) open your eyes and see(FE) the desolation of the city that bears your Name.(FF) We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy.(FG) 19 Lord, listen! Lord, forgive!(FH) Lord, hear and act! For your sake,(FI) my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.”

The Seventy “Sevens”

20 While I was speaking and praying, confessing(FJ) my sin and the sin of my people Israel and making my request to the Lord my God for his holy hill(FK)— 21 while I was still in prayer, Gabriel,(FL) the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice.(FM) 22 He instructed me and said to me, “Daniel, I have now come to give you insight and understanding.(FN) 23 As soon as you began to pray,(FO) a word went out, which I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed.(FP) Therefore, consider the word and understand the vision:(FQ)

24 “Seventy ‘sevens’[h] are decreed for your people and your holy city(FR) to finish[i] transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone(FS) for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness,(FT) to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the Most Holy Place.[j]

25 “Know and understand this: From the time the word goes out to restore and rebuild(FU) Jerusalem until the Anointed One,[k](FV) the ruler,(FW) comes, there will be seven ‘sevens,’ and sixty-two ‘sevens.’ It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble.(FX) 26 After the sixty-two ‘sevens,’ the Anointed One will be put to death(FY) and will have nothing.[l] The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood:(FZ) War will continue until the end, and desolations(GA) have been decreed.(GB) 27 He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’[m] In the middle of the ‘seven’[n] he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple[o] he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed(GC) is poured out on him.[p]”[q]

Footnotes

  1. 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.
  2. Daniel 7:25 Or for a year, two years and half a year
  3. Daniel 8:12 Or rebellion, the armies
  4. 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.
  5. Daniel 8:19 Or because the end will be at the appointed time
  6. Daniel 9:1 Hebrew Ahasuerus
  7. Daniel 9:1 Or Chaldean
  8. Daniel 9:24 Or ‘weeks’; also in verses 25 and 26
  9. Daniel 9:24 Or restrain
  10. Daniel 9:24 Or the most holy One
  11. Daniel 9:25 Or an anointed one; also in verse 26
  12. Daniel 9:26 Or death and will have no one; or death, but not for himself
  13. Daniel 9:27 Or ‘week’
  14. Daniel 9:27 Or ‘week’
  15. Daniel 9:27 Septuagint and Theodotion; Hebrew wing
  16. Daniel 9:27 Or it
  17. Daniel 9:27 Or And one who causes desolation will come upon the wing of the abominable temple, until the end that is decreed is poured out on the desolated city
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Daniel 6
Daniel 10
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