Vision of the Ram and Goat

In the third year of the reign of Belshazzar the king a vision appeared to me, [a]Daniel, subsequent to the one which appeared to me [b]previously. I (A)looked in the vision, and while I was looking I was in the citadel of (B)Susa, which is in the province of (C)Elam; and I looked in the vision and I myself was beside the Ulai [c]Canal. Then I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, a (D)ram which had two horns was standing in front of the [d]canal. Now the two horns were [e]long, but one was [f]longer than the other, with the [g]longer one coming up last. I saw the ram (E)butting westward, northward, and southward, and no other beasts could stand before him nor was there anyone to rescue from his [h]power, but (F)he did as he pleased and magnified himself.

While I was observing, behold, a male goat was coming from the west over the surface of the whole earth without touching the ground; and the [i]goat had a (G)conspicuous horn between his eyes. He came up to the ram that had the two horns, which I had seen standing in front of the [j]canal, and rushed at him in his mighty wrath. I saw him come beside the ram, and he was enraged at him; and he struck the ram and shattered 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 none to rescue the ram from his [k]power. Then the male goat magnified himself exceedingly. But as soon as (H)he was mighty, the (I)large horn was broken; and in its place there came up four conspicuous horns toward the (J)four winds of heaven.

The Little Horn

Out of one of them came forth a rather (K)small horn which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the [l](L)Beautiful Land. 10 It grew up to the host of heaven and caused some of the host and some of the (M)stars to fall to the earth, and it (N)trampled them down. 11 It even (O)magnified itself [m]to be equal with the [n]Commander of the host; and it removed the (P)regular sacrifice from Him, and the place of His sanctuary was thrown down. 12 And on account of transgression the host will be given over to the horn along with the regular sacrifice; and it will (Q)fling truth to the ground and perform its will and prosper. 13 Then I heard a (R)holy one speaking, and another holy one said to that particular one who was speaking, “(S)How long will the vision about the regular sacrifice apply, [o]while the transgression causes horror, so as to allow both the holy place and the host [p]to be (T)trampled?” 14 He said to me, “For (U)2,300 evenings and mornings; then the holy place will be [q]properly restored.”

Interpretation of the Vision

15 When (V)I, Daniel, had seen the vision, I sought [r]to understand it; and behold, standing before me was one [s]who looked like a (W)man. 16 And I heard the voice of a man between the banks of Ulai, and he called out and said, “(X)Gabriel, give this man an understanding of the vision.” 17 So he came near to where I was standing, and when he came I was frightened and (Y)fell on my face; but he said to me, “Son of man, understand that the vision pertains to the (Z)time of the end.”

18 Now while he was talking with me, I (AA)sank into a deep sleep with my face to the ground; but he (AB)touched me and made me stand [t]upright. 19 He said, “Behold, I am going to (AC)let you know what will occur at the final period of the indignation, for it pertains to the appointed time of the end.

The Ram’s Identity

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

The Goat

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

23 “In the latter period of their [w]rule,
When the transgressors have [x]run their course,
A king will arise,
[y]Insolent and skilled in [z]intrigue.
24 “His power will be mighty, but not by his own power,
And he will [aa](AF)destroy to an extraordinary degree
And prosper and perform his will;
He will [ab]destroy mighty men and [ac]the holy people.
25 “And through his shrewdness
He will cause deceit to succeed by his [ad]influence;
And he will magnify himself in his heart,
And he will [ae]destroy many while they are [af]at ease.
He will even [ag](AG)oppose the Prince of princes,
But he will be broken (AH)without [ah]human agency.
26 “The vision of the evenings and mornings
Which has been told is (AI)true;
But (AJ)keep the vision secret,
For it pertains to many (AK)days in the future.”

27 Then I, Daniel, was [ai](AL)exhausted and sick for days. Then I got up again and (AM)carried on the king’s business; but I was astounded at the vision, and there was none to [aj]explain it.

Footnotes

  1. Daniel 8:1 Lit I, Daniel
  2. Daniel 8:1 Lit at the beginning
  3. Daniel 8:2 Or river
  4. Daniel 8:3 Or river
  5. Daniel 8:3 Lit high(er)
  6. Daniel 8:3 Lit high(er)
  7. Daniel 8:3 Lit high(er)
  8. Daniel 8:4 Lit hand
  9. Daniel 8:5 Lit buck
  10. Daniel 8:6 Or river
  11. Daniel 8:7 Lit hand
  12. Daniel 8:9 I.e. Palestine
  13. Daniel 8:11 Lit up to the
  14. Daniel 8:11 Or Prince
  15. Daniel 8:13 Or possibly and the transgression that horrifies
  16. Daniel 8:13 Lit as a trampling
  17. Daniel 8:14 Lit vindicated
  18. Daniel 8:15 Lit understanding
  19. Daniel 8:15 Lit like the appearance of a man
  20. Daniel 8:18 Lit on my standing
  21. Daniel 8:21 Lit buck
  22. Daniel 8:21 Lit king
  23. Daniel 8:23 Or kingdom
  24. Daniel 8:23 Lit finished
  25. Daniel 8:23 Lit Strong of face
  26. Daniel 8:23 Or ambiguous speech
  27. Daniel 8:24 Or corrupt
  28. Daniel 8:24 Or corrupt
  29. Daniel 8:24 Lit people of the saints
  30. Daniel 8:25 Lit hand
  31. Daniel 8:25 Or corrupt
  32. Daniel 8:25 Or secure
  33. Daniel 8:25 Lit stand against
  34. Daniel 8:25 Lit hand
  35. Daniel 8:27 Or done in
  36. Daniel 8:27 Lit make me understand

`In the third year of the reign of Belshazzar the king, a vision hath appeared unto me -- I Daniel -- after that which had appeared unto me at the beginning.

And I see in a vision, and it cometh to pass, in my seeing, and I [am] in Shushan the palace that [is] in Elam the province, and I see in a vision, and I have been by the stream Ulai.

And I lift up mine eyes, and look, and lo, a certain ram is standing before the stream, and it hath two horns, and the two horns [are] high; and the one [is] higher than the other, and the high one is coming up last.

I have seen the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward, and no living creatures do stand before it, and there is none delivering out of its hand, and it hath done according to its pleasure, and hath exerted itself.

`And I have been considering, and lo, a young he-goat hath come from the west, over the face of the whole earth, whom none is touching in the earth; as to the young he-goat, a conspicuous horn [is] between its eyes.

And it cometh unto the ram possessing the two horns, that I had seen standing before the stream, and runneth unto it in the fury of its power.

And I have seen it coming near the ram, and it becometh embittered at it, and smiteth the ram, and breaketh its two horns, and there hath been no power in the ram to stand before it, and it casteth it to the earth, and trampleth it down, and there hath been no deliverer to the ram out of its power.

`And the young he-goat hath exerted itself very much, and when it is strong, broken hath been the great horn; and come up doth a vision of four in its place, at the four winds of the heavens.

And from the one of them come forth hath a little horn, and it exerteth itself greatly toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the beauteous [land];

10 yea, it exerteth unto the host of the heavens, and causeth to fall to the earth of the host, and of the stars, and trampleth them down.

11 And unto the prince of the host it exerteth itself, and by it taken away hath been the continual [sacrifice], and thrown down the base of his sanctuary.

12 And the host is given up, with the continual [sacrifice], through transgression, and it throweth down truth to the earth, and it hath worked, and prospered.

13 `And I hear a certain holy one speaking, and a certain holy one saith to the wonderful numberer who is speaking: Till when [is] the vision of the continual [sacrifice], and of the transgression, an astonishment, to make both sanctuary and host a treading down?

14 And he saith unto me, Till evening -- morning two thousand and three hundred, then is the holy place declared right.

15 `And it cometh to pass in my seeing -- I, Daniel -- the vision, that I require understanding, and lo, standing over-against me [is] as the appearance of a mighty one.

16 And I hear a voice of man between [the banks of] Ulai, and he calleth and saith: Gabriel, cause this [one] to understand the appearance.

17 And he cometh in near my station, and at his coming in I have been afraid, and I fall on my face, and he saith unto me: Understand, son of man, for at the time of the end [is] the vision.

18 And in his speaking with me, I have been in a trance on my face, on the earth; and he cometh against me, and causeth me to stand on my station,

19 and saith: Lo, I -- I am causing thee to know that which is in the latter end of the indignation; for, at the appointed time [is] the end.

20 `The ram that thou hast seen possessing two horns, [are] the kings of Media and Persia.

21 And the young he-goat, the hairy one, [is] the king of Javan; and the great horn that [is] between its eyes is the first king;

22 and that being broken, stand up do four in its place, four kingdoms from the nation do stand up, and not in its power.

23 `And in the latter end of their kingdom, about the perfecting of the transgressors, stand up doth a king, fierce of face, and understanding hidden things;

24 and his power hath been mighty, and not by his own power; and wonderful things he destroyeth, and he hath prospered, and wrought, and destroyed mighty ones, and the people of the Holy Ones.

25 `And by his understanding he hath also caused deceit to prosper in his hand, and in his heart he exerteth himself, and by ease he destroyeth many; and against the prince of princes he standeth -- and without hand he is broken.

26 And the appearance of the evening and of the morning, that is told, is true; and thou, hide thou the vision, for [it is] after many days.'

27 And I, Daniel, have been, yea, I became sick [for] days, and I rise, and do the king's work, and am astonished at the appearance, and there is none understanding.