Daniel 8
New American Standard Bible
Vision of the Ram and Goat
8 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. 2 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 Canal. 3 Then I raised my eyes and looked, and behold, a (D)ram which had two horns was standing in front of the canal. Now the two horns were [c]long, but one was [d]longer than the other, with the [e]longer one coming up last. 4 I saw the ram (E)butting westward, northward, and southward, and no other beasts could stand against him nor was there anyone to rescue from his [f]power, but (F)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 (G)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 [g]power. 8 Then the male goat made himself exceedingly great. But once (H)he became powerful, the (I)large horn was broken; and in its place four prominent horns came up toward the (J)four winds of heaven.
The Little Horn
9 And out of one of them came a rather (K)small horn which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the [h](L)Beautiful Land. 10 It grew up to the heavenly [i]lights, and some of the [j]lights, [k]that is, some of the (M)stars it threw down to the earth, and it (N)trampled them. 11 It even (O)exalted itself [l]to be equal with the [m]Commander of the army; and it removed the (P)regular sacrifice from Him, and the place of His sanctuary was overthrown. 12 And because of [n]an offense the army will be given to the horn along with the regular sacrifice; and it will (Q)hurl truth to the ground and do as it pleases and be successful. 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 offense causes horror, so as to allow both the sanctuary and the army [p]to be (T)trampled?” 14 And he said to me, “For (U)2,300 evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary 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, explain the vision to this man.” 17 So he came near to where I was standing, and when he came I was frightened and (Y)fell on my face; and 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 was (AA)dazed with my face to the ground; but he (AB)touched me and made me stand at my place. 19 And he said, “Behold, I am going to (AC)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 (AD)ram which you saw with the two horns represents the kings of Media and Persia.
The Goat
21 The shaggy [t]goat represents the [u]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 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 [v]dominion,
When the wrongdoers have [w]run their course,
A king will arise,
[x]Insolent and skilled in [y]intrigue.
24 And his power will be mighty, but not by his own power,
And he will [z](AF)destroy to an extraordinary degree
And be successful and do as he pleases;
He will [aa]destroy mighty men and [ab]the holy people.
25 And through his shrewdness
He will make deceit a success by his [ac]influence;
And he will make himself great in his [ad]own mind,
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 And the vision of the evenings and mornings
Which has been told is (AI)true;
But as for you, (AJ)keep the vision secret,
Because 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 and (AM)carried on the king’s business; but I was astounded at the vision, and there was no one to explain it.
Footnotes
- Daniel 8:1 Lit I, Daniel
- Daniel 8:1 Lit at the beginning
- Daniel 8:3 Lit high(er)
- Daniel 8:3 Lit high(er)
- Daniel 8:3 Lit high(er)
- Daniel 8:4 Lit hand
- Daniel 8:7 Lit hand
- Daniel 8:9 I.e., Israel
- Daniel 8:10 Lit host
- Daniel 8:10 Lit host
- Daniel 8:10 Or and some of the stars
- Daniel 8:11 Lit up to the
- Daniel 8:11 Or Prince
- Daniel 8:12 Or a wrongdoing
- Daniel 8:13 Or possibly and the offense that horrifies
- Daniel 8:13 Lit as a trampling
- Daniel 8:14 Lit justified
- Daniel 8:15 Lit understanding
- Daniel 8:15 Lit like the appearance of a man
- Daniel 8:21 Lit buck
- Daniel 8:21 Lit king
- Daniel 8:23 Or kingdom
- Daniel 8:23 Lit finished
- Daniel 8:23 Lit Strong of face
- Daniel 8:23 Or ambiguous speech
- Daniel 8:24 Or ruin extraordinary things
- Daniel 8:24 Or ruin
- Daniel 8:24 Lit people of the saints
- Daniel 8:25 Lit hand
- Daniel 8:25 Lit heart
- Daniel 8:25 Or ruin
- Daniel 8:25 Or secure
- Daniel 8:25 Lit stand against
- Daniel 8:25 Lit hand
- Daniel 8:27 Or done in
Daniel 8
King James Version
8 In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision appeared unto me, even unto me Daniel, after that which appeared unto me at the first.
2 And I saw in a vision; and it came to pass, when I saw, that I was at Shushan in the palace, which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in a vision, and I was by the river of Ulai.
3 Then I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood before the river a ram which had two horns: and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last.
4 I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beasts might stand before him, neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and became great.
5 And as I was considering, behold, an he goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes.
6 And he came to the ram that had two horns, which I had seen standing before the river, and ran unto him in the fury of his power.
7 And I saw him come close unto the ram, and he was moved with choler against him, and smote the ram, and brake his two horns: and there was no power in the ram to stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground, and stamped upon him: and there was none that could deliver the ram out of his hand.
8 Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven.
9 And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land.
10 And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them.
11 Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of the sanctuary was cast down.
12 And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered.
13 Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?
14 And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.
15 And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, and sought for the meaning, then, behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man.
16 And I heard a man's voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.
17 So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision.
18 Now as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground: but he touched me, and set me upright.
19 And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation: for at the time appointed the end shall be.
20 The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia.
21 And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king.
22 Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power.
23 And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.
24 And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.
25 And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.
26 And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days.
27 And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days; afterward I rose up, and did the king's business; and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it.
Daniel 8
Luther Bibel 1545
8 Im dritten Jahr des Königreichs des Königs Belsazer erschien mir, Daniel, ein Gesicht nach dem, so mir zuerst erschienen war.
2 Ich war aber in solchem Gesicht zu Schloß Susan im Lande Elam, am Wasser Ulai.
3 Und ich hob meine Augen auf und sah, und siehe, ein Widder stand vor dem Wasser, der hatte zwei hohe Hörner, doch eins höher denn das andere, und das höchste wuchs am letzten.
4 Ich sah, daß der Widder mit den Hörnern stieß gegen Abend, gegen Mitternacht und gegen Mittag; und kein Tier konnte vor ihm bestehen noch von seiner Hand errettet werden, sondern er tat, was er wollte, und ward groß.
5 Und indem ich darauf merkte, siehe, da kommt ein Ziegenbock vom Abend her über die ganze Erde, daß er die Erde nicht berührte; und der Bock hatte ein ansehnliches Horn zwischen seinen Augen.
6 Und er kam bis zu dem Widder der zwei Hörner hatte, den ich stehen sah vor dem Wasser, und er lief in seinem Zorn gewaltig auf ihn zu.
7 Und ich sah ihm zu, daß er hart an den Widder kam, und er ergrimmte über ihn und stieß den Widder und zerbrach ihm seine zwei Hörner. Und der Widder hatte keine Kraft, daß er vor ihm hätte können bestehen; sondern er warf ihn zu Boden und zertrat ihn und niemand konnte den Widder von seiner Hand erretten.
8 Und der Ziegenbock ward sehr groß. Und da er am stärksten geworden war, zerbrach das große Horn, und wuchsen ihm an seiner Statt vier ansehnliche gegen die vier Winde des Himmels.
9 Und aus einem wuchs ein kleines Horn; das ward sehr groß gegen Mittag, gegen Morgen und gegen das werte Land.
10 Und es wuchs bis an des Himmels Heer und warf etliche davon und von den Sternen zur Erde und zertrat sie.
11 Ja es wuchs bis an den Fürsten des Heeres und nahm von ihm weg das tägliche Opfer und verwüstete die Wohnung seines Heiligtums.
12 Es ward ihm aber solche Macht gegeben wider das tägliche Opfer um der Sünde willen, daß es die Wahrheit zu Boden schlüge und, was es tat, ihm gelingen mußte.
13 Ich hörte aber einen Heiligen reden; und ein Heiliger sprach zu dem, der da redete: Wie lange soll doch währen solch Gesicht vom täglichen Opfer und von der Sünde, um welcher willen diese Verwüstung geschieht, daß beide, das Heiligtum und das Heer zertreten werden?
14 Und er antwortete mir: Bis zweitausend dreihundert Abende und Morgen um sind; dann wird das Heiligtum wieder geweiht werden.
15 Und da ich, Daniel, solch Gesicht sah und hätte es gern verstanden, siehe, da stand's vor mir wie ein Mann.
16 Und ich hörte mitten vom Ulai her einen mit Menschenstimme rufen und sprechen: Gabriel, lege diesem das Gesicht aus, daß er's verstehe!
17 Und er trat nahe zu mir. Ich erschrak aber, da er kam, und fiel auf mein Angesicht. Er aber sprach zu mir: Merke auf, du Menschenkind! denn dies Gesicht gehört in die Zeit des Endes.
18 Und da er mit mir redete, sank ich in eine Ohnmacht zur Erde auf mein Angesicht. Er aber rührte mich an und richtete mich auf, daß ich stand.
19 Und er sprach: Siehe, ich will dir zeigen, wie es gehen wird zur Zeit des letzten Zorns; denn das Ende hat seine bestimmte Zeit.
20 Der Widder mit den zwei Hörnern, den du gesehen hast, sind die Könige in Medien und Persien.
21 Der Ziegenbock aber ist der König in Griechenland. Das Horn zwischen seinen Augen ist der erste König.
22 Daß aber vier an seiner Statt standen, da es zerbrochen war, bedeutet, daß vier Königreiche aus dem Volk entstehen werden, aber nicht so mächtig, wie er war.
23 In der letzten Zeit ihres Königreiches, wenn die Übertreter überhandnehmen, wird aufkommen ein frecher und tückischer König.
24 Der wird mächtig sein, doch nicht durch seine Kraft; er wird greulich verwüsten, und es wird ihm gelingen, daß er's ausrichte. Er wird die Starken samt dem heiligen Volk verstören.
25 Und durch seine Klugheit wird ihm der Betrug geraten, und er wird sich in seinem Herzen erheben, und mitten im Frieden wird er viele verderben und wird sich auflehnen wider den Fürsten allen Fürsten; aber er wird ohne Hand zerbrochen werden.
26 Dies Gesicht vom Abend und Morgen das dir gesagt ist, das ist wahr; aber du sollst das Gesicht heimlich halten, denn es ist noch eine lange Zeit dahin.
27 Und ich, Daniel, ward schwach und lag etliche Tage krank. Darnach stand ich auf und richtete aus des Königs Geschäft. Und verwunderte mich des Gesichts; und war niemand da, der mir's auslegte.
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