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Daniel 9:23-11:45
English Standard Version

23 (A)At the beginning of your pleas for mercy a word went out, (B)and I have come to tell it to you, for (C)you are greatly loved. Therefore consider the word (D)and understand the vision.

The Seventy Weeks

24 (E)“Seventy weeks[a] are decreed about your people and (F)your holy city, to finish (G)the transgression, to put an end to sin, (H)and to atone for iniquity, (I)to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and (J)to anoint a most holy place.[b] 25 (K)Know therefore and understand that (L)from the going out of the word to restore and (M)build Jerusalem to the coming of an (N)anointed one, a (O)prince, there shall be seven weeks. Then for sixty-two weeks it shall be built again[c] with squares and moat, (P)but in a troubled time. 26 And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall (Q)be cut off and shall have nothing. And the people of the prince who is to come (R)shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. (S)Its[d] end shall come with a flood, (T)and to the end there shall be war. (U)Desolations are decreed. 27 And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week,[e] and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. (V)And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until (W)the decreed end is poured out on the desolator.”

Daniel's Terrifying Vision of a Man

10 (X)In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a word was revealed to Daniel, (Y)who was named Belteshazzar. And (Z)the word was true, and it was a great conflict.[f] And (AA)he understood the word and (AB)had understanding of the vision.

2 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for (AC)three weeks. 3 I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did I (AD)anoint myself at all, for (AE)the full three weeks. 4 On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing (AF)on the bank of the great river ((AG)that is, the Tigris) 5 (AH)I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, (AI)a man clothed in linen, (AJ)with a belt of fine (AK)gold from Uphaz around his waist. 6 His body was like (AL)beryl, his face (AM)like the appearance of lightning, (AN)his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and (AO)legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and (AP)the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude. 7 (AQ)And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see the vision, but a great trembling fell upon them, and they fled to hide themselves. 8 So I was left alone and saw this great vision, and (AR)no strength was left in me. My radiant appearance was fearfully changed,[g] (AS)and I retained no strength. 9 Then I heard the sound of his words, (AT)and as I heard the sound of his words, I fell on my face in deep sleep (AU)with my face to the ground.

10 And behold, (AV)a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. 11 And he said to me, “O Daniel, (AW)man greatly loved, (AX)understand the words that I speak to you, and (AY)stand upright, for (AZ)now I have been sent to you.” And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling. 12 Then he said to me, (BA)“Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you (BB)set your heart to understand and (BC)humbled yourself before your God, (BD)your words have been heard, (BE)and I have come because of your words. 13 (BF)The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me (BG)twenty-one days, but (BH)Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia, 14 (BI)and came to make you understand what is to happen to your people (BJ)in the latter days. For (BK)the vision is for days yet to come.”

15 When he had spoken to me according to these words, (BL)I turned my face toward the ground (BM)and was mute. 16 And behold, (BN)one in the likeness of the children of man (BO)touched my lips. Then I opened my mouth and spoke. I said to him who stood before me, “O my lord, by reason of the vision pains have come upon me, and (BP)I retain no strength. 17 How can my lord's servant talk with my lord? For now no strength remains in me, and no breath is left in me.”

18 Again (BQ)one having the appearance of a man (BR)touched me and strengthened me. 19 And he said, (BS)“O man greatly loved, (BT)fear not, peace be with you; be strong and of good courage.” And as he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.” 20 Then he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? But now I will return to fight against the (BU)prince of Persia; and when I go out, behold, the prince of (BV)Greece will come. 21 But I will tell you (BW)what is inscribed in the book of truth: there is none who contends by my side against these except (BX)Michael, your prince.

The Kings of the South and the North

11 “And as for me, (BY)in the first year of (BZ)Darius the Mede, I stood up to confirm and strengthen him.

2 “And now I will show you (CA)the truth. Behold, three more kings shall arise in Persia, and a fourth shall be far richer than all of them. And when he has become strong through his riches, he shall stir up all against the kingdom of Greece. 3 Then (CB)a mighty king shall arise, who shall rule with great dominion and (CC)do as he wills. 4 And as soon as he has arisen, (CD)his kingdom shall be broken and divided (CE)toward the (CF)four winds of heaven, but (CG)not to his posterity, nor according to the authority with which he ruled, for his kingdom shall be plucked up and go to others besides these.

5 “Then the king of the south shall be strong, but one of his princes shall be stronger than he (CH)and shall rule, and his authority shall be a great authority. 6 After some years (CI)they shall make an alliance, and the daughter of the king of the south shall come to the king of the north to make an agreement. But she shall not retain the strength of her arm, and he and his arm shall not endure, but she shall be given up, and her attendants, he who fathered her, and he who supported[h] her in those times.

7 “And from a branch from her roots one shall arise in his place. He shall come against the army and enter the (CJ)fortress of the king of the north, and he shall deal with them and shall prevail. 8 He shall also carry off to Egypt their gods with their metal images and their precious (CK)vessels of silver and gold, and for some years he shall refrain from attacking the king of the north. 9 Then the latter shall come into the realm of the king of the south but shall return to his own land.

10 “His sons shall wage war and assemble a multitude of great forces, which shall keep coming (CL)and overflow and pass through, and again shall carry the war as far as his (CM)fortress. 11 Then the king of the south, (CN)moved with rage, shall come out and fight against the king of the north. (CO)And he shall raise a great multitude, but it shall be given into his hand. 12 And when the multitude is taken away, his heart shall be exalted, and he shall cast down tens of thousands, but he shall not prevail. 13 For the king of the north shall again (CP)raise a multitude, greater than the first. And (CQ)after some years[i] he shall come on with a great army and abundant supplies.

14 “In those times many shall rise against the king of the south, and the violent among your own people shall lift themselves up in order to fulfill the vision, but (CR)they shall fail. 15 Then the king of the north shall come and (CS)throw up siegeworks and take a well-fortified city. And the forces of the south shall not stand, or even his best troops, for there shall be no strength to stand. 16 But he who comes against him shall (CT)do as he wills, and (CU)none shall stand before him. And he shall stand in (CV)the glorious land, with destruction in his hand. 17 He shall (CW)set his face to come with the strength of his whole kingdom, and he shall bring terms of an agreement and perform them. He shall give him the daughter of women to destroy the kingdom,[j] but it shall not stand or be to his advantage. 18 Afterward he shall turn his face to the coastlands and shall capture many of them, but a commander shall put an end to his insolence. Indeed,[k] he (CX)shall turn his insolence back upon him. 19 Then he shall turn his face back toward the (CY)fortresses of his own land, but he shall (CZ)stumble and fall, (DA)and shall not be found.

20 “Then shall arise in his place one who shall send an (DB)exactor of tribute for the glory of the kingdom. But within a few days he shall be broken, neither in anger nor in battle. 21 In his place shall arise a contemptible person to whom royal majesty has not been given. (DC)He shall come in without warning and obtain the kingdom (DD)by flatteries. 22 Armies shall be (DE)utterly swept away before him and broken, even the prince of the covenant. 23 And from the time that an alliance is made with him he shall act deceitfully, and he shall become strong with a small people. 24 (DF)Without warning he shall come into (DG)the richest parts[l] of the province, and he shall do what neither his fathers nor his fathers' fathers have done, scattering among them plunder, spoil, and goods. He shall devise plans against strongholds, but only for a time. 25 And he shall stir up his power and his heart against (DH)the king of the south with a great army. And the king of the south shall wage war with an exceedingly great and mighty army, but he shall not stand, for plots shall be devised against him. 26 Even those who eat his food shall break him. His army shall be (DI)swept away, and many shall fall down slain. 27 And as for the two kings, their hearts shall be bent on doing evil. They shall speak lies at the same table, but to no avail, for (DJ)the end is yet to be at the time appointed. 28 And he shall return to his land with great wealth, but his heart shall be set against the holy covenant. And he shall work his will and return to his own land.

29 “At the time appointed he shall return and come into the south, but it shall not be this time as it was before. 30 For ships of (DK)Kittim shall come against him, and he shall be afraid and withdraw, and shall turn back and (DL)be enraged and (DM)take action against the holy covenant. He shall turn back and pay attention to those who forsake the holy covenant. 31 Forces from him shall appear and (DN)profane the temple and fortress, and shall take away the regular burnt offering. And (DO)they shall set up the abomination that makes desolate. 32 He shall seduce with flattery those who violate the covenant, but the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action. 33 (DP)And the wise among the people shall make many understand, though for some days they shall stumble by sword and flame, by captivity and plunder. 34 When they stumble, they shall receive a little help. And many shall join themselves to them with flattery, 35 and some of the wise shall stumble, so that they may be refined, (DQ)purified, and (DR)made white, until (DS)the time of the end, (DT)for it still awaits the appointed time.

36 “And the king shall (DU)do as he wills. (DV)He shall exalt himself and magnify himself above every god, (DW)and shall speak astonishing things against (DX)the God of gods. (DY)He shall prosper (DZ)till the indignation is accomplished; for what is decreed shall be done. 37 He shall pay no attention to the gods of his fathers, or to the one beloved by women. He shall not pay attention to any other god, for (EA)he shall magnify himself above all. 38 He shall honor the god of fortresses instead of these. A god whom his fathers did not know he shall honor (EB)with gold and silver, with precious stones and costly gifts. 39 He shall deal with the strongest fortresses with the help of a foreign god. Those who acknowledge him he shall load with honor. He shall make them rulers over many and (EC)shall divide the land for a price.[m]

40 (ED)“At the time of the end, the king of the south shall attack[n] him, but the king of the north shall rush upon him (EE)like a whirlwind, with chariots and horsemen, and with many ships. And he shall come into countries and (EF)shall overflow and pass through. 41 He shall come into (EG)the glorious land. And tens of thousands shall fall, but these shall be delivered out of his hand: (EH)Edom and (EI)Moab and the main part of the (EJ)Ammonites. 42 He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape. 43 He shall become ruler of the treasures of gold and of silver, and all the precious things of Egypt, and the (EK)Libyans and the (EL)Cushites shall follow in his train. 44 But news from the east and the north shall alarm him, and he shall go out with great fury to destroy and devote many to destruction. 45 And he shall pitch his palatial tents between the sea and the glorious holy mountain. Yet he shall come to his end, with none to help him.

Footnotes

  1. Daniel 9:24 Or sevens; also twice in verse 25 and once in verse 26
  2. Daniel 9:24 Or thing, or one
  3. Daniel 9:25 Or there shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks. It shall be built again
  4. Daniel 9:26 Or His
  5. Daniel 9:27 Or seven; twice in this verse
  6. Daniel 10:1 Or and it was about a great conflict
  7. Daniel 10:8 Hebrew My splendor was changed to ruin
  8. Daniel 11:6 Or obtained
  9. Daniel 11:13 Hebrew at the end of the times
  10. Daniel 11:17 Hebrew her, or it
  11. Daniel 11:18 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain
  12. Daniel 11:24 Or among the richest men
  13. Daniel 11:39 Or land as payment
  14. Daniel 11:40 Hebrew thrust at
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Daniel 9:23-11:45
New International Version

23 As soon as you began to pray,(A) a word went out, which I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed.(B) Therefore, consider the word and understand the vision:(C)

24 “Seventy ‘sevens’[a] are decreed for your people and your holy city(D) to finish[b] transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone(E) for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness,(F) to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the Most Holy Place.[c]

25 “Know and understand this: From the time the word goes out to restore and rebuild(G) Jerusalem until the Anointed One,[d](H) the ruler,(I) comes, there will be seven ‘sevens,’ and sixty-two ‘sevens.’ It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble.(J) 26 After the sixty-two ‘sevens,’ the Anointed One will be put to death(K) and will have nothing.[e] The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood:(L) War will continue until the end, and desolations(M) have been decreed.(N) 27 He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’[f] In the middle of the ‘seven’[g] he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple[h] he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed(O) is poured out on him.[i]”[j]

Daniel’s Vision of a Man

10 In the third year of Cyrus(P) king of Persia, a revelation was given to Daniel (who was called Belteshazzar).(Q) Its message was true(R) and it concerned a great war.[k] The understanding of the message came to him in a vision.

2 At that time I, Daniel, mourned(S) for three weeks. 3 I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips;(T) and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over.

4 On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank(U) of the great river, the Tigris,(V) 5 I looked up(W) and there before me was a man dressed in linen,(X) with a belt of fine gold(Y) from Uphaz around his waist. 6 His body was like topaz,(Z) his face like lightning,(AA) his eyes like flaming torches,(AB) his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze,(AC) and his voice(AD) like the sound of a multitude.

7 I, Daniel, was the only one who saw the vision; those who were with me did not see it,(AE) but such terror overwhelmed them that they fled and hid themselves. 8 So I was left alone,(AF) gazing at this great vision; I had no strength left,(AG) my face turned deathly pale(AH) and I was helpless.(AI) 9 Then I heard him speaking, and as I listened to him, I fell into a deep sleep, my face to the ground.(AJ)

10 A hand touched me(AK) and set me trembling on my hands and knees.(AL) 11 He said, “Daniel, you who are highly esteemed,(AM) consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you, and stand up,(AN) for I have now been sent to you.” And when he said this to me, I stood up trembling.

12 Then he continued, “Do not be afraid,(AO) Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble(AP) yourself before your God, your words(AQ) were heard, and I have come in response to them.(AR) 13 But the prince(AS) of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael,(AT) one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. 14 Now I have come to explain(AU) to you what will happen to your people in the future,(AV) for the vision concerns a time yet to come.(AW)”

15 While he was saying this to me, I bowed with my face toward the ground and was speechless.(AX) 16 Then one who looked like a man[l] touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and began to speak.(AY) I said to the one standing before me, “I am overcome with anguish(AZ) because of the vision, my lord, and I feel very weak. 17 How can I, your servant, talk with you, my lord? My strength is gone and I can hardly breathe.”(BA)

18 Again the one who looked like a man touched(BB) me and gave me strength.(BC) 19 “Do not be afraid, you who are highly esteemed,”(BD) he said. “Peace!(BE) Be strong now; be strong.”(BF)

When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Speak, my lord, since you have given me strength.”(BG)

20 So he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? Soon I will return to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I go, the prince of Greece(BH) will come; 21 but first I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth.(BI) (No one supports me against them except Michael,(BJ) your prince. 11 1 And in the first year of Darius(BK) the Mede, I took my stand to support and protect him.)

The Kings of the South and the North

2 “Now then, I tell you the truth:(BL) Three more kings will arise in Persia, and then a fourth, who will be far richer than all the others. When he has gained power by his wealth, he will stir up everyone against the kingdom of Greece.(BM) 3 Then a mighty king will arise, who will rule with great power and do as he pleases.(BN) 4 After he has arisen, his empire will be broken up and parceled out toward the four winds of heaven.(BO) It will not go to his descendants, nor will it have the power he exercised, because his empire will be uprooted(BP) and given to others.

5 “The king of the South will become strong, but one of his commanders will become even stronger than he and will rule his own kingdom with great power. 6 After some years, they will become allies. The daughter of the king of the South will go to the king of the North to make an alliance, but she will not retain her power, and he and his power[m] will not last. In those days she will be betrayed, together with her royal escort and her father[n] and the one who supported her.

7 “One from her family line will arise to take her place. He will attack the forces of the king of the North(BQ) and enter his fortress; he will fight against them and be victorious. 8 He will also seize their gods,(BR) their metal images and their valuable articles of silver and gold and carry them off to Egypt.(BS) For some years he will leave the king of the North alone. 9 Then the king of the North will invade the realm of the king of the South but will retreat to his own country. 10 His sons will prepare for war and assemble a great army, which will sweep on like an irresistible flood(BT) and carry the battle as far as his fortress.

11 “Then the king of the South will march out in a rage and fight against the king of the North, who will raise a large army, but it will be defeated.(BU) 12 When the army is carried off, the king of the South will be filled with pride and will slaughter many thousands, yet he will not remain triumphant. 13 For the king of the North will muster another army, larger than the first; and after several years, he will advance with a huge army fully equipped.

14 “In those times many will rise against the king of the South. Those who are violent among your own people will rebel in fulfillment of the vision, but without success. 15 Then the king of the North will come and build up siege ramps(BV) and will capture a fortified city. The forces of the South will be powerless to resist; even their best troops will not have the strength to stand. 16 The invader will do as he pleases;(BW) no one will be able to stand against him.(BX) He will establish himself in the Beautiful Land and will have the power to destroy it.(BY) 17 He will determine to come with the might of his entire kingdom and will make an alliance with the king of the South. And he will give him a daughter in marriage in order to overthrow the kingdom, but his plans[o] will not succeed(BZ) or help him. 18 Then he will turn his attention to the coastlands(CA) and will take many of them, but a commander will put an end to his insolence and will turn his insolence back on him.(CB) 19 After this, he will turn back toward the fortresses of his own country but will stumble and fall,(CC) to be seen no more.(CD)

20 “His successor will send out a tax collector to maintain the royal splendor.(CE) In a few years, however, he will be destroyed, yet not in anger or in battle.

21 “He will be succeeded by a contemptible(CF) person who has not been given the honor of royalty.(CG) He will invade the kingdom when its people feel secure, and he will seize it through intrigue. 22 Then an overwhelming army will be swept away(CH) before him; both it and a prince of the covenant will be destroyed.(CI) 23 After coming to an agreement with him, he will act deceitfully,(CJ) and with only a few people he will rise to power. 24 When the richest provinces feel secure, he will invade them and will achieve what neither his fathers nor his forefathers did. He will distribute plunder, loot and wealth among his followers.(CK) He will plot the overthrow of fortresses—but only for a time.

25 “With a large army he will stir up his strength and courage against the king of the South. The king of the South will wage war with a large and very powerful army, but he will not be able to stand because of the plots devised against him. 26 Those who eat from the king’s provisions will try to destroy him; his army will be swept away, and many will fall in battle. 27 The two kings, with their hearts bent on evil,(CL) will sit at the same table and lie(CM) to each other, but to no avail, because an end will still come at the appointed time.(CN) 28 The king of the North will return to his own country with great wealth, but his heart will be set against the holy covenant. He will take action against it and then return to his own country.

29 “At the appointed time he will invade the South again, but this time the outcome will be different from what it was before. 30 Ships of the western coastlands(CO) will oppose him, and he will lose heart.(CP) Then he will turn back and vent his fury(CQ) against the holy covenant. He will return and show favor to those who forsake the holy covenant.

31 “His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice.(CR) Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation.(CS) 32 With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist(CT) him.

33 “Those who are wise will instruct(CU) many, though for a time they will fall by the sword or be burned or captured or plundered.(CV) 34 When they fall, they will receive a little help, and many who are not sincere(CW) will join them. 35 Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined,(CX) purified and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time.

The King Who Exalts Himself

36 “The king will do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify himself(CY) above every god and will say unheard-of things(CZ) against the God of gods.(DA) He will be successful until the time of wrath(DB) is completed, for what has been determined must take place.(DC) 37 He will show no regard for the gods of his ancestors or for the one desired by women, nor will he regard any god, but will exalt himself above them all. 38 Instead of them, he will honor a god of fortresses; a god unknown to his ancestors he will honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and costly gifts. 39 He will attack the mightiest fortresses with the help of a foreign god and will greatly honor those who acknowledge him. He will make them rulers over many people and will distribute the land at a price.[p]

40 “At the time of the end the king of the South(DD) will engage him in battle, and the king of the North will storm(DE) out against him with chariots and cavalry and a great fleet of ships. He will invade many countries and sweep through them like a flood.(DF) 41 He will also invade the Beautiful Land.(DG) Many countries will fall, but Edom,(DH) Moab(DI) and the leaders of Ammon will be delivered from his hand. 42 He will extend his power over many countries; Egypt will not escape. 43 He will gain control of the treasures of gold and silver and all the riches of Egypt,(DJ) with the Libyans(DK) and Cushites[q] in submission. 44 But reports from the east and the north will alarm him, and he will set out in a great rage to destroy and annihilate many. 45 He will pitch his royal tents between the seas at[r] the beautiful holy mountain.(DL) Yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him.

Footnotes

  1. Daniel 9:24 Or ‘weeks’; also in verses 25 and 26
  2. Daniel 9:24 Or restrain
  3. Daniel 9:24 Or the most holy One
  4. Daniel 9:25 Or an anointed one; also in verse 26
  5. Daniel 9:26 Or death and will have no one; or death, but not for himself
  6. Daniel 9:27 Or ‘week’
  7. Daniel 9:27 Or ‘week’
  8. Daniel 9:27 Septuagint and Theodotion; Hebrew wing
  9. Daniel 9:27 Or it
  10. 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
  11. Daniel 10:1 Or true and burdensome
  12. Daniel 10:16 Most manuscripts of the Masoretic Text; one manuscript of the Masoretic Text, Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint Then something that looked like a human hand
  13. Daniel 11:6 Or offspring
  14. Daniel 11:6 Or child (see Vulgate and Syriac)
  15. Daniel 11:17 Or but she
  16. Daniel 11:39 Or land for a reward
  17. Daniel 11:43 That is, people from the upper Nile region
  18. Daniel 11:45 Or the sea and
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