Daniel 6-8
New American Standard Bible
Daniel Serves Darius
6 [a]It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps over the kingdom, to be in charge of the whole kingdom, 2 and over them, three commissioners (of whom (A)Daniel was one), so that these satraps would be accountable to them, and that the king would not [b]suffer (B)loss. 3 Then this Daniel began distinguishing himself [c]among the commissioners and satraps because [d]he possessed an (C)extraordinary spirit, and the king intended to appoint him over the (D)entire kingdom. 4 Then the commissioners and satraps began (E)trying to find a ground of accusation against Daniel regarding [e]government affairs; but they could find (F)no ground of accusation or evidence of corruption, because he was trustworthy, and no negligence or corruption was to be found in him. 5 Then these men said, “We will not find any ground of accusation against this Daniel unless we find it against him regarding the (G)law of his God.”
6 Then these commissioners and satraps came [f]by agreement to the king and spoke to him as follows: “King Darius, (H)live forever! 7 All the (I)commissioners of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the counselors and the governors, have (J)consulted together that the king should establish a statute and enforce an injunction that anyone who offers a prayer to any god or person besides you, O king, for thirty days, shall (K)be thrown into the lions’ [g]den. 8 Now, O king, (L)establish the injunction and sign the document so that it will not be changed, according to the (M)law of the Medes and Persians, which [h]may not be revoked.” 9 Thereupon, King Darius (N)signed the document, that is, the injunction.
10 Now when Daniel learned that the document was signed, he entered his house (and in his roof chamber he had windows open (O)toward Jerusalem); and he continued (P)kneeling on his knees three times a day, (Q)praying and (R)offering praise before his God, just as he had been doing previously. 11 Then these men came [i](S)by agreement and found Daniel offering a prayer and imploring favor before his God. 12 Then they approached and (T)spoke before the king about the king’s injunction: “Did you not sign an injunction that any person who offers a prayer to any god or person besides you, O king, for thirty days, is to be thrown into the lions’ den?” The king replied, “The statement is true, according to the (U)law of the Medes and Persians, which [j]may not be revoked.” 13 Then they responded and spoke before the king, “(V)Daniel, who is one of the [k]exiles from Judah, pays (W)no attention to you, O king, or to the injunction which you signed, but keeps offering his prayer three times a day.”
14 Then, as soon as the king heard this statement, he was deeply (X)distressed, and set his mind on rescuing Daniel; and until sunset he kept exerting himself to save him. 15 Then these men came [l]by agreement to the king and said to the king, “Recognize, O king, that it is a (Y)law of the Medes and Persians that no injunction or statute which the king establishes may be changed.”
Daniel in the Lions’ Den
16 Then the king gave orders, and Daniel was brought in and (Z)thrown into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “[m](AA)Your God whom you continually serve will Himself rescue you.” 17 And a (AB)stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signet rings of his nobles, so that nothing would be changed regarding Daniel. 18 Then the king went to his palace and spent the night (AC)fasting, and no entertainment was brought before him; and his (AD)sleep fled from him.
19 Then the king got up at dawn, at the break of day, and went in a hurry to the lions’ den. 20 And when he had come near the den to Daniel, he cried out with a troubled voice. The king began speaking and said to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has (AE)your God, whom you continually serve, been (AF)able to rescue you from the lions?” 21 Then Daniel spoke [n]to the king, “(AG)O king, live forever! 22 My God (AH)sent His angel and (AI)shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not harmed me, since [o]I was found innocent before Him; and also [p]toward you, O king, I have committed no crime.” 23 Then the king was very glad and gave orders for Daniel to be lifted up out of the den. So Daniel was lifted up out of the den, and (AJ)no injury whatever was found on him, because he had (AK)trusted in his God. 24 The king then gave orders, and they brought those men who had [q]maliciously accused Daniel, and they (AL)threw them, their (AM)children, and their wives into the lions’ den; and they had not reached the bottom of the den before the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.
25 Then Darius the king wrote to all the (AN)peoples, nations, and populations of all [r]languages who were living in all the land: “(AO)May your [s]peace be great! 26 [t]I (AP)issue a decree that in all the realm of my kingdom people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel;
For He is the (AQ)living God and (AR)enduring forever,
And (AS)His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed,
And His dominion will be [u]forever.
27 He rescues, saves, and performs (AT)signs and miracles
In heaven and on earth,
He who has also rescued Daniel from the [v]power of the lions.”
28 So this (AU)Daniel enjoyed success in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of (AV)Cyrus the Persian.
Vision of the Four Beasts
7 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel saw a (AW)dream and visions [w]in his mind as he lay on his bed; then he (AX)wrote the dream down and told the [x]following summary of [y]it. 2 Daniel [z]said, “I was (AY)looking in my vision by night, and behold, the (AZ)four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. 3 And four great (BA)beasts were coming up from the sea, different from one another. 4 The first was (BB)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 [aa]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, (BC)like a leopard, which had on its [ab]back four wings of a bird; the beast also had (BD)four heads, and dominion was given to it. 7 After this I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, a (BE)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 (BF)ten horns. 8 While I was thinking about the horns, behold, (BG)another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the previous horns were plucked out before it; and behold, [ac]this horn possessed eyes like human eyes, and (BH)a mouth uttering great boasts.
The Ancient of Days Reigns
9 “I kept looking
Until (BI)thrones were set up,
And the Ancient of Days took His seat;
His (BJ)garment was white as snow,
And the (BK)hair of His head like pure wool.
His (BL)throne was [ad]ablaze with flames,
Its (BM)wheels were a burning fire.
10 A river of (BN)fire was flowing
And coming out from before Him;
(BO)Thousands upon thousands were serving Him,
And myriads upon myriads were standing before Him;
The (BP)court [ae]convened,
And (BQ)the books were opened.
11 Then I kept looking because of the sound of the [af]boastful words which the horn was speaking; I kept looking until the beast was killed, and its body was destroyed and given to the (BR)burning [ag]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 (BS)dominion,
Honor, and [ah](BT)a kingdom,
(BU)So that all the peoples, nations, and populations of all [ai]languages
Might serve Him.
(BV)His dominion is an everlasting dominion
Which will not pass away;
(BW)And His kingdom is one
Which will not be destroyed.
The Vision Interpreted
15 “As for me, Daniel, my spirit was distressed within [aj]me, and the (BX)visions [ak]in my mind kept (BY)alarming me. 16 I approached one of those who were (BZ)standing by and began requesting of him the [al]exact meaning of all this. So he (CA)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 [am](CB)saints of the Highest One will (CC)receive the kingdom and take possession of the kingdom forever, [an]for all ages to come.’
19 “Then I desired to know the [ao]exact meaning of the (CD)fourth beast, which was different from all [ap]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 [aq]which was larger in appearance than its associates. 21 I kept looking, and that horn was (CE)waging war with the [ar]saints and prevailing against them, 22 until the Ancient of Days came and (CF)judgment was [as]passed in favor of the [at]saints of the Highest One, and the time arrived when the [au]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 (CG)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 [av]humble three kings. 25 And he will [aw](CH)speak against the (CI)Most High and (CJ)wear down the [ax]saints of the Highest One, and he will intend to make (CK)alterations in times and in law; and [ay]they will be handed over to him for a [az](CL)time, [ba]times, and half a [bb]time. 26 But the court will [bc]convene for judgment, and his dominion will be (CM)taken away, [bd]annihilated and destroyed [be]forever. 27 Then the [bf](CN)sovereignty, the dominion, and the greatness of all the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to the people of the [bg]saints of the Highest One; His kingdom will be an (CO)everlasting kingdom, and all the empires will (CP)serve and obey Him.’
28 “[bh]At this point the revelation ended. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts were (CQ)greatly alarming me and my [bi]face became pale, but I (CR)kept the matter [bj]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, [bk]Daniel, subsequent to the one which appeared to me [bl]previously. 2 I (CS)looked in the vision, and while I was looking, I was in the citadel of (CT)Susa, which is in the province of (CU)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 (CV)ram which had two horns was standing in front of the canal. Now the two horns were [bm]long, but one was [bn]longer than the other, with the [bo]longer one coming up last. 4 I saw the ram (CW)butting westward, northward, and southward, and no other beasts could stand against him nor was there anyone to rescue from his [bp]power, but (CX)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 (CY)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 [bq]power. 8 Then the male goat made himself exceedingly great. But once (CZ)he became powerful, the (DA)large horn was broken; and in its place four prominent horns came up toward the (DB)four winds of heaven.
The Little Horn
9 And out of one of them came a rather (DC)small horn which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the [br](DD)Beautiful Land. 10 It grew up to the heavenly [bs]lights, and some of the [bt]lights, [bu]that is, some of the (DE)stars it threw down to the earth, and it (DF)trampled them. 11 It even (DG)exalted itself [bv]to be equal with the [bw]Commander of the army; and it removed the (DH)regular sacrifice from Him, and the place of His sanctuary was overthrown. 12 And because of [bx]an offense the army will be given to the horn along with the regular sacrifice; and it will (DI)hurl truth to the ground and do as it pleases and be successful. 13 Then I heard a (DJ)holy one speaking, and another holy one said to that particular one who was speaking, “(DK)How long will the vision about the regular sacrifice apply, [by]while the offense causes horror, so as to allow both the sanctuary and the army [bz]to be (DL)trampled?” 14 And he said to me, “For (DM)2,300 evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary will be [ca]properly restored.”
Interpretation of the Vision
15 When (DN)I, Daniel, had seen the vision, I sought [cb]to understand it; and behold, standing before me was one [cc]who looked like a (DO)man. 16 And I heard the voice of a man between the banks of Ulai, and he called out and said, “(DP)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 (DQ)fell on my face; and he said to me, “Son of man, understand that the vision pertains to the (DR)time of the end.”
18 Now while he was talking with me, I was (DS)dazed with my face to the ground; but he (DT)touched me and made me stand at my place. 19 And he said, “Behold, I am going to (DU)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 (DV)ram which you saw with the two horns represents the kings of Media and Persia.
The Goat
21 The shaggy [cd]goat represents the [ce]kingdom of Greece, and the large horn that is between his eyes is the first king. 22 The (DW)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 [cf]dominion,
When the wrongdoers have [cg]run their course,
A king will arise,
[ch]Insolent and skilled in [ci]intrigue.
24 And his power will be mighty, but not by his own power,
And he will [cj](DX)destroy to an extraordinary degree
And be successful and do as he pleases;
He will [ck]destroy mighty men and [cl]the holy people.
25 And through his shrewdness
He will make deceit a success by his [cm]influence;
And he will make himself great in his [cn]own mind,
And he will [co]destroy many while they are [cp]at ease.
He will even [cq](DY)oppose the Prince of princes,
But he will be broken (DZ)without [cr]human agency.
26 And the vision of the evenings and mornings
Which has been told is (EA)true;
But as for you, (EB)keep the vision secret,
Because it pertains to many (EC)days in the future.”
27 Then I, Daniel, was [cs](ED)exhausted and sick for days. Then I got up and (EE)carried on the king’s business; but I was astounded at the vision, and there was no one to explain it.
Footnotes
- Daniel 6:1 Ch 6:2 in Aram
- Daniel 6:2 Or come to grief
- Daniel 6:3 Lit above
- Daniel 6:3 Lit there was in him
- Daniel 6:4 Lit the kingdom
- Daniel 6:6 Or as a group
- Daniel 6:7 Or pit, and so throughout the ch
- Daniel 6:8 Lit does not pass away
- Daniel 6:11 Or as a group
- Daniel 6:12 Lit does not go away
- Daniel 6:13 Lit sons of the exile
- Daniel 6:15 Or as a group
- Daniel 6:16 Or May your God...Himself rescue you
- Daniel 6:21 Lit with
- Daniel 6:22 Lit innocence was found for me
- Daniel 6:22 Lit before
- Daniel 6:24 Lit eaten the pieces of Daniel
- Daniel 6:25 Lit tongues
- Daniel 6:25 Or welfare; or prosperity
- Daniel 6:26 Lit From me a decree is issued
- Daniel 6:26 Lit to the end
- Daniel 6:27 Lit hand
- Daniel 7:1 Lit of his head
- Daniel 7:1 Or beginning
- Daniel 7:1 Lit words
- Daniel 7:2 Lit began speaking and said
- Daniel 7:4 Lit heart
- Daniel 7:6 Or sides
- Daniel 7:8 Lit in this horn were eyes
- Daniel 7:9 Lit flames of fire
- Daniel 7:10 Lit took its place
- Daniel 7:11 Lit great
- Daniel 7:11 Lit of the fire
- Daniel 7:14 Or sovereignty
- Daniel 7:14 Lit tongues
- Daniel 7:15 Lit its sheath
- Daniel 7:15 Lit of my head
- Daniel 7:16 Lit what was certain
- Daniel 7:18 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
- 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 7:21 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
- Daniel 7:22 Lit given for
- Daniel 7:22 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
- Daniel 7:22 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
- Daniel 7:24 Or humiliate
- Daniel 7:25 Lit speak words
- Daniel 7:25 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
- Daniel 7:25 I.e., the saints
- Daniel 7:25 I.e., year(s)
- Daniel 7:25 I.e., year(s)
- Daniel 7:25 I.e., year(s)
- Daniel 7:26 Lit take its place
- Daniel 7:26 Lit to annihilate and to destroy
- Daniel 7:26 Lit to the end
- Daniel 7:27 Or kingdom
- Daniel 7:27 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
- Daniel 7:28 Lit To here the end of the word
- Daniel 7:28 Lit brightness was changing upon me
- Daniel 7:28 Lit in my heart
- 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
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