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Daniel 7
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Daniel 7
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Daniel’s Vision of the Four Beasts
7 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream with visions in his mind(A) as he was lying in his bed. He wrote down the dream,(B) and here is the summary[a] of his account. 2 Daniel said, “In my vision at night I was watching, and suddenly the four winds of heaven(C) stirred up the great sea. 3 Four huge beasts(D) came up from the sea,(E) each different from the other.
4 “The first was like a lion(F) but had eagle’s wings. I continued watching until its wings were torn off. It was lifted up from the ground, set on its feet like a man, and given a human mind.
5 “Suddenly, another beast appeared, a second one, that looked like a bear.(G) It was raised up on one side, with three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told, ‘Get up! Gorge yourself on flesh.’
6 “While I was watching, another beast appeared. It was like a leopard(H) with four wings of a bird on its back. It had four heads(I) and was given authority to rule.
7 “While I was watching in the night visions, a fourth beast(J) appeared, frightening and dreadful, and incredibly strong, with large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed, and it trampled with its feet whatever was left. It was different from all the beasts before it, and it had 10 horns.(K)
8 “While I was considering the horns, suddenly another horn,(L) a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. There were eyes in this horn like a man’s, and it had a mouth that spoke arrogantly.(M)
The Ancient of Days and the Son of Man
9 “As I kept watching,
thrones were set in place,(N)
and the Ancient of Days took His seat.
His clothing was white like snow,(O)
and the hair of His head like whitest wool.(P)
His throne was flaming fire;(Q)
its wheels were blazing fire.(R)
10 A river of fire was flowing,
coming out from His presence.
Thousands upon thousands(S) served Him;
ten thousand times ten thousand(T) stood before Him.
The court was convened,(U)
and the books were opened.(V)
11 “I watched, then, because of the sound of the arrogant words the horn was speaking. As I continued watching, the beast was killed and its body destroyed and given over to the burning fire.(W) 12 As for the rest of the beasts, their authority to rule was removed, but an extension of life was granted to them for a certain period of time.(X) 13 I continued watching in the night visions,
and I saw One like a son of man(Y)
coming with the clouds of heaven.(Z)
He approached the Ancient of Days
and was escorted before Him.
14 He was given authority to rule,(AA)
and glory, and a kingdom;
so that those of every people,
nation, and language(AB)
should serve(AC) Him.
His dominion is an everlasting(AD) dominion
that will not pass away,
and His kingdom is one
that will not be destroyed.
Interpretation of the Vision
15 “As for me, Daniel, my spirit was deeply distressed within me,[b] and the visions in my mind terrified me.(AE) 16 I approached one of those who were standing by and asked him(AF) the true meaning of all this. So he let me know the interpretation of these things:(AG) 17 ‘These huge beasts, four in number, are four kings who will rise from the earth. 18 But the holy ones of the Most High will receive the kingdom and possess it forever, yes, forever and ever.’(AH)
19 “Then I wanted to know the true meaning of the fourth beast,(AI) the one different from all the others, extremely terrifying, with iron teeth and bronze claws, devouring, crushing, and trampling with its feet whatever was left. 20 I also wanted to know about the 10 horns(AJ) on its head and about the other horn that came up, before which three fell—the horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spoke arrogantly,(AK) and that was more visible than the others. 21 As I was watching, this horn waged war(AL) against the holy ones and was prevailing over them 22 until the Ancient of Days arrived and a judgment(AM) was given in favor of the holy ones of the Most High, for the time had come, and the holy ones took possession of the kingdom.
23 “This is what he said: ‘The fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom on the earth, different from all the other kingdoms. It will devour the whole earth, trample it down, and crush it. 24 The 10 horns(AN) are 10 kings who will rise from this kingdom. Another, different from the previous ones, will rise after them and subdue three kings. 25 He will speak words against the Most High(AO) and oppress[c] the holy ones(AP) of the Most High. He will intend to change religious festivals[d] and laws,(AQ) and the holy ones will be handed over to him for a time, times, and half a time.[e](AR) 26 But the court will convene,(AS) and his dominion will be taken away, to be completely destroyed forever.(AT) 27 The kingdom, dominion, and greatness of the kingdoms under all of heaven will be given to the people, the holy ones of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom,(AU) and all rulers will serve and obey Him.’
28 “This is the end of the interpretation. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts terrified me greatly,(AV) and my face turned pale,[f] but I kept the matter to myself.”(AW)
Footnotes
- Daniel 7:1 Lit beginning
- Daniel 7:15 Lit was distressed in the middle of its sheath
- Daniel 7:25 Lit wear out
- Daniel 7:25 Lit change times
- Daniel 7:25 Or for three and a half years
- Daniel 7:28 Lit my brightness changed on me
Daniel 7
New International Version
Daniel 7
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.”
Footnotes
- 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.
- Daniel 7:25 Or for a year, two years and half a year
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
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