The Vision Interpreted

¹⁵ “As for me, Daniel, my spirit was distressed ^[a]within me, and the ^(A)visions of my head kept ^(B)alarming me. ¹⁶ I came near to one of those who were ^(C)standing by and began seeking out from him the ^[b]exact meaning of all this. So he ^(D)said it to 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 ^[c](E)saints of the Highest One will ^(F)receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, ^[d]for all ages to come.’

¹⁹ “Then I desired to know the ^[e]exact meaning of the ^(G)fourth beast, which was different from all ^[f]the others, extraordinarily fearsome, 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 them fell, namely, that horn which had eyes and a mouth speaking great boasts and ^[g]which was larger in appearance than its associates. ²¹ I kept looking, and that horn was ^(H)waging war with the saints and overcoming them ²² until the Ancient of Days came and ^(I)judgment was given in favor of the saints of the Highest One, and the season arrived when the saints took possession of the kingdom.

²³ “Thus 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 tread it down and crush it. ²⁴ As for the ^(J)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 make low three kings. ²⁵ He will ^(K)speak words against the ^(L)Most High and ^(M)wear down the saints of the Highest One, and he will intend to make ^(N)changes in seasons and in law; and ^[h]they will be given into his hand for a ^[i](O)time, ^[j]times, and half a ^[k]time. ²⁶ But the court will sit for judgment, and his dominion will be ^(P)taken away, ^[l]annihilated and destroyed ^[m]forever. ²⁷ Then the ^[n](Q)reign, the dominion, and the greatness of all the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to the people of the saints of the Highest One; His kingdom will be an ^(R)everlasting kingdom, and all the dominions will ^(S)serve and obey Him.’

²⁸ “^[o]At this point the matter of this revelation ended. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts were ^(T)greatly alarming me, and the ^[p]splendor of my face changed, but I ^(U)kept the matter in my heart.”