14 And he said to me, “For (A)2,300 evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary will be [a]properly restored.”

Interpretation of the Vision

15 When (B)I, Daniel, had seen the vision, I sought [b]to understand it; and behold, standing before me was one [c]who looked like a (C)man. 16 And I heard the voice of a man between the banks of Ulai, and he called out and said, “(D)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 (E)fell on my face; and he said to me, “Son of man, understand that the vision pertains to the (F)time of the end.”

18 Now while he was talking with me, I was (G)dazed with my face to the ground; but he (H)touched me and made me stand at my place. 19 And he said, “Behold, I am going to (I)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 (J)ram which you saw with the two horns represents the kings of Media and Persia.

The Goat

21 The shaggy [d]goat represents the [e]kingdom of Greece, and the large horn that is between his eyes is the first king. 22 The (K)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 [f]dominion,
When the wrongdoers have [g]run their course,
A king will arise,
[h]Insolent and skilled in [i]intrigue.
24 And his power will be mighty, but not by his own power,
And he will [j](L)destroy to an extraordinary degree
And be successful and do as he pleases;
He will [k]destroy mighty men and [l]the holy people.
25 And through his shrewdness
He will make deceit a success by his [m]influence;
And he will make himself great in his [n]own mind,
And he will [o]destroy many while they are [p]at ease.
He will even [q](M)oppose the Prince of princes,
But he will be broken (N)without [r]human agency.
26 And the vision of the evenings and mornings
Which has been told is (O)true;
But as for you, (P)keep the vision secret,
Because it pertains to many (Q)days in the future.”

27 Then I, Daniel, was [s](R)exhausted and sick for days. Then I got up and (S)carried on the king’s business; but I was astounded at the vision, and there was no one to explain it.

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Footnotes

  1. Daniel 8:14 Lit justified
  2. Daniel 8:15 Lit understanding
  3. Daniel 8:15 Lit like the appearance of a man
  4. Daniel 8:21 Lit buck
  5. Daniel 8:21 Lit king
  6. Daniel 8:23 Or kingdom
  7. Daniel 8:23 Lit finished
  8. Daniel 8:23 Lit Strong of face
  9. Daniel 8:23 Or ambiguous speech
  10. Daniel 8:24 Or ruin extraordinary things
  11. Daniel 8:24 Or ruin
  12. Daniel 8:24 Lit people of the saints
  13. Daniel 8:25 Lit hand
  14. Daniel 8:25 Lit heart
  15. Daniel 8:25 Or ruin
  16. Daniel 8:25 Or secure
  17. Daniel 8:25 Lit stand against
  18. Daniel 8:25 Lit hand
  19. Daniel 8:27 Or done in

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