Daniel 9
Contemporary English Version
Daniel Prays for the People
9 1-2 (A) Daniel wrote:
Some years later, Darius the Mede,[a] who was the son of Xerxes,[b] had become king of Babylonia. And during his first year as king, I found out from studying the writings of the prophets that the Lord had said to Jeremiah, “Jerusalem will lie in ruins for 70 years.”[c] 3-4 Then, to show my sorrow, I went without eating and dressed in sackcloth[d] and sat in ashes. I confessed my sins and earnestly prayed to the Lord my God:
Our Lord, you are a great and fearsome God, and you faithfully keep your agreement with those who love and obey you. 5 But we have sinned terribly by rebelling against you and rejecting your laws and teachings. 6 We have ignored the message your servants the prophets spoke to our kings, our leaders, our ancestors, and everyone else.
7 (B) Everything you do is right, our Lord. But still we suffer public disgrace because we have been unfaithful and have sinned against you. This includes all of us, both far and near—the people of Judah, Jerusalem, and Israel, as well as those you dragged away to foreign lands, 8 and even our kings, our officials, and our ancestors. 9 Lord God, you are merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against you 10 and rejected your teachings that came to us from your servants the prophets.
11 (C) Everyone in Israel has stubbornly refused to obey your laws, and so those curses written by your servant Moses have fallen upon us. 12 You warned us and our leaders that Jerusalem would suffer the worst disaster in human history, and you did exactly as you had threatened. 13 We have not escaped any of the terrible curses written by Moses, and yet we have refused to beg you for mercy and to remind ourselves of how faithful you have always been. 14 And when you finally punished us with this horrible disaster, that was also the right thing to do, because we deserved it so much.
15 (D) Our Lord God, with your own mighty arm you rescued us from Egypt and made yourself famous to this very day, but we have sinned terribly. 16 In the past, you treated us with such kindness, that we now beg you to stop being so terribly angry with Jerusalem. After all, it is your chosen city built on your holy mountain, even though it has suffered public disgrace because of our sins and those of our ancestors.
17 (E) I am your servant, Lord God, and I beg you to answer my prayers and bring honor to yourself by having pity on your temple that lies in ruins. 18 (F) Please show mercy to your chosen city, not because we deserve it, but because of your great kindness. 19 Forgive us! Hurry and do something, not only for your city and your chosen people, but to bring honor to yourself.
The Seventy Weeks
Daniel wrote:
20 I was still confessing my sins and those of all Israel to the Lord my God, and I was praying for the good of his holy mountain,[e] 21 (G) when Gabriel suddenly came flying in at the time of the evening sacrifice. This was the same Gabriel I had seen in my vision, 22 and he explained:
Daniel, I am here to help you understand the vision. 23 God thinks highly of you, and at the very moment you started praying, I was sent to give you the answer. 24 God has decided that for 70 weeks,[f] your people and your holy city must suffer as the price of their sins. Then evil will disappear, and justice will rule forever; the visions and words of the prophets will come true, and a most holy place will be dedicated.[g]
25 You need to realize that from the command to rebuild Jerusalem until the coming of the Chosen Leader,[h] it will be 7 weeks and another 62 weeks.[i] Streets will be built in Jerusalem, and a trench will be dug around the city for protection, but these will be difficult times.[j] 26 At the end of the 62 weeks,[k] the Chosen Leader[l] will be killed and left with nothing.[m]
A foreign ruler and his army will sweep down like a mighty flood, leaving both the city and the temple in ruins, and war and destruction will continue until the end, just as God has decided. 27 (H) For one week[n] this foreigner[o] will make a firm agreement with many people, and halfway through this week,[p] he will end all sacrifices and offerings. Then the “Horrible Thing” that causes destruction will be put there. And it will stay there until the time God has decided to destroy this one who destroys.
Footnotes
- 9.1,2 Darius the Mede: See 5.31.
- 9.1,2 Xerxes: Hebrew “Ahasuerus.”
- 9.1,2 70 years: See Jeremiah 25.11-13; 29.10.
- 9.3,4 sackcloth: A rough, dark-colored cloth made from goat or camel hair and used to make grain sacks. It was worn in times of trouble or sorrow.
- 9.20 holy mountain: Jerusalem (see verse 16) or the temple.
- 9.24 70 weeks: Or “70 times 7 years.”
- 9.24 a most holy place will be dedicated: Or “God's Holy One will appear.”
- 9.25 the Chosen Leader: Or “a chosen leader.” In Hebrew the word “chosen” means “to pour oil (on someone's head).” In Old Testament times it was the custom to pour oil on a person's head when that person was chosen to be a priest or a king.
- 9.25 7 weeks and another 62 weeks: Or “7 times 7 years and another 62 times 7 years.”
- 9.25 it will be 7 … difficult times: Or “it will be 7 weeks. Then streets will be built in Jerusalem, and a trench will be dug around the city for protection. But Jerusalem will have difficult times for 62 weeks.”
- 9.26 62 weeks: Or “62 times 7 years.”
- 9.26 the Chosen Leader: See the note at 9.25.
- 9.26 left with nothing: Or “no one will take his place.”
- 9.27 one week: Or “7 years.”
- 9.27 this foreigner: Or “the Chosen Leader.”
- 9.27 halfway through this week: Or “for half of this week of 7 years.”
但以理書 9
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional)
但以理為同胞禱告
9 瑪代人亞哈隨魯的兒子大流士被立為迦勒底國的王元年， 2 即他統治的第一年，我但以理從經書上耶和華給耶利米先知的話得知，耶路撒冷必荒涼七十年。
3 我便禁食，身披麻衣，頭蒙灰塵，向主上帝禱告祈求。 4 我向我的上帝耶和華禱告、認罪，說：「主啊，你是偉大而可畏的上帝，你向那些愛你、遵守你誡命的人信守你的慈愛之約。 5 我們犯罪作惡，行為邪惡叛逆，偏離你的誡命和典章， 6 沒有聽從你的僕人——眾先知奉你的名向我們的君王、首領、先祖及國中百姓所說的話。 7 主啊，你是公義的，我們今日滿面羞愧，我們猶大人和耶路撒冷的居民，以及因對你不忠而被驅散到遠近各地的以色列人都滿面羞愧。 8 主啊，我們和我們的君王、首領、先祖因得罪了你而滿臉羞愧。 9 雖然我們背叛了主——我們的上帝，祂卻有憐憫和饒恕之心。 10 我們沒有聽從我們的上帝耶和華的話，沒有遵行祂藉祂的僕人——眾先知給我們頒佈的律法。 11 以色列人都違背你的律法，偏離正道，不聽從你的話。你僕人摩西的律法書上所記載的咒詛和審判都落在了我們身上，因為我們得罪了你。 12 你把大災難降在我們身上，應驗了你警告我們和我們官長的話。耶路撒冷遭遇的災禍普天之下從未有過。 13 這一切災禍降在了我們身上，正如摩西律法書的記載。然而，我們的上帝耶和華啊，我們卻沒有離開罪惡，認識你的真理，以便懇求你施恩。 14 所以耶和華決意使災禍降在我們身上，因為我們的上帝耶和華的一切作為都是公義的，我們卻沒有聽從祂的話。
15 「主——我們的上帝啊，你曾用大能的手把你的子民領出埃及，使自己威名遠揚直到今日。我們卻犯罪作惡。 16 主啊，你一向公義，求你不要向你的耶路撒冷城——你的聖山發烈怒。由於我們的罪惡和我們祖先的過犯，耶路撒冷和你的子民成了四圍鄰人嘲諷的對象。 17 我們的上帝啊，求你垂聽僕人的禱告祈求，為你自己的緣故，笑顏垂顧你荒涼的聖所。 18 我的上帝啊，求你側耳垂聽，睜眼眷顧我們荒涼的土地和屬於你名下的城。我們向你祈求，並非因為我們有什麼義行，乃是因為你充滿憐憫。 19 主啊，求你垂聽！主啊，求你赦免！主啊，求你應允，立刻行動！我的上帝啊，為你自己的緣故，求你不要耽延，因為這城和這民都屬於你的名下。」
加百列解釋預言
20 我繼續禱告，承認我和同胞以色列人的罪，為我上帝耶和華的聖山在祂面前祈求。 21 我正禱告的時候，先前在異象中看見的那位加百列奉命疾飛而來。那是獻晚祭的時候。 22 他向我解釋說：「但以理啊，我來是要使你有智慧和悟性。 23 你剛開始祈求，就已賜下答覆，我是來告訴你的，因為你倍受眷愛。所以你要留意以下的信息，明白異象的意思。
24 「已經為你的同胞和聖城定了七十個七，以終結叛逆，除掉罪惡，贖盡過犯，帶來永遠的公義，封住異象和預言，膏抹至聖所[a]。 25 你要知道，也要明白，從重建耶路撒冷的命令發出，到受膏的君王來臨，其間有七個七加六十二個七。耶路撒冷城及其廣場和壕溝必得重建，且是在艱難時期。 26 六十二個七之後，受膏者必被殺害，一無所有。另有一王要興起，他的臣民要毀滅這城和聖所。結局必如洪水沖來，戰爭將持續到末了，到處一片荒涼——這已經註定。 27 那王必與許多人締結一七之久的盟約。一七之半，他必終止祭牲和供物，並且設立帶來毀滅的可憎之物，直到所定的結局臨到這惡者。」
Footnotes
- 9·24 「至聖所」或譯「至聖者」。
Daniel 9
Christian Standard Bible
Daniel’s Prayer
9 In the first year of Darius,(A) the son of Ahasuerus, a Mede by birth, who was made king over the Chaldean kingdom— 2 in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the books according to the word of the Lord to the prophet Jeremiah that the number of years for the desolation of Jerusalem would be seventy.(B) 3 So I turned my attention to the Lord God to seek him by prayer and petitions, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.(C)
4 I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed:
Ah, Lord—the great and awe-inspiring God(D) who keeps his gracious covenant(E) with those who love him(F) and keep his commands(G)— 5 we have sinned,(H) done wrong, acted wickedly, rebelled,(I) and turned away from your commands and ordinances.(J) 6 We have not listened to your servants the prophets,(K) who spoke in your name to our kings, leaders, ancestors, and all the people of the land.
7 Lord, righteousness belongs to you,(L) but this day public shame belongs to us: the men of Judah, the residents of Jerusalem, and all Israel—those who are near and those who are far, in all the countries where you have banished them because of the disloyalty they have shown toward you. 8 Lord, public shame(M) belongs to us, our kings, our leaders, and our ancestors, because we have sinned against you.(N) 9 Compassion and forgiveness belong to the Lord our God, though we have rebelled against him 10 and have not obeyed the Lord our God by following his instructions that he set before us through his servants(O) the prophets.
11 All Israel has broken your law and turned away,(P) refusing to obey you. The promised curse[a] written in the law of Moses,(Q) the servant of God, has been poured out on us because we have sinned against him. 12 He has carried out his words(R) that he spoke against us and against our rulers[b](S) by bringing on us a disaster that is so great that nothing like what has been done to Jerusalem has ever been done(T) under all of heaven. 13 Just as it is written in the law of Moses,(U) all this disaster has come on us, yet we have not sought the favor of(V) the Lord our God by turning from our iniquities and paying attention to your truth.(W) 14 So the Lord kept the disaster in mind and brought it on us, for the Lord our God is righteous in all he has done. But we have not obeyed him.
15 Now, Lord our God—who brought your people out of the land of Egypt with a strong hand(X) and made your name renowned(Y) as it is this day—we have sinned, we have acted wickedly. 16 Lord, in keeping with all your righteous acts, may your anger and wrath(Z) turn away from your city Jerusalem, your holy mountain;(AA) for because of our sins and the iniquities of our ancestors, Jerusalem and your people have become an object of ridicule to all those around us.
17 Therefore, our God, hear the prayer and the petitions of your servant. Make your face shine(AB) on your desolate sanctuary(AC) for the Lord’s sake. 18 Listen closely,[c] my God, and hear. Open your eyes and see our desolations and the city that bears your name. For we are not presenting our petitions before you based on our righteous acts, but based on your abundant compassion. 19 Lord, hear! Lord, forgive! Lord, listen and act! My God, for your own sake, do not delay,(AD) because your city and your people bear your name.
The Seventy Weeks of Years
20 While I was speaking, praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel,(AE) and presenting my petition before the Lord my God concerning the holy mountain of my God— 21 while I was praying, Gabriel,(AF) the man I had seen in the first vision,(AG) reached me in my extreme weariness, about the time of the evening offering.(AH) 22 He gave me this explanation: “Daniel, I’ve come now to give you understanding.(AI) 23 At the beginning of your petitions an answer went out, and I have come to give it, for you are treasured by God.[d](AJ) So consider the message and understand the vision:(AK)
24 Seventy weeks are decreed(AL)
about your people and your holy city—
to bring the rebellion to an end,
to put a stop to sin,
to atone for iniquity,
to bring in everlasting righteousness,(AM)
to seal up vision and prophecy,
and to anoint the most holy place.
25 Know and understand this:
From the issuing of the decree
to restore and rebuild Jerusalem(AN)
until an Anointed One,(AO) the ruler,[e]
will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks.
It will be rebuilt with a plaza and a moat,
but in difficult times.
26 After those sixty-two weeks
the Anointed One will be cut off(AP)
and will have nothing.
The people of the coming ruler
will destroy the city(AQ) and the sanctuary.[f]
The[g] end will come with a flood,(AR)
and until the end there will be[h] war;
desolations are decreed.
27 He will make a firm covenant[i]
with many for one week,
but in the middle of the week
he will put a stop to sacrifice and offering.
And the abomination of desolation(AS)
will be on a wing(AT) of the temple[j][k]
until the decreed destruction(AU)
is poured out on the desolator.”
Footnotes
- 9:11 Lit The curse and the oath
- 9:12 Lit against rulers who ruled us
- 9:18 Lit Stretch out your ear
- 9:23 by God added for clarity
- 9:25 Or until an anointed one, a prince
- 9:26 MT; Theod, some mss read The city and the sanctuary will be destroyed when the ruler comes.
- 9:26 Lit Its, or His
- 9:26 Or end of a
- 9:27 Or will enforce a covenant
- 9:27 LXX; MT reads of abominations
- 9:27 Or And the desolator will be on the wing of abominations, or And the desolator will come on the wings of monsters (or of horror); Hb obscure
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