²⁰ But when his heart became arrogant and hardened with pride,^(A) he was deposed from his royal throne^(B) and stripped^(C) of his glory.^{(D) 21} He was driven away from people and given the mind of an animal; he lived with the wild donkeys and ate grass like the ox; and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until he acknowledged that the Most High God is sovereign^(E) over all kingdoms on earth and sets over them anyone he wishes.^(F)

²² “But you, Belshazzar, his son,^[a] have not humbled^(G) yourself, though you knew all this. ²³ Instead, you have set yourself up against^(H) the Lord of heaven. You had the goblets from his temple brought to you, and you and your nobles, your wives^(I) and your concubines drank wine from them. You praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand.^(J) But you did not honor the God who holds in his hand your life^(K) and all your ways.^(L)

⁷ “‘I will make known my holy name among my people Israel. I will no longer let my holy name be profaned,^(A) and the nations will know^(B) that I the Lord am the Holy One in Israel.^(C)

⁴ He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God^(A) or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.^(B)

²⁵ He will speak against the Most High^(A) and oppress his holy people^(B) and try to change the set times^(C) and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time.^[a](D)

The Beast out of the Sea

13 The dragon^[a] stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea.^(A) It had ten horns and seven heads,^(B) with ten crowns on its horns, and on each head a blasphemous name.^{(C) 2} The beast I saw resembled a leopard,^(D) but had feet like those of a bear^(E) and a mouth like that of a lion.^(F) The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority.^{(G) 3} One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed.^(H) The whole world was filled with wonder^(I) and followed the beast. ⁴ People worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, “Who is like^(J) the beast? Who can wage war against it?”

⁵ The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies^(K) and to exercise its authority for forty-two months.^{(L) 6} It opened its mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven.^(M)