Jeremiah’s Complaint

⁷ “After that, in my vision^(A) at night I looked, and there before me was a fourth beast—terrifying and frightening and very powerful. It had large iron^(B) teeth; it crushed and devoured its victims and trampled^(C) underfoot whatever was left.^(D) It was different from all the former beasts, and it had ten horns.^(E)

⁸ “While I was thinking about the horns, there before me was another horn, a little^(F) 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^(G) and a mouth that spoke boastfully.^(H)

⁹ “As I looked,

¹¹ “Then I continued to watch because of the boastful words the horn was speaking.^(Q) I kept looking until the beast was slain and its body destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire.^{(R) 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](S) coming^(T) with the clouds of heaven.^(U) He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. ¹⁴ He was given authority,^(V) glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him.^(W) His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom^(X) is one that will never be destroyed.^(Y)

The Interpretation of the Dream

¹⁵ “I, Daniel, was troubled in spirit, and the visions that passed through my mind disturbed me.^{(Z) 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^(AA) of these things: ¹⁷ ‘The four great beasts are four kings that will rise from the earth. ¹⁸ But the holy people^(AB) of the Most High will receive the kingdom^(AC) and will possess it forever—yes, for ever and ever.’^(AD)

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^(AE) 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.^{(AF) 21} As I watched, this horn was waging war against the holy people and defeating them,^{(AG) 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.^(AH)

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.^{(AI) 24} The ten horns^(AJ) 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^(AK) and oppress his holy people^(AL) and try to change the set times^(AM) and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time.^[b](AN)

²⁶ “‘But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed^(AO) forever. ²⁷ Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of all the kingdoms^(AP) under heaven will be handed over to the holy people^(AQ) of the Most High.^(AR) His kingdom will be an everlasting^(AS) kingdom, and all rulers will worship^(AT) and obey him.’

²⁸ “This is the end of the matter. I, Daniel, was deeply troubled^(AU) by my thoughts,^(AV) and my face turned pale,^(AW) but I kept the matter to myself.”

¹⁸ “Your Majesty, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar^(A) sovereignty and greatness and glory and splendor.^{(B) 19} Because of the high position he gave him, all the nations and peoples of every language dreaded and feared him. Those the king wanted to put to death, he put to death;^(C) those he wanted to spare, he spared; those he wanted to promote, he promoted; and those he wanted to humble, he humbled.^{(D) 20} But when his heart became arrogant and hardened with pride,^(E) he was deposed from his royal throne^(F) and stripped^(G) of his glory.^{(H) 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^(I) over all kingdoms on earth and sets over them anyone he wishes.^(J)