Jesus Goes to the Festival of Tabernacles

7 After this, Jesus went around in Galilee. He did not want^[a] to go about in Judea because the Jewish leaders^(A) there were looking for a way to kill him.^{(B) 2} But when the Jewish Festival of Tabernacles^(C) was near, ³ Jesus’ brothers^(D) said to him, “Leave Galilee and go to Judea, so that your disciples there may see the works you do. ⁴ No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.” ⁵ For even his own brothers did not believe in him.^(E)

⁶ Therefore Jesus told them, “My time^(F) is not yet here; for you any time will do. ⁷ The world cannot hate you, but it hates me^(G) because I testify that its works are evil.^{(H) 8} You go to the festival. I am not^[b] going up to this festival, because my time^(I) has not yet fully come.” ⁹ After he had said this, he stayed in Galilee.

¹⁰ However, after his brothers had left for the festival, he went also, not publicly, but in secret. ¹¹ Now at the festival the Jewish leaders were watching for Jesus^(J) and asking, “Where is he?”

¹² Among the crowds there was widespread whispering about him. Some said, “He is a good man.”

Others replied, “No, he deceives the people.”^{(K) 13} But no one would say anything publicly about him for fear of the leaders.^(L)

Jesus Teaches at the Festival

¹⁴ Not until halfway through the festival did Jesus go up to the temple courts and begin to teach.^{(M) 15} The Jews^(N) there were amazed and asked, “How did this man get such learning^(O) without having been taught?”^(P)

¹⁶ Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me.^{(Q) 17} Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out^(R) whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. ¹⁸ Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory,^(S) but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him. ¹⁹ Has not Moses given you the law?^(T) Yet not one of you keeps the law. Why are you trying to kill me?”^(U)

²⁰ “You are demon-possessed,”^(V) the crowd answered. “Who is trying to kill you?”

²¹ Jesus said to them, “I did one miracle,^(W) and you are all amazed. ²² Yet, because Moses gave you circumcision^(X) (though actually it did not come from Moses, but from the patriarchs),^(Y) you circumcise a boy on the Sabbath. ²³ Now if a boy can be circumcised on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses may not be broken, why are you angry with me for healing a man’s whole body on the Sabbath? ²⁴ Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly.”^(Z)

Division Over Who Jesus Is

²⁵ At that point some of the people of Jerusalem began to ask, “Isn’t this the man they are trying to kill?^{(AA) 26} Here he is, speaking publicly, and they are not saying a word to him. Have the authorities^(AB) really concluded that he is the Messiah?^{(AC) 27} But we know where this man is from;^(AD) when the Messiah comes, no one will know where he is from.”

²⁸ Then Jesus, still teaching in the temple courts,^(AE) cried out, “Yes, you know me, and you know where I am from.^(AF) I am not here on my own authority, but he who sent me is true.^(AG) You do not know him, ²⁹ but I know him^(AH) because I am from him and he sent me.”^(AI)

³⁰ At this they tried to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him,^(AJ) because his hour had not yet come.^{(AK) 31} Still, many in the crowd believed in him.^(AL) They said, “When the Messiah comes, will he perform more signs^(AM) than this man?”

³² The Pharisees heard the crowd whispering such things about him. Then the chief priests and the Pharisees sent temple guards to arrest him.

³³ Jesus said, “I am with you for only a short time,^(AN) and then I am going to the one who sent me.^{(AO) 34} You will look for me, but you will not find me; and where I am, you cannot come.”^(AP)

³⁵ The Jews said to one another, “Where does this man intend to go that we cannot find him? Will he go where our people live scattered^(AQ) among the Greeks,^(AR) and teach the Greeks? ³⁶ What did he mean when he said, ‘You will look for me, but you will not find me,’ and ‘Where I am, you cannot come’?”^(AS)

³⁷ On the last and greatest day of the festival,^(AT) Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.^{(AU) 38} Whoever believes^(AV) in me, as Scripture has said,^(AW) rivers of living water^(AX) will flow from within them.”^{[c](AY) 39} By this he meant the Spirit,^(AZ) whom those who believed in him were later to receive.^(BA) Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.^(BB)

⁴⁰ On hearing his words, some of the people said, “Surely this man is the Prophet.”^(BC)

⁴¹ Others said, “He is the Messiah.”

Still others asked, “How can the Messiah come from Galilee?^{(BD) 42} Does not Scripture say that the Messiah will come from David’s descendants^(BE) and from Bethlehem,^(BF) the town where David lived?” ⁴³ Thus the people were divided^(BG) because of Jesus. ⁴⁴ Some wanted to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him.^(BH)

Unbelief of the Jewish Leaders

⁴⁵ Finally the temple guards went back to the chief priests and the Pharisees, who asked them, “Why didn’t you bring him in?”

⁴⁶ “No one ever spoke the way this man does,”^(BI) the guards replied.

⁴⁷ “You mean he has deceived you also?”^(BJ) the Pharisees retorted. ⁴⁸ “Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him?^{(BK) 49} No! But this mob that knows nothing of the law—there is a curse on them.”

⁵⁰ Nicodemus,^(BL) who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked, ⁵¹ “Does our law condemn a man without first hearing him to find out what he has been doing?”

⁵² They replied, “Are you from Galilee, too? Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee.”^(BM)

[The earliest manuscripts and many other ancient witnesses do not have John 7:53—8:11. A few manuscripts include these verses, wholly or in part, after John 7:36, John 21:25, Luke 21:38 or Luke 24:53.]

⁵³ Then they all went home,

Daniel’s Prayer

9 In the first year of Darius^(A) son of Xerxes^[a](B) (a Mede by descent), who was made ruler over the Babylonian^[b] kingdom— ² in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the word of the Lord given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy^(C) years. ³ So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting,^(D) and in sackcloth and ashes.^(E)

⁴ I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed:^(F)

The Seventy “Sevens”

²⁰ While I was speaking and praying, confessing^(BC) my sin and the sin of my people Israel and making my request to the Lord my God for his holy hill^(BD)— ²¹ while I was still in prayer, Gabriel,^(BE) the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice.^{(BF) 22} He instructed me and said to me, “Daniel, I have now come to give you insight and understanding.^{(BG) 23} As soon as you began to pray,^(BH) a word went out, which I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed.^(BI) Therefore, consider the word and understand the vision:^(BJ)

²⁴ “Seventy ‘sevens’^[c] are decreed for your people and your holy city^(BK) to finish^[d] transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone^(BL) for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness,^(BM) to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the Most Holy Place.^[e]

²⁵ “Know and understand this: From the time the word goes out to restore and rebuild^(BN) Jerusalem until the Anointed One,^[f](BO) the ruler,^(BP) comes, there will be seven ‘sevens,’ and sixty-two ‘sevens.’ It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble.^{(BQ) 26} After the sixty-two ‘sevens,’ the Anointed One will be put to death^(BR) and will have nothing.^[g] The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood:^(BS) War will continue until the end, and desolations^(BT) have been decreed.^{(BU) 27} He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’^[h] In the middle of the ‘seven’^[i] he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple^[j] he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed^(BV) is poured out on him.^[k]”^[l]

Daniel’s Vision of a Man

10 In the third year of Cyrus^(BW) king of Persia, a revelation was given to Daniel (who was called Belteshazzar).^(BX) Its message was true^(BY) and it concerned a great war.^[m] The understanding of the message came to him in a vision.

² At that time I, Daniel, mourned^(BZ) for three weeks. ³ I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips;^(CA) and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over.

⁴ On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank^(CB) of the great river, the Tigris,^{(CC) 5} I looked up^(CD) and there before me was a man dressed in linen,^(CE) with a belt of fine gold^(CF) from Uphaz around his waist. ⁶ His body was like topaz,^(CG) his face like lightning,^(CH) his eyes like flaming torches,^(CI) his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze,^(CJ) and his voice^(CK) like the sound of a multitude.

⁷ I, Daniel, was the only one who saw the vision; those who were with me did not see it,^(CL) but such terror overwhelmed them that they fled and hid themselves. ⁸ So I was left alone,^(CM) gazing at this great vision; I had no strength left,^(CN) my face turned deathly pale^(CO) and I was helpless.^{(CP) 9} Then I heard him speaking, and as I listened to him, I fell into a deep sleep, my face to the ground.^(CQ)

¹⁰ A hand touched me^(CR) and set me trembling on my hands and knees.^{(CS) 11} He said, “Daniel, you who are highly esteemed,^(CT) consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you, and stand up,^(CU) for I have now been sent to you.” And when he said this to me, I stood up trembling.

¹² Then he continued, “Do not be afraid,^(CV) Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble^(CW) yourself before your God, your words^(CX) were heard, and I have come in response to them.^{(CY) 13} But the prince^(CZ) of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael,^(DA) one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. ¹⁴ Now I have come to explain^(DB) to you what will happen to your people in the future,^(DC) for the vision concerns a time yet to come.^(DD)”

¹⁵ While he was saying this to me, I bowed with my face toward the ground and was speechless.^{(DE) 16} Then one who looked like a man^[n] touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and began to speak.^(DF) I said to the one standing before me, “I am overcome with anguish^(DG) because of the vision, my lord, and I feel very weak. ¹⁷ How can I, your servant, talk with you, my lord? My strength is gone and I can hardly breathe.”^(DH)

¹⁸ Again the one who looked like a man touched^(DI) me and gave me strength.^{(DJ) 19} “Do not be afraid, you who are highly esteemed,”^(DK) he said. “Peace!^(DL) Be strong now; be strong.”^(DM)

When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Speak, my lord, since you have given me strength.”^(DN)

²⁰ So he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? Soon I will return to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I go, the prince of Greece^(DO) will come; ²¹ but first I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth.^(DP) (No one supports me against them except Michael,^(DQ) your prince. 11 ¹ And in the first year of Darius^(DR) the Mede, I took my stand to support and protect him.)

The Kings of the South and the North

² “Now then, I tell you the truth:^(DS) Three more kings will arise in Persia, and then a fourth, who will be far richer than all the others. When he has gained power by his wealth, he will stir up everyone against the kingdom of Greece.^{(DT) 3} Then a mighty king will arise, who will rule with great power and do as he pleases.^{(DU) 4} After he has arisen, his empire will be broken up and parceled out toward the four winds of heaven.^(DV) It will not go to his descendants, nor will it have the power he exercised, because his empire will be uprooted^(DW) and given to others.

⁵ “The king of the South will become strong, but one of his commanders will become even stronger than he and will rule his own kingdom with great power. ⁶ After some years, they will become allies. The daughter of the king of the South will go to the king of the North to make an alliance, but she will not retain her power, and he and his power^[o] will not last. In those days she will be betrayed, together with her royal escort and her father^[p] and the one who supported her.

⁷ “One from her family line will arise to take her place. He will attack the forces of the king of the North^(DX) and enter his fortress; he will fight against them and be victorious. ⁸ He will also seize their gods,^(DY) their metal images and their valuable articles of silver and gold and carry them off to Egypt.^(DZ) For some years he will leave the king of the North alone. ⁹ Then the king of the North will invade the realm of the king of the South but will retreat to his own country. ¹⁰ His sons will prepare for war and assemble a great army, which will sweep on like an irresistible flood^(EA) and carry the battle as far as his fortress.

¹¹ “Then the king of the South will march out in a rage and fight against the king of the North, who will raise a large army, but it will be defeated.^{(EB) 12} When the army is carried off, the king of the South will be filled with pride and will slaughter many thousands, yet he will not remain triumphant. ¹³ For the king of the North will muster another army, larger than the first; and after several years, he will advance with a huge army fully equipped.

¹⁴ “In those times many will rise against the king of the South. Those who are violent among your own people will rebel in fulfillment of the vision, but without success. ¹⁵ Then the king of the North will come and build up siege ramps^(EC) and will capture a fortified city. The forces of the South will be powerless to resist; even their best troops will not have the strength to stand. ¹⁶ The invader will do as he pleases;^(ED) no one will be able to stand against him.^(EE) He will establish himself in the Beautiful Land and will have the power to destroy it.^{(EF) 17} He will determine to come with the might of his entire kingdom and will make an alliance with the king of the South. And he will give him a daughter in marriage in order to overthrow the kingdom, but his plans^[q] will not succeed^(EG) or help him. ¹⁸ Then he will turn his attention to the coastlands^(EH) and will take many of them, but a commander will put an end to his insolence and will turn his insolence back on him.^{(EI) 19} After this, he will turn back toward the fortresses of his own country but will stumble and fall,^(EJ) to be seen no more.^(EK)

²⁰ “His successor will send out a tax collector to maintain the royal splendor.^(EL) In a few years, however, he will be destroyed, yet not in anger or in battle.

²¹ “He will be succeeded by a contemptible^(EM) person who has not been given the honor of royalty.^(EN) He will invade the kingdom when its people feel secure, and he will seize it through intrigue. ²² Then an overwhelming army will be swept away^(EO) before him; both it and a prince of the covenant will be destroyed.^{(EP) 23} After coming to an agreement with him, he will act deceitfully,^(EQ) and with only a few people he will rise to power. ²⁴ When the richest provinces feel secure, he will invade them and will achieve what neither his fathers nor his forefathers did. He will distribute plunder, loot and wealth among his followers.^(ER) He will plot the overthrow of fortresses—but only for a time.

²⁵ “With a large army he will stir up his strength and courage against the king of the South. The king of the South will wage war with a large and very powerful army, but he will not be able to stand because of the plots devised against him. ²⁶ Those who eat from the king’s provisions will try to destroy him; his army will be swept away, and many will fall in battle. ²⁷ The two kings, with their hearts bent on evil,^(ES) will sit at the same table and lie^(ET) to each other, but to no avail, because an end will still come at the appointed time.^{(EU) 28} The king of the North will return to his own country with great wealth, but his heart will be set against the holy covenant. He will take action against it and then return to his own country.

²⁹ “At the appointed time he will invade the South again, but this time the outcome will be different from what it was before. ³⁰ Ships of the western coastlands^(EV) will oppose him, and he will lose heart.^(EW) Then he will turn back and vent his fury^(EX) against the holy covenant. He will return and show favor to those who forsake the holy covenant.

³¹ “His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice.^(EY) Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation.^{(EZ) 32} With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist^(FA) him.

³³ “Those who are wise will instruct^(FB) many, though for a time they will fall by the sword or be burned or captured or plundered.^{(FC) 34} When they fall, they will receive a little help, and many who are not sincere^(FD) will join them. ³⁵ Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined,^(FE) purified and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time.

The King Who Exalts Himself

³⁶ “The king will do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify himself^(FF) above every god and will say unheard-of things^(FG) against the God of gods.^(FH) He will be successful until the time of wrath^(FI) is completed, for what has been determined must take place.^{(FJ) 37} He will show no regard for the gods of his ancestors or for the one desired by women, nor will he regard any god, but will exalt himself above them all. ³⁸ Instead of them, he will honor a god of fortresses; a god unknown to his ancestors he will honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and costly gifts. ³⁹ He will attack the mightiest fortresses with the help of a foreign god and will greatly honor those who acknowledge him. He will make them rulers over many people and will distribute the land at a price.^[r]

⁴⁰ “At the time of the end the king of the South^(FK) will engage him in battle, and the king of the North will storm^(FL) out against him with chariots and cavalry and a great fleet of ships. He will invade many countries and sweep through them like a flood.^{(FM) 41} He will also invade the Beautiful Land.^(FN) Many countries will fall, but Edom,^(FO) Moab^(FP) and the leaders of Ammon will be delivered from his hand. ⁴² He will extend his power over many countries; Egypt will not escape. ⁴³ He will gain control of the treasures of gold and silver and all the riches of Egypt,^(FQ) with the Libyans^(FR) and Cushites^[s] in submission. ⁴⁴ But reports from the east and the north will alarm him, and he will set out in a great rage to destroy and annihilate many. ⁴⁵ He will pitch his royal tents between the seas at^[t] the beautiful holy mountain.^(FS) Yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him.