Daniel and the Lions' Den

6 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom ^(A)120 ^(B)satraps, to be throughout the whole kingdom; ² and over them ^(C)three high officials, of whom Daniel was one, to whom these ^(D)satraps should give account, so that the king might suffer no loss. ³ Then this Daniel became ^(E)distinguished above all ^(F)the other high officials and ^(G)satraps, because ^(H)an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned ^(I)to set him over the whole kingdom. ⁴ Then ^(J)the high officials and ^(K)the satraps ^(L)sought to find a ground for complaint against Daniel with regard to the kingdom, ^(M)but they could find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was faithful, ^(N)and no error or fault was found in him. ⁵ Then these men said, “We shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God.”

⁶ Then these ^(O)high officials and ^(P)satraps came by agreement^[a] to the king and said to him, “O ^(Q)King Darius, live forever! ⁷ All the ^(R)high officials of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the ^(S)counselors and the governors are agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an ^(T)injunction, that whoever makes petition to any god or man for thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions. ⁸ Now, O king, establish ^(U)the injunction and sign the document, so that it cannot be changed, according to ^(V)the law of ^(W)the Medes and the Persians, ^(X)which cannot be revoked.” ⁹ Therefore King Darius signed the document and ^(Y)injunction.

¹⁰ When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where ^(Z)he had windows in his upper chamber open ^(AA)toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees ^(AB)three times a day and prayed and ^(AC)gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously. ¹¹ Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and plea before his God. ¹² Then they ^(AD)came near and said before the king, concerning the injunction, “O king! Did you not sign ^(AE)an injunction, that anyone who makes petition to any god or man within thirty days except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?” The king answered and said, “The thing stands fast, according to the law of ^(AF)the Medes and Persians, ^(AG)which cannot be revoked.” ¹³ Then they answered and said before the king, ^(AH)“Daniel, who is one ^(AI)of the exiles ^(AJ)from Judah, ^(AK)pays no attention to you, O king, or ^(AL)the injunction you have signed, but makes his petition ^(AM)three times a day.”

¹⁴ Then ^(AN)the king, when he heard these words, ^(AO)was much distressed and set his mind to deliver Daniel. And he labored till the sun went down to rescue him. ¹⁵ Then these men came by agreement to the king and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no ^(AP)injunction or ordinance that the king establishes can be changed.”

¹⁶ Then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king declared^[b] to Daniel, “May ^(AQ)your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!” ^17 (AR)And a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, ^(AS)and the king sealed it ^(AT)with his own signet and with the signet of his ^(AU)lords, that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel. ¹⁸ Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; ^(AV)no diversions were brought to him, and ^(AW)sleep fled from him.

¹⁹ Then, at break of day, the king arose and went in haste to the den of lions. ²⁰ As he came near to the den where Daniel was, he cried out in a tone of anguish. The king declared to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of ^(AX)the living God, ^(AY)has your God, whom you serve continually, ^(AZ)been able to deliver you from the lions?” ²¹ Then Daniel said to the king, ^(BA)“O king, live forever! ²² My God ^(BB)sent his angel ^(BC)and shut the lions' mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless ^(BD)before him; ^(BE)and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.” ²³ Then the king was exceedingly glad, and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and ^(BF)no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. ²⁴ And the king commanded, and ^(BG)those men who had maliciously accused Daniel were brought and cast into the den of lions—they, their children, and their wives. And before they reached the bottom of the den, the lions overpowered them and broke all their bones in pieces.

²⁵ Then King Darius wrote to all ^(BH)the peoples, nations, and languages ^(BI)that dwell in all the earth: ^(BJ)“Peace be multiplied to you. ^26 (BK)I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion ^(BL)people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel,

²⁸ So this Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and ^(BS)the reign of ^(BT)Cyrus the Persian.

Daniel's Vision of the Four Beasts

7 In the first year of ^(BU)Belshazzar king of Babylon, ^(BV)Daniel saw a dream and ^(BW)visions of his head as he lay in his bed. Then he wrote down the dream and told the sum of the matter. ² Daniel declared,^[c] “I saw in my vision by night, and behold, ^(BX)the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. ³ And four great beasts ^(BY)came up out of the sea, different from one another. ⁴ The first was like a lion and had eagles' wings. Then as I looked its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man, and the mind of a man was given to it. ⁵ And behold, ^(BZ)another beast, a second one, like a bear. It was raised up on one side. It had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth; and it was told, ‘Arise, devour much flesh.’ ⁶ After this I looked, and behold, another, like a ^(CA)leopard, with four wings of a bird on its back. And the beast had four heads, and ^(CB)dominion was given to it. ⁷ After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, ^(CC)terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth; ^(CD)it devoured and broke in pieces ^(CE)and stamped what was left with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and ^(CF)it had ten horns. ⁸ I considered the horns, and behold, ^(CG)there came up among them another horn, a little one, ^(CH)before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots. And behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and ^(CI)a mouth speaking great things.

The Ancient of Days Reigns

⁹ “As I looked,

¹¹ “I looked then because of the sound of ^(CV)the great words that the horn was speaking. And as I looked, ^(CW)the beast was killed, and its body destroyed ^(CX)and given over to be burned with fire. ¹² As for the rest of the beasts, ^(CY)their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.

The Son of Man Is Given Dominion

¹³ “I saw in the night visions,

Daniel's Vision Interpreted

¹⁵ “As for me, Daniel, my spirit within me^[d] was anxious, and ^(DE)the visions of my head alarmed me. ¹⁶ I approached one of those who stood there and asked him the truth concerning all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of the things. ^17 (DF)‘These four great beasts are four kings who shall arise out of the earth. ¹⁸ But ^(DG)the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever.’

¹⁹ “Then I desired to know the truth about ^(DH)the fourth beast, which was different from all the rest, exceedingly terrifying, with its teeth of iron and claws of bronze, and which devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet, ^20 (DI)and about the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn that came up and before which three of them fell, the horn that had eyes and a mouth that spoke great things, and that seemed greater than its companions. ²¹ As I looked, this horn ^(DJ)made war with the saints and prevailed over them, ²² until the ^(DK)Ancient of Days came, and ^(DL)judgment was given for the saints of the Most High, and the time came when ^(DM)the saints possessed the kingdom.

²³ “Thus he said: ‘As for ^(DN)the fourth beast,

²⁸ “Here is the end of the matter. ^(DX)As for me, Daniel, my ^(DY)thoughts greatly alarmed me, ^(DZ)and my color changed, but ^(EA)I kept the matter in my heart.”

Daniel's Vision of the Ram and the Goat

8 In the third year of the reign of ^(EB)King Belshazzar a vision appeared to me, Daniel, ^(EC)after that which appeared to me ^(ED)at the first. ² And I saw in the vision; and when I saw, I was in ^(EE)Susa the citadel, which is in the province of ^(EF)Elam. And ^(EG)I saw in the vision, ^(EH)and I was at the ^(EI)Ulai canal. ³ I raised my eyes and saw, and behold, ^(EJ)a ram standing on the bank of the canal. It had two horns, and both horns were high, but one was higher than the other, and the higher one came up last. ⁴ I saw ^(EK)the ram charging westward and northward and southward. No ^(EL)beast ^(EM)could stand before him, ^(EN)and there was no one who could rescue from his power. ^(EO)He did as he pleased and ^(EP)became great.

⁵ As I was considering, behold, a ^(EQ)male goat came from the west across the face of the whole earth, without touching the ground. And the goat had ^(ER)a conspicuous horn between his eyes. ⁶ He came to ^(ES)the ram with the two horns, which I had seen standing on the bank of the canal, ^(ET)and he ran at him in his powerful wrath. ⁷ I saw him come close to the ram, ^(EU)and he was enraged against him and struck the ram and broke his two horns. ^(EV)And the ram had no power to stand before him, but he ^(EW)cast him down to the ground and trampled on him. And there was no one who could rescue the ram from his power. ⁸ Then ^(EX)the goat ^(EY)became exceedingly great, but when he was strong, the great horn was broken, and instead of it there came up four ^(EZ)conspicuous horns toward ^(FA)the four winds of heaven.

⁹ Out of one of them came ^(FB)a little horn, which grew exceedingly great toward ^(FC)the south, toward the east, and toward ^(FD)the glorious land. ^10 (FE)It grew great, ^(FF)even to the host of heaven. And some of the host ^(FG)and some^[f] of ^(FH)the stars it threw down to the ground and ^(FI)trampled on them. ^11 (FJ)It became great, even as great as ^(FK)the Prince of the host. ^(FL)And the regular burnt offering was taken away from him, and the place of his sanctuary was overthrown. ¹² And a host will be given over to it together with the regular burnt offering because of transgression,^[g] and it will throw truth to the ground, and ^(FM)it will act and prosper. ¹³ Then I heard ^(FN)a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to the one who spoke, ^(FO)“For how long is the vision concerning the regular burnt offering, ^(FP)the transgression that makes desolate, and the giving over of the sanctuary and host to be trampled underfoot?” ¹⁴ And he said to me,^[h] “For 2,300 ^(FQ)evenings and mornings. Then the sanctuary shall be restored to its rightful state.”

The Interpretation of the Vision

¹⁵ When I, Daniel, had seen the vision, I ^(FR)sought to understand it. And behold, there stood before me one having ^(FS)the appearance of a man. ^16 (FT)And I heard a man's voice ^(FU)between the banks of the ^(FV)Ulai, and it called, ^(FW)“Gabriel, make this man understand the vision.” ¹⁷ So he came near where I stood. And when he came, ^(FX)I was frightened ^(FY)and fell on my face. But he said to me, “Understand, ^(FZ)O son of man, that the vision is for ^(GA)the time of the end.”

¹⁸ And when he had spoken to me, ^(GB)I fell into a deep sleep with my face to the ground. But ^(GC)he touched me and made me stand up. ¹⁹ He said, “Behold, I will make known to you what shall be at the latter end of ^(GD)the indignation, for it refers to ^(GE)the appointed time of the end. ²⁰ As for ^(GF)the ram that you saw with the two horns, these are the kings of ^(GG)Media and Persia. ²¹ And ^(GH)the goat^[i] is the king of Greece. And ^(GI)the great horn between his eyes is ^(GJ)the first king. ^22 (GK)As for the horn that was broken, in place of which four others arose, four kingdoms shall arise from his^[j] nation, ^(GL)but not with his power. ²³ And at the latter end of their kingdom, when the transgressors have reached their limit, a king of bold face, one who understands riddles, shall arise. ²⁴ His power shall be great—^(GM)but not by his own power; and he shall cause fearful destruction ^(GN)and shall succeed in what he does, ^(GO)and destroy mighty men and the people who are the saints. ^25 (GP)By his cunning he shall make deceit prosper under his hand, and in his own mind ^(GQ)he shall become great. ^(GR)Without warning he shall destroy many. And he ^(GS)shall even rise up against the Prince of princes, and he shall be broken—but ^(GT)by no human hand. ²⁶ The vision of ^(GU)the evenings and the mornings that has been told ^(GV)is true, but ^(GW)seal up the vision, ^(GX)for it refers to many days from now.”

²⁷ And ^(GY)I, Daniel, was overcome and lay sick for some days. Then I rose and went about the king's business, but I was appalled by the vision ^(GZ)and did not understand it.

Rejoicing in Heaven

19 After this I heard ^(A)what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out,

³ Once more they cried out,

⁴ And ^(G)the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who was seated on the throne, saying, “Amen. Hallelujah!” ⁵ And from the throne came a voice saying,

The Marriage Supper of the Lamb

⁶ Then I heard what seemed to be ^(J)the voice of a great multitude, like ^(K)the roar of many waters and ^(L)like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out,

for the fine linen is ^(Q)the righteous deeds of the saints.

⁹ And the angel said^[a] to me, “Write this: ^(R)Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, ^(S)“These are the true words of God.” ¹⁰ Then ^(T)I fell down at his feet to worship him, ^(U)but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to ^(V)the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.” For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

The Rider on a White Horse

¹¹ Then I saw ^(W)heaven opened, and behold, ^(X)a white horse! The one sitting on it is called ^(Y)Faithful and True, and ^(Z)in righteousness he judges and makes war. ^12 (AA)His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are ^(AB)many diadems, and he has ^(AC)a name written that no one knows but himself. ¹³ He is clothed in ^(AD)a robe dipped in^[b] blood, and the name by which he is called is ^(AE)The Word of God. ¹⁴ And the armies of heaven, ^(AF)arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, ^(AG)were following him on white horses. ^15 (AH)From his mouth comes a sharp sword ^(AI)with which to strike down the nations, and ^(AJ)he will rule^[c] them with a rod of iron. ^(AK)He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. ¹⁶ On his robe and on his thigh ^(AL)he has a name written, ^(AM)King of kings and Lord of lords.

¹⁷ Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to ^(AN)all the birds that fly directly overhead, ^(AO)“Come, gather for ^(AP)the great supper of God, ^18 (AQ)to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave,^[d] both small and great.” ¹⁹ And I saw ^(AR)the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies ^(AS)gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army. ²⁰ And the beast was captured, and with it ^(AT)the false prophet ^(AU)who in its presence^[e] had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who ^(AV)worshiped its image. These two were ^(AW)thrown alive into the lake of ^(AX)fire that burns with sulfur. ²¹ And the rest were slain by the sword ^(AY)that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and ^(AZ)all the birds were gorged with their flesh.