Psalm 33

The Interpretation of the Dream

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

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^(F) 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.^{(G) 21} As I watched, this horn was waging war against the holy people and defeating them,^{(H) 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.^(I)

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.^{(J) 24} The ten horns^(K) 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^(L) and oppress his holy people^(M) and try to change the set times^(N) and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time.^[a](O)

²⁶ “‘But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed^(P) forever. ²⁷ Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of all the kingdoms^(Q) under heaven will be handed over to the holy people^(R) of the Most High.^(S) His kingdom will be an everlasting^(T) kingdom, and all rulers will worship^(U) and obey him.’

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

¹³ The sixth angel sounded his trumpet, and I heard a voice coming from the four horns^(A) of the golden altar that is before God.^{(B) 14} It said to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels^(C) who are bound at the great river Euphrates.”^{(D) 15} And the four angels who had been kept ready for this very hour and day and month and year were released^(E) to kill a third^(F) of mankind.^{(G) 16} The number of the mounted troops was twice ten thousand times ten thousand. I heard their number.^(H)

¹⁷ The horses and riders I saw in my vision looked like this: Their breastplates were fiery red, dark blue, and yellow as sulfur. The heads of the horses resembled the heads of lions, and out of their mouths^(I) came fire, smoke and sulfur.^{(J) 18} A third^(K) of mankind was killed^(L) by the three plagues of fire, smoke and sulfur^(M) that came out of their mouths. ¹⁹ The power of the horses was in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails were like snakes, having heads with which they inflict injury.

²⁰ The rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent^(N) of the work of their hands;^(O) they did not stop worshiping demons,^(P) and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk.^{(Q) 21} Nor did they repent^(R) of their murders, their magic arts,^(S) their sexual immorality^(T) or their thefts.