Passage Resources Hebrew/Greek Your Content
Previous Next
Add parallel Print Page Options
Close CEV

Daniel 8-10
Contemporary English Version

Vision of a Ram and a Goat

8 Daniel wrote:

In the third year of King Belshazzar of Babylonia,[a] I had a second vision 2 in which I was in Susa, the chief city of Babylonia's Elam Province. I was beside the Ulai River,[b] 3 when I looked up and saw a ram standing there with two horns on its head—both of them were long, but the second one was longer than the first. 4 The ram went charging toward the west, the north, and the south. No other animals were strong enough to oppose him, and nothing could save them from his power. So he did as he pleased and became even more powerful.

5 I kept on watching and saw a goat come from the west and charge across the entire earth, without even touching the ground. Between his eyes was a powerful horn,[c] 6 and with tremendous anger the goat started toward the ram that I had seen beside the river.[d] 7 The goat was so fierce that its attack broke both horns of the ram, leaving him powerless. Then the goat trampled on the ram, and no one could do anything to help. 8 After this, the goat became even more powerful. But at the peak of his power, his mighty horn was broken, and four other mighty horns took its place—one pointing to the north and one to the east, one to the south and one to the west.

9 A little horn came from one of these, and its power reached to the south, the east, and even to the holy land.[e] 10 (A) It became so strong that it attacked the stars in the sky, which were heaven's army.[f] Then it threw some of them down to the earth and trampled on them. 11-12 It humiliated heaven's army and dishonored its leader[g] by keeping him from offering the daily sacrifices. In fact, it was so terrible that it even disgraced the temple and wiped out true worship. It also did everything else it wanted to do.

13 Then one of the holy angels asked another, “When will the daily sacrifices be offered again? What about this horrible rebellion? When will the temple and heaven's army no longer be trampled in the dust?”

14 The other answered, “It will be 2,300 evenings and mornings before the temple is dedicated and in use again.”

Gabriel Interprets the Vision

15 Daniel wrote:

I was trying to figure out the meaning of the vision, when someone suddenly appeared there beside me. 16 (B) And from beside the Ulai River,[h] a voice like that of a human said, “Gabriel, help him understand the vision.”

17 Gabriel came over, and I fell to the ground in fear. Then he said, “You are merely a human, but you need to understand that this vision is about the end of time.”

18 While he was speaking, I fell facedown in a deep sleep. But he lifted me to my feet 19 and said:

Listen, and I will tell you what will happen at the end of time, when God has chosen to show his anger. 20 The two horns of the ram are the kings of Media and Persia, 21 the goat is the kingdom of Greece, and the powerful horn between his eyes is the first of its kings. 22 After this horn is broken, four other kingdoms will appear, but they won't be as strong.

23 When these rulers have become as evil as possible, their power will end, and then a king who is dangerous and cannot be trusted will appear. 24 He will gain strength, but not on his own, and he will cause terrible destruction. He will wipe out powerful leaders and God's people as well. 25 His deceitful lies will make him so successful, that he will think he is really great. Suddenly he will kill many people, and he will even attack God, the Supreme Ruler. But God will crush him!

26 This vision about the evenings and mornings is true, but these things won't happen for a long time, so don't tell it to others.

27 After this, I was so worn out and weak that it was several days before I could get out of bed and go about my duties for the king. I was disturbed by this vision that made no sense to me.

Daniel Prays for the People

9 1-2 (C) Daniel wrote:

Some years later, Darius the Mede,[i] who was the son of Xerxes,[j] had become king of Babylonia. And during his first year as king, I found out from studying the writings of the prophets that the Lord had said to Jeremiah, “Jerusalem will lie in ruins for 70 years.”[k] 3-4 Then, to show my sorrow, I went without eating and dressed in sackcloth[l] and sat in ashes. I confessed my sins and earnestly prayed to the Lord my God:

Our Lord, you are a great and fearsome God, and you faithfully keep your agreement with those who love and obey you. 5 But we have sinned terribly by rebelling against you and rejecting your laws and teachings. 6 We have ignored the message your servants the prophets spoke to our kings, our leaders, our ancestors, and everyone else.

7 (D) Everything you do is right, our Lord. But still we suffer public disgrace because we have been unfaithful and have sinned against you. This includes all of us, both far and near—the people of Judah, Jerusalem, and Israel, as well as those you dragged away to foreign lands, 8 and even our kings, our officials, and our ancestors. 9 Lord God, you are merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against you 10 and rejected your teachings that came to us from your servants the prophets.

11 (E) Everyone in Israel has stubbornly refused to obey your laws, and so those curses written by your servant Moses have fallen upon us. 12 You warned us and our leaders that Jerusalem would suffer the worst disaster in human history, and you did exactly as you had threatened. 13 We have not escaped any of the terrible curses written by Moses, and yet we have refused to beg you for mercy and to remind ourselves of how faithful you have always been. 14 And when you finally punished us with this horrible disaster, that was also the right thing to do, because we deserved it so much.

15 (F) Our Lord God, with your own mighty arm you rescued us from Egypt and made yourself famous to this very day, but we have sinned terribly. 16 In the past, you treated us with such kindness, that we now beg you to stop being so terribly angry with Jerusalem. After all, it is your chosen city built on your holy mountain, even though it has suffered public disgrace because of our sins and those of our ancestors.

17 (G) I am your servant, Lord God, and I beg you to answer my prayers and bring honor to yourself by having pity on your temple that lies in ruins. 18 (H) Please show mercy to your chosen city, not because we deserve it, but because of your great kindness. 19 Forgive us! Hurry and do something, not only for your city and your chosen people, but to bring honor to yourself.

The Seventy Weeks

Daniel wrote:

20 I was still confessing my sins and those of all Israel to the Lord my God, and I was praying for the good of his holy mountain,[m] 21 (I) when Gabriel suddenly came flying in at the time of the evening sacrifice. This was the same Gabriel I had seen in my vision, 22 and he explained:

Daniel, I am here to help you understand the vision. 23 God thinks highly of you, and at the very moment you started praying, I was sent to give you the answer. 24 God has decided that for 70 weeks,[n] your people and your holy city must suffer as the price of their sins. Then evil will disappear, and justice will rule forever; the visions and words of the prophets will come true, and a most holy place will be dedicated.[o]

25 You need to realize that from the command to rebuild Jerusalem until the coming of the Chosen Leader,[p] it will be 7 weeks and another 62 weeks.[q] Streets will be built in Jerusalem, and a trench will be dug around the city for protection, but these will be difficult times.[r] 26 At the end of the 62 weeks,[s] the Chosen Leader[t] will be killed and left with nothing.[u]

A foreign ruler and his army will sweep down like a mighty flood, leaving both the city and the temple in ruins, and war and destruction will continue until the end, just as God has decided. 27 (J) For one week[v] this foreigner[w] will make a firm agreement with many people, and halfway through this week,[x] he will end all sacrifices and offerings. Then the “Horrible Thing” that causes destruction will be put there. And it will stay there until the time God has decided to destroy this one who destroys.

Daniel's Vision beside the Tigris River

10 In the third year[y] of Cyrus the king of Persia, a message came to Daniel[z] from God, and it was explained in a vision. The message was about a dreadful war, and it was true. 2 Daniel wrote:

For three weeks I was in sorrow. 3 I ate no fancy food or meat, I drank no wine, and I put no olive oil on my face or hair.[aa] 4 Then, on the twenty-fourth day of the first month,[ab] I was standing on the banks of the great Tigris River, 5 (K) when I looked up and saw someone dressed in linen and wearing a solid gold belt.[ac] 6 His body was like a precious stone,[ad] his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming fires, his arms and legs like polished bronze, and his voice like the roar of a crowd. 7 (L) Although the people who were with me did not see the vision, they became so frightened that they scattered and hid. 8 Only I saw this great vision. I became weak and pale, 9 and at the sound of his voice, I fell facedown in a deep sleep.

10 He raised me to my hands and knees 11 and then said, “Daniel, your God thinks highly of you, and he has sent me. So stand up and pay close attention.” I stood trembling, while the angel said:

12 Daniel, don't be afraid! God has listened to your prayers since the first day you humbly asked for understanding, and he has sent me here. 13 (M) But the guardian angel[ae] of Persia opposed me for 21 days. Then Michael, who is one of the strongest guardian angels,[af] came to rescue me from the kings of Persia.[ag] 14 Now I have come here to give you another vision about what will happen to your people in the future.

15 While this angel was speaking to me, I stared at the ground, speechless. 16 Then he appeared in human form and touched my lips. I said, “Sir, this vision has brought me great pain and has drained my strength. 17 I am merely your servant. How can I possibly speak with someone so powerful, when I am almost too weak to get my breath?”

18-19 The angel touched me a second time and said, “Don't be frightened! God thinks highly of you, and he intends this for your good, so be brave and strong.”

At this, I regained my strength and replied, “Please speak! You have already made me feel much better.”

20 Then the angel said:

Now do you understand why I have come? Soon I must leave to fight against the guardian angel of Persia. Then after I have defeated him, the guardian angel of Greece will attack me. 21 I will tell you what is written in The Book of Truth. But first, you must realize that no one except Michael, the guardian angel of Israel, is on my side.

Footnotes

  1. 8.1 third year … Babylonia: 552 b.c., two years after the first vision (see 7.1,2).
  2. 8.2 River: Or “Gate.”
  3. 8.5 powerful horn: Hebrew “horn of vision.”
  4. 8.6 river: See the note at 8.2.
  5. 8.9 holy land: Hebrew “the lovely land.”
  6. 8.10 heaven's army: In verses 10-13 the Hebrew word translated “heaven's army” may also mean “God's people.”
  7. 8.11,12 leader: Hebrew “prince.”
  8. 8.16 River: See the note at 8.2.
  9. 9.1,2 Darius the Mede: See 5.31.
  10. 9.1,2 Xerxes: Hebrew “Ahasuerus.”
  11. 9.1,2 70 years: See Jeremiah 25.11-13; 29.10.
  12. 9.3,4 sackcloth: A rough, dark-colored cloth made from goat or camel hair and used to make grain sacks. It was worn in times of trouble or sorrow.
  13. 9.20 holy mountain: Jerusalem (see verse 16) or the temple.
  14. 9.24 70 weeks: Or “70 times 7 years.”
  15. 9.24 a most holy place will be dedicated: Or “God's Holy One will appear.”
  16. 9.25 the Chosen Leader: Or “a chosen leader.” In Hebrew the word “chosen” means “to pour oil (on someone's head).” In Old Testament times it was the custom to pour oil on a person's head when that person was chosen to be a priest or a king.
  17. 9.25 7 weeks and another 62 weeks: Or “7 times 7 years and another 62 times 7 years.”
  18. 9.25 it will be 7 … difficult times: Or “it will be 7 weeks. Then streets will be built in Jerusalem, and a trench will be dug around the city for protection. But Jerusalem will have difficult times for 62 weeks.”
  19. 9.26 62 weeks: Or “62 times 7 years.”
  20. 9.26 the Chosen Leader: See the note at 9.25.
  21. 9.26 left with nothing: Or “no one will take his place.”
  22. 9.27 one week: Or “7 years.”
  23. 9.27 this foreigner: Or “the Chosen Leader.”
  24. 9.27 halfway through this week: Or “for half of this week of 7 years.”
  25. 10.1 third year: 536 b.c.
  26. 10.1 Daniel: See the note at 2.26.
  27. 10.3 olive oil … hair: On special occasions, it was the custom to put olive oil on one's face and hair.
  28. 10.4 first month: Nisan (also known as Abib), the first month of the Hebrew calendar, from about mid-March to mid-April.
  29. 10.5 solid gold belt: Hebrew “belt of gold from Uphaz.”
  30. 10.6 a precious stone: The Hebrew text has “beryl,” which is green or bluish-green.
  31. 10.13 guardian angel: Hebrew “prince.”
  32. 10.13 one of the strongest guardian angels: Hebrew “chief prince.”
  33. 10.13 came … Persia: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
Listen to Daniel 8-10, 3 John
Close NIV

Daniel 8-10
New International Version

Daniel’s Vision of a Ram and a Goat

8 In the third year of King Belshazzar’s(A) reign, I, Daniel, had a vision,(B) after the one that had already appeared to me. 2 In my vision I saw myself in the citadel of Susa(C) in the province of Elam;(D) in the vision I was beside the Ulai Canal. 3 I looked up,(E) and there before me was a ram(F) with two horns, standing beside the canal, and the horns were long. One of the horns was longer than the other but grew up later. 4 I watched the ram as it charged toward the west and the north and the south. No animal could stand against it, and none could rescue from its power.(G) It did as it pleased(H) and became great.

5 As I was thinking about this, suddenly a goat with a prominent horn between its eyes came from the west, crossing the whole earth without touching the ground. 6 It came toward the two-horned ram I had seen standing beside the canal and charged at it in great rage. 7 I saw it attack the ram furiously, striking the ram and shattering its two horns. The ram was powerless to stand against it; the goat knocked it to the ground and trampled on it,(I) and none could rescue the ram from its power.(J) 8 The goat became very great, but at the height of its power the large horn was broken off,(K) and in its place four prominent horns grew up toward the four winds of heaven.(L)

9 Out of one of them came another horn, which started small(M) but grew in power to the south and to the east and toward the Beautiful Land.(N) 10 It grew until it reached(O) the host of the heavens, and it threw some of the starry host down to the earth(P) and trampled(Q) on them. 11 It set itself up to be as great as the commander(R) of the army of the Lord;(S) it took away the daily sacrifice(T) from the Lord, and his sanctuary was thrown down.(U) 12 Because of rebellion, the Lord’s people[a] and the daily sacrifice were given over to it. It prospered in everything it did, and truth was thrown to the ground.(V)

13 Then I heard a holy one(W) speaking, and another holy one said to him, “How long will it take for the vision to be fulfilled(X)—the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, the rebellion that causes desolation, the surrender of the sanctuary and the trampling underfoot(Y) of the Lord’s people?”

14 He said to me, “It will take 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary will be reconsecrated.”(Z)

The Interpretation of the Vision

15 While I, Daniel, was watching the vision(AA) and trying to understand it, there before me stood one who looked like a man.(AB) 16 And I heard a man’s voice from the Ulai(AC) calling, “Gabriel,(AD) tell this man the meaning of the vision.”(AE)

17 As he came near the place where I was standing, I was terrified and fell prostrate.(AF) “Son of man,”[b] he said to me, “understand that the vision concerns the time of the end.”(AG)

18 While he was speaking to me, I was in a deep sleep, with my face to the ground.(AH) Then he touched me and raised me to my feet.(AI)

19 He said: “I am going to tell you what will happen later in the time of wrath,(AJ) because the vision concerns the appointed time(AK) of the end.[c](AL) 20 The two-horned ram that you saw represents the kings of Media and Persia.(AM) 21 The shaggy goat is the king of Greece,(AN) and the large horn between its eyes is the first king.(AO) 22 The four horns that replaced the one that was broken off represent four kingdoms that will emerge from his nation but will not have the same power.

23 “In the latter part of their reign, when rebels have become completely wicked, a fierce-looking king, a master of intrigue, will arise. 24 He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause astounding devastation and will succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy those who are mighty, the holy people.(AP) 25 He will cause deceit(AQ) to prosper, and he will consider himself superior. When they feel secure, he will destroy many and take his stand against the Prince of princes.(AR) Yet he will be destroyed, but not by human power.(AS)

26 “The vision of the evenings and mornings that has been given you is true,(AT) but seal(AU) up the vision, for it concerns the distant future.”(AV)

27 I, Daniel, was worn out. I lay exhausted(AW) for several days. Then I got up and went about the king’s business.(AX) I was appalled(AY) by the vision; it was beyond understanding.

Daniel’s Prayer

9 In the first year of Darius(AZ) son of Xerxes[d](BA) (a Mede by descent), who was made ruler over the Babylonian[e] 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(BB) years. 3 So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting,(BC) and in sackcloth and ashes.(BD)

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

“Lord, the great and awesome God,(BF) who keeps his covenant of love(BG) with those who love him and keep his commandments, 5 we have sinned(BH) and done wrong.(BI) We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away(BJ) from your commands and laws.(BK) 6 We have not listened(BL) to your servants the prophets,(BM) who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes and our ancestors,(BN) and to all the people of the land.

7 “Lord, you are righteous,(BO) but this day we are covered with shame(BP)—the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, both near and far, in all the countries where you have scattered(BQ) us because of our unfaithfulness(BR) to you.(BS) 8 We and our kings, our princes and our ancestors are covered with shame, Lord, because we have sinned against you.(BT) 9 The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving,(BU) even though we have rebelled against him;(BV) 10 we have not obeyed the Lord our God or kept the laws he gave us through his servants the prophets.(BW) 11 All Israel has transgressed(BX) your law(BY) and turned away, refusing to obey you.

“Therefore the curses(BZ) and sworn judgments(CA) written in the Law of Moses, the servant of God, have been poured out on us, because we have sinned(CB) against you. 12 You have fulfilled(CC) the words spoken against us and against our rulers by bringing on us great disaster.(CD) Under the whole heaven nothing has ever been done like(CE) what has been done to Jerusalem.(CF) 13 Just as it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come on us, yet we have not sought the favor of the Lord(CG) our God by turning from our sins and giving attention to your truth.(CH) 14 The Lord did not hesitate to bring the disaster(CI) on us, for the Lord our God is righteous in everything he does;(CJ) yet we have not obeyed him.(CK)

15 “Now, Lord our God, who brought your people out of Egypt with a mighty hand(CL) and who made for yourself a name(CM) that endures to this day, we have sinned, we have done wrong. 16 Lord, in keeping with all your righteous acts,(CN) turn away(CO) your anger and your wrath(CP) from Jerusalem,(CQ) your city, your holy hill.(CR) Our sins and the iniquities of our ancestors have made Jerusalem and your people an object of scorn(CS) to all those around us.

17 “Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, Lord, look with favor(CT) on your desolate sanctuary. 18 Give ear,(CU) our God, and hear;(CV) open your eyes and see(CW) the desolation of the city that bears your Name.(CX) We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy.(CY) 19 Lord, listen! Lord, forgive!(CZ) Lord, hear and act! For your sake,(DA) my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.”

The Seventy “Sevens”

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

24 “Seventy ‘sevens’[f] are decreed for your people and your holy city(DJ) to finish[g] transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone(DK) for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness,(DL) to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the Most Holy Place.[h]

25 “Know and understand this: From the time the word goes out to restore and rebuild(DM) Jerusalem until the Anointed One,[i](DN) the ruler,(DO) comes, there will be seven ‘sevens,’ and sixty-two ‘sevens.’ It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble.(DP) 26 After the sixty-two ‘sevens,’ the Anointed One will be put to death(DQ) and will have nothing.[j] The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood:(DR) War will continue until the end, and desolations(DS) have been decreed.(DT) 27 He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’[k] In the middle of the ‘seven’[l] he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple[m] he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed(DU) is poured out on him.[n]”[o]

Daniel’s Vision of a Man

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

2 At that time I, Daniel, mourned(DY) for three weeks. 3 I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips;(DZ) 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(EA) of the great river, the Tigris,(EB) 5 I looked up(EC) and there before me was a man dressed in linen,(ED) with a belt of fine gold(EE) from Uphaz around his waist. 6 His body was like topaz,(EF) his face like lightning,(EG) his eyes like flaming torches,(EH) his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze,(EI) and his voice(EJ) 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,(EK) but such terror overwhelmed them that they fled and hid themselves. 8 So I was left alone,(EL) gazing at this great vision; I had no strength left,(EM) my face turned deathly pale(EN) and I was helpless.(EO) 9 Then I heard him speaking, and as I listened to him, I fell into a deep sleep, my face to the ground.(EP)

10 A hand touched me(EQ) and set me trembling on my hands and knees.(ER) 11 He said, “Daniel, you who are highly esteemed,(ES) consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you, and stand up,(ET) 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,(EU) Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble(EV) yourself before your God, your words(EW) were heard, and I have come in response to them.(EX) 13 But the prince(EY) of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael,(EZ) 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(FA) to you what will happen to your people in the future,(FB) for the vision concerns a time yet to come.(FC)”

15 While he was saying this to me, I bowed with my face toward the ground and was speechless.(FD) 16 Then one who looked like a man[q] touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and began to speak.(FE) I said to the one standing before me, “I am overcome with anguish(FF) 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.”(FG)

18 Again the one who looked like a man touched(FH) me and gave me strength.(FI) 19 “Do not be afraid, you who are highly esteemed,”(FJ) he said. “Peace!(FK) Be strong now; be strong.”(FL)

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

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(FN) will come; 21 but first I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth.(FO) (No one supports me against them except Michael,(FP) your prince.

Footnotes

  1. Daniel 8:12 Or rebellion, the armies
  2. Daniel 8:17 The Hebrew phrase ben adam means human being. The phrase son of man is retained as a form of address here because of its possible association with “Son of Man” in the New Testament.
  3. Daniel 8:19 Or because the end will be at the appointed time
  4. Daniel 9:1 Hebrew Ahasuerus
  5. Daniel 9:1 Or Chaldean
  6. Daniel 9:24 Or ‘weeks’; also in verses 25 and 26
  7. Daniel 9:24 Or restrain
  8. Daniel 9:24 Or the most holy One
  9. Daniel 9:25 Or an anointed one; also in verse 26
  10. Daniel 9:26 Or death and will have no one; or death, but not for himself
  11. Daniel 9:27 Or ‘week’
  12. Daniel 9:27 Or ‘week’
  13. Daniel 9:27 Septuagint and Theodotion; Hebrew wing
  14. Daniel 9:27 Or it
  15. Daniel 9:27 Or And one who causes desolation will come upon the wing of the abominable temple, until the end that is decreed is poured out on the desolated city
  16. Daniel 10:1 Or true and burdensome
  17. Daniel 10:16 Most manuscripts of the Masoretic Text; one manuscript of the Masoretic Text, Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint Then something that looked like a human hand
Next
Daniel 7
Daniel 11
Next
Previous Next
Close CEV

3 John
Contemporary English Version

1 (A) From the church leader.[a]

To my dear friend Gaius.

I love you because we follow the truth, 2 dear friend, and I pray all goes well for you. I hope you are as strong in body, as I know you are in spirit. 3 It makes me very happy when the Lord's followers come by and speak openly of how you obey the truth. 4 Nothing brings me greater happiness than to hear that my children[b] are obeying the truth.

Working Together

5 Dear friend, you have always been faithful in helping other followers of the Lord, even the ones you didn't know before. 6 They have told the church about your love. They say you were good enough to welcome them and to send them on their mission in a way God's servants deserve. 7 When they left to tell others about the Lord, they decided not to accept help from anyone who wasn't a follower. 8 We must support people like them, so we can take part in what they are doing to spread the truth.

9 I wrote to the church. But Diotrephes likes to be the number-one leader, and he won't pay any attention to us. 10 So if I come, I will remind him of how he has been attacking us with gossip. Not only has he been doing this, but he refuses to welcome any of the Lord's followers who come by. And when other church members want to welcome them, he puts them out of the church.

11 Dear friend, don't imitate the evil deeds of others, but follow the example of people who do kind deeds. They are God's children, but those who are always doing evil have never seen God.

12 Everyone speaks well of Demetrius, and so does the true message that he teaches. I also speak well of him, and you know what I say is true.

Final Greetings

13 I have much more to say to you, but I don't want to write it with pen and ink. 14 I hope to see you soon, and then we can talk in person.

15 I pray that God will bless you with peace!

Your friends send their greetings. Please give a personal greeting to each of our friends.

Footnotes

  1. 1 church leader: Or “elder” or “presbyter.”
  2. 4 children: Probably persons that the leader had led to be followers of the Lord.
Close NIV

3 John
New International Version

1 The elder,(A)

To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth.

2 Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. 3 It gave me great joy when some believers(B) came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it.(C) 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children(D) are walking in the truth.(E)

5 Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters,[a](F) even though they are strangers to you.(G) 6 They have told the church about your love. Please send them on their way(H) in a manner that honors(I) God. 7 It was for the sake of the Name(J) that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans.(K) 8 We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth.

9 I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not welcome us. 10 So when I come,(L) I will call attention to what he is doing, spreading malicious nonsense about us. Not satisfied with that, he even refuses to welcome other believers.(M) He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church.(N)

11 Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good.(O) Anyone who does what is good is from God.(P) Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God.(Q) 12 Demetrius is well spoken of by everyone(R)—and even by the truth itself. We also speak well of him, and you know that our testimony is true.(S)

13 I have much to write you, but I do not want to do so with pen and ink. 14 I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.(T)

15 Peace to you.(U) The friends here send their greetings. Greet the friends there by name.(V)

Footnotes

  1. 3 John 1:5 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family.
Next
2 John 1
Jude 1
Next
dropdown
Contemporary English Version (CEV)

Copyright © 1995 by American Bible Society For more information about CEV, visit www.bibles.com and www.cev.bible.

CEV Resources
New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.

July Summer Surge

More on the NIV