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12 “At that time Michael,
the great prince who watches over your people,[a]
will arise.[b]
There will be a time of distress
unlike any other from the nation’s beginning[c]
up to that time.
But at that time your own people,
all those whose names are[d] found written in the book,
will escape.
Many of those who sleep
in the dusty ground will awake—
some to everlasting life,
and others to shame and everlasting abhorrence.[e]
But the wise will shine
like the brightness of the heavenly expanse.
And those bringing many to righteousness
will be like the stars forever and ever.

“But you, Daniel, close up these words and seal the book until the time of the end. Many will dash about,[f] and knowledge will increase.”

I, Daniel, watched as two others stood there, one on each side of the river.[g] One said to the man clothed in linen who was above the waters of the river, “When will the end of these wondrous events occur?” Then I heard the man clothed in linen who was over the waters of the river as he raised both his right and left hands to the sky[h] and made an oath by the one who lives forever: “It is for a time, times, and half a time. Then, when the power of the one who shatters[i] the holy people has been exhausted, all these things will be finished.”

I heard, but I did not understand. So I said, “Sir,[j] what will happen after these things?” He said, “Go, Daniel. For these matters are closed and sealed until the time of the end. 10 Many will be purified, made clean, and refined, but the wicked will go on being wicked. None of the wicked will understand, though the wise will understand. 11 From the time that the daily sacrifice is removed and the abomination that causes desolation is set in place,[k] there are 1,290 days. 12 Blessed is the one who waits and attains to the 1,335 days. 13 But you should go your way[l] until the end.[m] You will rest and then at the end of the days you will arise to receive[n] what you have been allotted.”[o]

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Footnotes

  1. Daniel 12:1 tn Heb “stands over the sons of your people.”
  2. Daniel 12:1 tn Heb “will stand up.”
  3. Daniel 12:1 tn Or “from the beginning of a nation.”
  4. Daniel 12:1 tn The words “whose names are” are added in the translation for stylistic reasons and for clarification.
  5. Daniel 12:2 sn This verse is the only undisputed reference to a literal resurrection found in the Hebrew Bible.
  6. Daniel 12:4 tn Or “will run back and forth”; KJV “shall run to and fro”; NIV “will go here and there”; CEV “will go everywhere.”sn Many will dash about is probably an allusion to Amos 8:12.
  7. Daniel 12:5 tn Heb “one to this edge of the river and one to that edge of the river.”
  8. Daniel 12:7 tn Or “to the heavens.” The Hebrew term שָׁמַיִם (shamayim) may be translated “heavens” or “sky” depending on the context.
  9. Daniel 12:7 tc The present translation reads יַד־נֹפֵץ (yad nofets, “hand of one who shatters”) rather than the MT נַפֵּץ־יַד (nappets yad, “to shatter the hand”).
  10. Daniel 12:8 tn Heb “my lord,” a title of polite address.
  11. Daniel 12:11 tn Heb “to give.”
  12. Daniel 12:13 tn The words “your way” are not in the Hebrew text but are implied.
  13. Daniel 12:13 tc The LXX lacks “until the end.”
  14. Daniel 12:13 tn The word “receive” is added in the translation for clarification.
  15. Daniel 12:13 sn The deuterocanonical writings known as the Story of Susanna and Bel and the Dragon appear respectively as chapters 13 and 14 of the book of Daniel in the Greek version of this book. Although these writings are not part of the Hebrew/Aramaic text of Daniel, they were popular among certain early communities who valued traditions about the life of Daniel.

The Time of the End

12 “At that time Michael, the archangel[a] who stands guard over your nation, will arise. Then there will be a time of anguish greater than any since nations first came into existence. But at that time every one of your people whose name is written in the book will be rescued. Many of those whose bodies lie dead and buried will rise up, some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting disgrace. Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever. But you, Daniel, keep this prophecy a secret; seal up the book until the time of the end, when many will rush here and there, and knowledge will increase.”

Then I, Daniel, looked and saw two others standing on opposite banks of the river. One of them asked the man dressed in linen, who was now standing above the river, “How long will it be until these shocking events are over?”

The man dressed in linen, who was standing above the river, raised both his hands toward heaven and took a solemn oath by the One who lives forever, saying, “It will go on for a time, times, and half a time. When the shattering of the holy people has finally come to an end, all these things will have happened.”

I heard what he said, but I did not understand what he meant. So I asked, “How will all this finally end, my lord?”

But he said, “Go now, Daniel, for what I have said is kept secret and sealed until the time of the end. 10 Many will be purified, cleansed, and refined by these trials. But the wicked will continue in their wickedness, and none of them will understand. Only those who are wise will know what it means.

11 “From the time the daily sacrifice is stopped and the sacrilegious object that causes desecration[b] is set up to be worshiped, there will be 1,290 days. 12 And blessed are those who wait and remain until the end of the 1,335 days!

13 “As for you, go your way until the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days, you will rise again to receive the inheritance set aside for you.”

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Footnotes

  1. 12:1 Hebrew the great prince.
  2. 12:11 Hebrew the abomination of desolation.