Daniel 7:1–28
7 In the first year of Belshazzarl king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream, and visionsm passed through his mindn as he was lying in bed.o He wrotep down the substance of his dream.
2 Daniel said: “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me were the four winds of heavenq churning up the great sea. 3 Four great beasts,r each different from the others, came up out of the sea.
4 “The first was like a lion,s and it had the wings of an eagle.t I watched until its wings were torn off and it was lifted from the ground so that it stood on two feet like a human being, and the mind of a human was given to it.
5 “And there before me was a second beast, which looked like a bear. It was raised up on one of its sides, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told, ‘Get up and eat your fill of flesh!’u
6 “After that, I looked, and there before me was another beast, one that looked like a leopard.v And on its back it had four wings like those of a bird. This beast had four heads, and it was given authority to rule.
7 “After that, in my visionw at night I looked, and there before me was a fourth beast—terrifying and frightening and very powerful. It had large ironx teeth; it crushed and devoured its victims and trampledy underfoot whatever was left.z It was different from all the former beasts, and it had ten horns.a
8 “While I was thinking about the horns, there before me was another horn, a littleb one, which came up among them; and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. This horn had eyes like the eyes of a human beingc and a mouth that spoke boastfully.d
“thrones were set in place,
and the Ancient of Dayse took his seat.f
His clothing was as white as snow;g
the hair of his head was white like wool.h
His throne was flaming with fire,
and its wheelsi were all ablaze.
10 A river of firej was flowing,
coming out from before him.k
Thousands upon thousands attended him;
ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.
The court was seated,
and the booksl were opened.
11 “Then I continued to watch because of the boastful words the horn was speaking.m I kept looking until the beast was slain and its body destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire.n 12 (The other beasts had been stripped of their authority, but were allowed to live for a period of time.)
13 “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man,a o comingp with the clouds of heaven.q He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority,r glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him.s His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdomt is one that will never be destroyed.u
The Interpretation of the Dream
15 “I, Daniel, was troubled in spirit, and the visions that passed through my mind disturbed me.v 16 I approached one of those standing there and asked him the meaning of all this.
“So he told me and gave me the interpretationw of these things: 17 ‘The four great beasts are four kings that will rise from the earth. 18 But the holy peoplex of the Most High will receive the kingdomy and will possess it forever—yes, for ever and ever.’z
19 “Then I wanted to know the meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all …
Daniel 10:1–12:13
10 In the third year of Cyruso king of Persia, a revelation was given to Daniel (who was called Belteshazzar).p Its message was trueq and it concerned a great war.a The understanding of the message came to him in a vision.
2 At that time I, Daniel, mournedr for three weeks. 3 I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips;s 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 bankt of the great river, the Tigris,u 5 I looked upv and there before me was a man dressed in linen,w with a belt of fine goldx from Uphaz around his waist. 6 His body was like topaz,y his face like lightning,z his eyes like flaming torches,a his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze,b and his voicec 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,d but such terror overwhelmed them that they fled and hid themselves. 8 So I was left alone,e gazing at this great vision; I had no strength left,f my face turned deathly paleg and I was helpless.h 9 Then I heard him speaking, and as I listened to him, I fell into a deep sleep, my face to the ground.i
10 A hand touched mej and set me trembling on my hands and knees.k 11 He said, “Daniel, you who are highly esteemed,l consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you, and stand up,m 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,n Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humbleo yourself before your God, your wordsp were heard, and I have come in response to them.q 13 But the princer of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael,s 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 explaint to you what will happen to your people in the future,u for the vision concerns a time yet to come.v”
15 While he was saying this to me, I bowed with my face toward the ground and was speechless.w 16 Then one who looked like a manb touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and began to speak.x I said to the one standing before me, “I am overcome with anguishy 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.”z
18 Again the one who looked like a man toucheda me and gave me strength.b 19 “Do not be afraid, you who are highly esteemed,”c he said. “Peace!d Be strong now; be strong.”e
When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Speak, my lord, since you have given me strength.”f
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 Greeceg will come; 21 but first I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth.h (No one supports me against them except Michael,i your prince.
11 And in the first year of Dariusj 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:k 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 …
Daniel 10:1–21
10 In the third year of Cyruso king of Persia, a revelation was given to Daniel (who was called Belteshazzar).p Its message was trueq and it concerned a great war.a The understanding of the message came to him in a vision.
2 At that time I, Daniel, mournedr for three weeks. 3 I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips;s 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 bankt of the great river, the Tigris,u 5 I looked upv and there before me was a man dressed in linen,w with a belt of fine goldx from Uphaz around his waist. 6 His body was like topaz,y his face like lightning,z his eyes like flaming torches,a his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze,b and his voicec 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,d but such terror overwhelmed them that they fled and hid themselves. 8 So I was left alone,e gazing at this great vision; I had no strength left,f my face turned deathly paleg and I was helpless.h 9 Then I heard him speaking, and as I listened to him, I fell into a deep sleep, my face to the ground.i
10 A hand touched mej and set me trembling on my hands and knees.k 11 He said, “Daniel, you who are highly esteemed,l consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you, and stand up,m 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,n Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humbleo yourself before your God, your wordsp were heard, and I have come in response to them.q 13 But the princer of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael,s 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 explaint to you what will happen to your people in the future,u for the vision concerns a time yet to come.v”
15 While he was saying this to me, I bowed with my face toward the ground and was speechless.w 16 Then one who looked like a manb touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and began to speak.x I said to the one standing before me, “I am overcome with anguishy 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.”z
18 Again the one who looked like a man toucheda me and gave me strength.b 19 “Do not be afraid, you who are highly esteemed,”c he said. “Peace!d Be strong now; be strong.”e
When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Speak, my lord, since you have given me strength.”f
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 Greeceg will come; 21 but first I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth.h (No one supports me against them except Michael,i your prince.