Amplified Bible (AMP)

The King Acknowledges God

1 Nebuchadnezzar the king, to all the peoples, nations, andspeakers of everylanguage that live in all the earth: “May your peace abound!

2 It has seemed good to me to declare the signs and wonders which the Most High God has done for me.

3 “How great are His signs

And how mighty are His wonders!

His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom

And His dominion is from generation to generation.

The Vision of a Great Tree

4 “I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at rest in my house and prospering in my palace.

5 I saw a dream and it made me afraid; and the fantasiesandthoughts and the visions [that appeared] in my mindas I layon my bed kept alarming me.

6 So I gave orders to bring in before me all the wise men of Babylon, so that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream.

7 Then the magicians, the enchanters (Magi), the Chaldeans [who were the master astrologers] and the diviners came in, and I told them the dream, but they could not interpret itandmake known its meaning to me.

8 But at last Daniel came in before me, whose name is Belteshazzar, after the name of my god, and in whom isa spirit of the holy gods; and I told the dream to him,saying,

9 ‘O Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, because I know that a spirit of the holy gods is in you and no mystery bafflesortroubles you, tell me the visions of my dream which I have seen, along with its interpretation.

10 ‘The visions that passed through my mind as I lay on my bed were these: I was looking, and behold,there wasa tree in the middle of the earth, and its height was great.

11 ‘The tree grew large and became strong

And its height reached to heaven,

And it was visible to the end of the earth.

12 ‘Its leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant,

And in it was food for all.

The beasts of the field found shade under it,

And the birds of the sky nested in its branches,

And all living creatures fed themselves from it.

13 ‘And behold, I saw in the visions of my mindas I layon my bed, anangelicwatcher, a holy one, descended from heaven.

14 ‘He shouted aloud and said this:

“Cut down the tree and cut off its branches;

Shake off its leaves and scatter its fruit;

Let the living creatures run from under it

And the birds fly from its branches.

15 “Nevertheless leave the stump with its roots in the ground,

Bound with a band of iron and bronze

In the new grass of the field;

And let him be wet with the dew of heaven,

And let him feed with the animals in the grass of the earth.

16 “Let his mindandnature be changed from a man’s

And let an animal’s mindandnature be given to him,

And let seven periods of time pass over him.

17 “This sentence is by the decree of theangelicwatchers

And the decision is a command of the holy ones,

So that the living may know [without any doubt]

That the Most High [God] rules over the kingdom of mankind

And He bestows it on whomever He desires

And sets over it the humblestandlowliest of men.”

18 ~‘This is the dream which I, King Nebuchadnezzar, have seen. Now you, Belteshazzar, explain its meaning, since none of the wise men of my kingdom are able to reveal its interpretation to me; but you are able, for a spirit of the holy gods is in you.’

Daniel Interprets the Vision

19 “Then Daniel, whose [Babylonian] name was Belteshazzar, was appalledandspeechless for a while [because he was deeply concerned about the destiny of the king], and his thoughts alarmed him. The king said, ‘Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its interpretation frighten you.’ Belteshazzar answered, ‘My lord, may the dream be [meant] for those who hate you and its message for your enemies!

20 ~‘The tree that you saw, which became great and grew strong, whose height reached to heaven and which was visible to all the earth,

21 whose foliage was beautiful and its fruit abundant, and on which was food for all, under which the beasts of the field lived, and in whose branches the birds of the sky nested–

22 it is you, O king, who have become great and grown strong; your greatness has increased and it reaches to heaven, and your dominion [reaches] to the ends of the earth.

23 ~‘In that the king saw anangelicwatcher, a holy one, descending from heaven and saying, “Cut the tree down and destroy it; but leave the stump with its roots in the earth, but with a band of iron and bronzearound itin the new grass of the field, and let him be wet with the dew of heaven, and let him feed with the beasts of the field until seven periods of time pass over him,”

24 this is the interpretation, O king: It is the decree of the Most High [God], which has come upon my lord the king:

25 that you shall be driven from mankind and your dwelling place shall be with the beasts of the field; and that you be given grass to eat like the cattle and be wet with the dew of heaven; and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know [without any doubt] that the Most High [God] rules over the kingdom of mankind and He bestows it to whomever He desires.

26 ~‘And in that it was commanded to leave the stump with the roots of the tree [in the earth], your kingdom shall be restored to you after you recognize (understand fully) that Heaven rules.

27 ~‘Therefore, O king, let my advice to you be [considered and found] acceptable; break away now from your sinsandexhibit your repentance by doing what is right, and from your wickedness by showing mercy to the poor, so that [if you repent] there may possibly be a continuance of your prosperityandtranquilityanda healing of your error.’

The Vision Fulfilled

28 “All this happened to Nebuchadnezzar the king.

29 Twelve months later he was walking on the upper level of the royal palace of Babylon.

30 The king said thoughtfully, ‘Is not this the great Babylon which I myself have built as the royal residenceandseat of government by the might of my power and for the honorandglory of my majesty?’

31 While the words were still in the king’s mouth, a voice came [as if falling] from heaven,saying,‘O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is declared: “The kingdom has been removed from you,

32 and you will be driven away from mankind, and your dwelling place will be with the animals of the field. You will be given grass to eat like the cattle, and seven periods of time will pass over you until you know [without any doubt] that the Most High God rules over the kingdom of mankind and He bestows it on whomever He desires.”’

33 Immediately the word concerning Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He wasdriven away from mankind and began eating grass like cattle, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven until his hair had grown like eagles’feathersand his nails were like birds’claws.

34 “But at the end of the days [that is, at the seven periods of time], I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my understandingandreason returned to me; and I blessed the Most High [God] and I praised and honoredandglorified Him who lives forever,

For His dominion is an everlasting dominion;

And His kingdomenduresfrom generation to generation.

35 “All the inhabitants of the earth are regarded as nothing.

But He does according to His will in the host of heaven

And among the inhabitants of the earth;

And no one can hold back His hand

Or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’

36 Now at the same time my reason returned to me; and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor were returned to me, and my counselors and my nobles began seeking me out; so I was re-established in my kingdom, and still more greatness [than before] was added to me.

37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and honor the King of heaven, for all His works are trueandfaithful and His ways are just, and He is able to humiliateandhumble those who walk in [self-centered, self-righteous] pride.”

Belshazzar’s Feast

1 Belshazzar the king [who was a descendant of Nebuchadnezzar] gave a great feast for a thousand of his nobles, and he was drinking his wine in the presence of the thousand [guests].

2 Belshazzar, as he tasted the wine, gave a command to bring in the gold and silver vessels which hisfather Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of thetemple which was in Jerusalem, so that the king and his nobles, his wives and hisconcubines might drink from them.

3 Then they brought in the goldandsilver vessels that had been taken out of the temple, the house of God which was in Jerusalem; and the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines drank from them.

4 They drank the wine and praised the gods of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone.

5 Suddenly the fingers of a man’s hand appeared and began writing opposite the lampstand on [a well-lit area of] the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace, and the king saw the part of the hand that did the writing.

6 Then the king’s face grew pale, and his thoughts alarmed him; the jointsandmuscles of his hipsandback weakened and his knees began knocking together.

7 The king called aloud to bring in the enchanters (Magi), the Chaldeans [who were master astrologers] and the diviners. The king said to the wise men of Babylon, “Whoever can read this writing and explain its interpretation to me shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold put around his neck, and have authority as thethirdrulerin the kingdom.”

8 Then all the king’s wise men came in, but they could notread the writing or reveal to the king its interpretation.

9 Then King Belshazzar was greatly perplexed, his face became even paler, and his nobles were bewilderedandalarmed.

10 Now the queen [mother], overhearing the [excited] words of the king and his nobles, came into the banquet area. The queen [mother] spoke and said, “O king, live forever! Do not be alarmed at your thoughts or let your face be changed.

11 There is a man in your kingdom in whom isa spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of your father, illumination, understanding and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods were found in him. AndKing Nebuchadnezzar, your father–your father the king, appointed him chief of the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans and diviners.

12 It was because an extraordinary spirit, knowledge and insight, the ability to interpret dreams, clarify riddles, and solve complex problems were found in this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar. Now let Daniel be called and he will give the interpretation.”

Daniel Interprets Handwriting on the Wall

13 Then Daniel was brought in before the king. And the king said to Daniel, “Are you that Daniel who is one of the sons of the exiles of Judah, whom my father the king brought from Judah?

14 I have heard of you, that a spirit of the gods is in you, and that illumination, insight, and extraordinary wisdom have been found in you.

15 Now the wise men and the enchanters, were brought in before me so that they might read this writing and reveal its meaning to me, but they could not give the interpretation of the message.

16 But I personally have heard about you, that you are able to make interpretations and solve complex problems. Now if you are able to read the writing and reveal its interpretation to me, you shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold put around your neck, and you shall have authority as the thirdrulerin the kingdom.”

17 Then Daniel answered and said before the king, “Keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else; however, I will read the writing to the king and reveal the interpretation to him.

18 O king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father a kingdom and greatness and glory and majesty;

19 and because of the greatness that He gave him, all the peoples, nations, andspeakers of everylanguage trembled and feared him. Whomever he wished he killed, and whomever he wished he kept alive; whomever he wished he promoted and whomever he wished he humbled.

20 But when his heart was lifted up and his spirit became so proud that he behaved arrogantly, he was deposed from his royal throne and his glory was taken away from him.

21 He was also driven from mankind, and his mind was made like that of an animal, and his dwelling place was with the wild donkeys. He was given grass to eat like cattle, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven until he came to know [without any doubt] that the Most High God rules over the kingdom of mankind and He appoints it to whomever He wills.

22 And you, hisson, O Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart (mind), even though you knew all this.

23 And you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven, and the vessels of His house have been brought before you, and you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines have been drinking wine from them; and you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which do not see or hear or understand. But the God who holds in His hand your breath of life and your ways you have not honoredandglorified [but have dishonored and defied].

24 Then the hand was sent from the presence [of the Most High God], and this inscription was written:

25 “This is theinscription that was written, ‘mene,mene,tekel,upharsin[numbered, numbered, weighed, and divided].’

26 This is the interpretation of the message: ‘mene’–God has numbered the days of your kingdom and put an end to it;

27 ‘tekel’–you have been weighed on the scales [of righteousness] and found deficient;

28 ‘peres’–your kingdom has been divided and given over to the Medes andPersians.”

29 Then Belshazzar gave the command, and Daniel was clothed with purple and a chain of gold was put around his neck, and a proclamation concerning him was issued [declaring] that he now had authority as the thirdrulerin the kingdom.

30 During that samenight Belshazzar the [last] Chaldean king was slain [by troops of theinvading army].

31 SoDarius the Mede received the kingdom; he was about the age of sixty-two.

Daniel Serves Darius

1 It seemed good to Darius [who became king after Belshazzar] to appoint over the kingdom 120satraps who would be in charge throughout the kingdom,

2 and over them three chief commissioners (of whom Daniel was one), that these satraps might be accountable to them, so that the king would have no loss [from disloyalty or mismanagement].

3 Then this Daniel, because of the extraordinary spirit within him, began distinguishing himself among the commissioners and the satraps, and the king planned to appoint him over the entire realm.

4 Then the [other two] commissioners and the satraps began trying to find a reason to bring a complaint against Daniel concerning the [administration of the] kingdom; but they could find no reason for an accusation orevidence ofcorruption, because he was faithful [a man of high moral character and personal integrity], and no negligence or corruption [of any kind] was found in him.

5 Then these men said, “We will not find any basis for an accusation against this Daniel unless we find something against him in connection with the law of his God.”

6 Then these commissioners and satraps agreed to approach the king and said to him, “King Darius, live forever!

7 All the commissioners of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the counselors and the governors have consultedandagreed together that the king should establish aroyalstatute and enforce an injunction that anyone who petitions (prays to) any god or man besides you, O king, during the next thirty days, shall be thrown into the den of lions.

8 Now, O king, establish the injunction and sign the document so that it may not be changed, in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which [insures that it] may not be alteredorrevoked.”

9 So King Darius signed the document, that is, the injunction.

10 Now when Daniel knew that the document was signed, he went into his house (now in his roof chamber his windows were open toward Jerusalem); he continued to get down on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously.

11 Then, by agreement, these men came [together] and found Daniel praying and making requests before his God.

12 Then they approached and spoke before the king regarding his injunction, “Have you not signed an injunction that anyone who petitions (prays to) any god or man except you, O king, within thedesignatedthirty days, is to be thrown into the den of lions?” The king answered, “The statement is true, in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which may not be alteredorrevoked.”

13 Then they answered and said before the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, does not pay any attention to you, O king, or to the injunction which you have signed, but keeps praying [to his God] three times a day.”

14 Then, as soon as the king heard these words, he was deeply distressed [over what he had done] and set his mind on rescuing Daniel; and he struggled until the sun went down [trying to work out a way] to save him.

15 Then, by agreement, these same men came to the king and said, “Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no injunction or statute which the king establishes may be alteredorrevoked.”

Daniel in the Den of Lions

16 Then the king gave a command, and Daniel was brought and thrown into the den of lions. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you constantly serve, rescue you Himself!”

17 A stone was brought and laid over the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signet rings of his nobles, so that nothing would be changed concerning Daniel.

18 Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night fasting; and no music or entertainment was brought before him, and he remained unable to sleep.

19 Then the king arose at dawn, at the break of day, and hurried to the den of lions.

20 When he had come near the den, he called out to Daniel with a troubled voice. The king said to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you constantly serve, been able to rescue you from the lions?”

21 Then Daniel spoke to the king, “O king, live forever!

22 My God has sent His angel and has shut the mouths of the lions so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also before you, O king, I have committed no crime.”

23 Then the king was greatly pleased and ordered that Daniel be taken out of the den. So Daniel was taken out of the den, and no injury whatever was found on him, because he believed inandrelied onandtrusted in his God.

24 The king then gave a command, and those men who had maliciously accused Daniel were brought and thrown 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 crushed all their bones.

25 Then Darius the king wrote to all the peoples, nations, andspeakers of everylanguage who were living in all the land: “May peace abound to you!

26 I issue a decree that in all the dominion of my kingdom men are to [reverently] fear and tremble before the God of Daniel,

For He is the living God, enduringandsteadfast forever,

And His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed,

And His dominion will be forever.

27 “He rescues and saves and performs signs and wonders

In heaven and on earth–

He who has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.”

28 So this [man] Daniel prosperedandenjoyed success in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

Vision of the Four Beasts

1 In thefirst year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions appeared in his mindas he layon his bed; then he wrote the dream down and related a summary of it.

2 Daniel said, “I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea (the nations).

3 And four great beasts, each different from the other, were coming up out of the sea [in succession].

4 The first (the Babylonian Empire under Nebuchadnezzar) was like a lion and had the wings of an eagle. I kept looking until its wings were plucked, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man; a human mind was given to it.

5 And behold, another beast, a second one (the Medo-Persian Empire), was like a bear, and it was raised up on one side (domain), and three ribs were in its mouth between its teeth; and it was told, ‘Arise, devour much meat.’

6 After this I kept looking, and behold, another one (the Greek Empire of Alexander the Great), like a leopard, which had on its back four wings like those of a bird; the beast also had four heads (Alexander’s generals, his successors), and power to rule was given to it.

7 After this I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, [I saw] a fourth beast (the Roman Empire), terrible and extremely strong; and it had huge iron teeth. It devoured and crushed and trampled down what was left with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that came before it, and it had ten horns (ten kings).

8 While I was considering the horns, behold, there came up among themanother horn, a little one, and three of the first horns were pulled up by the roots before it; and behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth boasting of great things.

The Ancient of Days Reigns

9 “I kept looking

Until thrones were set up,

And the Ancient of Days (God) took His seat;

His garment was white as snow

And the hair of His head like pure wool.

His throne was flames of fire;

Its wheels were a burning fire.

10 “A river of fire was flowing

And coming out from before Him;

A thousand thousands were attending Him,

And ten thousand times ten thousand were standing before Him;

The court was seated,

And the books were opened.

11 Then I kept looking because of the sound of the greatandboastful words which the horn was speaking. I kept looking until the beast was slain, and its body destroyed and given to be burned with fire.

12 As for the rest of the beasts, their power was taken away; yet their lives were prolonged [for the length of their lives was fixed] for a predetermined time.

The Son of Man Presented

13 “I kept looking in the night visions,

And behold,on the clouds of heaven

One like a Son of Man was coming,

And He came up to the Ancient of Days

And was presented before Him.

14 “And to Him (the Messiah) was given dominion (supreme authority),

Glory and a kingdom,

That all the peoples, nations, andspeakers of everylanguage

Should serveandworship Him.

His dominion is an everlasting dominion

Which will not pass away;

And His kingdom is one

Which will not be destroyed.

The Vision Interpreted

15 “As for me, Daniel, my spirit was distressedandanxious within me, and the visions [that appeared] in my mind kept alarming (agitating) me.

16 I approached one of those who stood by and began asking him the exact meaning of all this. So he told me and explained to me the interpretation of the things:

17 ‘These four great beasts are four kings who will arise from the earth.

18 ~‘But thesaints (believers) of the Most High [God] will receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, for all ages to come.’

19 “Then I wished to know the exact meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others, extremely dreadful, with teeth of iron and claws of bronze, which devoured, crushed and trampled down what was left with its feet,

20 andthe meaningof the ten horns (kings) that were on its head and the otherhornwhich came up later, and before which three of the horns fell, specifically, that horn which had eyes and a mouth that boasted greatthingsand which looked larger than the others.

21 As I kept looking, that horn was making war with the saints (believers) and overpowering them

22 until the Ancient of Days came and judgment was passed in favor of the saints of the Most High [God], and the time arrived when the saints (believers) took possession of the kingdom.

23 “Thus the angel said, ‘The fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, which will be different from all other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth and tread it down, and crush it.

24 ~‘As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings will arise; and another will arise after them, and he will be different from the former ones, and he will subdue three kings.

25 ~‘He will speak words against the Most High [God] and wear down the saints of the Most High, and he will intend to change the times and the law; and they will be given into his hand for a time, [two] times, and half a time [three and one-half years].

26 ~‘But the court [of the Most High] will sitin judgment,and his dominion will be taken away, [first to be] consumed [gradually] and [then] to be destroyed forever.

27 ~‘Then the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of all the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to the people of the saints (believers) of the Most High; His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all the dominions will serve and obey Him.’

28 “This is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my [waking] thoughts were extremely troubling and alarming and my face grew pale; but I kept the matter [of the vision and the angel’s explanation] to myself.”

Vision of the Ram and Goat

1 In thethird year of the reign of King Belshazzar a [second] vision appeared to me, Daniel, [this was two years] after the one that first appeared to me.

2 I looked in the vision and it seemed that I was at the citadel ofSusa, [the capital of Persia], which is in the province of Elam; and I looked in the vision and I saw myself by the Ulai Canal.

3 Then I raised my eyes and looked, and behold, there in front of the canal stood a [lone] ram (the Medo-Persian Empire) which had two horns. The two horns were high, but one (Persia) was higher than the other (Media), and the higher one came up last.

4 I saw the ram (Medo-Persia) charging westward and northward and southward; no beast could stand before him, nor was there anyone who could rescue [anything] from his power, but he did as he pleased and magnifiedhimself.

5 As I was observing [this], behold, a male goat (Greece) was coming from the west [rushing] across the face of the whole earth without touching the ground; and the goat had a conspicuousandremarkable horn (Alexander the Great) between his eyes.

6 He came up to the ram that had the two horns, which I had seen standing in front of the canal, and charged at him in [the fury of] his powerandwrath.

7 [In my vision] I saw him come close to the ram (Medo-Persia), and he was filled with rage toward him; and the goat (Greece) struck the ram and shattered his two horns, and the ram had no strength to stand before him. So the goat threw him to the ground and trampled on him, and there was no one who could rescue the ram from his power.

8 Then the male goat magnified himself exceedingly, and when he was [young and] strong, the great horn (Alexander) was [suddenly]broken; and in its place there came up four prominenthorns[among whom the kingdom was divided, one] toward [each of] the four winds of heaven.

The Little Horn

9 Out of one of them (Antiochus IV Epiphanes) came forth a rather small horn [but one of irreverent presumption and profane pride] which grew exceedingly powerful toward the south, toward the east, and toward the BeautifulLand(Israel).

10 And [in my vision] thishorn grew up to the host of heaven, and caused some of the host and some of the stars to fall to the earth, and it trampled on them.

11 Indeed, it magnified itself to be equal with theCommander of the host [of heaven]; and it took away from Him the daily sacrifice (burnt offering), and the place of His sanctuary was thrown down (profaned).

12 Because of the transgression [of God’s people–their irreverence and ungodliness] the host will be given overto the wicked horn,along with the regular sacrifice; and righteousnessandtruth will be flung to the ground, and the horn will do as it pleases [by divine permission] and prosper.

13 Then I heard a holy one (angel) speaking, and another holy one said to the one who was speaking, “How much time will be required to complete the vision regarding the regular sacrifice, the transgression that brings horror, and the trampling underfoot of both the sanctuary and the host [of the people]?”

14 He said to me, “For 2,300 evenings and mornings;then the sanctuary will be cleansedandproperly restored.”

Interpretation of the Vision

15 When I, Daniel, had seen the vision, I sought to understand it; then behold, standing before me was one who looked like a man.

16 And I heard the voice of a man betweenthe banks ofthe Ulai, which called out and said, “Gabriel, give this man (Daniel) an understanding of the vision.”

17 So he came near where I was standing, and when he came I was frightened and fell face downward; but he said to me, “Understand, son of man, that the [fulfillment of the] vision pertains to [events that will occur in] the time of the end.”

18 Now as he (Gabriel) was speaking with me, I drifted into a deep sleep (unconsciousness) with my face to the ground; but he touched me and made me stand [where I had stood before].

19 He said, “Behold, I am going to let you know what will happen during the final time of the indignationandwrath [of God upon the ungodly], for it concerns the appointed time of the end.

The Ram’s Identity

20 The ram which you saw with the two horns represents the kings of Media and Persia.

The Goat

21 The shaggy (rough-coated) male goatrepresentsthe kingdom of Greece, and the great horn between his eyes is thefirst king.

22 Regardingthe shatteredhornand thefourothers thatarose in its place, four kingdoms will rise fromhis(Alexander’s) nation, although not with his powerandheritage.

23 “At the latter period of their reign,

When the transgressors have finished,

Aking will arise

Insolent and skilled in intrigueandcunning.

24 “His power will be mighty, but not by his own power;

And he will corruptanddestroy in an astonishing manner

And [he will] prosper and do exactly as he wills;

He shall corruptanddestroy mighty men and the holy people.

25 “And through his shrewdness

He will cause deceit to succeed by his hand (influence);

He will magnify himself in his mind,

He will corruptanddestroy many who enjoy a false sense of security.

He will also stand upandoppose the Prince of princes,

But he will be broken, and that by no human hand [but by the hand of God].

26 “The vision of the evenings and the mornings

Which has been told [to you] is true.

But keep the vision a secret,

For it has to do with many daysin the now distant future.”

27 And I, Daniel, was exhausted and was sick for [several] days. Afterward I got up and continued with the king’s business; but I was astounded at the vision, and there was no one who could explain it.

Daniel’s Prayer for His People

1 In the first year of Darius the son ofAhasuerus, of Median descent, who was made king over the realm of theChaldeans–

2 in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the books the number of years which, according to the word of the Lordto Jeremiah the prophet, must pass before the desolations [which had been] pronounced on Jerusalem would end; and it was seventy years.

3 So I directed my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth and ashes.

4 I prayed to the Lordmy God and confessed and said, “O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and extends lovingkindness toward those who love Him and keep His commandments,

5 we have sinned and committed wrong, and have behaved wickedly and have rebelled, turning away from Your commandments and ordinances.

6 Further, we have not listened toandheeded Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings, our princes and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.

7 “Righteousness belongs to You, O Lord, but to us confusionandopen shame, as it is this day–to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel, those who are nearby and those who are far away, in all the countries to which You have driven them, because of the [treacherous] acts of unfaithfulness which they have committed against You.

8 O Lord, to us belong confusionandopen shame–to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers–because we have sinned against You.

9 To the Lord our Godbelongmercyandlovingkindness and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against Him;

10 and we have not obeyed the voice of the Lordour God by walking in His laws which He set before us through His servants the prophets.

11 Yes, all Israel has transgressed Your law, even turning aside, not obeying Your voice; so the curse has been poured out on us and the oath which is written in the Law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against Him.

12 And He has carried out completely His [threatening] words which He had spoken against us and against our rulers [the kings, princes, and judges] who ruled us, to bring on us a great tragedy; for under the whole heaven there has not been done anything [so dreadful] like that which [He commanded and] was done to Jerusalem.

13 Just as it is written in the Law of Moses, all this tragedy has come on us. Yet we have not wholeheartedly begged for forgivenessandsought the favor of the Lordour God by turning from our wickedness and paying attention toandplacing value in Your truth.

14 Therefore the Lordhas kept the tragedy ready and has brought it on us, for the Lordour God is [uncompromisingly] righteousandopenly just in all His works which He does–He keeps His word; and we have not obeyed His voice.

15 “And now, O Lord our God, who brought Your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand and who made for Yourself a name, as it is today–we have sinned, we have been wicked.

16 O Lord, in accordance with all Your righteousandjust acts, please let Your anger and Your wrath turn away from Your city Jerusalem, Your holy mountain. Because of our sins and the wickedness of our fathers, Jerusalem and Your peoplehave becomean object of scornanda contemptuous byword to all who are around us.

17 Now therefore, our God, listen to (heed) the prayer of Your servant(Daniel) and his supplications, and for Your own sake let Your face shine on Your desolate sanctuary.

18 O my God, incline Your ear and hear; open Your eyes and look at our desolations and the city which is called by Your name; for we are not presenting our supplications before You because of our own meritsandrighteousness, but because of Your great mercyandcompassion.

19 O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and take action! Do not delay, for Your own sake, O my God, because Your city and Your people are called by Your name.”

Gabriel Brings an Answer

20 While I was still speaking and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the Lordmy God in behalf of the holy mountain of my God,

21 while I was still speaking in prayer andextremely exhausted, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me about the time of the evening sacrifice.

22 He instructed me and he talked with me and said, “O Daniel, I have now come to give you insightandwisdom and understanding.

23 At the beginning of your supplications, the command [to give you an answer] was issued, and I have come to tell you, for you are highly regardedandgreatly beloved. Therefore consider the message and begin to understand the [meaning of the] vision.

Seventy Weeks and the Messiah

24 “Seventy weeks [of years, or 490 years]have been decreed for your people and for your holy city (Jerusalem), to finish the transgression, to make an end of sins, to make atonement (reconciliation) for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness (right-standing with God), to seal up vision and prophecyandprophet, and to anoint the Most HolyPlace.

25 So you are to know and understand that from the issuance of the command to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until [the coming of] the Messiah (the Anointed One), the Prince,there will beseven weeks [of years] and sixty-two weeks [of years]; it will be built again, with [a city] plaza and moat, even in times of trouble.

26 Then after the sixty-two weeks [of years] the Anointed One will be cut off [and denied His Messianic kingdom] and have nothing [and no one to defend Him], and the people of the [other] prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its endwill comewith a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined.

27 And he will enter into a bindingandirrevocable covenant with the many for one week (seven years), but in the middle of the week he will stop the sacrifice and grain offering [for the remaining three and one-half years]; and on the wing of abominationswill comeone who makes desolate, even until the complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who causes the horror.”

Daniel Is Terrified by a Vision

1 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a message was revealed to Daniel, who was named Belteshazzar; and the message was true and it referred to great conflict (warfare, misery). And he understood the message and had an understanding of the vision.

2 In those days I, Daniel, had been mourning for three entire weeks.

3 I ate no tasty food, nor did any meat or wine enter my mouth; and I did notanoint (refresh, groom) myself at all for the full three weeks.

4 On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was on the bank of the great river Hiddekel [which is the Tigris],

5 I raised my eyes and looked, and behold, there was acertain man dressed in linen, whose loins were girded with [abelt of] pure gold of Uphaz.

6 His body also was like beryl [with a golden luster], his face had the appearance of lightning, his eyes were like flaming torches, his arms and his feet like the gleam of burnished bronze, and the sound of his words was like the noise of a multitude [of people or the roaring of the sea].

7 And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision [of this heavenly being], for the men who were with me did not see the vision; nevertheless, a great panic overwhelmed them, so they ran away to hide themselves.

8 So I was left alone and saw this great vision; yet no strength was left in me, for my normal appearance turned to a deathly pale, and I grew weakandfaint [with fright].

9 Then I heard the sound of his words; and when I heard the sound of his words, I fell on my face in a deep sleep, with my face toward the ground.

Daniel Comforted

10 Then behold, a hand touched me and set me unsteadily on myhands and knees.

11 So he said to me, “O Daniel, you highly regardedandgreatly beloved man, understand the words that I am about to say to you and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you.” And while he was saying this word to me, I stood up trembling.

12 Then he said to me, “Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words.

13 But theprince of the kingdom of Persia was standing in opposition to me for twenty-one days. Then, behold, Michael, one of the chief [of the celestial] princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia.

14 Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision is in regard to the days yet to come.”

15 When he had spoken to me according to these words, I turned my face toward the ground and was speechless.

16 And behold, one who resembled the sons of men touched my lips. Then I opened my mouth and spoke and said to him who was standing before me, “O my lord, because of the vision anguish has come upon me, and I have retained no strength.

17 For how can such a [weakened] servant of my lord talk with such [a being] as my lord? For now there remains no strength in me, nor has any breath been left in me.”

18 Then the one (Gabriel) whose appearance was like that of a man touched me again, and he strengthened me.

19 He said, “O man, highly regardedandgreatly beloved, do not be afraid. Peace be to you; take courage and be strong.” Now when he had spoken to me, I was strengthened and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.”

20 Then he said, “Do you understand [fully] why I came to you? Now I shall return to fight against the [hostile]prince of Persia; and when I have gone, behold, theprince of Greece is about to come.

21 But I (Gabriel) will tell you what is inscribed in thewriting of truth. There is no one who stands firmly with meandstrengthens himself against these [hostile spirit forces] except Michael, your prince [the guardian of your nation].

Conflicts to Come

1 “Also I, in the first year of Darius the Mede, I (Gabriel) arose to be an encouragement and a protection for him.

2 And now I will tell you the truth. Behold,three more kings are going to arise in Persia. Then afourth will become far richer than all of them. When he becomes strong through his riches he will stir up the wholeempireagainst the realm of Greece.

3 Then amighty [warlike, threatening] king will arise who will rule with great authority and do as he pleases.

4 But as soon as he (Alexander) has risen, his kingdom will be broken [by his death] and divided toward the four winds of heaven [the north, south, east, and west], but not to his descendants, nor according to the [Grecian] authority with which he ruled, for his kingdom will be torn outanduprooted and given toothers (his four generals) to the exclusion of these.

5 “Then the king of the South (Egypt) will be strong, along with one of his princes who will be stronger than he and have dominance over him; his domain will be a great dominion.

6 After some yearsthe Syrian king of the North and the Egyptian king of the South will make an alliance; thedaughter (Berenice) of the king of the South will come to theking of the North to make an equitableandpeaceful agreement (marriage);but she will not retain the power of her position, nor will he retain his power. She will be handed over with her attendants and her father as well as he who supported her in those times.

7 But out of a branch of her [familial] roots will one (her brother, Ptolemy III Euergetes I) arise in his place, and he will come against the [Syrian] army and enter the fortress of the king of the North, and he will deal with them and will prevail.

8 Also he will carry off to Egypt their [Syrian] gods with their cast images and their preciousandcostly treasure of silver and of gold, and he will refrain from waging war against the king of the North for some years.

9 And theking of the North will come into the realm of the king of the South, but he will retreat to his own country [badly defeated].

10 “His sons will prepare for battle and assemble a multitude of great forces; which will keep on coming and overflow [the land], and pass through, so that they may again wage war as far as his fortress.

11 The king of the South (Ptolemy IV Philopator of Egypt) will be enraged and go out and fight with the king of the North (Antiochus III the Great); andthe Syrian king will raise a great multitude (army), but the multitude shall be given into the hand of theEgyptian king.

12 When the multitude (army) is capturedandcarried away, the heart of theEgyptian kingwill be proud (arrogant), and he will cause tens of thousands to fall, but he will not prevail.

13 For the king of the North will again raise a multitude (army) greater than the one before, and after several years he will advance with a great army and substantial equipment.

14 “In those times many will rise up against the king of the South (Egypt); also the violent men among your own people will arise in order to fulfill the [earlier] visions, but they will fail.

15 Then the king of the North (Syria) will come and build up siege ramps and capture a well-fortified city. The forces of the South will not standtheir ground,not even the finest troops, for there will be no strength to stand [against the Syrian king].

16 But he (Syria) who comes against him (Egypt) will do exactly as he pleases, and no one will be able to stand against him; he (Antiochus III the Great) will also stay for a time in the BeautifulandGlorious Land [of Israel], with destruction in his hand.

17 He will be determined to come with the power of his entire kingdom, and propose equitable conditionsandterms of peace, which he will put into effect [by making an agreement with the king of the South]. He will also give him hisdaughter (Cleopatra I),in an attemptto overthrow the kingdom, but it will not succeed or be to his advantage.

18 After this, he (Antiochus III the Great, King of Syria) will turn his attention to theislandsandcoastlands and capture many [of them]. But a commander (Lucius Scipio Asiaticus of Rome) will put an end to his aggression [toward Rome’s territorial interests]; in fact, he will repay his insolenceandturn his audacity back upon him.

19 Then he will turn back toward the fortresses of his own land [of Syria], but he will stumble and fall and not be found.

20 “Then in his place one (his eldest son, Seleucus IV Philopator) will arise who will send an oppressor through the Jewel of his kingdom; yet within a few days he will beshattered, though not in anger nor in battle.

21 And in his place [in Syria] will arise adespicableanddespised person, to whom royal majestyandthe honor of kingship have not been conferred, but he will come [without warning] in a time of tranquility and seize the kingdom by intrigue.

22 The overwhelming forces [of the invading armies of Egypt] will be flooded away before himandsmashed; and also theprince of the covenant [will be smashed].

23 After analliance is made with him he will work deceitfully, and he will go up and gain power with a smallforce ofpeople.

24 In a time of tranquility, [without warning] he will enter the most productiveandrichest parts of the kingdom [of Egypt], and he will accomplish that which his fathers never did, nor his fathers’ fathers; he will distribute plunder, spoil and goods among them. He will devise plans against strongholds, but only for a time [decreed by God].

25 He will stir up his strength and courage against [his former Egyptian ally] the king of the South (Ptolemy VI) with a great army; so the king of the South will prepare an extremely great and powerful army to wage war, but he will not stand, for schemes will be devised against him.

26 Yes, those who eat his fine food will betrayanddestroy him (Ptolemy VI), and his army will be swept away, and many will fall down slain.

27 And as for both of thesekings, their hearts will be set on doing evil; they will speak lies over the same table, but it will not succeed, for the end is yet to come at the appointed time.

28 Then he (Antiochus IV Epiphanes) will return to his land with great treasure (plunder); and his heart will be set against the holy covenant, and he will take action and return to his own land (Syria).

29 “At the time appointed [by God] he will return and come into the South, but this last time will not be successful as were the previous invasions [of Egypt].

30 For ships of Cyprus [in Roman hands] will come against him; therefore he will be discouraged and turn back [to Israel] and carry out his rage against the holy covenant and take action; so he will return and show favoritism toward those [Jews] who abandon (break) the holy covenant [with God].

31 Armed forces of his will arise [in Jerusalem] and defileanddesecrate the sanctuary, the [spiritual] stronghold, and will do away with the regular sacrifice [that is, the daily burnt offering]; and they will set up [a pagan altar in the sanctuary which is] the abomination of desolation.

32 With smoothwords[of flattery and praise] he will turn to godlessness those who [are willing to] disregard the [Mosaic] covenant, but the people who [are spiritually mature and] know their God will display strength and take action [to resist].

33 They who are wiseandhave spiritual insight among the people will instruct manyandhelp them understand; yet for many days some [of them and their followers] will fall by the sword and by flame, by captivity and by plunder.

34 Now when they fall they will receive a little help, and many will join with them in hypocrisy.

35 Some of those who are [spiritually] wiseandhave insight will fall [as martyrs] in order to refine, to purge and to make those among God’s people pure, until the end time; because it is yet to come at the time appointed [by God].

36 “Then theking (the Antichrist) will do exactly as he pleases; he will exalt himself and magnify himself above every god and will speak astoundinganddisgusting things against the God of gods and he will prosper until the indignation is finished, for that which is determined [by God] will be done.

37 He will have no regard for the gods of his fathers or for the desire of women, nor will he have regard for anyothergod, for he shall magnify himself above them all.

38 Instead, he will honor a god of fortresses, a god whom his fathers did not know; he will honor him with gold and silver, with precious stones and with expensive things.

39 He will act against the strongest fortresses withthe help ofa foreign god; he will give great honor to those who acknowledge him and he will cause them to rule over the many, and will parcel out land for a price.

40 “At the end time the king of the South will pushandattack him (the Antichrist), and the king of the North will storm against him with chariots and horsemen and with many ships; and he will enter countries, overwhelm them and pass through.

41 He shall also enter the BeautifulandGlorious Land (Israel), and many countries will fall, but these will be rescued out of his hand: Edom, Moab, and the foremost [core] of the people of Ammon.

42 Then he will stretch out his hand against other countries, but Egypt will not be among the ones which escape.

43 He will have power over the treasures of gold and silver and over all the precious things of Egypt, and the Libyans and the Ethiopianswill followin his footsteps.

44 But rumors from the east and from the north will alarmanddisturb him, and he will set out with great fury to destroy and to annihilate many.

45 He will pitch his palatial tents between the seas and the glorious Holy Mountain (Zion); yet he will come to his end with no one to help him [in his final battle with God].

The Time of the End

1 “Now at that [end] time Michael, the great [angelic] prince who standsguardover the children of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; but at that time your people, everyone who is found written in theBook [of Life], will be rescued.

2 Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake (resurrect), these to everlasting life, but some to disgrace and everlasting contempt (abhorrence).

3 Those who are [spiritually] wise will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead many to righteousness, [will shine] like the stars forever and ever.

4 But as for you, Daniel, conceal these words and seal up the scroll until the end of time. Many will go back and forthandsearch anxiously [through the scroll], and knowledge [of the purpose of God as revealed by His prophets] will [greatly] increase.”

5 Then I, Daniel, looked, and behold, there stood two others, the one [angel] on this bank of the river and the other [angel] on that bank of the river.

6 And one said to the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How longwill it beuntil the end of these wonders?”

7 And I heard the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, as he held up his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and a half a time (three and a half years); and as soon as they finish shatteringandcrushing the power of the holy people, all these things will be finished.

8 As for me, I heard, but I did not understand; so I said, “My lord, what will be the outcome of these things?”

9 And the angel said, “Goyour way,Daniel, for the words are concealed and sealed up until the end of time.

10 Many will be purged, purified (made white) and refined, but the wicked will behave wickedly. None of the wicked shall understand, but those who are [spiritually] wise will understand.

11 From the time that the regular sacrifice [that is, the daily burnt offering] is taken away and the abomination of desolation is set up [ruining the temple for worship of the true God],there will be1,290 days.

12 How blessed [happy, fortunate, spiritually prosperous]andbeloved is he who waits expectantly [enduring without wavering for the period of tribulation] and comes to the1,335 days!

13 But as for you (Daniel), goyour wayuntil the end [of yourlife]; for you will rest and riseagainfor your allotted inheritance at the end of the age.”