The Book of
Author
Daniel refers to himself in the first person several times between 7:15 and 10:12. He was deported as a teenager in 605 B.C. to Babylon where he lived over sixty years. He was likely from an upper-class family in Jerusalem. The deportation of the royal descendants into Babylon had been prophesied by Isaiah to Hezekiah (Is. 39:7). Daniel initially served as a trainee in Nebuchadnezzar’s court; he was later an advisor to foreign kings.
His importance as a prophet was confirmed by Jesus in Matthew 24:15.
Daniel means “God Is My Judge.” His unshakable consecration to Yahweh and his loyalty to God’s people strongly affirmed that truth in his life.
Date
Although the siege and carrying away of captives into Babylon lasted several years, the mighty men of valor, the skilled, and the educated were taken from Jerusalem early in the war (2 Kin. 24:14). The date usually given for Daniel’s captivity is 605 B.C. His prophecy covers the time span of his life.
Background
Along with thousands of captives from Judah who were taken into Babylonian exile between 605 B.C. and 582 B.C., the treasures of Solomon’s palace and the temple were also transported. The Babylonians had subdued all the provinces ruled by Assyria and had consolidated their empire into an area that covered much of the Middle East.
To govern such a diversified kingdom over such an expanse of space required a skillful administrative bureaucracy. Slaves who were educated or possessed needed skills became the manpower for the government. Because of their wisdom, knowledge, and handsome appearance, four young Hebrews were selected for the training program (1:4). The outstanding character of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah secured positions for them in the king’s palace; and it was Daniel who rose to excel all the wise men of that vast empire (6:1–3).
Purpose
The purpose is to show that the God of Israel, the only God, is in control of the destiny of all nations.
Content
Daniel has three main sections: Introduction to the person of Daniel (ch. 1), Daniel’s key tests of character and the development of his prophetic interpretation skills (chs. 2—7), and his series of visions about future kingdoms and events (chs. 8—12). In this final section, Daniel emerges as a key prophetic book for understanding much of the Bible. Many insights into end-times prophecies are dependent upon an understanding of this book. Jesus’ comments in the Olivet Discourse (Matt. 24; 25) and many of the revelations given to the apostle Paul find harmony and cohesion in Daniel (see Rom. 11; 2 Thess. 2). Likewise, it becomes a necessary study companion to the Book of Revelation.
Although the interpretation of Daniel, like Revelation, is subject to great diversity, for many the dispensational approach has become quite popular. It is an interpretive approach that sees in Daniel keys to help unlock the mysteries of such subjects as the Antichrist, the Great Tribulation, the Second Coming of Christ, the Times of the Gentiles, future resurrections, and judgments. This approach also sees most unfulfilled prophecy as revolving around two major focal points: 1) the future destiny of the city of Jerusalem; 2) the future destiny of Daniel’s people, national Jews (9:24). See Introduction to Revelation: Methods of Interpretation.
Daniel’s writing covers the reign of two kingdoms, Babylon and Medo-Persia, and four kings: Nebuchadnezzar (2:11—4:37); Belshazzar (5:1–31); Darius (6:1–28); and Cyrus (10:1—11:1).
Personal Application
One of the beautiful themes of this book is the emphasis on separation to God, with Daniel as the ultimate example. From their decision not to eat the king’s food to the refusal to bow to the image of the king, Daniel and his three friends (now named Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego) displayed such an uncompromising spirit that spectacular opportunities were opened for God to display His power on their behalf. Their courageous commitment presents a timeless challenge to believers not to compromise their testimony of Jesus Christ. Even though it may mean a fiery-furnace testing, the Lord’s protection and deliverance will be there.
Another theme of Daniel is the absolute superiority of God over occult attempts to reveal or interpret spiritual mysteries. Try as they did, all the magicians, soothsayers, wise men, and astrologers of the king’s court could not arrive at the truth (5:8). This is an enduring encouragement to believers. Spiritual counterfeiters can never stand before the wisdom and power of the Holy Spirit (2 Cor. 10:3–6).
The prophetic section of the book acts as a reminder of God’s supernatural abilities, that He can predict major events hundreds of years in advance. It also serves to assure us that He has all of the details of time and space sovereignly and safely in His control.
Prophetic Key
According to many interpreters, Daniel 9 contains a pivotal prophecy. It has come to be known as “Daniel’s Seventy Weeks of Years.” An understanding of these weeks is crucial to one school of interpretation of latter-day prophetic events. Unfortunately, but understandably, the interpretation of this section is diverse among equally dedicated, committed Christians. These notes shall reflect the frequently accepted dispensational approach. However, additional entries in certain footnotes and at the end of this section will address the more historic classical/conservative view (indicated by the words CLASSICAL INTERPRETATION). Both are valid considerations for dedicated students to examine, and the exercise occasions the healthy reminder that prophetic Scripture interpretation is not a place for committed Christians to part company, although differences exist.
As Daniel sought the Lord to find out how long the Babylonian captivity would last, God showed him that the original prophecy of Jeremiah, indicating that the captivity would last seventy years (Jer. 29:10), would be extended to “seventy sevens,” or 490 years. This revelation, in fact, covers the history of Jerusalem and the Jews from the time that Artaxerxes decreed they should rebuild the city of Jerusalem (Neh. 2:1–10) to the time of the Great Tribulation (Matt. 24:15–31).
This whole period is called “the Times of the Gentiles” because Gentile political authority will be the major force until the final destruction of all Israel’s enemies at the end of the Great Tribulation. This will culminate in the Battle of Armageddon and the Second Advent of the Messiah. He will at that time destroy all the armies that have come against Jerusalem. See note on Revelation 16:12–16.
The “seventy sevens” are divided into three sections: seven weeks, sixty-two weeks, and one week. Each week represents seven years. The decree of Artaxerxes was in 446–445 B.C. (Neh. 2:1). The first two sections of weeks total 69 weeks or 483 years. This period ended in A.D. 32 when the Messiah was “cut off” (9:26), or when Jesus was crucified on Calvary.
The Abomination of Desolation, which Daniel prophesied would be part of the Seventieth Week, was clearly dated by Jesus as being part of the Great Tribulation or end-time period (Matt. 24:15). Nearly two thousand years have passed and the Seventieth Week has not happened. We are still living in the parenthetical time called the Times of the Gentiles, which precedes that culminative prophetic “week.”
From this interpretive perspective, the Book of Daniel unveils a march of events in God’s relationship, not only with His people, but with the world political system. Basic facts distilled from this book seem to illuminate other difficult passages, presenting these apparent forthcoming events:
1. The Messiah will return before the millennial period (2:31–37, 44, 45; 7:13, 14).
2. God’s kingdom will literally be established on the Earth with the Messiah-King as ruler (2:44, 45; 7:26, 27).
3. The four metals of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream image symbolizes four empires: Babylonian, Medo-Persian, Macedonian-Greek, and Roman (2:37–40).
4. The fourth kingdom, Rome, will enjoy a last-day revival in the form of a united confederacy. Out of this system the Antichrist will emerge (7:8, 20, 21; 8:23).
5. The False Prophet and the Antichrist are persons, not merely a system (7:7, 8, 20–26; 9:27; 11:36–45).
6. God will continue to deal with the nation of Israel (9:20–27).
7. National Israel is the prophetic time clock for last-day events (9:24).
8. The False Prophet and the Antichrist will dominate the last portion of the last week of Daniel’s Seventy Weeks of Years. At the end of the “week,” after the Great Tribulation, Jesus the Messiah will return to establish the kingdom of God, which will resolve all the prophecies of Daniel (9:24, 27).
CLASSICAL INTERPRETATION: As previously indicated in the Introduction, the notations for the Book of Daniel are interpreted using dispensational hermeneutical principles. In contrast to this prophetic approach, many evangelicals interpret Daniel using classical (Covenant) hermeneutical principles. Classical interpreters do so, realizing that biblical prophecy may have multiple levels of fulfillment. See note on the Day of the Lord in Obadiah 15.
The classical view sees the initial fulfillment of Daniel’s prophetic sections in past historical events, such as the second-century B.C. invasion of Jerusalem by Antiochus Epiphanes and the events of the fall of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. Classical interpreters do, however, also see ultimate fulfillment of many of the prophecies at the end of this age. For an example, see the note on 9:26, 27.
Furthermore, the classical approach does not always press for strict literalness, especially when the New Testament itself makes nonliteral application. For example, see James’s quote of Amos 9:11, 12 in Acts 15:16, 17.
The words CLASSICAL INTERPRETATION at various places in the notations that follow indicate the classical alternative to the dispensational approach taken by Dr. Phillips.
Christ Revealed
Christ is first seen as the “fourth man” standing with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in the fiery furnace (3:25). The three had remained faithful to their God; now God stands faithful with them in the fire of their judgment and delivers them from the very “smell of fire” (3:27).
Another reference to Christ is found in Daniel’s night vision (7:13). He describes “One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven,” a reference to the Second Advent of Jesus Christ.
A further vision of Christ is found in 10:5, 6, where the description of Jesus is almost identical to John’s in Revelation 1:13–16.
The Holy Spirit at Work
The Holy Spirit never announces His presence in Daniel, but He is clearly at work. The ability of Daniel and the other Hebrews to interpret dreams was through the power of the Holy Spirit. The predictive prophecies, both with local and future applications, indicate the supernatural insights given to Daniel by the Holy Spirit.
Outline of Daniel
I. The religious convictions of Daniel 1:1–21
B. Daniel’s decision to maintain his separation 1:3–21
II. Nebuchadnezzar’s first dream 2:1–49
A. The dream forgotten 2:1–28
B. Daniel’s revelation and interpretation 2:29–45
C. Daniel honored by promotion 2:46–49
III. Deliverance from the fiery furnace 3:1–30
A. Call to worship the golden image 3:1–7
B. Refusal of the three Hebrews to bow to the image 3:8–18
C. The three Hebrews miraculously protected 3:19–25
D. The king’s confession of the true God 3:26–30
IV. Nebuchadnezzar’s second dream 4:1–37
A. Nebuchadnezzar’s dream 4:1–18
B. Daniel’s interpretation 4:19–27
C. Fulfillment of the dream 4:28–33
D. Nebuchadnezzar’s prayer and restoration 4:34–37
V. Belshazzar’s blasphemous feast 5:1–31
A. The handwriting on the wall 5:1–9
B. Daniel’s interpretation of the writing on the wall 5:10–31
VI. Daniel in the lions’ den 6:1–28
A. Plot against Daniel 6:1–9
B. Daniel cast into the lions’ den 6:10–17
C. Daniel delivered 6:18–28
VII. Daniel’s first vision 7:1–28
A. Daniel’s dream of four beasts 7:1–14
B. Daniel’s interpretation 7:15–28
VIII. Daniel’s second vision 8:1–27
A. Daniel’s dream of a ram, a goat, and the horns 8:1–14
B. Gabriel’s interpretation 8:15–27
IX. Prophecy of the Seventy Weeks 9:1–27
A. Daniel’s prayer 9:1–19
B. Daniel’s vision 9:20–27
X. Daniel’s final vision 10:1—12:13
A. Daniel’s vision of a glorious being 10:1–9
B. Angelic visitation 10:10–21
C. Wars of kings of north and south 11:1–45
D. The time of trouble 12:1–13
Daniel and His Friends Obey God
1 IN the third year of the reign of aJehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.
2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with asome of the articles of 1the house of God, which he carried binto the land of Shinar to the house of his god; cand he brought the articles into the treasure house of his god.
3 Then the king instructed Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, to bring asome of the children of Israel and some of the king’s descendants and some of the nobles,
4 young men ain whom there was no blemish, but good-looking, gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge and quick to understand, who had ability to serve in the king’s palace, and bwhom they might *teach the language and 1literature of the Chaldeans.
5 And the king appointed for them a daily provision of the king’s delicacies and of the wine which he drank, and three years of training for them, so that at the end of that time they might aserve before the king.
6 Now from among those of the sons of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.
7 aTo them the chief of the eunuchs gave names: bhe gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abed-Nego.
8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself awith the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
9 Now aGod had brought Daniel into the favor and 1goodwill of the chief of the eunuchs.
10 And the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who has appointed your food and drink. For why should he see your faces looking worse than the young men who are your age? Then you would endanger my head before the king.”
11 So Daniel said to 1the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,
12 “Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink.
13 “Then let our appearance be examined before you, and the appearance of the young men who eat the portion of the king’s delicacies; and as you see fit, so deal with your servants.”
14 So he consented with them in this matter, and tested them ten days.
15 And at the end of ten days their features appeared better and fatter in flesh than all the young men who ate the portion of the king’s delicacies.
16 Thus 1the steward took away their portion of delicacies and the wine that they were to drink, and gave them vegetables.
17 As for these four young men, aGod gave them bknowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom; and Daniel had cunderstanding in all *visions and dreams.
18 Now at the end of the days, when the king had said that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.
19 Then the king 1interviewed them, and among them all none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; therefore athey served before the king.
20 aAnd in all matters of wisdom and understanding about which the king examined them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers who were in all his realm.
21 aThus Daniel continued until the first year of King Cyrus.
Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream
1 Now in the second year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, Nebuchadnezzar had *dreams; aand his spirit was so troubled that bhis sleep left him.
2 aThen the king gave the command to call the magicians, the astrologers, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans to tell the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king.
3 And the king said to them, “I have had a *dream, and my spirit is anxious to 1know the dream.”
4 Then the Chaldeans spoke to the king in Aramaic, a“O1 king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will give the interpretation.”
5 The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, “My 1decision is firm: if you do not make known the dream to me, and its interpretation, you shall be acut in pieces, and your houses shall be made an ash heap.
6 a“However, if you tell the dream and its interpretation, you shall receive from me gifts, rewards, and great honor. Therefore tell me the dream and its interpretation.”
7 They answered again and said, “Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will give its interpretation.”
8 The king answered and said, “I know for certain that you would gain time, because you see that my decision is firm:
9 “if you do not make known the dream to me, there is only one decree for you! For you have agreed to speak lying and corrupt words before me till the 1time has changed. Therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that you can 2give me its interpretation.”
10 The Chaldeans answered the king, and said, “There is not a man on earth who can tell the king’s matter; therefore no king, lord, or ruler has ever asked such things of any magician, astrologer, or Chaldean.
11 “It is a 1difficult thing that the king requests, and there is no other who can tell it to the king aexcept the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.”
12 For this reason the king was angry and very furious, and gave the command to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.
13 So the decree went out, and they began killing the wise men; and they sought aDaniel and his companions, to kill them.
God Reveals Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream
14 Then with counsel and wisdom Daniel answered Arioch, the captain of the king’s guard, who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon;
15 he answered and said to Arioch the king’s captain, “Why is the decree from the king so 1urgent?” Then Arioch made the decision known to Daniel.
16 So Daniel went in and asked the king to give him time, that he might tell the king the interpretation.
17 Then Daniel went to his house, and made the decision known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions,
18 athat they might seek mercies from the God of heaven concerning this secret, so that Daniel and his companions might not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
19 Then the secret was revealed to Daniel ain a night vision. So Daniel blessed the God of heaven.
20 Daniel answered and said:
a“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,
bFor wisdom and might are His.
21 And He changes athe times and the seasons;
bHe removes kings and raises up kings;
cHe gives wisdom to the wise
And knowledge to those who have understanding.
22 aHe reveals deep and secret things;
bHe knows what is in the darkness,
And clight dwells with Him.
23 “I thank You and praise You,
O God of my fathers;
You have given me wisdom and might,
And have now made known to me what we aasked of You,
For You have made known to us the king’s 1demand.”
Daniel Explains the Dream
24 Therefore Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon. He went and said thus to him: “Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon; take me before the king, and I will tell the king the interpretation.”
25 Then Arioch quickly brought Daniel before the king, and said thus to him, “I have found a man of the 1captives of Judah, who will make known to the king the interpretation.”
26 The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, “Are you able to make known to me the dream which I have seen, and its interpretation?”
27 Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, “The secret which the king has demanded, the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, and the soothsayers cannot declare to the king.
28 a“But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar bwhat will be in the latter days. Your dream, and the visions of your head upon your bed, were these:
29 “As for you, O king, thoughts came to your mind while on your bed, about what would come to pass after this; aand He who reveals secrets has made known to you what will be.
30 a“But as for me, this secret has not been revealed to me because I have more wisdom than anyone living, but for our sakes who make known the interpretation to the king, band that you may 1know the thoughts of your heart.
31 “You, O king, were watching; and behold, a great image! This great image, whose splendor was excellent, stood before you; and its form was awesome.
32 a“This image’s head was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and 1thighs of bronze,
33 “its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of 1clay.
34 “You watched while a stone was cut out awithout hands, which struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces.
35 a“Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed together, and became blike chaff from the summer threshing floors; the wind carried them away so that cno trace of them was found. And the stone that struck the image dbecame a great mountain eand filled the whole earth.
36 “This is the dream. Now we will tell the interpretation of it before the king.
37 a“You, O king, are a king of kings. bFor the God of heaven has given you a kingdom, power, strength, and glory;
38 a“and wherever the children of men dwell, or the beasts of the field and the birds of the heaven, He has given them into your hand, and has made you ruler over them all—byou are this head of gold.
39 “But after you shall arise aanother kingdom binferior to yours; then another, a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth.
40 “And athe fourth kingdom shall be as strong as iron, inasmuch as iron breaks in pieces and shatters everything; and like iron that crushes, that kingdom will break in pieces and crush all the others.
41 “Whereas you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; yet the strength of the iron shall be in it, just as you saw the iron mixed with ceramic clay.
42 “And as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, aso the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly 1fragile.
43 “As you saw iron mixed with ceramic clay, they will mingle with the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not mix with clay.
44 “And in the days of these kings athe God of heaven will set up a kingdom bwhich shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; cit shall 1break in pieces and 2consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.
45 a“Inasmuch as you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold—the great God has made known to the king what will come to pass after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation is sure.”
Daniel and His Friends Promoted
46 aThen King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face, prostrate before Daniel, and commanded that they should present an offering band incense to him.
47 The king answered Daniel, and said, “Truly ayour God is the God of bgods, the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, since you could reveal this secret.”
48 aThen the king promoted Daniel band gave him many great gifts; and he made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and cchief administrator over all the wise men of Babylon.
49 Also Daniel petitioned the king, aand he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego over the affairs of the province of Babylon; but Daniel bsat in 1the gate of the king.
The Image of Gold
1 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was 1sixty cubits and its width six cubits. He set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.
2 And King Nebuchadnezzar sent word to gather together the satraps, the administrators, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
3 So the satraps, the administrators, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered together for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
4 Then a herald cried 1aloud: “To you it is commanded, aO peoples, nations, and languages,
5 “that at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, you shall fall down and worship the gold image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up;
6 “and whoever does not fall down and worship shall abe cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.”
7 So at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the horn, flute, harp, and lyre, in symphony with all kinds of music, all the people, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the gold image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
Daniel’s Friends Disobey the King
8 Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans acame forward and accused the Jews.
9 They spoke and said to King Nebuchadnezzar, a“O king, live forever!
10 “You, O king, have made a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the gold image;
11 “and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
12 a“There are certain Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego; these men, O king, have bnot paid due regard to you. They do not serve your gods or worship the gold image which you have set up.”
13 Then Nebuchadnezzar, in arage and fury, gave the command to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. So they brought these men before the king.
14 Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the gold image which I have set up?
15 “Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, and you fall down and worship the image which I have made, agood! But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. bAnd who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?”
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, awe have no need to answer you in this matter.
17 “If that is the case, our aGod whom we serve is able to bdeliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king.
18 “But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we aworship the gold image which you have set up.”
Saved in Fiery Trial
19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. He spoke and commanded that they heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated.
20 And he commanded certain mighty men of valor who were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, and cast them into the burning fiery furnace.
21 Then these men were bound in their coats, their trousers, their turbans, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
22 Therefore, because the king’s command was 1urgent, and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego.
23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his 1counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.”
25 “Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, awalking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like bthe1 Son of God.”
Nebuchadnezzar Praises God
26 Then Nebuchadnezzar went near the 1mouth of the burning fiery furnace and spoke, saying, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, servants of the aMost High God, come out, and come here.” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego came from the midst of the fire.
27 And the satraps, administrators, governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together, and they saw these men aon whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them.
28 Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His aAngel1 and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God!
29 a“Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss against the bGod of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego shall be ccut in pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap; dbecause there is no other God who can deliver like this.”
30 Then the king 1promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in the province of Babylon.
Nebuchadnezzar’s Second Dream
1 Nebuchadnezzar the king,
aTo all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth:
Peace be multiplied to you.
2 I thought it good to declare the signs and wonders athat the Most High God has worked for me.
3 aHow great are His signs,
And how mighty His wonders!
His kingdom is ban everlasting kingdom,
And His dominion is from generation to generation.
4 I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at rest in my house, and flourishing in my palace.
5 I saw a dream which made me afraid, aand the thoughts on my bed and the visions of my head btroubled me.
6 Therefore I issued a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream.
7 aThen the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers came in, and I told them the dream; but they did not make known to me its interpretation.
8 But at last Daniel came before me a(his name is Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god; bin him is the Spirit of the Holy God), and I told the dream before him, saying:
9 “Belteshazzar, achief of the magicians, because I know that the Spirit of the Holy God is in you, and no secret troubles you, explain to me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and its interpretation.
10 “These were the visions of my head while on my bed:
“I was looking, and behold,
aA tree in the midst of the earth,
And its height was great.
11 The tree grew and became strong;
Its height reached to the heavens,
And it could be seen to the ends of all the earth.
Its fruit abundant,
And in it was food for all.
aThe beasts of the field found shade under it,
The birds of the heavens dwelt in its branches,
And all flesh was fed from it.
13 “I saw in the visions of my head while on my bed, and there was aa watcher, ba holy one, coming down from heaven.
14 He cried 1aloud and said thus:
a‘Chop down the tree and cut off its branches,
Strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit.
bLet the beasts get out from under it,
And the birds from its branches.
15 Nevertheless leave the stump and roots in the earth,
Bound with a band of iron and bronze,
In the tender grass of the field.
Let it be wet with the dew of heaven,
And let him graze with the beasts
On the grass of the earth.
16 Let his heart be changed from that of a man,
Let him be given the heart of a beast,
And let seven atimes1 pass over him.
17 ‘This decision is by the decree of the watchers,
And the sentence by the word of the holy ones,
In order athat the living may know
bThat the Most High rules in the kingdom of men,
cGives it to whomever He will,
And sets over it the dlowest of men.’
18 “This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, have seen. Now you, Belteshazzar, declare its interpretation, asince all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation; but you are able, bfor the Spirit of the Holy God is in you.”
Daniel Explains the Second Dream
19 Then Daniel, awhose name was Belteshazzar, was astonished for a time, and his thoughts btroubled him. So the king spoke, and said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its interpretation trouble you.” Belteshazzar answered and said,
“My lord, may cthe dream 1concern those who hate you, and its interpretation 2concern your enemies!
20 aThe tree that you saw, which grew and became strong, whose height reached to the heavens and which could be seen by all the earth,
21 whose leaves were lovely and its fruit abundant, in which was food for all, under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and in whose branches the birds of the heaven had their home—
22 ait is you, O king, who have grown and become strong; for your greatness has grown and reaches to the heavens, band your dominion to the end of the earth.
23 aAnd inasmuch as the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave its stump and roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze in the tender grass of the field; let it be wet with the dew of heaven, band let him graze with the beasts of the field, till seven 1times pass over him’;
24 this is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king:
25 They shall adrive you from men, your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make you beat grass like oxen. They shall wet you with the dew of heaven, and seven 1times shall pass over you, ctill you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and dgives it to whomever He chooses.
26 And inasmuch as they gave the command to leave the stump and roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be assured to you, after you come to know that aHeaven1 rules.
27 Therefore, O king, let my advice be acceptable to you; abreak off your sins by being righteous, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. bPerhaps there may be ca 1lengthening of your prosperity.”
Nebuchadnezzar’s Humiliation
28 All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar.
29 At the end of the twelve months he was walking 1about the royal palace of Babylon.
30 The king aspoke, saying, “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?”
31 aWhile the word was still in the king’s mouth, ba voice fell from heaven: “King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: the kingdom has departed from you!
32 And athey shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. They shall make you eat grass like oxen; and seven 1times shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses.”
33 That very hour the word was fulfilled concerning Nebuchadnezzar; he was driven from men and ate grass like oxen; his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair had grown like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws.
Nebuchadnezzar Praises God
34 And aat the end of the 1time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him bwho lives forever:
For His dominion is can everlasting dominion,
And His kingdom is from generation to generation.
35 aAll the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing;
bHe does according to His will in the army of heaven
And among the inhabitants of the earth.
cNo one can restrain His hand
Or say to Him, d“What have You done?”
36 At the same time my reason returned to me, aand for the glory of my kingdom, my honor and splendor returned to me. My counselors and nobles resorted to me, I was brestored to my kingdom, and excellent majesty was cadded to me.
37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, apraise and extol and honor the King of heaven, ball of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. cAnd those who walk in pride He is able to put down.
Belshazzar’s Feast
1 Belshazzar the king amade a great feast for a thousand of his lords, and drank wine in the presence of the thousand.
2 While he tasted the wine, Belshazzar gave the command to bring the gold and silver vessels awhich his 1father Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple which had been in Jerusalem, that the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them.
3 Then they brought the gold avessels that had been taken from the temple of the house of God which had been in Jerusalem; and the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines drank from them.
4 They drank wine, aand praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone.
5 aIn the same hour the fingers of a man’s hand appeared and wrote opposite the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace; and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.
6 Then the king’s countenance changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his hips were loosened and his aknees knocked against each other.
7 aThe king cried 1aloud to bring in bthe astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. The king spoke, saying to the wise men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this writing, and tells me its interpretation, shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around his neck; cand he shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.”
8 Now all the king’s wise men came, abut they could not read the writing, or make known to the king its interpretation.
9 Then King Belshazzar was greatly atroubled, his countenance was changed, and his lords were 1astonished.
10 The queen, because of the words of the king and his lords, came to the banquet hall. The queen spoke, saying, “O king, live forever! Do not let your thoughts trouble you, nor let your countenance change.
11 a“There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the Spirit of the Holy God. And in the days of your 1father, light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, were found in him; and King Nebuchadnezzar your 1father—your father the king—made him chief of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers.
12 “Inasmuch as an excellent spirit, knowledge, understanding, interpreting dreams, solving riddles, and 1explaining enigmas were found in this Daniel, awhom the king named Belteshazzar, now let Daniel be called, and he will give the interpretation.”
The Writing on the Wall Explained
13 Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king spoke, and said to Daniel, “Are you that Daniel 1who is one of the captives from Judah, whom my 2father the king brought from Judah?
14 “I have heard of you, that athe 1Spirit of God is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you.
15 “Now athe wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing and make known to me its interpretation, but they could not give the interpretation of the thing.
16 “And I have heard of you, that you can give interpretations and 1explain enigmas. aNow if you can read the writing and make known to me its interpretation, you shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around your neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.”
17 Then Daniel answered, and said before the king, “Let your gifts be for yourself, and give your rewards to another; yet I will read the writing to the king, and make known to him the interpretation.
18 “O king, athe Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your 1father a kingdom and majesty, glory and honor.
19 “And because of the majesty that He gave him, aall peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him. Whomever he wished, he bexecuted; whomever he wished, he kept alive; whomever he wished, he set up; and whomever he wished, he put down.
20 a“But when his heart was lifted up, and his spirit was hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him.
21 “Then he was adriven from the sons of men, his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys. They fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, btill he 1knew that the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men, and appoints over it whomever He chooses.
22 “But you his son, Belshazzar, ahave not humbled your heart, although you knew all this.
23 a“And you have 1lifted yourself up against the Lord of heaven. They have brought the bvessels of 2His house before you, and you and your lords, your wives and your concubines, have drunk wine from them. And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, cwhich do not see or hear or know; and the God who holds your breath in His hand dand owns all your ways, you have not glorified.
24 “Then the 1fingers of the hand were sent from Him, and this writing was written.
25 “And this is the inscription that was written:
1MENE, MENE, 2TEKEL, 3UPHARSIN.
26 “This is the interpretation of each word. MENE: God has numbered your kingdom, and finished it;
27 “TEKEL: aYou have been weighed in the balances, and found wanting;
28 “PERES: Your kingdom has been divided, and given to the aMedes and bPersians.”1
29 Then Belshazzar gave the command, and they clothed Daniel with purple and put a chain of gold around his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him athat he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.
Belshazzar’s Fall
30 aThat very night Belshazzar, king of the Chaldeans, was slain.
31 aAnd Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old.
The Plot Against Daniel
1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty satraps, to be over the whole kingdom;
2 and over these, three governors, of whom Daniel was one, that the satraps might give account to them, so that the king would suffer no loss.
3 Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, abecause an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm.
4 aSo the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him.
5 Then these men said, “We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God.”
6 So these governors and satraps thronged before the king, and said thus to him: a“King Darius, live forever!
7 “All the governors of the kingdom, the administrators and satraps, the counselors and advisors, have aconsulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a firm decree, that whoever petitions any god or man for thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions.
8 “Now, O king, establish the decree and sign the writing, so that it cannot be changed, according to the alaw of the Medes and Persians, which 1does not alter.”
9 Therefore King Darius signed the written decree.
Daniel in the Lions’ Den
10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open atoward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees bthree times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.
11 Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.
12 aAnd they went before the king, and spoke concerning the king’s decree: “Have you not signed a decree that every man who petitions any god or man within thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?” The king answered and said, “The thing is true, baccording to the law of the Medes and Persians, which 1does not alter.”
13 So they answered and said before the king, “That Daniel, awho is 1one of the captives from Judah, bdoes not show due regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.”
14 And the king, when he heard these words, awas greatly displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he 1labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him.
15 Then these men 1approached the king, and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is athe law of the Medes and Persians that no decree or statute which the king establishes may be changed.”
16 So the king gave the command, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions. But the king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you.”
17 aThen a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, band the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signets of his lords, that the purpose concerning Daniel might not be changed.
Daniel Saved from the Lions
18 Now the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; and no 1musicians were brought before him. aAlso his sleep 2went from him.
19 Then the aking arose very early in the morning and went in haste to the den of lions.
20 And when he came to the den, he cried out with a 1lamenting voice to Daniel. The king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, ahas your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?”
21 Then Daniel said to the king, a“O king, live forever!
22 a“My God sent His angel and bshut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you.”
23 Now the king was exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no injury whatever was found on him, abecause he believed in his God.
Darius Honors God
24 And the king gave the command, aand they brought those men who had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions—them, btheir children, and their wives; and the lions overpowered them, and broke all their bones in pieces before they ever came to the bottom of the den.
To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth:
Peace be multiplied to you.
26 aI make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must btremble and fear before the God of Daniel.
cFor He is the living God,
And steadfast forever;
His kingdom is the one which shall not be ddestroyed,
And His dominion shall endure to the end.
aAnd He works signs and wonders
In heaven and on earth,
Who has delivered Daniel from the 1power of the lions.
28 So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius aand in the reign of bCyrus the Persian.
Vision of the Four Beasts
1 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, aDaniel 1had a dream and bvisions of his head while on his bed. Then he wrote down the dream, telling 2the main facts.
2 Daniel spoke, saying, “I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the Great Sea.
3 “And four great beasts acame up from the sea, each different from the other.
4 “The first was alike a lion, and had eagle’s wings. I watched till its wings were plucked off; and it was lifted up from the earth and made to stand on two feet like a man, and a bman’s heart was given to it.
5 a“And suddenly another beast, a second, like a bear. It was raised up on one side, and had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. And they said thus to it: ‘Arise, devour much flesh!’
6 “After this I looked, and there was another, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird. The beast also had afour heads, and dominion was given to it.
7 “After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, aa fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, exceedingly strong. It had huge iron teeth; it was devouring, breaking in pieces, and trampling the residue with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, band it had ten horns.
8 “I was considering the horns, and athere was another horn, a little one, coming up among them, before whom three of the first horns were plucked out by the roots. And there, in this horn, were eyes like the eyes bof a man, cand a mouth speaking 1pompous words.
Vision of the Ancient of Days
9 “Ia watched till thrones were 1put in place,
And bthe Ancient of Days was seated;
cHis garment was white as snow,
And the hair of His head was like pure wool.
His throne was a fiery flame,
dIts wheels a burning fire;
10 aA fiery stream issued
And came forth from before Him.
bA thousand thousands ministered to Him;
Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him.
And the books were opened.
11 “I watched then because of the sound of the 1pompous words which the horn was speaking; aI watched till the beast was slain, and its body destroyed and given to the burning flame.
12 “As for the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away, yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.
13 “I was watching in the night visions,
And behold, aOne like the Son of Man,
Coming with the clouds of heaven!
He came to the Ancient of Days,
And they brought Him near before Him.
14 aThen to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom,
That all bpeoples, nations, and languages should serve Him.
His dominion is can everlasting dominion,
Which shall not pass away,
And His kingdom the one
Which shall not be destroyed.
Daniel’s Visions Interpreted
15 “I, Daniel, was grieved in my spirit 1within my body, and the visions of my head troubled me.
16 “I came near to one of those who stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of these things:
17 ‘Those great beasts, which are four, are four 1kings which arise out of the earth.
18 ‘But athe saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.’
19 “Then I wished to know the truth about the fourth beast, which was different from all the others, exceedingly dreadful, with its teeth of iron and its nails of bronze, which devoured, broke in pieces, and trampled the residue with its feet;
20 “and the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up, before which three fell, namely, that horn which had eyes and a mouth which spoke 1pompous words, whose appearance was greater than his fellows.
21 “I was watching; aand the same horn was making war against the saints, and prevailing against them,
22 “until the Ancient of Days came, aand a judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom.
‘The fourth beast shall be
aA fourth kingdom on earth,
Which shall be different from all other kingdoms,
And shall devour the whole earth,
Trample it and break it in pieces.
24 aThe ten horns are ten kings
Who shall arise from this kingdom.
And another shall rise after them;
He shall be different from the first ones,
And shall subdue three kings.
25 aHe shall speak pompous words against the Most High,
Shall bpersecute1 the saints of the Most High,
And shall cintend to change times and law.
Then dthe saints shall be given into his hand
eFor a time and times and half a time.
26 ‘Buta the court shall be seated,
And they shall btake away his dominion,
To consume and destroy it forever.
27 Then the akingdom and dominion,
And the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven,
Shall be given to the people, the saints of the *Most High.
bHis kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
cAnd all dominions shall serve and obey Him.’
28 “This is the end of the 1account. As for me, Daniel, amy thoughts greatly troubled me, and my countenance changed; but I bkept the matter in my heart.”
Vision of a Ram and a Goat
1 In1 the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar a *vision appeared to me—to me, Daniel—after the one that appeared to me athe first time.
2 I saw in the vision, and it so happened while I was looking, that I was in aShushan,1 the 2citadel, which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in the vision that I was by the River Ulai.
3 Then I lifted my eyes and saw, and there, standing beside the river, was a ram which had two horns, and the two horns were high; but one was ahigher than the other, and the higher one came up last.
4 I saw the ram pushing westward, northward, and southward, so that no animal could 1withstand him; nor was there any that could deliver from his hand, abut he did according to his will and became great.
5 And as I was considering, suddenly a male goat came from the west, across the surface of the whole earth, without touching the ground; and the goat had a notable ahorn between his eyes.
6 Then he came to the ram that had two horns, which I had seen standing beside the river, and ran at him with furious power.
7 And I saw him confronting the ram; he was moved with rage against him, 1attacked the ram, and broke his two horns. There was no power in the ram to withstand him, but he cast him down to the ground and trampled him; and there was no one that could deliver the ram from his hand.
8 Therefore the male goat grew very great; but when he became strong, the large horn was broken, and in place of it afour notable ones came up toward the four winds of heaven.
9 aAnd out of one of them came a little *horn which grew exceedingly great toward the south, btoward the east, and toward the cGlorious Land.
10 aAnd it grew up to bthe *host of heaven; and cit cast down some of the host and some of the stars to the ground, and trampled them.
11 aHe even exalted himself as high as bthe Prince of the host; cand by him dthe daily sacrifices were taken away, and the place of 1His sanctuary was cast down.
12 Because of transgression, aan army was given over to the horn to oppose the daily sacrifices; and he cast btruth down to the ground. He cdid all this and prospered.
13 Then I heard aa holy one speaking; and another holy one said to that certain one who was speaking, “How long will the vision be, concerning the daily sacrifices and the transgression 1of desolation, the giving of both the sanctuary and the host to be trampled underfoot?”
14 And he said to me, “For two thousand three hundred 1days; then the sanctuary shall be cleansed.”
Gabriel Interprets the Vision
15 Then it happened, when I, Daniel, had seen the vision and awas seeking the meaning, that suddenly there stood before me bone having the appearance of a man.
16 And I heard a man’s voice abetween the banks of the Ulai, who called, and said, b“Gabriel, make this man *understand the vision.”
17 So he came near where I stood, and when he came I was afraid and afell on my face; but he said to me, “Understand, son of man, that the vision refers to the time of the end.”
18 aNow, as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep with my face to the ground; bbut he touched me, and stood me upright.
19 And he said, “Look, I am making known to you what shall happen in the latter time of the indignation; afor at the appointed time the end shall be.
20 “The ram which you saw, having the two horns—they are the kings of Media and Persia.
21 “And the 1male goat is the 2kingdom of Greece. The large horn that is between its eyes ais the first king.
22 a“As for the broken horn and the four that stood up in its place, four kingdoms shall arise out of that nation, but not with its power.
23 “And in the latter time of their kingdom,
When the transgressors have reached their fullness,
A king shall arise,
Who understands sinister schemes.
24 His power shall be mighty, abut not by his own power;
He shall destroy 1fearfully,
bAnd shall prosper and thrive;
cHe shall destroy the mighty, and also the holy people.
He shall cause deceit to prosper under his 1rule;
bAnd he shall exalt himself in his heart.
He shall destroy many in their prosperity.
cHe shall even rise against the Prince of princes;
But he shall be dbroken without human 1means.
26 “And the vision of the evenings and mornings
Which was told is true;
aTherefore seal up the vision,
For it refers to many days in the future.”
27 aAnd I, Daniel, fainted and was sick for days; afterward I arose and went about the king’s business. I was 1astonished by the vision, but no one understood it.
Daniel’s Prayer for the People
1 In the first year aof Darius the *son of Ahasuerus, of the lineage of the Medes, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans—
2 in the first year of his *reign I, Daniel, *understood by the books the number of the years specified by the word of the LORD through aJeremiah the prophet, that He would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.
3 aThen I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by *prayer and supplications, with *fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.
4 And I prayed to the LORD my God, and made confession, and said, “O aLord, great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and *mercy with those who love Him, and with those who keep His commandments,
5 a“we have sinned and committed iniquity, we have done wickedly and rebelled, even by departing from Your precepts and Your judgments.
6 a“Neither have we heeded Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings and our princes, to our fathers and all the people of the land.
7 “O Lord, arighteousness belongs to You, but to us shame of face, as it is this day—to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, those near and those far off in all the countries to which You have driven them, because of the unfaithfulness which they have committed against You.
8 “O Lord, to us belongs shame of face, to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, because we have sinned against You.
9 a“To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against Him.
10 “We have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in His laws, which He set before us by His servants the prophets.
11 “Yes, aall Israel has transgressed Your law, and has departed so as not to obey Your voice; therefore the curse and the oath written in the bLaw of Moses the servant of God have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against Him.
12 “And He has aconfirmed His words, which He spoke against us and against our judges who judged us, by bringing upon us a great disaster; bfor under the whole heaven such has never been done as what has been done to Jerusalem.
13 a“As it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come upon us; byet we have not made our prayer before the LORD our God, that we might turn from our iniquities and understand Your *truth.
14 “Therefore the LORD has akept the disaster in mind, and brought it upon us; for bthe LORD our God is righteous in all the works which He does, though we have not obeyed His voice.
15 “And now, O Lord our God, awho brought Your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and made Yourself ba name, as it is this day—we have sinned, we have done wickedly!
16 “O Lord, aaccording to all Your righteousness, I pray, let Your anger and Your fury be turned away from Your city Jerusalem, bYour holy mountain; because for our sins, cand for the iniquities of our fathers, dJerusalem and Your people eare a reproach to all those around us.
17 “Now therefore, our God, hear the prayer of Your servant, and his supplications, aand bfor the Lord’s sake 1cause Your face to shine on 2Your sanctuary, cwhich is desolate.
18 a“O my God, incline Your ear and hear; open Your eyes band see our desolations, and the city cwhich is called by Your name; for we do not present our supplications before You because of our righteous deeds, but because of Your great mercies.
19 “O Lord, hear! O Lord, *forgive! O Lord, listen and act! Do not delay for Your own sake, my God, for Your city and Your people are called by Your name.”
The Seventy-Weeks Prophecy
20 Now while I was speaking, praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God,
21 yes, while I was speaking in prayer, the man aGabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, 1being caused to fly swiftly, reached me about the time of the evening offering.
22 And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, “O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you skill to understand.
23 “At the beginning of your supplications the 1command went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are greatly abeloved; therefore bconsider the matter, and understand the vision:
24 “Seventy 1weeks are determined
For your people and for your holy city,
To finish the transgression,
2To make an end of sins,
aTo *make reconciliation for iniquity,
bTo bring in everlasting righteousness,
To seal up vision and prophecy,
cAnd to *anoint 3the Most Holy.
25 “Know therefore and understand,
That from the going forth of the command
To restore and build Jerusalem
There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks;
The 1street shall be built again, and the 2wall,
Even in troublesome times.
26 “And after the sixty-two weeks
aMessiah shall 1be cut off, bbut not for Himself;
And cthe people of the prince who is to come
dShall destroy the city and the sanctuary.
The end of it shall be with a flood,
And till the end of the war desolations are determined.
27 Then he shall confirm aa 1covenant with bmany for one week;
But in the middle of the week
He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering.
And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate,
cEven until the consummation, which is determined,
Is poured out on the 2desolate.”
Vision of the Glorious Man
1 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a message was *revealed to Daniel, whose aname was called Belteshazzar. The message was true, 1but the appointed time was long; and he understood the message, and had understanding of the vision.
2 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks.
3 I ate no 1pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.
4 Now on the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, that is, the 1Tigris,
5 I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, a certain man clothed in alinen, whose waist was bgirded with gold of Uphaz!
6 His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like torches of fire, his arms and feet like burnished bronze in color, aand the sound of his words like the voice of a multitude.
7 And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see the vision; but a great terror fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves.
8 Therefore I was left alone when I saw this great vision, and no strength remained in me; for my 1vigor was turned to 2frailty in me, and I retained no strength.
9 Yet I heard the sound of his words; and while I heard the sound of his words I was in a deep sleep on my face, with my face to the ground.
Prophecies Concerning Persia and Greece
10 aSuddenly, a hand touched me, which made me tremble on my knees and on the palms of my hands.
11 And he said to me, “O Daniel, aman greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you.” While he was speaking this word to me, I stood trembling.
12 Then he said to me, a“Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, byour words were heard; and I have come because of your words.
13 a“But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, bMichael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia.
14 “Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people ain the latter days, bfor the vision refers to many days yet to come.”
15 When he had spoken such words to me, aI 1turned my face toward the ground and became speechless.
16 And suddenly, aone having the likeness of the 1sons of men btouched my lips; then I opened my mouth and spoke, saying to him who stood before me, “My lord, because of the vision cmy sorrows have 2overwhelmed me, and I have retained no strength.
17 “For how *can this servant of my lord talk with you, my lord? As for me, no strength remains in me now, nor is any *breath left in me.”
18 Then again, the one having the likeness of a man touched me and strengthened me.
19 aAnd he said, “O man greatly beloved, bfear not! Peace be to you; be strong, yes, be strong!” So when he spoke to me I was strengthened, and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.”
20 Then he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? And now I must return to fight awith the prince of Persia; and when I have gone forth, indeed the prince of Greece will come.
21 “But I will tell you what is noted in the Scripture of Truth. (No one upholds me against these, aexcept Michael your prince.
1 “Also ain the first year of bDarius the Mede, I, even I, stood up to confirm and strengthen him.)
2 “And now I will tell you the truth: Behold, three more kings will arise in Persia, and the fourth shall be far richer than them all; by his strength, through his riches, he shall stir up all against the realm of Greece.
3 “Then aa mighty king shall arise, who shall rule with great dominion, and bdo according to his will.
4 “And when he has arisen, ahis kingdom shall be broken up and divided toward the four winds of heaven, but not among his posterity bnor according to his *dominion with which he ruled; for his kingdom shall be uprooted, even for others besides these.
Warring Kings of North and South
5 “Also the king of the South shall become strong, as well as one of his princes; and he shall gain power over him and have dominion. His dominion shall be a great dominion.
6 “And at the end of some years they shall join forces, for the daughter of the king of the South shall go to the king of the North to make an agreement; but she shall not retain the power of her 1authority, and neither he nor his 1authority shall stand; but she shall be given up, with those who brought her, and with him who begot her, and with him who strengthened her in those times.
7 “But from a branch of her roots one shall arise in his place, who shall come with an army, enter the fortress of the king of the North, and deal with them and prevail.
8 “And he shall also carry their gods captive to Egypt, with their 1princes and their precious articles of silver and gold; and he shall continue more years than the king of the North.
9 “Also the king of the North shall come to the kingdom of the king of the South, but shall return to his own land.
10 “However his sons shall stir up strife, and assemble a multitude of great forces; and one shall certainly come aand overwhelm and pass through; then he shall return bto his fortress and stir up strife.
11 “And the king of the South shall be amoved with rage, and go out and fight with him, with the king of the North, who shall muster a great multitude; but the bmultitude shall be given into the hand of his enemy.
12 “When he has taken away the multitude, his heart will be 1lifted up; and he will cast down tens of thousands, but he will not prevail.
13 “For the king of the North will return and muster a multitude greater than the former, and shall certainly come at the end of some years with a great army and much equipment.
14 “Now in those times many shall rise up against the king of the South. Also, 1violent men of your people shall exalt themselves 2in fulfillment of the vision, but they shall afall.
15 “So the king of the North shall come and abuild a siege mound, and take a fortified city; and the 1forces of the South shall not withstand him. Even his choice troops shall have no strength to resist.
16 “But he who comes against him ashall do according to his own will, and bno one shall stand against him. He shall stand in the Glorious Land with destruction in his 1power.
17 “He shall also aset his face to enter with the strength of his whole kingdom, and 1upright ones with him; thus shall he do. And he shall give him the daughter of women to destroy it; but she shall not stand with him, bor be for him.
18 “After this he shall turn his face to the coastlands, and shall take many. But a ruler shall bring the reproach against them to an end; and with the reproach removed, he shall turn back on him.
19 “Then he shall turn his face toward the fortress of his own land; but he shall astumble and fall, band not be found.
20 “There shall arise in his place one who imposes taxes on the glorious kingdom; but within a few days he shall be destroyed, but not in anger or in battle.
21 “And in his place ashall arise a vile person, to whom they will not give the *honor of royalty; but he shall come in peaceably, and seize the kingdom by intrigue.
22 “With the 1force of a aflood they shall be swept away from before him and be broken, band also the prince of the covenant.
23 “And after the league is made with him ahe shall act deceitfully, for he shall come up and become strong with a small number of people.
24 “He shall enter peaceably, even into the richest places of the province; and he shall do what his fathers have not done, nor his forefathers: he shall disperse among them the plunder, 1spoil, and riches; and he shall devise his plans against the strongholds, but only for a time.
25 “He shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the South with a great army. And the king of the South shall be stirred up to battle with a very great and mighty army; but he shall not stand, for they shall devise plans against him.
26 “Yes, those who eat of the portion of his delicacies shall destroy him; his army shall 1be swept away, and many shall fall down slain.
27 “Both these kings’ hearts shall be bent on evil, and they shall speak lies at the same table; but it shall not prosper, for the end will still be at the aappointed time.
28 “While returning to his land with great riches, his heart shall be moved against the holy covenant; so he shall do damage and return to his own land.
The Northern King’s Blasphemies
29 “At the appointed time he shall return and go toward the south; but it shall not be like the former or the latter.
30 a“For ships from 1Cyprus shall come against him; therefore he shall be grieved, and return in rage against the holy covenant, and do damage. So he shall return and show regard for those who forsake the holy covenant.
31 “And 1forces shall be mustered by him, aand they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation.
32 “Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall 1corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.
33 “And those of the people who understand shall instruct many; yet for many days they shall fall by sword and flame, by captivity and plundering.
34 “Now when they fall, they shall be aided with a little help; but many shall join with them by 1intrigue.
35 “And some of those of *understanding shall fall, ato refine them, purify them, and make them white, until the time of the end; because it is still for the appointed time.
36 “Then the king shall do according to his own will: he shall aexalt and magnify himself above every god, shall speak blasphemies against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the wrath has been accomplished; for what has been determined shall be done.
37 “He shall regard neither the 1God of his fathers nor the desire of women, anor regard any god; for he shall exalt himself above them all.
38 “But in their place he shall honor a god of fortresses; and a god which his fathers did not know he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and pleasant things.
39 “Thus he shall act against the strongest fortresses with a foreign god, which he shall acknowledge, and advance its glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and divide the land for 1gain.
The Northern King’s Conquests
40 “At the atime of the end the king of the South shall attack him; and the king of the North shall come against him blike a whirlwind, with chariots, chorsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter the countries, overwhelm them, and pass through.
41 “He shall also enter the Glorious Land, and many countries shall be overthrown; but these shall escape from his hand: aEdom, Moab, and the 1prominent people of Ammon.
42 “He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of aEgypt shall not escape.
43 “He shall have power over the treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; also the Libyans and Ethiopians shall follow aat his heels.
44 “But news from the east and the north shall trouble him; therefore he shall go out with great fury to destroy and annihilate many.
45 “And he shall plant the tents of his palace between the seas and athe glorious holy mountain; byet he shall come to his end, and no one will help him.
Prophecy of the End Time
1 “At that time Michael shall stand up,
The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people;
aAnd there shall be a time of trouble,
Such as never was since there was a nation,
Even to that time.
And at that time your people bshall be delivered,
Every one who is found cwritten in the book.
2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake,
aSome to everlasting life,
Some to shame band everlasting 1contempt.
3 Those who are wise shall ashine
Like the brightness of the firmament,
bAnd those who turn many to righteousness
cLike the stars *forever and *ever.
4 “But you, Daniel, ashut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall brun to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”
5 Then I, Daniel, looked; and there stood two others, one on this riverbank and the other on that ariverbank.
6 And one said to the man clothed in alinen, who was above the waters of the river, b“How long shall the fulfillment of these wonders be?”
7 Then I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he aheld up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by Him bwho lives forever, cthat it shall be for a *time, times, and half a time; dand when the power of ethe holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished.
8 Although I heard, I did not understand. Then I said, “My lord, what shall be the end of these things?”
9 And he said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.
10 a“Many shall be purified, made white, and *refined, bbut the *wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but cthe wise shall understand.
11 “And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days.
12 “Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days.
13 “But you, go your way till the end; afor you shall rest, band will arise to your inheritance at the end of the days.”