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Daniel 7

Daniel's vision about four animals and a little horn

7 In the first year that King Belshazzar ruled Babylon, Daniel had a dream. [ a ] He saw visions in his head while he lay on his bed. He wrote down what he saw in the dream.

2 Daniel wrote, ‘I had a vision at night. I saw the four winds of the sky. They caused big waves in the great sea. 3 Then four large animals came out of the sea. They were all different from each other.

4 The first animal seemed like a lion, but it had the wings of an eagle. As I watched, someone pulled its wings off. They lifted it up and it stood on two feet like a man. They gave a man's mind to it.

5 Then I saw a second animal. It seemed like a bear. It raised itself up on one side and it had three ribs between its teeth. Someone said to it, “Stand up and eat the meat from many bodies.”

6 Then I saw another animal. It seemed like a leopard, but it had four wings on its back. They were like a bird's wings. This animal had four heads. It received authority to rule.

7 Then, while I looked, I saw a fourth animal in my vision. It was a terrible animal that was very strong. It had large iron teeth. It ate things and it broke them into pieces. It used its feet to stamp on everything else. It was different from the other animals. It had ten horns.

8 I was thinking about the horns and what they might mean. Then I saw another little horn that came up among the other ten horns. It pulled out three of those other horns to make room for itself. This little horn had eyes that looked like a man's eyes. It had a mouth that spoke proud words.

God's court

9 While I looked, people put some thrones in their places.
Then the God who has ruled for ever sat on his throne.
His clothes were as white as snow.
His hair was white like pure wool.
His throne and the wheels under it burned with flames of fire.
10 A river of fire poured out from the place where he was sitting.
Thousands of servants were ready to do whatever he wanted.
Many more thousands stood around, ready to serve him.
Then the meeting of the court began.
Someone opened the books to see what was in them.

11 I continued to watch as the little horn was speaking proud words. While I watched, someone killed the fourth animal. They threw its body into the fire. The fire destroyed it. 12 The other animals also lost their power to rule, but they could continue to live for a certain time.

13 I continued to watch in my vision at night and this is what I saw:

I saw someone who seemed like a son of man. [ b ]
He was coming towards me, with the clouds of the sky around him.
He came near to the God who has ruled for ever.
People took him to stand in front of God.
14 God gave him great honour and authority to rule as king.
The people of all nations and those who spoke every language agreed to serve him.
He has authority to rule for ever.
He will never stop being king.
Nobody will be able to destroy his kingdom.

Daniel learns the meaning of his vision

15 I, Daniel, had much trouble in my mind. The things that I saw in my vision frightened me. 16 So I spoke to someone who was standing near God's throne. I asked him to explain what all these things meant. He told me the meaning of my vision. 17 He said, “The four large animals are four kings. They will rule kingdoms on the earth. 18 But the holy people of the Most High God will receive authority to rule as kings. God's kingdom will belong to them for ever.”

19 Then I wanted to know about the fourth animal. It was different from all the other animals. It was a terrible animal that made me very afraid. It had large iron teeth and feet with sharp bronze claws. [ c ] It ate things and it broke them into pieces. It used its feet to stamp on everything else. 20 I wanted to know the meaning of the ten horns on its head. [ d ] I also wanted to know about the little horn that came up among them. It pushed out three of the other horns. This horn had eyes, and a mouth that spoke proud words. The little horn seemed to be greater than the other horns. 21 While I was watching, the little horn attacked God's holy people. It was winning the fight against them. 22 But then the God who has ruled for ever arrived. As judge, he said that the holy people of the Most High God were good and right. Then the time came for God's holy people to receive the kingdom, so that it belonged to them.

23 The person that I had asked told me this: “The fourth animal shows that there will be a fourth kingdom on the earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms. It will use its power to destroy the whole earth. It will stamp on everything and break them into pieces.

24 The ten horns show that ten kings will rule that kingdom. After them, another king will come to rule. He will be different from the other kings. He will get power over three kings. 25 He will insult the Most High God. He will be cruel to God's holy people. He will try to change the days for God's festivals and the laws about them. God's people will be under his power for three and a half times. [ e ] 26 Then God's court will be ready to judge him. He will lose his authority to rule as king. That will be the end of his kingdom for ever!

27 Then the holy people who belong to the Most High God will receive authority to rule as kings. They will have authority over all the kingdoms of the earth and all their great power. The kingdom of the Most High God will continue for ever. All rulers will serve him and obey him.”

28 That is a report of everything that I saw in my vision. It caused me, Daniel, to have much trouble in my mind and my face became white. But I did not tell anyone about these things.’

Footnotes

  1. 7:1 Belshazzar was the last Babylonian king. We read about his death in Daniel 5 .
  2. 7:13 ‘Son of man’ means that he looked like a human. Jesus called himself the Son of Man. The ‘son of man’ that Daniel saw in his vision, shows the power and authority of Jesus Christ.
  3. 7:19 Claws are the sharp points that many birds have on the toes of their feet.
  4. 7:20 In the Bible, a horn often shows strength and power.
  5. 7:25 ‘Three and a half times’ may mean 3½ years.

Daniel’s Dream About Four Animals

7 During the first year that Belshazzar [ a ] was king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream. He saw these visions while he was lying on his bed, and he wrote what he had dreamed. 2 Daniel said, “I saw my vision at night. In the vision the wind was blowing from all four directions. These winds made the sea rough. 3 I saw four big animals and each one was different from the others. These four animals came up out of the sea.

4 “The first animal looked like a lion, but it had wings like an eagle. As I watched, its wings were torn off. It was helped up from the ground, and it stood up on two feet like a human. Then it was given a human mind.

5 “Then I saw another animal there in front of me that looked like a bear. It was raised up on one of its sides, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told, ‘Get up and eat all the meat you want!’

6 “After that I noticed another animal in front of me. It looked like a leopard, but it had four wings on its back. This animal had four heads. It was given authority to rule.

7 “After that, in my vision at night, I looked, and there in front of me was a fourth animal. It looked very cruel and terrifying. It looked very strong, with large iron teeth. This animal crushed and ate its victims and walked on whatever was left of them. This fourth animal was different from all the animals I saw before it. This animal had ten horns.

8 “While I was looking at the horns and thinking about them, another horn grew up among them. This was a little horn with eyes like a human. It also had a mouth that was bragging. Then the little horn pulled out three of the other horns.

Judgment of the Fourth Animal

9 “As I was looking, thrones were put in their places,
and the Ancient King [ b ] sat on his throne.
His clothes were as white as snow.
His hair was as white as wool.
His throne was made from fire, [ c ]
and its wheels were made from flames.
10 A river of fire flowed out
from in front of the Ancient King.
Millions of people were serving him.
Hundreds of millions of people stood in front of him.
Court was ready to begin,
and the books were opened.

11 “I kept on looking because the little horn was bragging. I kept watching until finally the fourth animal was killed. Its body was destroyed, and it was thrown into the burning fire. 12 The authority and rule of the other animals had been taken from them. But they were permitted to live for a certain period of time.

13 “In my vision at night I looked, and there in front of me was someone who looked like a human being. [ d ] He was coming on the clouds in the sky. He came up to the Ancient King, and the King’s servants brought him before the King.

14 “The one who looked like a human being was given authority, glory, and complete ruling power. People from every nation and language group will serve him. His rule will last forever. His kingdom will continue forever. It will never be destroyed.

The Meaning of Daniel’s Dream

15 “I, Daniel, was confused and worried. The visions that went through my mind bothered me. 16 I went to someone who was standing there and asked him what all this meant. So he explained it to me. 17 He said, ‘The four great animals are four kingdoms that will come from the earth. 18 But God’s holy people will receive the kingdom, and they will have the kingdom forever and ever.’

19 “Then I wanted to know what the fourth animal was and what it meant. The fourth animal was different from all the other animals. It was very terrible and had iron teeth and bronze claws. It was the animal that crushed and ate its victims and walked on whatever was left. 20 I wanted to know about the ten horns that were on the fourth animal’s head and about the little horn that grew there. That little horn pulled out three of the other ten horns. That little horn had eyes and a mouth that kept on bragging, and it looked bigger than the other horns. 21 As I was watching, this little horn began attacking and making war against God’s holy people and killing them. 22 The little horn kept killing God’s holy people until the Ancient King came and judged him. The Ancient King announced his decision about the little horn. This judgment helped God’s holy people, and they received the kingdom.

23 “And he explained this to me: ‘The fourth animal is a fourth kingdom that will come on the earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms. That fourth kingdom will destroy people all around the world. It will walk on and crush nations all around the world. 24 The ten horns are ten kings that will come from this fourth kingdom. After those ten kings are gone, another king will come. He will be different from the kings who ruled before him. He will defeat three of the other kings. 25 This special king will say things against God Most High, and he will hurt and kill God’s special people. That king will try to change the times and laws that have already been set. God’s holy people will be under that king’s power for three and one-half years. [ e ]

26 “‘But the court will decide what should happen, and that king’s power will be taken away. His kingdom will end completely. 27 Then God’s holy people will rule over the kingdom and all the people from all the kingdoms of earth. [ f ] This kingdom will last forever, and people from all the other kingdoms will respect and serve them.’

28 “And that was the end of the dream. I, Daniel, was very afraid. My face became very white from fear, and I did not tell the other people what I saw and heard.”

Footnotes

  1. Daniel 7:1 the first year … Belshazzar This was about 553 B.C.
  2. Daniel 7:9 Ancient King Literally, “Ancient of Days.” This name pictures God as a great king who has ruled since ancient times. Also in verses 10, 13, 22.
  3. Daniel 7:9 fire Or “light.”
  4. Daniel 7:13 someone … human being Or “a person, a real human being.” Literally, “like a son of man.” This means he looked like a normal person, not an angel or an animal.
  5. Daniel 7:25 three and one-half years Literally, “time, times and half time.”
  6. Daniel 7:27 God’s holy people … earth Literally, “The rule and kingdom and greatness of the kingdoms under heaven will be given to the saints.”

7 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters.

2 Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea.

3 And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.

4 The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it.

5 And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.

6 After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.

7 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.

8 I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.

9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.

10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.

11 I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame.

12 As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time.

13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.

14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

15 I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me.

16 I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things.

17 These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.

18 But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.

19 Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet;

20 And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.

21 I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;

22 Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.

23 Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.

24 And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.

25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

26 But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.

27 And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.

28 Hitherto is the end of the matter. As for me Daniel, my cogitations much troubled me, and my countenance changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart.

Vision of the Four Beasts

7 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel saw a ( A ) dream and visions [ a ] in his mind as he lay on his bed; then he ( B ) wrote the dream down and told the [ b ] following summary of [ c ] it. 2 Daniel [ d ] said, “I was ( C ) looking in my vision by night, and behold, the ( D ) four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. 3 And four great ( E ) beasts were coming up from the sea, different from one another. 4 The first was ( F ) like a lion but had the wings of an eagle. I kept looking until its wings were plucked, and it was lifted up from the ground and set up on two feet like a man; a human [ e ] mind also was given to it. 5 And behold, another beast, a second one, resembling a bear. And it was raised up on one side, and three ribs were in its mouth between its teeth; and they said this to it: ‘Arise, devour much meat!’ 6 After this I kept looking, and behold, another one, ( G ) like a leopard, which had on its [ f ] back four wings of a bird; the beast also had ( H ) four heads, and dominion was given to it. 7 After this I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, a ( I ) fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and extremely strong; and it had large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed, and trampled down the remainder with its feet; and it was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ( J ) ten horns. 8 While I was thinking about the horns, behold, ( K ) another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the previous horns were plucked out before it; and behold, [ g ] this horn possessed eyes like human eyes, and ( L ) a mouth uttering great boasts .

The Ancient of Days Reigns

9 “I kept looking
Until ( M ) thrones were set up,
And the Ancient of Days took His seat;
His ( N ) garment was white as snow,
And the ( O ) hair of His head like pure wool.
His ( P ) throne was [ h ] ablaze with flames,
Its ( Q ) wheels were a burning fire.
10 A river of ( R ) fire was flowing
And coming out from before Him;
( S ) Thousands upon thousands were serving Him,
And myriads upon myriads were standing before Him;
The ( T ) court [ i ] convened,
And ( U ) the books were opened.

11 Then I kept looking because of the sound of the [ j ] boastful words which the horn was speaking; I kept looking until the beast was killed, and its body was destroyed and given to the ( V ) burning [ k ] fire. 12 As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but an extension of life was granted to them for an appointed period of time.

The Son of Man Presented

13 “I kept looking in the night visions,
And behold, with 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 was given ( W ) dominion,
Honor, and [ l ] ( X ) a kingdom,
( Y ) So that all the peoples, nations, and populations of all [ m ] languages
Might serve Him.
( Z ) His dominion is an everlasting dominion
Which will not pass away;
( AA ) And His kingdom is one
Which will not be destroyed.

The Vision Interpreted

15 “As for me, Daniel, my spirit was distressed within [ n ] me, and the ( AB ) visions [ o ] in my mind kept ( AC ) alarming me. 16 I approached one of those who were ( AD ) standing by and began requesting of him the [ p ] exact meaning of all this. So he ( AE ) told me and made known to me the interpretation of these things: 17 ‘These great beasts, which are four in number , are four kings who will arise from the earth. 18 But the [ q ] ( AF ) saints of the Highest One will ( AG ) receive the kingdom and take possession of the kingdom forever, [ r ] for all ages to come.’

19 “Then I desired to know the [ s ] exact meaning of the ( AH ) fourth beast, which was different from all [ t ] the others, exceedingly dreadful, with its teeth of iron and its claws of bronze, and which devoured, crushed, and trampled down the remainder with its feet, 20 and the meaning of the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up, and before which three of the horns fell, namely, that horn which had eyes and a mouth uttering great boasts , and [ u ] which was larger in appearance than its associates. 21 I kept looking, and that horn was ( AI ) waging war with the [ v ] saints and prevailing against them, 22 until the Ancient of Days came and ( AJ ) judgment was [ w ] passed in favor of the [ x ] saints of the Highest One, and the time arrived when the [ y ] saints took possession of the kingdom.

23 “This is what he said: ‘The fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom on the earth which will be different from all the other kingdoms, and will devour the whole earth and trample it down and crush it. 24 As for the ( AK ) ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings will arise; and another will arise after them, and he will be different from the previous ones and will [ z ] humble three kings. 25 And he will [ aa ] ( AL ) speak against the ( AM ) Most High and ( AN ) wear down the [ ab ] saints of the Highest One, and he will intend to make ( AO ) alterations in times and in law; and [ ac ] they will be handed over to him for a [ ad ] ( AP ) time, [ ae ] times, and half a [ af ] time. 26 But the court will [ ag ] convene for judgment , and his dominion will be ( AQ ) taken away, [ ah ] annihilated and destroyed [ ai ] forever. 27 Then the [ aj ] ( AR ) sovereignty, the dominion, and the greatness of all the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to the people of the [ ak ] saints of the Highest One; His kingdom will be an ( AS ) everlasting kingdom, and all the empires will ( AT ) serve and obey Him.’

28 “ [ al ] At this point the revelation ended. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts were ( AU ) greatly alarming me and my [ am ] face became pale, but I ( AV ) kept the matter [ an ] to myself.”

Footnotes

  1. Daniel 7:1 Lit of his head
  2. Daniel 7:1 Or beginning
  3. Daniel 7:1 Lit words
  4. Daniel 7:2 Lit began speaking and said
  5. Daniel 7:4 Lit heart
  6. Daniel 7:6 Or sides
  7. Daniel 7:8 Lit in this horn were eyes
  8. Daniel 7:9 Lit flames of fire
  9. Daniel 7:10 Lit took its place
  10. Daniel 7:11 Lit great
  11. Daniel 7:11 Lit of the fire
  12. Daniel 7:14 Or sovereignty
  13. Daniel 7:14 Lit tongues
  14. Daniel 7:15 Lit its sheath
  15. Daniel 7:15 Lit of my head
  16. Daniel 7:16 Lit what was certain
  17. Daniel 7:18 Lit holy ones ; i.e., God’s people
  18. Daniel 7:18 Lit and unto the age of the ages
  19. Daniel 7:19 Lit truth concerning
  20. Daniel 7:19 Lit of them
  21. Daniel 7:20 Lit its appearance was larger
  22. Daniel 7:21 Lit holy ones ; i.e., God’s people
  23. Daniel 7:22 Lit given for
  24. Daniel 7:22 Lit holy ones ; i.e., God’s people
  25. Daniel 7:22 Lit holy ones ; i.e., God’s people
  26. Daniel 7:24 Or humiliate
  27. Daniel 7:25 Lit speak words
  28. Daniel 7:25 Lit holy ones ; i.e., God’s people
  29. Daniel 7:25 I.e., the saints
  30. Daniel 7:25 I.e., year(s)
  31. Daniel 7:25 I.e., year(s)
  32. Daniel 7:25 I.e., year(s)
  33. Daniel 7:26 Lit take its place
  34. Daniel 7:26 Lit to annihilate and to destroy
  35. Daniel 7:26 Lit to the end
  36. Daniel 7:27 Or kingdom
  37. Daniel 7:27 Lit holy ones ; i.e., God’s people
  38. Daniel 7:28 Lit To here the end of the word
  39. Daniel 7:28 Lit brightness was changing upon me
  40. Daniel 7:28 Lit in my heart

Daniel’s Dream of Four Beasts

7 In the first year of Belshazzar ( A ) king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream, and visions ( B ) passed through his mind ( C ) as he was lying in bed. ( D ) He wrote ( E ) down the substance of his dream.

2 Daniel said: “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me were the four winds of heaven ( F ) churning up the great sea. 3 Four great beasts, ( G ) each different from the others, came up out of the sea.

4 “The first was like a lion, ( H ) and it had the wings of an eagle. ( I ) I watched until its wings were torn off and it was lifted from the ground so that it stood on two feet like a human being, and the mind of a human was given to it.

5 “And there before me was a second beast, which looked like a bear. It was raised up on one of its sides, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told, ‘Get up and eat your fill of flesh!’ ( J )

6 “After that, I looked, and there before me was another beast, one that looked like a leopard. ( K ) And on its back it had four wings like those of a bird. This beast had four heads, and it was given authority to rule.

7 “After that, in my vision ( L ) at night I looked, and there before me was a fourth beast—terrifying and frightening and very powerful. It had large iron ( M ) teeth; it crushed and devoured its victims and trampled ( N ) underfoot whatever was left. ( O ) It was different from all the former beasts, and it had ten horns. ( P )

8 “While I was thinking about the horns, there before me was another horn, a little ( Q ) one, which came up among them; and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. This horn had eyes like the eyes of a human being ( R ) and a mouth that spoke boastfully. ( S )

9 “As I looked,

“thrones were set in place,
and the Ancient of Days ( T ) took his seat. ( U )
His clothing was as white as snow; ( V )
the hair of his head was white like wool. ( W )
His throne was flaming with fire,
and its wheels ( X ) were all ablaze.
10 A river of fire ( Y ) was flowing,
coming out from before him. ( Z )
Thousands upon thousands attended him;
ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.
The court was seated,
and the books ( AA ) were opened.

11 “Then I continued to watch because of the boastful words the horn was speaking. ( AB ) I kept looking until the beast was slain and its body destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire. ( AC ) 12 (The other beasts had been stripped of their authority, but were allowed to live for a period of time.)

13 “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, [ a ] ( AD ) coming ( AE ) with the clouds of heaven. ( AF ) He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, ( AG ) glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. ( AH ) His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom ( AI ) is one that will never be destroyed. ( AJ )

The Interpretation of the Dream

15 “I, Daniel, was troubled in spirit, and the visions that passed through my mind disturbed me. ( AK ) 16 I approached one of those standing there and asked him the meaning of all this.

“So he told me and gave me the interpretation ( AL ) of these things: 17 ‘The four great beasts are four kings that will rise from the earth. 18 But the holy people ( AM ) of the Most High will receive the kingdom ( AN ) and will possess it forever—yes, for ever and ever.’ ( AO )

19 “Then I wanted to know the meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others and most terrifying, with its iron teeth and bronze claws—the beast that crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. 20 I also wanted to know about the ten horns ( AP ) on its head and about the other horn that came up, before which three of them fell—the horn that looked more imposing than the others and that had eyes and a mouth that spoke boastfully. ( AQ ) 21 As I watched, this horn was waging war against the holy people and defeating them, ( AR ) 22 until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the holy people of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom. ( AS )

23 “He gave me this explanation: ‘The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it. ( AT ) 24 The ten horns ( AU ) are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings. 25 He will speak against the Most High ( AV ) and oppress his holy people ( AW ) and try to change the set times ( AX ) and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time. [ b ] ( AY )

26 “‘But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed ( AZ ) forever. 27 Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of all the kingdoms ( BA ) under heaven will be handed over to the holy people ( BB ) of the Most High. ( BC ) His kingdom will be an everlasting ( BD ) kingdom, and all rulers will worship ( BE ) and obey him.’

28 “This is the end of the matter. I, Daniel, was deeply troubled ( BF ) by my thoughts, ( BG ) and my face turned pale, ( BH ) but I kept the matter to myself.”

Footnotes

  1. Daniel 7:13 The Aramaic phrase bar enash means human being . The phrase son of man is retained here because of its use in the New Testament as a title of Jesus, probably based largely on this verse.
  2. Daniel 7:25 Or for a year, two years and half a year
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