New Living Translation | NET Bible |
1 During the third year of King Belshazzar’s reign, I, Daniel, saw another vision, following the one that had already appeared to me. | 1In the third year of King Belshazzar's reign, a vision appeared to me, Daniel, after the one that had appeared to me previously. |
2In this vision I was at the fortress of Susa, in the province of Elam, standing beside the Ulai River. | 2In this vision I saw myself in Susa the citadel, which is located in the province of Elam. In the vision I saw myself at the Ulai Canal. |
3As I looked up, I saw a ram with two long horns standing beside the river. One of the horns was longer than the other, even though it had grown later than the other one. | 3I looked up and saw a ram with two horns standing at the canal. Its two horns were both long, but one was longer than the other. The longer one was coming up after the shorter one. |
4The ram butted everything out of his way to the west, to the north, and to the south, and no one could stand against him or help his victims. He did as he pleased and became very great. | 4I saw that the ram was butting westward, northward, and southward. No animal was able to stand before it, and there was none who could deliver from its power. It did as it pleased and acted arrogantly. |
5While I was watching, suddenly a male goat appeared from the west, crossing the land so swiftly that he didn’t even touch the ground. This goat, which had one very large horn between its eyes, | 5While I was contemplating all this, a male goat was coming from the west over the surface of all the land without touching the ground. This goat had a conspicuous horn between its eyes. |
6headed toward the two-horned ram that I had seen standing beside the river, rushing at him in a rage. | 6It came to the two-horned ram that I had seen standing beside the canal and rushed against it with raging strength. |
7The goat charged furiously at the ram and struck him, breaking off both his horns. Now the ram was helpless, and the goat knocked him down and trampled him. No one could rescue the ram from the goat’s power. | 7I saw it approaching the ram. It went into a fit of rage against the ram and struck it and broke off its two horns. The ram had no ability to resist it. The goat hurled the ram to the ground and trampled it. No one could deliver the ram from its power. |
8The goat became very powerful. But at the height of his power, his large horn was broken off. In the large horn’s place grew four prominent horns pointing in the four directions of the earth. | 8The male goat acted even more arrogantly. But no sooner had the large horn become strong than it was broken, and there arose four conspicuous horns in its place, extending toward the four winds of the sky. |
9Then from one of the prominent horns came a small horn whose power grew very great. It extended toward the south and the east and toward the glorious land of Israel. | 9From one of them came a small horn. But it grew to be very big, toward the south and the east and toward the beautiful land. |
10Its power reached to the heavens, where it attacked the heavenly army, throwing some of the heavenly beings and some of the stars to the ground and trampling them. | 10It grew so big it reached the army of heaven, and it brought about the fall of some of the army and some of the stars to the ground, where it trampled them. |
11It even challenged the Commander of heaven’s army by canceling the daily sacrifices offered to him and by destroying his Temple. | 11It also acted arrogantly against the Prince of the army, from whom the daily sacrifice was removed and whose sanctuary was thrown down. |
12The army of heaven was restrained from responding to this rebellion. So the daily sacrifice was halted, and truth was overthrown. The horn succeeded in everything it did. | 12The army was given over, along with the daily sacrifice, in the course of his sinful rebellion. It hurled truth to the ground and enjoyed success. |
13Then I heard two holy ones talking to each other. One of them asked, “How long will the events of this vision last? How long will the rebellion that causes desecration stop the daily sacrifices? How long will the Temple and heaven’s army be trampled on?” | 13Then I heard a holy one speaking. Another holy one said to the one who was speaking, "To what period of time does the vision pertain--this vision concerning the daily sacrifice and the destructive act of rebellion and the giving over of both the sanctuary and army to be trampled?" |
14The other replied, “It will take 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the Temple will be made right again.” Gabriel Explains the Vision | 14He said to me, "To 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary will be put right again." |
15As I, Daniel, was trying to understand the meaning of this vision, someone who looked like a man stood in front of me. | 15While I, Daniel, was watching the vision, I sought to understand it. Now one who appeared to be a man was standing before me. |
16And I heard a human voice calling out from the Ulai River, “Gabriel, tell this man the meaning of his vision.” | 16Then I heard a human voice coming from between the banks of the Ulai. It called out, "Gabriel, enable this person to understand the vision." |
17As Gabriel approached the place where I was standing, I became so terrified that I fell with my face to the ground. “Son of man,” he said, “you must understand that the events you have seen in your vision relate to the time of the end.” | 17So he approached the place where I was standing. As he came, I felt terrified and fell flat on the ground. Then he said to me, "Understand, son of man, that the vision pertains to the time of the end." |
18While he was speaking, I fainted and lay there with my face to the ground. But Gabriel roused me with a touch and helped me to my feet. | 18As he spoke with me, I fell into a trance with my face to the ground. But he touched me and stood me upright. |
19Then he said, “I am here to tell you what will happen later in the time of wrath. What you have seen pertains to the very end of time. | 19Then he said, "I am going to inform you about what will happen in the latter time of wrath, for the vision pertains to the appointed time of the end. |
20The two-horned ram represents the kings of Media and Persia. | 20The ram that you saw with the two horns stands for the kings of Media and Persia. |
21The shaggy male goat represents the king of Greece, and the large horn between his eyes represents the first king of the Greek Empire. | 21The male goat is the king of Greece, and the large horn between its eyes is the first king. |
22The four prominent horns that replaced the one large horn show that the Greek Empire will break into four kingdoms, but none as great as the first. | 22The horn that was broken and in whose place there arose four others stands for four kingdoms that will arise from his nation, though they will not have his strength. |
23“At the end of their rule, when their sin is at its height, a fierce king, a master of intrigue, will rise to power. | 23Toward the end of their rule, when rebellious acts are complete, a rash and deceitful king will arise. |
24He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause a shocking amount of destruction and succeed in everything he does. He will destroy powerful leaders and devastate the holy people. | 24His power will be great, but it will not be by his strength alone. He will cause terrible destruction. He will be successful in what he undertakes. He will destroy powerful people and the people of the holy ones. |
25He will be a master of deception and will become arrogant; he will destroy many without warning. He will even take on the Prince of princes in battle, but he will be broken, though not by human power. | 25By his treachery he will succeed through deceit. He will have an arrogant attitude, and he will destroy many who are unaware of his schemes. He will rise up against the Prince of princes, yet he will be broken apart--but not by human agency. |
26“This vision about the 2,300 evenings and mornings is true. But none of these things will happen for a long time, so keep this vision a secret.” | 26The vision of the evenings and mornings that was told to you is correct. But you should seal up the vision, for it refers to a time many days from now." |
27Then I, Daniel, was overcome and lay sick for several days. Afterward I got up and performed my duties for the king, but I was greatly troubled by the vision and could not understand it. | 27I, Daniel, was exhausted and sick for days. Then I got up and again carried out the king's business. But I was astonished at the vision, and there was no one to explain it. |
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