Daniel 7:1-16 ▼

1 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel saw a dream, and visions of his head upon his bed. Then he wrote down the dream, telling the sum of the matters.

2 Daniel answered and said: “I was looking in my vision at night, and behold, four winds of the heavens were stirring up the great sea.

3 And four great beasts were coming up from the sea, changing this one from this one.

4 The first was like a lion, with wings of an eagle unto it. I was looking until that its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the earth, and it was made to stand on two feet like a man, and a heart of man was given to it.

5 And behold, another beast, a second, being like a bear, and to one side it was raised up, and three ribs were in its mouth between its teeth; and thus they said to it, ‘Arise, devour much flesh!’

6 After this, I was looking, and behold, another, like a leopard, and unto it were four wings of a bird on its back, and four heads were unto the beast, and dominion was given to it.

7 After this, I was looking in my visions of the night, and behold, a fourth beast, being fearsome and terrible and exceedingly strong. Great teeth of iron were unto it; it was devouring and breaking in pieces, and it was trampling the remainder with its feet; and it was different from all the beasts that were before it, and ten horns were unto it.

8 I was giving consideration to these horns, and behold, another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were uprooted from before it. And behold, the eyes were like the eyes of a man in this horn, and a mouth speaking great things.

9 I was looking, until that thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took His seat. His garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head was was like pure wool. His throne was as flames of fire, and its wheels were burning fire;

10 A river of fire was flowing and coming forth from before Him. A thousand thousands ministered to Him, and myriads upon myriads stood before Him; the judgment was seated, and books were opened.

11 I was looking then, because of the voice of the great words that the horn was speaking; I was looking until that the beast was slain, and its body was destroyed and was given to the burning flame.

12 And the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away; and an extension in life was given to them for a season and a time.

13 I was looking in my visions of the night, and behold, upon the clouds of heaven, One like the Son of Man was coming, and to the Ancient of Days he reached, and before Him they brought Him near.

14 And to him was given dominion, and honor, and a kingdom, so that all the peoples, nations, and languages should give service to him; his dominion is a dominion everlasting, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom is one that shall not be destroyed!

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

16 I came near to one of those standing there, and I asked of him the truth about all this. And he told it to me, and the interpretation of these things he made known to me.