Daniel 9:1-25 ▼

1 In the first year of Darius (lord) son of Xerxes {Ahasuerus}, a Mede (middle land) by descent, who was made ruler over the kingdom of the Chaldeans (the Babylonians)

2 in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel (God is my judge), understood from the sacred books, according to the word of the LORD {YHWH} to Jeremiah (whom YHWH has appointed) the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem (city of peace) would last seventy years .

3 So I turned my attention to the Lord God {Adonai Elohim} to seek Him by prayer and petition, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.

4 And I prayed to the LORD my God {YHWH Elohay} and confessed, “O, Lord {Adonai}, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant of loving devotion {chesed} to those who love Him and keep His commandments,

5 we have sinned and done wrong. We have acted wickedly and rebelled. We have turned away from Your commandments and ordinances.

6 We have not listened to Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings, leaders, fathers, and all the people of the land.

7 To You, O Lord {Adonai}, belongs righteousness, but this day we are covered with shame—the men of Judah (praised), the people of Jerusalem (city of peace), and all Israel (he wrestles with God) near and far, in all the countries to which You have driven us because of our unfaithfulness to You.

8 O LORD {YHWH}, we are covered with shame—our kings, our leaders, and our fathers—because we have sinned against You.

9 To the Lord our God {Adonai Elohenu} belong compassion and forgiveness, even though we have rebelled against Him

10 and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God {YHWH Elohenu} to walk in His laws, which He set before us through His servants the prophets.

11 All Israel (he wrestles with God) has transgressed Your law and turned away, refusing to obey Your voice; so the oath and the curse written in the Law of Moses (drawn out) the servant of God {Elohim} has been poured out on us, because we have sinned against You.

12 You have carried out the words spoken against us and against our rulers by bringing upon us a great disaster. For under all of heaven, nothing has ever been done like what has been done to Jerusalem (city of peace).

13 Just as it is written in the Law of Moses (drawn out), all this disaster has come upon us, yet we have not sought the favor of the LORD our God {YHWH Elohenu} by turning from our iniquities and giving attention to Your truth.

14 Therefore the LORD {YHWH} has kept the calamity in store and brought it upon us. For the LORD our God {YHWH Elohenu} is righteous in all He does; yet we have not obeyed His voice.

15 Now, O Lord our God {Adonai Elohenu}, who brought Your people out of the land of Egypt (land of bondage) with a mighty hand, and who made for Yourself a name renowned to this day, we have sinned; we have acted wickedly.

16 O Lord {Adonai}, in keeping with all Your righteous acts, I pray that Your anger and wrath may turn away from Your city Jerusalem (city of peace), Your holy mountain; for because of our sins and the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and Your people are a reproach to all around us.

17 So now, our God {Elohenu}, hear the prayers and petitions of Your servant. For Your sake, O Lord {Adonai}, cause Your face to shine upon Your desolate sanctuary.

18 Incline Your ear, O my God {Elohay}, and hear; open Your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears Your name. For we are not presenting our petitions before You because of our righteous acts, but because of Your great compassion.

19 O Lord {Adonai}, listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and act! For Your sake, O my God {Elohay}, do not delay, because Your city and Your people bear Your name.”

20 While I was speaking, praying, confessing my sin and that of my people Israel (he wrestles with God), and presenting my petition before the LORD my God {YHWH Elohay} concerning His holy mountain—

21 while I was still praying, Gabriel (warrior of God / man of God), the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice.

22 He instructed me and spoke with me, saying: “O Daniel (God is my judge), I have come now to give you insight and understanding.

23 At the beginning of your petitions, an answer went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are highly precious. So consider the message and understand the vision:

24 Seventy weeks (Seventy sevens) are decreed for your people and your holy city to stop their transgression, to put an end to sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy Place (the Holy of Holies).

25 Know and understand this: From the issuance of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem (city of peace) until the Messiah (the Anointed One), the Prince, there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks. It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of distress.