1:1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim

king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon

came to Jerusalem and besieged it.

1:2 And Yahweh gave Jehoiakim king of Judah

into his hand, with some of the articles of the

house of Yahweh, which he carried into the land

of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought

the articles into the treasure house of his god.

1:3 Then the king instructed Ashpenaz, the

master of his eunuchs, to bring some of the

children of Israel and some of the king's

descendants and some of the nobles,

1:4 young men in 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

whom they might teach the language and

literature of the Chaldeans.

1:5 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

serve before the king.

1:6 Now from among those of the sons of Judah

were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.

1:7 To them the chief of the eunuchs gave

names: he gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar; to

Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and

to Azariah, Abed-Nego.

1:8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he

would not defile himself with 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.

1:9 Now Yahweh had brought Daniel into the

favor and goodwill of the chief of the eunuchs.

1:10 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."

1:11 So Daniel said to the steward whom the

chief of the eunuchs had set over Daniel,

Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,

1:12 "Please test your servants for ten days, and

let them give us vegetables to eat and water to

drink.

1:13 "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."

1:14 So he consented with them in this matter,

and tested them ten days.

1:15 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.

1:16 Thus the steward took away their portion of

delicacies and the wine that they were to drink,

and gave them vegetables.

1:17 As for these four young men, Yahweh gave

them knowledge and skill in all literature and

wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all

visions and dreams.

1:18 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.

1:19 Then the king interviewed them, and among

them all none was found like Daniel, Hananiah,

Mishael, and Azariah; therefore they served

before the king.

1:20 And 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.

1:21 Thus Daniel continued until the first year of

King Cyrus.

2:1 Now in the second year of Nebuchadnezzar's

reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; and his spirit

was so troubled that his sleep left him.

2:2 Then 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.

2:3 And the king said to them, "I have had a

dream, and my spirit is anxious to know the

dream."

2:4 Then the Chaldeans spoke to the king in

Aramaic, "O king, live forever! Tell your

servants the dream, and we will give the

interpretation."

2:5 The king answered and said to the

Chaldeans, "My decision is firm: if you do not

make known the dream to me, and its

interpretation, you shall be cut in pieces, and

your houses shall be made an ash heap.

2:6 "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."

2:7 They answered again and said, "Let the king

tell his servants the dream, and we will give its

interpretation."

2:8 The king answered and said, "I know for

certain that you would gain time, because you

see that my decision is firm:

2:9 "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 time has changed. Therefore tell me

the dream, and I shall know that you can give me

its interpretation."

2:10 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.

2:11 "It is a difficult thing that the king requests,

and there is no other who can tell it to the king

except the gods, whose dwelling is not with

flesh."

2:12 For this reason the king was angry and very

furious, and gave a command to destroy all the

wise men of Babylon.

2:13 So the decree went out, and they began

killing the wise men; and they sought Daniel and

his companions, to kill them.

2:14 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;

2:15 he answered and said to Arioch the king's

captain, "Why is the decree from the king so

urgent?" Then Arioch made the decision known

to Daniel.

2:16 So Daniel went in and asked the king to

give him time, that he might tell the king the

interpretation.

2:17 Then Daniel went to his house, and made

the decision known to Hananiah, Mishael, and

Azariah, his companions,

2:18 that 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.

2:19 Then the secret was revealed to Daniel in a

night vision. So Daniel blessed the God of

heaven.

2:20 Daniel answered and said:

"Blessed be the name of Yahweh forever and

ever,

For wisdom and might are His.

2:21 And He changes the times and the seasons;

He removes kings and raises up kings;

He gives wisdom to the wise

And knowledge to those who have

understanding.

2:22 He reveals deep and secret things;

He knows what is in the darkness,

And light dwells with Him.

2:23 "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

asked of You,

For You have made known to us the king's

demand."

2:24 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."

2:25 Then Arioch quickly brought Daniel before

the king, and said thus to him, "I have found a

man of the captives of Judah, who will make

known to the king the interpretation."

2:26 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?"

2:27 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.

2:28 "But there is a God in heaven who reveals

secrets, and He has made known to King

Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days.

Your dream, and the visions of your head upon

your bed, were these:

2:29 "As for you, O king, thoughts came to your

mind while on your bed, about what would come

to pass after this; and He who reveals secrets has

made known to you what will be.

2:30 "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, and that

you may know the thoughts of your heart.

2:31 "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.

2:32 "This image's head was of fine gold, its

chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of

bronze,

2:33 "its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and

partly of clay.

2:34 "You watched while a stone was cut out

without hands, which struck the image on its feet

of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces.

2:35 "Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the

silver, and the gold were crushed together, and

became like chaff from the summer threshing

floors; the wind carried them away so that no

trace of them was found. And the stone that

struck the image became a great mountain and

filled the whole earth.

2:36 "This is the dream. Now we will tell the

interpretation of it before the king.

2:37 "You, O king, are a king of kings. For the

God of heaven has given you a kingdom, power,

strength, and glory;

2:38 "and wherever the children of men dwell, or

the beasts of the field and the birds of the sky,

He has given them into your hand, and has made

you ruler over them all-you are this head of gold.

2:39 "But after you shall arise another kingdom

inferior to yours; then another, a third kingdom

of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth.

2:40 "And the 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.

2:41 "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.

2:42 "And as the toes of the feet were partly of

iron and partly of clay, so the kingdom shall be

partly strong and partly fragile.

2:43 "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.

2:44 "And in the days of these kings the God of

heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never

be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left

to other people; it shall break in pieces and

consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand

forever.

2:45 "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 Yahweh has made

known to the king what will come to pass after

this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation

is sure."

2:46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his

face, prostrate before Daniel, and commanded

that they should present an offering and incense

to him.

2:47 The king answered Daniel, and said, "Truly

your God is the God of gods, Yahweh of kings,

and a revealer of secrets, since you could reveal

this secret."

2:48 Then the king promoted Daniel and gave

him many great gifts; and he made him ruler

over the whole province of Babylon, and chief

administrator over all the wise men of Babylon.

2:49 Also Daniel petitioned the king, and he set

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego over the

affairs of the province of Babylon; but Daniel sat

in the gate of the king.

3:1 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of

gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its width

six cubits. He set it up in the plain of Dura, in the

province of Babylon.

3:2 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.

3:3 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.

3:4 Then a herald cried aloud: "To you it is

commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages,

3:5 "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;

3:6 "and whoever does not fall down and

worship shall be cast immediately into the midst

of a burning fiery furnace."

3:7 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.

3:8 Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans

came forward and accused the Hebrews.

3:9 They spoke and said to King

Nebuchadnezzar, "O king, live forever!

3:10 "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;

3:11 "and whoever does not fall down and

worship shall be cast into the midst of a burning

fiery furnace.

3:12 "There are certain Hebrews whom you have

set over the affairs of the province of Babylon:

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego; these men,

O king, have not paid due regard to you. They do

not serve your gods or worship the gold image

which you have set up."

3:13 Then Nebuchadnezzar, in rage and fury,

gave the command to bring Shadrach, Meshach,

and Abed-Nego. So they brought these men

before the king.

3:14 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?

3:15 "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, good! But if you do not worship,

you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a

burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who

will deliver you from my hands?"

3:16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego

answered and said to the king, "O

Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you

in this matter.

3:17 "If that is the case, our God whom we serve

is able to deliver us from the burning fiery

furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand,

O king.

3:18 "But if not, let it be known to you, O king,

that we do not serve your gods, nor will we

worship the gold image which you have set up."

3:19 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.

3:20 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.

3:21 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.

3:22 Therefore, because the king's command was

urgent, and the furnace exceedingly hot, the

flame of the fire killed those men who took up

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego.

3:23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach,

and Abed-Nego, fell down bound into the midst

of the burning fiery furnace.

3:24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was

astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke,

saying to his counselors, "Did we not cast three

men bound into the midst of the fire?" They

answered and said to the king, "True, O king."

3:25 "Look!" he answered, "I see four men loose,

walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not

hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of

God."

3:26 Then Nebuchadnezzar went near the mouth

of the burning fiery furnace and spoke, saying,

"Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, servants

of the Most High God, come out, and come

here." Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego

came from the midst of the fire.

3:27 And the satraps, administrators, governors,

and the king's counselors gathered together, and

they saw these men on 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.

3:28 Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, "Blessed be

the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego,

who sent His Angel 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!

3:29 "Therefore I make a decree that any people,

nation, or language which speaks anything amiss

against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and

Abed-Nego shall be cut in pieces, and their

houses shall be made an ash heap; because there

is no other God who can deliver like this."

3:30 Then the king promoted Shadrach,

Meshach, and Abed-Nego in the province of

Babylon.

4:1 Nebuchadnezzar the king, To all peoples,

nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth:

Peace be multiplied to you.

4:2 I thought it good to declare the signs and

wonders that the Most High God has worked for

me.

4:3 How great are His signs,

And how mighty His wonders!

His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,

And His dominion is from generation to

generation.

4:4 I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at rest in my house,

and flourishing in my palace.

4:5 I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the

thoughts on my bed and the visions of my head

troubled me.

4:6 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.

4:7 Then 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.

4:8 But at last Daniel came before me (his name

is Belteshazzar, according to the name of my

god; in him is the Spirit of the Holy God), and I

told the dream before him, saying:

4:9 "Belteshazzar, chief 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.

4:10 "These were the visions of my head while

on my bed:

"I was looking, and behold,

A tree in the midst of the earth,

And its height was great.

4:11 The tree grew and became strong;

Its height reached to the skies,

And it could be seen to the ends of all the earth.

4:12 Its leaves were lovely,

Its fruit abundant,

And in it was food for all.

The beasts of the field found shade under it,

The birds of the skies dwelt in its branches,

And all flesh was fed from it.

4:13 "I saw in the visions of my head while on

my bed, and there was a watcher, a holy one,

coming down from the sky.

4:14 He cried aloud and said thus:

'Chop down the tree and cut off its branches,

Strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit.

Let the beasts get out from under it,

And the birds from its branches.

4:15 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 the clouds,

And let him graze with the beasts

On the grass of the earth.

4:16 Let his heart be changed from that of a man,

Let him be given the heart of a beast,

And let seven times pass over him.

4:17 'This decision is by the decree of the

watchers,

And the sentence by the word of the holy ones,

In order that the living may know

That the Most High rules in the kingdom of men,

Gives it to whomever He will,

And sets over it the lowest of men.'

4:18 "This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, have

seen. Now you, Belteshazzar, declare its

interpretation, since all the wise men of my

kingdom are not able to make known to me the

interpretation; but you are able, for the Spirit of

the Holy God is in you."

4:19 Then Daniel, whose name was

Belteshazzar, was astonished for a time, and his

thoughts troubled 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 the dream

concern those who hate you, and its

interpretation concern your enemies!

4:20 The tree that you saw, which grew and

became strong, whose height reached to the skies

and which could be seen by all the earth,

4:21 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 sky had their home-

4:22 it is you, O king, who have grown and

become strong; for your greatness has grown and

reaches to the skies, and your dominion to the

end of the earth.

4:23 And inasmuch as the king saw a watcher, a

holy one, coming down from the sky 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 the clouds,

and let him graze with the beasts of the field, till

seven times pass over him';

4:24 this is the interpretation, O king, and this is

the decree of the Most High, which has come

upon my lord the king:

4:25 They shall drive you from men, your

dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and

they shall make you eat grass like oxen. They

shall wet you with the dew of the clouds, and

seven times shall pass over you, till you know

that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men,

and gives it to whomever He chooses.

4:26 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 Heaven rules.

4:27 Therefore, O king, let my advice be

acceptable to you; break off your sins by being

righteous, and your iniquities by showing mercy

to the poor. Perhaps there may be a lengthening

of your prosperity."

4:28 All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar.

4:29 At the end of the twelve months he was

walking about the royal palace of Babylon.

4:30 The king spoke, 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?"

4:31 While the word was still in the king's

mouth, a voice fell from the sky: "King

Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: the

kingdom has departed from you!

4:32 And they 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 times shall pass over you, until you

know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of

men, and gives it to whomever He chooses."

4:33 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 the clouds till his hair had grown

like eagles' feathers and his nails like birds'

claws.

4:34 And at the end of the time I,

Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to the sky, and

my understanding returned to me; and I blessed

the Most High and praised and honored Him

who lives forever:

For His dominion is an everlasting dominion,

And His kingdom is from generation to

generation.

4:35 All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed

as nothing;

He does according to His will in the army of

heaven

And among the inhabitants of the earth.

No one can restrain His hand

Or say to Him, "What have You done?"

4:36 At the same time my reason returned to

me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my honor

and splendor returned to me. My counselors and

nobles resorted to me, I was restored to my

kingdom, and excellent majesty was added to

me.

4:37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol

and honor the King of heaven, all of whose

works are truth, and His ways justice. And those

who walk in pride He is able to put down.

5:1 Belshazzar the king made a great feast for a

thousand of his lords, and drank wine in the

presence of the thousand.

5:2 While he tasted the wine, Belshazzar gave

the command to bring the gold and silver vessels

which his father 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.

5:3 Then they brought the gold vessels that had

been taken from the temple of the house of

Yahweh which had been in Jerusalem; and the

king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines

drank from them.

5:4 They drank wine, and praised the gods of

gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone.

5:5 In 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.

5:6 Then the king's countenance changed, and

his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of

his hips were loosened and his knees knocked

against each other.

5:7 The king cried aloud to bring in the

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; and he

shall be the third ruler in the kingdom."

5:8 Now all the king's wise men came, but they

could not read the writing, or make known to the

king its interpretation.

5:9 Then King Belshazzar was greatly troubled,

his countenance was changed, and his lords were

astonished.

5:10 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.

5:11 "There is a man in your kingdom in whom

is the Spirit of the Holy God. And in the days of

your father, light and understanding and wisdom,

like the wisdom of the gods, were found in him;

and King Nebuchadnezzar your father-your

father the king-made him chief of the magicians,

astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers.

5:12 "Inasmuch as an excellent spirit,

knowledge, understanding, interpreting dreams,

solving riddles, and explaining enigmas were

found in this Daniel, whom the king named

Belteshazzar, now let Daniel be called, and he

will give the interpretation."

5:13 Then Daniel was brought in before the

king. The king spoke to Daniel, "Are you that

Daniel who is one of the captives from Judah,

whom my father the king brought from Judah?

5:14 "I have heard of you, that the Spirit of

Yahweh is in you, and that light and

understanding and excellent wisdom are found in

you.

5:15 "Now the 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.

5:16 "And I have heard of you, that you can give

interpretations and explain enigmas. Now 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."

5:17 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.

5:18 "O king, the Most High God gave

Nebuchadnezzar your father a kingdom and

majesty, glory and honor.

5:19 "And because of the majesty that He gave

him, all peoples, nations, and languages trembled

and feared before him. Whomever he wished, he

executed; whomever he wished, he kept alive;

whomever he wished, he set up; and whomever

he wished, he put down.

5:20 "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.

5:21 "Then he was driven 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 the clouds, till he knew that the

Most High God rules in the kingdom of men, and

appoints over it whomever He chooses.

5:22 "But you his son, Belshazzar, have not

humbled your heart, although you knew all this.

5:23 "And you have lifted yourself up against

Yahweh of heaven. They have brought the

vessels of His 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, gold, bronze, iron,

wood and stone, which do not see, hear or know;

and the God who holds your breath in His hand

and owns all your ways, you have not glorified.

5:24 "Then the fingers of the hand were sent

from Him, and this writing was written.

5:25 "And this is the inscription that was

written: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.

5:26 "This is the interpretation of each word.

MENE: Yahweh has numbered your kingdom,

and finished it;

5:27 "TEKEL: You have been weighed in the

balances, and found wanting;

5:28 "PERES: Your kingdom has been divided,

and given to the Medes and Persians."

5:29 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 that he should be

the third ruler in the kingdom.

5:30 That very night Belshazzar, king of the

Chaldeans, was slain.

5:31 And Darius the Mede received the

kingdom, being about sixty-two years old.

6:1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one

hundred and twenty satraps, to be over the whole

kingdom;

6:2 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.

6:3 Then this Daniel distinguished himself above

the governors and satraps, because an excellent

spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to

setting him over the whole realm.

6:4 So 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.

6:5 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."

6:6 So these governors and satraps thronged

before the king, and said thus to him: "King

Darius, live forever!

6:7 "All the governors of the kingdom, the

administrators and satraps, the counselors and

advisors, have consulted 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.

6:8 "Now, O king, establish the decree and sign

the writing, so that it cannot be changed,

according to the law of the Medes and Persians,

which does not alter."

6:9 Therefore King Darius signed the written

decree.

6:10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing

was signed, he went home. And in his upper

room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem,

he knelt down on his knees three times that day,

and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as

was his custom since early days.

6:11 Then these men assembled and found

Daniel praying and making supplication before

his God.

6:12 And 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,

according to the law of the Medes and Persians,

which does not alter."

6:13 So they answered and said before the king,

"That Daniel, who is one of the captives from

Judah, does not show due regard for you, O king,

or for the decree that you have signed, but makes

his petition three times a day."

6:14 And the king, when he heard these words,

was greatly displeased with himself, and set his

heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored till

the going down of the sun to deliver him.

6:15 Then these men approached the king, and

said to the king, "Know, O king, that it is the law

of the Medes and Persians that no decree or

statute which the king establishes may be

changed."

6:16 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."

6:17 Then a stone was brought and laid on the

mouth of the den, and 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.

6:18 Now the king went to his palace and spent

the night fasting; and no musicians were brought

before him. Also his sleep went from him.

6:19 Then the king arose very early in the

morning and went in haste to the den of lions.

6:20 And when he came to the den, he cried out

with a lamenting voice to Daniel. The king

spoke, saying to Daniel, "Daniel, servant of the

living God, has your God, whom you serve

continually, been able to deliver you from the

lions?"

6:21 Then Daniel said to the king, "O king, live

forever!

6:22 "My God sent His angel and shut 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."

6:23 Then 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, because he believed in his God.

6:24 And the king gave the command, and they

brought those men who had accused Daniel, and

they cast them into the den of lions-them, their

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.

6:25 Then King Darius wrote: To all peoples,

nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth:

Peace be multiplied to you.

6:26 I make a decree that in every dominion of

my kingdom men must tremble and fear before

the God of Daniel.

For He is the living God,

And steadfast forever;

His kingdom is the one which shall not be

destroyed,

And His dominion shall endure to the end.

6:27 He delivers and rescues,

And He works signs and wonders

In heaven and on earth,

Who has delivered Daniel from the power of the

lions.

6:28 So this Daniel prospered in the reign of

Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

7:1 In the first year of Belshazzar king of

Babylon, Daniel had a dream and visions of his

head while on his bed. Then he wrote down the

dream, telling the main facts.

7:2 Daniel spoke, saying, "I saw in my vision by

night, and behold, the four winds of the sky were

stirring up the Great Sea.

7:3 "And four great beasts came up from the sea,

each different from the other.

7:4 "The first was like 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 man's heart

was given to it.

7:5 "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!'

7:6 "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 four heads, and

dominion was given to it.

7:7 "After this I saw in the night visions, and

behold, a 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, and it had ten horns.

7:8 "I was considering the horns, and there 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 of a man, and a mouth

speaking pompous words.

7:9 "I watched till thrones were put in place,

And the Ancient of Days was seated;

His garment was white as snow,

And the hair of His head was like pure wool.

His throne was a fiery flame,

Its wheels a burning fire;

7:10 A fiery stream issued

And came forth from before Him.

A thousand thousands ministered to Him;

Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before

Him.

The court was seated,

And the books were opened.

7:11 "I watched then because of the sound of the

pompous words which the horn was speaking; I

watched till the beast was slain, and its body

destroyed and given to the burning flame.

7:12 "As for the rest of the beasts, they had their

dominion taken away, yet their lives were

prolonged for a season and a time.

7:13 "I was watching in the night visions,

And behold, One like the Son of Man,

Coming with the clouds of the sky!

He came to the Ancient of Days,

And they brought Him near before Him.

7:14 Then to Him was given dominion and glory

and a kingdom,

That all peoples, nations, and languages should

serve Him.

His dominion is an everlasting dominion,

Which shall not pass away,

And His kingdom the one

Which shall not be destroyed.

7:15 "I, Daniel, was grieved in my spirit within

my body, and the visions of my head troubled

me.

7:16 "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:

7:17 'Those great beasts, which are four, are four

kings which arise out of the earth.

7:18 'But the saints of the Most High shall

receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom

forever, even forever and ever.'

7:19 "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;

7:20 "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 pompous words, whose

appearance was greater than his fellows.

7:21 "I was watching; and the same horn was

making war against the saints, and prevailing

against them,

7:22 "until the Ancient of Days came, and a

judgment was made in favor of the saints of the

Most High, and the time came for the saints to

possess the kingdom.

7:23 "Thus he said:

'The fourth beast shall be

A 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.

7:24 The 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.

7:25 He shall speak pompous words against the

Most High,

Shall persecute the saints of the Most High,

And shall intend to change times and law.

Then the saints shall be given into his hand

For a time and times and half a time.

7:26 'But the court shall be seated,

And they shall take away his dominion,

To consume and destroy it forever.

7:27 Then the kingdom and dominion,

And the greatness of the kingdoms under the

whole sky,

Shall be given to the people, the saints of the

Most High.

His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,

And all dominions shall serve and obey Him.'

7:28 "This is the end of the account. As for me,

Daniel, my thoughts greatly troubled me, and my

countenance changed; but I kept the matter in my

heart."

8:1 In the third year of the reign of King

Belshazzar a vision appeared to me-to me,

Daniel-after the one that appeared to me the first

time.

8:2 I saw in the vision, and it so happened while

I was looking, that I was in Shushan, the citadel,

which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in

the vision that I was by the River Ulai.

8:3 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 higher than the other, and the higher one

came up last.

8:4 I saw the ram pushing westward, northward,

and southward, so that no animal could

withstand him; nor was there any that could

deliver from his hand, but he did according to his

will and became great.

8:5 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 horn between his

eyes.

8:6 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.

8:7 And I saw him confronting the ram; he was

moved with rage against him, attacked 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.

8:8 Therefore the male goat grew very great; but

when he became strong, the large horn was

broken, and in place of it four notable ones came

up toward the four winds of the sky.

8:9 And out of one of them came a little horn

which grew exceedingly great toward the south,

toward the east, and toward the Glorious Land.

8:10 And it grew up to the host of the sky; and it

cast down some of the host and some of the stars

to the ground, and trampled them.

8:11 He even exalted himself as high as the

Prince of the host; and by him the daily

sacrifices were taken away, and the place of His

sanctuary was cast down.

8:12 Because of transgression, an army was

given over to the horn to oppose the daily

sacrifices; and he cast truth down to the ground.

He did all this and prospered.

8:13 Then I heard a 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 of desolation, the giving of both

the sanctuary and the host to be trampled under

foot?"

8:14 And he said to me, "For two thousand three

hundred days; then the sanctuary shall be

cleansed."

8:15 Then it happened, when I, Daniel, had seen

the vision and was seeking the meaning, that

suddenly there stood before me one having the

appearance of a man.

8:16 And I heard a man's voice between the

banks of the Ulai, who called, and said, "Gabriel,

make this man understand the vision."

8:17 So he came near where I stood, and when

he came I was afraid and fell on my face; but he

said to me, "Understand, son of man, that the

vision refers to the time of the end."

8:18 Now, as he was speaking with me, I was in

a deep sleep with my face to the ground; but he

touched me, and stood me upright.

8:19 And he said, "Look, I am making known to

you what shall happen in the latter time of the

indignation; for at the appointed time the end

shall be.

8:20 "The ram which you saw, having the two

horns-they are the kings of Media and Persia.

8:21 "And the male goat is the kingdom of

Greece. The large horn that is between its eyes is

the first king.

8:22 "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.

8:23 "And in the latter time of their kingdom,

When the transgressors have reached their

fullness,

A king shall arise,

Having fierce features,

Who understands sinister schemes.

8:24 His power shall be mighty, but not by his

own power;

He shall destroy fearfully,

And shall prosper and thrive;

He shall destroy the mighty, and also the holy

people.

8:25 "Through his cunning

He shall cause deceit to prosper under his rule;

And he shall exalt himself in his heart.

He shall destroy many in their prosperity.

He shall even rise against the Prince of princes;

But he shall be broken without human means.

8:26 "And the vision of the evenings and

mornings

Which was told is true;

Therefore seal up the vision,

For it refers to many days in the future."

8:27 And I, Daniel, fainted and was sick for

days; afterward I arose and went about the king's

business. I was astonished by the vision, but no

one understood it.

9:1 In the first year of Darius the son of

Ahasuerus, of the lineage of the Medes, who was

made king over the realm of the Chaldeans-

9:2 in the first year of his reign I, Daniel,

understood by the books the number of the years

specified by the word of Yahweh through

Jeremiah the prophet, that He would accomplish

seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.

9:3 Then I set my face toward Yahweh the God

to make request by prayer and supplications,

with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.

9:4 And I prayed to Yahweh my God, and made

confession, and said, "O Lord, great and

awesome God, who keeps His covenant and

mercy with those who love Him, and with those

who keep His commandments,

9:5 "we have sinned and committed iniquity, we

have done wickedly and rebelled, even by

departing from Your precepts and Your

judgments.

9:6 "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.

9:7 "O Lord, righteousness 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.

9:8 "O Lord, to us belongs shame of face, to our

kings, our princes, and our fathers, because we

have sinned against You.

9:9 "To Yahweh our God belong mercy and

forgiveness, though we have rebelled against

Him.

9:10 "We have not obeyed the voice of Yahweh

our God, to walk in His laws, which He set

before us by His servants the prophets.

9:11 "Yes, all Israel has transgressed Your law,

and has departed so as not to obey Your voice;

therefore the curse and the oath written in the

Law of Moses the servant of Yahweh have been

poured out on us, because we have sinned

against Him.

9:12 "And He has confirmed His words, which

He spoke against us and against our judges who

judged us, by bringing upon us a great disaster;

for under the whole sky such has never been

done as what has been done to Jerusalem.

9:13 "As it is written in the Law of Moses, all

this disaster has come upon us; yet we have not

made our prayer before Yahweh our God, that

we might turn from our iniquities and understand

Your truth.

9:14 "Therefore Yahweh has kept the disaster in

mind, and brought it upon us; for Yahweh our

God is righteous in all the works which He does,

though we have not obeyed His voice.

9:15 "And now, O Lord our God, who brought

Your people out of the land of Egypt with a

mighty hand, and made Yourself a name, as it is

this day-we have sinned, we have done

wickedly!

9:16 "O Lord, according to all Your

righteousness, I pray, let Your anger and Your

fury be turned away from Your city Jerusalem,

Your holy mountain; because for our sins, and

for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and

Your people are a reproach to all those around

us.

9:17 "Now therefore, our God, hear the prayer of

Your servant, and his supplications, and for

Yahweh’s sake cause Your face to shine on Your

sanctuary, which is desolate.

9:18 "O my God, incline Your ear and hear; open

Your eyes and see our desolations, and the city

which 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.

9:19 "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."

9:20 Now while I was speaking, praying, and

confessing my sin and the sin of my people

Israel, and presenting my supplication before

Yahweh my God for the holy mountain of my

God,

9:21 yes, while I was speaking in prayer, the

man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at

the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly,

reached me about the time of the evening

offering.

9:22 And he informed me, and talked with me,

and said, "O Daniel, I have now come forth to

give you skill to understand.

9:23 "At the beginning of your supplications the

command went out, and I have come to tell you,

for you are greatly beloved; therefore consider

the matter, and understand the vision:

9:24 "Seventy weeks are determined

For your people and for your holy city,

To finish the transgression,

To make an end of sins,

To make reconciliation for iniquity,

To bring in everlasting righteousness,

To seal up vision and prophecy,

And to anoint the Most Holy.

9:25 "Know therefore and understand,

That from the going forth of the command

To restore and build Jerusalem

Until Messiah the Prince,

There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks;

The street shall be built again, and the wall,

Even in troublesome times.

9:26 "And after the sixty-two weeks

Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself;

And the people of the prince who is to come

Shall 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.

9:27 Then he shall confirm a covenant with

many 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,

Even until the consummation, which is

determined,

Is poured out on the desolate."

10:1 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a

message was revealed to Daniel, whose name

was called Belteshazzar. The message was true,

but the appointed time was long; and he

understood the message, and had understanding

of the vision.

10:2 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three

full weeks.

10:3 I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine

came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at

all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.

10:4 Now on the twenty-fourth day of the first

month, as I was by the side of the great river, that

is, the Tigris,

10:5 I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, a

certain man clothed in linen, whose waist was

girded with gold of Uphaz!

10:6 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, and the sound of his words like the voice

of a multitude.

10:7 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.

10:8 Therefore I was left alone when I saw this

great vision, and no strength remained in me; for

my vigor was turned to frailty in me, and I

retained no strength.

10:9 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.

10:10 Suddenly, a hand touched me, which

made me tremble on my knees and on the palms

of my hands.

10:11 And he said to me, "O Daniel, man 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.

10:12 Then he said to me, "Do not fear, Daniel,

for from the first day that you set your heart to

understand, and to humble yourself before your

God, your words were heard; and I have come

because of your words.

10:13 "But the prince of the kingdom of Persia

withstood me twenty-one days; and behold,

Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help

me, for I had been left alone there with the kings

of Persia.

10:14 "Now I have come to make you

understand what will happen to your people in

the latter days, for the vision refers to many days

yet to come."

10:15 When he had spoken such words to me, I

turned my face toward the ground and became

speechless.

10:16 And suddenly, one having the likeness of

the sons of men touched my lips; then I opened

my mouth and spoke, saying to him who stood

before me, "My lord, because of the vision my

sorrows have overwhelmed me, and I have

retained no strength.

10:17 "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."

10:18 Then again, the one having the likeness of

a man touched me and strengthened me.

10:19 And he said, "O man greatly beloved, fear

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."

10:20 Then he said, "Do you know why I have

come to you? And now I must return to fight

with the prince of Persia; and when I have gone

forth, indeed the prince of Greece will come.

10:21 "But I will tell you what is noted in the

Scripture of Truth. (No one upholds me against

these, except Michael your prince.

11:1 "Also in the first year of Darius the Mede, I,

even I, stood up to confirm and strengthen him.)

11:2 "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.

11:3 "Then a mighty king shall arise, who shall

rule with great dominion, and do according to his

will.

11:4 "And when he has arisen, his kingdom shall

be broken up and divided toward the four winds

of the sky, but not among his posterity nor

according to his dominion with which he ruled;

for his kingdom shall be uprooted, even for

others besides these.

11:5 "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.

11:6 "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 authority, and neither he nor his authority

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.

11:7 "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.

11:8 "And he shall also carry their gods captive

to Egypt, with their princes and their precious

articles of silver and gold; and he shall continue

more years than the king of the North.

11:9 "Also the king of the North shall come to

the kingdom of the king of the South, but shall

return to his own land.

11:10 "However his sons shall stir up strife, and

assemble a multitude of great forces; and one

shall certainly come and overwhelm and pass

through; then he shall return to his fortress and

stir up strife.

11:11 "And the king of the South shall be

moved with rage, and go out and fight with him,

with the king of the North, who shall muster a

great multitude; but the multitude shall be given

into the hand of his enemy.

11:12 "When he has taken away the multitude,

his heart will be lifted up; and he will cast down

tens of thousands, but he will not prevail.

11:13 "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.

11:14 "Now in those times many shall rise up

against the king of the South. Also, violent men

of your people shall exalt themselves in

fulfillment of the vision, but they shall fall.

11:15 "So the king of the North shall come and

build a siege mound, and take a fortified city;

and the forces of the South shall not withstand

him. Even his choice troops shall have no

strength to resist.

11:16 "But he who comes against him shall do

according to his own will, and no one shall stand

against him. He shall stand in the Glorious Land

with destruction in his power.

11:17 "He shall also set his face to enter with the

strength of his whole kingdom, and upright 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, or be for him.

11:18 "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.

11:19 "Then he shall turn his face toward the

fortress of his own land; but he shall stumble and

fall, and not be found.

11:20 "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.

11:21 "And in his place shall 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.

11:22 "With the force of a flood they shall be

swept away from before him and be broken, and

also the prince of the covenant.

11:23 "And after the league is made with him he

shall act deceitfully, for he shall come up and

become strong with a small number of people.

11:24 "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, spoil, and riches; and he shall devise his

plans against the strongholds, but only for a time.

11:25 "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.

11:26 "Yes, those who eat of the portion of his

delicacies shall destroy him; his army shall be

swept away, and many shall fall down slain.

11:27 "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 appointed time.

11:28 "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.

11:29 "At the appointed time he shall return and

go toward the south; but it shall not be like the

former or the latter.

11:30 "For ships from Cyprus 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.

11:31 "And forces shall be mustered by him, and

they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they

shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place

there the abomination of desolation.

11:32 "Those who do wickedly against the

covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the

people who know their God shall be strong, and

carry out great exploits.

11:33 "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.

11:34 "Now when they fall, they shall be aided

with a little help; but many shall join with them

by intrigue.

11:35 "And some of those of understanding shall

fall, to refine them, purify them, and make them

white, until the time of the end; because it is still

for the appointed time.

11:36 "Then the king shall do according to his

own will: he shall exalt 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.

11:37 "He shall regard neither the God of his

fathers nor the desire of women, nor regard any

god; for he shall exalt himself above them all.

11:38 "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.

11:39 "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 gain.

11:40 "At the time of the end the king of the

South shall attack him; and the king of the North

shall come against him like a whirlwind, with

chariots, horsemen, and with many ships; and he

shall enter the countries, overwhelm them, and

pass through.

11:41 "He shall also enter the Glorious Land,

and many countries shall be overthrown; but

these shall escape from his hand: Edom, Moab,

and the prominent people of Ammon.

11:42 "He shall stretch out his hand against the

countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape.

11:43 "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 at his heels.

11:44 "But news from the east and the north

shall trouble him; therefore he shall go out with

great fury to destroy and annihilate many.

11:45 "And he shall plant the tents of his palace

between the seas and the glorious holy mountain;

yet he shall come to his end, and no one will help

him.

12:1 "At that time Michael shall stand up,

The great prince who stands watch over the sons

of your people;

And 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 shall be delivered,

Every one who is found written in the book.

12:2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of

the earth shall awake,

Some to everlasting life,

Some to shame and everlasting contempt.

12:3 Those who are wise shall shine

Like the brightness of the firmament,

And those who turn many to righteousness

Like the stars forever and ever.

12:4 "But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and

seal the book until the time of the end; many

shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall

increase."

12:5 Then I, Daniel, looked; and there stood two

others, one on this riverbank and the other on

that riverbank.

12:6 And one said to the man clothed in linen,

who was above the waters of the river, "How

long shall the fulfillment of these wonders be?"

12:7 Then I heard the man clothed in linen, who

was above the waters of the river, when he held

up his right hand and his left hand to the sky, and

swore by Him who lives forever, that it shall be

for a time, times, and half a time; and when the

power of the holy people has been completely

shattered, all these things shall be finished.

12:8 Although I heard, I did not understand.

Then I said, "My lord, what shall be the end of

these things?"

12:9 And he said, "Go your way, Daniel, for the

words are closed up and sealed till the time of

the end.

12:10 "Many shall be purified, made white, and

refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and

none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise

shall understand.

12:11 "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.

12:12 "Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the

one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days.

12:13 "But you, go your way till the end; for you

shall rest, and will arise to your inheritance at the

end of the days."