The Vision of the Ram and Goat
1In the third year of the reign of Belshazzar the king, a vision appeared to me,[†]Daniel, after the one which appeared to me[†]previously.2And I looked in the vision. And it happened that while I was looking, I was in the citadel of Susa, which is in the province of Elam; and I looked in the vision, and I myself was beside the Ulai[†]Canal.3Then I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, a ram which had two horns was standing in front of the[†]canal. Now the two hornswere[†]long, but onewas[†]longer than the other, with the[†]longer one coming up last.4I saw the ram butting westward, northward, and southward, and noother beasts could stand before it, nor was there anyone to deliver from its[†]power, but it did as it pleased and magnifieditself.
5And while I was considering, behold, a male goat was coming from the west over the surface of the whole earth without touching the ground; and the[†]goathad a conspicuous horn between its eyes.6Then it came up to the ram that had the two horns, which I had seen standing in front of the[†]canal, and ran at it in his strong wrath.7And I saw it reach the side of the ram, and it was enraged at it; and it struck the ram and broke its two horns in pieces, and the ram had no strength to stand in[†]opposition to it. So it threw it down to the ground and trampled on it, and there was none to deliver the ram from its[†]power.8Then the male goat magnifieditself exceedingly. But as soon as it was mighty, the large horn was broken; and in its place there came up four conspicuoushorns toward the four winds of[†]heaven.
The Small Horn
9And out of one of them came forth a rather small horn. And it grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the[†]BeautifulLand.10Then it grew up to the host of heaven and caused some of the host and some of the stars to fall to the earth, and it trampled them down.11And it even magnifieditself[†]to be equal with the[†]Commander of the host; and it removed the regular sacrifice from Him, and the place of His sanctuary was thrown down.12And on account of transgression the host will be given overto the horn along with the regular sacrifice; and it will throw truth down to the ground and doits will and succeed.13Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to that particular one who was speaking, “How long will the visionabout the regular sacrifice apply,[†]while the transgression causes desolation, so as to allow both the holy place and the host[†]to be trampled?”14He said to me, “For 2,300 eveningsand mornings; then the holy place will be[†]made righteous.”
Daniel Seeks to Understand the Vision
15Now it happened when I, Daniel, had seen the vision, that I sought[†]to understand it; and behold, standing before me was one[†]who had the appearance of a man.16And I heard the voice of a man betweenthe banks of Ulai, and he called out and said, “Gabriel, give thisman an understanding of what has appeared.”17So he came near to where I was standing, and when he came I was terrified and fell on my face; but he said to me, “Son of man, understand that the vision pertains to the time of the end.”
18Now while he was talking with me, I sank into a deep sleep with my face to the ground; but he touched me and made me stand[†]upright.19Then he said, “Behold, I am going to let you know what will happen at the final period of the indignation, forit pertains to the appointed time of the end.20The ram which you saw with the two horns is the kings of Media and Persia.21Now the shaggy[†]goat is the[†]king of Greece, and the large horn that is between his eyes is the first king.22And the brokenhorn and the fourhorns that stood in its placeare four kingdomswhich willtake their stand fromhis nation, although not with his power.
23In the latter period of their[†]reign,
When the transgressors have[†]runtheir course,
A king will stand,
[†]Insolent and skilled in[†]intrigue.
24His power will be mighty, but not by hisown power,
And he will[†]destroy to an[†]astonishing degree
And succeed and dohis will;
He will[†]destroy mighty men and[†]the holy people.
25And through his insight
He will cause deceit to succeed by his hand;
And he will magnifyhimself in his heart,
And he will[†]destroy many whilethey are[†]at ease.
He will even stand against the Prince of princes,
But he will be broken without hands.
26And what had appeared about the evenings and mornings
Which has been told is true;
But as for you, conceal the vision,
Forit pertains to many daysin the future.”
27Then I, Daniel, was[†]exhausted and sick for days. Then I rose upagain and did the king’s work; but I was appalled at what had appeared, and there was none to makeme understandit.
1 Lit
I, Daniel1 Lit
at the beginning2 Or
River3 Or
river3 Lit
high(er)3 Lit
high(er)3 Lit
high(er)4 Lit
hand5 Lit
buck6 Or
river7 Lit
before7 Lit
hand8 Or the
sky9 Israel
11 Lit
up to the11 Or
Prince13 Or possibly
and the transgression that horrifies13 Lit
as a trampling14 Or
properly restored15 Lit
understanding15 Lit
like the appearance of a man18 Lit
on my standing21 Lit
buck21 Or
kingdom23 Or
kingdom23 Lit
finished23 Lit
Strong of face23 Or
ambiguous speech24 Or
corrupt24 Or
wondrous; lit
extraordinary24 Or
corrupt24 Lit
people of the saints, cf. 7:27
25 Or
corrupt25 Or
secure27 Or
done in