Daniel 7
Daniel’s Vision of the Four Beasts
1In the first year of the reign of Belshazzar over Babylon, Daniel had a dream, and visions passed through his mind as he lay on his bed. He wrote down the dream, and this is the summary of his account.
1In 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.
4The first beast was like a lion, and it had the wings of an eagle. I watched until its wings were torn off and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man and given the mind of a man.
4The 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.
5Suddenly another beast appeared, which looked like a bear. It was raised up on one of its sides, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. So it was told, ‘Get up and gorge yourself on flesh!’
5And 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!’
6Next, as I watched, suddenly another beast appeared. It was like a leopard, and on its back it had four wings like those of a bird. The beast also had four heads, and it was given authority to rule.
6After 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.
7After this, as I watched in my vision in the night, suddenly a fourth beast appeared, and it was terrifying—dreadful and extremely strong—with large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed; then it trampled underfoot whatever was left. It was different from all the beasts before it, and it had ten horns.
7After 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.
8While I was contemplating the horns, suddenly another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. This horn had eyes like those of a man and a mouth that spoke words of arrogance.
8I 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.
Daniel’s Vision of the Ancient of Days
9As I continued to watch,
thrones were set in place,
and the Ancient of Days took His seat.
His clothing was white as snow,
and the hair of His head was like pure wool.
His throne was flaming with fire,
and its wheels were all ablaze.
9I 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;
10A river of fire was flowing,
coming out from His presence.
Thousands upon thousands attended Him,
and myriads upon myriads stood before Him.
The court was convened,
and the books were opened.
10A 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.
11Then I kept watching because of the arrogant words the horn was speaking. As I continued to watch, the beast was slain, and its body was destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire.
11I 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.
Daniel’s Vision of the Son of Man
13In my vision in the night I continued to watch,
and I saw One like the Son of Mana
coming with the clouds of heaven.b
He approached the Ancient of Days
and was led into His presence.
13I 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.
14And He was given dominion,
glory, and kingship,
that the people of every nation and language
should serve Him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that will not pass away,
and His kingdom is one
that will never be destroyed.
14And 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!
Daniel’s Visions Interpreted
16I approached one of those who were standing there, and I asked him the true meaning of all this.
So he told me the interpretation of these things:
16I 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.
19Then I wanted to know the true meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others—extremely terrifying—devouring and crushing with iron teeth and bronze claws, then trampling underfoot whatever was left.
19Then I wished to know about the fourth beast, which was different from them all, exceedingly fearsome, with its teeth of iron and its claws of bronze, devouring, breaking into pieces, and trampling the remainder with its feet,
20I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head and the other horn that came up, before which three of them fell—the horn whose appearance was more imposing than the others, with eyes and with a mouth that spoke words of arrogance.
20and about the ten horns that were on its head, and the other that came up, and how fell from before it three, and this horn with eyes unto it, and a mouth speaking great things, and its appearance greater than its companions.
22until the Ancient of Days arrived and pronounced judgment in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for them to possess the kingdom.
22until that the Ancient of Days came and judgment was made for the saints of the Most High, and the time was reached for the saints to possess the kingdom.
23This is what he said: ‘The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on the earth, different from all the other kingdoms, and it will devour the whole earth, trample it down, and crush it.
23Thus he said: ‘The fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom on the earth, which shall be different from all the kingdoms; It will devour all the earth, and will trample it, and break it in pieces.
24And the ten horns are ten kings who will rise from this kingdom. After them another king, different from the earlier ones, will rise and subdue three kings.
24And the ten horns: From the kingdom, ten kings will arise; and another will arise after them, and he will be different from the former, and three kings he will bring low.
25He will speak out against the Most High and oppress the saints of the Most High, intending to change the appointed times and laws; and the saints will be given into his hand for a time, and times, and half a time.
25And he will speak words against the Most High, and the saints of the Most High he will wear out, and he will intend to change the times and the law; they will be given into his hand for a time, and times, and half a time.
27Then the sovereignty, dominion, and greatness of the kingdoms under all of heaven will be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will serve and obey Him.’
27And the kingdom, and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under all the heavens shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; His kingdom is a kingdom everlasting, and all dominions will serve and will obey Him.’