Daniel 7

¹ In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream and visions in his mind as he lay in bed. Then he wrote down the dream and gave the main points of what he had seen.

² Daniel spoke and said, “I was watching in my vision at night, and the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea.

³ Four great beasts came up out of the sea, each different from the others.

⁴ The first was like a lion and had the wings of an eagle. As I watched, its wings were torn off; it was lifted from the ground, made to stand on two feet like a man, and given a human heart.

⁵ Then there was another beast, a second one, like a bear. It was raised up on one side, and it had three ribs in its mouth, between its teeth. They said to it, ‘Get up and eat plenty of meat.’

⁶ After that I was watching, and there was another beast, like a leopard. It had four wings of a bird on its back, and the beast had four heads. It was given authority to rule.

⁷ After that I was watching in the visions of the night, and there was a fourth beast, terrifying, dreadful, and exceedingly strong. It had large iron teeth; it devoured, crushed, and trampled the rest under its feet. It was different from all the beasts that came before it, and it had ten horns.

⁸ I was watching the horns, and there was another horn, a small one, coming up among them. Three of the first horns were pulled out by the roots in front of it. This horn had eyes like human eyes and a mouth that spoke grand things.

⁹ I was watching until thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was white as snow, and the hair on his head was like pure wool. His throne was flames of fire, and its wheels were blazing fire.

¹⁰ A river of fire flowed out from before him. Thousands upon thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court took its seat, and the books were opened.

¹¹ I was watching because of the sound of the grand words the horn was speaking. I kept watching until the beast was killed, its body destroyed, and it was handed over to be burned in the fire.

¹² As for the rest of the beasts, their authority to rule was taken away, but they were granted an extension of life for a time and a season.

¹³ I was watching in the visions of the night, and there, with the clouds of heaven, someone like a son of man was coming. He approached the Ancient of Days, and they brought him before him.

¹⁴ He was given authority, honor, and a kingdom, so that all peoples, nations, and languages would serve him. His authority is an everlasting authority that will not pass away, and his kingdom will never be destroyed.”

¹⁵ “I, Daniel, was distressed in my spirit within my body, and the visions in my mind terrified me.

¹⁶ I approached one of those standing there and asked him the truth about all this. He spoke to me and made known to me the interpretation of the words:

¹⁷ ‘These great beasts, which are four, are four kings who will rise up from the earth.

¹⁸ But the holy ones of the Most High will receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, for all eternity.’

¹⁹ Then I wanted to know the truth about the fourth beast, which was different from all the others, exceedingly terrifying, with iron teeth and bronze claws. It devoured, crushed, and trampled the rest under its feet.

²⁰ I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head, and about the other horn that came up, before which three fell. It was the horn that had eyes and a mouth speaking grand things, and whose appearance was greater than that of its companions.

²¹ I was watching, and that horn was making war against the holy ones and prevailing over them,

²² until the Ancient of Days came and judgment was given in favor of the holy ones of the Most High. The appointed time arrived, and the holy ones took possession of the kingdom.

²³ He said this: ‘The fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom on earth, different from all the kingdoms. It will devour the whole earth, trample it down, and crush it.

²⁴ The ten horns are ten kings who will rise from that kingdom. After them another king will rise, different from the first ones, and he will bring down three kings.

²⁵ He will speak words against the Most High and wear down the holy ones of the Most High. He will intend to change the appointed times and the law, and they will be handed over to him for a time, times, and half a time.

²⁶ But the court will sit, and his authority to rule will be taken away, to destroy him and bring him to an end forever.

²⁷ Then the kingdom, authority, and greatness of the kingdoms under all heaven will be given to the people of the holy ones of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all authorities will serve and obey him.’

²⁸ Here ends the account. I, Daniel, was greatly terrified by my thoughts, and my face changed, but I kept the matter in my heart.”

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