LXX Daniel

Daniel and His Companions at Court

1 In the third year of King Jehoiakim of Judea, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 The Lord handed it over to him, along with King Jehoiakim of Judea and some of the Lord’s sacred vessels. He carried them to Babylon and placed them in his idol temple.

3 The king told Abiesdri, his own chief eunuch, to bring him some sons of Israel’s leading men, from the royal family and from the elite, 4 young men without defects, handsome, knowledgeable in all wisdom, literate, discerning, wise, and strong enough to be in the king’s house, and to teach them writing and the Chaldean language. 5 They were to receive a daily allowance from the king’s house, from the royal table and from the wine the king drinks. They were to be educated for three years, and some of them were to stand before the king.

6 Among those descended from the sons of Israel from Judea were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. 7 The chief eunuch named Daniel Belshazzar, Hananiah Shadrach, Mishael Meshach, and Azariah Abednego.

The Test of the Food

8 Daniel resolved in his heart not to be defiled by the king’s dinner and the wine he drinks. He asked the chief eunuch to keep him from being contaminated. 9 The Lord gave Daniel honor and favor before the chief eunuch.

10 The chief eunuch said to Daniel, “I am worried about my lord the king, who assigned your food and drink. He may see your faces looking changed and weak compared with the young foreigners being raised with you, and I will risk my own neck!”

11 Daniel said to Abiesdri, the chief eunuch appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 “Please test your servants for ten days. Give us some legumes from the earth to gulp down, and water to drink. 13 If our appearance seems changed compared with the other young men eating the royal dinner, treat your servants however you wish.”

14 He treated them this way and tested them for ten days. 15 After the ten days, their appearance was good and their physical condition better than that of the other young men eating the royal dinner. 16 Abiesdri kept taking away their dinner and wine and gave them legumes instead.

The Young Men’s Wisdom

17 The Lord gave the young men knowledge, understanding, and insight in every literary art. He gave Daniel understanding in every matter, vision, and dream, and in all wisdom.

18 After these days, the king ordered them brought in, and the chief eunuch brought them before King Nebuchadnezzar. 19 The king talked with them, and among the wise no one was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. They stayed with the king. 20 In every matter of understanding and education the king asked about, he found them ten times wiser than the scholars and philosophers throughout his kingdom. The king honored them, appointed them rulers, and declared them wiser than all his own men in affairs throughout his land and kingdom. 21 Daniel remained until the first year of the reign of Cyrus, king of the Persians.

The King’s Dream

1 In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar the king had visions and dreams. His dream disturbed him, and his sleep left him. 2 The king ordered the enchanters and the magi and the sorcerers of the Chaldeans brought in to tell him his dreams. They came and stood before him.

3 The king said to them, “I have had a dream, and my spirit was stirred. I want to understand the dream.”

4 The Chaldeans spoke to the king in Syriac, “My lord the king, live forever! Tell your servants your dream, and we will explain its meaning.”

5 The king answered the Chaldeans, “If you do not tell me the dream accurately and explain its meaning to me, you will be made an example, and your possessions will be taken into the royal treasury. 6 But if you explain the dream and its meaning to me, you will receive all kinds of gifts and I will honor you. Show me the dream and explain it.”

7 They answered a second time, “King, tell us the vision, and your servants will explain its meaning.”

8 The king said to them, “I know for certain that you are buying time, because you have seen that the matter has left me. What I have ordered will happen. 9 If you do not tell me the dream accurately and explain its meaning, you will face death. You have conspired to tell me lies until the situation changes. So if you tell me what I saw during the night, I will know that you can also explain its meaning.”

10 The Chaldeans answered the king, “No one on earth can tell the king what he has seen, as you ask. No king or ruler asks such a thing of any wise man, magus, or Chaldean. 11 What you are asking, King, is difficult and extraordinary. No one can explain these things to the king except an angel, who does not live among flesh. So it cannot be done as you suppose.”

12 Then the king grew gloomy and deeply saddened. He ordered all the wise men of Babylonia brought out. 13 A decree ordered them all killed. A search was made for Daniel and all his companions so they could be killed along with them.

Daniel Seeks Help

14 Then Daniel told the plan and opinion he had to Arioch the king’s chief cook, whom the king had ordered to bring out the scholars of Babylonia. 15 He asked him, “Why is this decree from the king so harsh?” Arioch explained the order to Daniel.

16 Daniel quickly went in to the king and asked him for time so he could explain everything to him.

17 Then Daniel went home and told everything to Hananiah and Mishael and Azariah, his companions. 18 He urged them to seek fasting and pleading and help from the Most High Lord concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and those with him would not be handed over to destruction along with the scholars of Babylon. 19 Then the mystery of the king was clearly revealed to Daniel in a vision that very night. Daniel blessed the Most High Lord,

Daniel’s Prayer

20 and cried out, “May the great Lord’s name be blessed forever, for wisdom and greatness are his. 21 He changes times and seasons, removes kings and appoints them, gives wisdom to the wise and understanding to the knowledgeable. 22 He reveals deep and hidden things, knows what is in darkness and what is in light, and with him is release. 23 To you, Lord of my ancestors, I give thanks and praise. You have given me wisdom and insight and have made known all I asked, so I can explain this matter to the king.”

Daniel Before the King

24 Daniel went in to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to kill all the scholars of Babylonia, and said to him, “Do not destroy the scholars of Babylonia! Bring me to the king, and I will explain every detail to him.”

25 Arioch quickly brought Daniel in to the king and said to him, “I have found a wise man among the captives from Judea who will explain every detail to the king.”

26 The king answered Daniel, who was called Belshazzar in Chaldean, “Can you explain the vision I saw and its meaning?”

27 Daniel cried out before the king, “Explaining the mystery the king has seen is beyond wise men, sorcerers, enchanters, and astrologers. 28 But there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, He has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what must happen in the last days. King, live forever! This is the dream and the vision in your head as you lay on your bed. 29 As you lay on your bed, King, you saw all that must happen in the last days. He who reveals mysteries has shown you what must happen. 30 This mystery was also revealed to me. It was not because I have greater wisdom than anyone else. It was made known to me so I could explain to the king the thoughts you formed in your heart.

The Image in the Dream

31 “You, King, saw an image. This image was very large and stood before you. Its appearance was extraordinary and frightening. 32 Its head was fine gold, its chest and arms silver, its belly and thighs bronze, 33 its legs iron, and its feet partly iron and partly earthenware. 34 As you watched, a stone was cut from a mountain without hands. It struck the image’s feet of iron and earthenware and ground them to powder. 35 Then the iron, earthenware, bronze, silver, and gold were ground up together, finer than chaff on a threshing floor. The wind blew them away, leaving nothing. The stone that struck the image became a great mountain and struck the whole earth.

The Meaning of the Dream

36 “This is the vision. We will also explain its meaning before the king. 37 You, King, are king of kings. The Lord of heaven has given you authority, kingdom, strength, honor, and glory. 38 Throughout the world, he has handed humans, wild animals, birds of the sky, and fish of the sea over to you, to rule them all. You are the head of gold. 39 After you, a kingdom smaller than yours will arise, and then another, a third kingdom of bronze, which will rule the whole earth. 40 There will be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron, which subdues everything and cuts down every tree. The whole earth will be shaken. 41 As you saw its feet partly of potter’s earthenware and partly of iron, another kingdom will be divided in two within it, just as you saw iron mixed with clay pottery. 42 The toes were partly iron and partly earthenware. Part of the kingdom will be strong and part will be crushed. 43 As you saw iron mixed with clay pottery, they will be mixed in the human race. They will neither be of one mind nor be well disposed toward each other, just as iron cannot blend with earthenware. 44 In the times of these kings, the God of heaven will establish another kingdom that will last forever and will not be destroyed. This kingdom will not allow another nation. It will strike and wipe out these kingdoms and stand forever. 45 Just as you saw a stone cut from a mountain without hands that crushed the earthenware, iron, bronze, silver, and gold, the great God has shown the king what will happen in the last days. The vision is accurate, and its meaning is trustworthy.”

The King Honors Daniel

46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell facedown on the ground, bowed before Daniel, and ordered sacrifices and drink offerings made to him. 47 The king cried out to Daniel, “Your God truly is God of gods and Lord of kings! He alone brings hidden mysteries to light, since you were able to explain this mystery.” 48 Then King Nebuchadnezzar honored Daniel, gave him many great gifts, put him in charge of the affairs of Babylonia, and appointed him ruler and leader of all its scholars. 49 Daniel asked the king to put Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in charge of the affairs of Babylonia. Daniel was in the royal court.

The Golden Image

1 In the eighteenth year King Nebuchadnezzar, who governed cities and countries and all who lived on the earth from India to Ethiopia, made an image of gold. It was sixty cubits high and six cubits wide. He set it up on the plain of the enclosure in the region of Babylonia. 2 Nebuchadnezzar, king of kings and lord of the whole world, sent to gather all the nations and tribes and languages, satraps, generals, governors and consuls, administrators, and those in authority in each country, and all who were throughout the world, to come to the dedication of the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 3 Those listed above stood before the image.

4 The herald announced to the crowds, “This is your command, nations and countries, peoples and languages. 5 When you hear the sound of the trumpet, pipe and lyre, triangular harp and harp, ensemble and every kind of musical instrument, fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. 6 Anyone who does not fall down and worship, will be thrown into the blazing furnace.”

7 At that time, when all the nations heard the sound of the trumpet and all the sounds of musical instruments, all the nations, tribes and languages fell down and worshiped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up there.

The Three Men Are Accused

8 At that time Chaldean men came forward and slandered the Jews. 9 They spoke up, “My lord the king, live forever! 10 You, King, ordered and decreed that everyone who hears the sound of the trumpet and all the sounds of musical instruments should fall down and worship the golden image. 11 Anyone who does not fall down and worship will be thrown into the blazing furnace. 12 But there are some Jewish men you appointed over the region of Babylonia, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men have not feared your command, and they have not served your idol, and they have not worshiped your golden image that you set up.”

13 Then Nebuchadnezzar, furious with rage, ordered Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego brought in. Then the men were brought to the king.

14 King Nebuchadnezzar saw them and said, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, why do you not serve my gods or worship the golden image I set up? 15 Now, if you are ready, when you hear the trumpet and all the sounds of musical instruments, to fall down and worship the golden image that I set up... But if not, know that unless you worship, you will immediately be thrown into the blazing furnace. What god will rescue you from my hands?”

16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered King Nebuchadnezzar, “King, we do not need to answer you about this command. 17 There is a God in heaven, our one Lord, whom we fear. He can rescue us from the fiery furnace, and he will rescue us from your hands, King. 18 Then you will see clearly that we neither serve your idol nor worship your golden image that you set up.”

The Blazing Furnace

19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with rage, and his expression changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than it needed to be. 20 He ordered the strongest men in the army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego hand and foot and throw them into the blazing furnace. 21 Then the men were tied hand and foot, with their shoes on and their headdresses on their heads, together with their clothing, and they were thrown into the furnace. 22 Since the king’s command was urgent, and the furnace was heated seven times more than before, the men who were chosen bound them hand and foot, and brought them to the furnace, and threw them in. 23 So the flame burst out from the furnace and burned up and killed the men who bound Azariah and those with him. But Azariah and his companions were kept safe.

The Prayer in the Fire

24 So Hananiah and Azariah and Mishael prayed and sang hymns to the Lord, when the king ordered them thrown into the furnace. 25 Azariah stood and prayed this way. He opened his mouth and gave thanks to the Lord together with his companions in the middle of the fire as the Chaldeans heated the furnace intensely. They said,

26 “You are blessed, Lord, the God of our ancestors, and your name is to be praised and glorified forever. 27 You are just in everything you have done to us, and all your works are true, and your ways are straight, and all your judgments are true. 28 You have carried out true judgments in all that you have brought on us and on your holy city, Jerusalem, the city of our ancestors. In fact, in truth and justice you have done all these things because of our sins.

29 We have sinned in everything and broken the law by turning away from you. We have sinned greatly in everything and have not obeyed the commands of your law. 30 We have neither kept them nor done as you commanded so that things would go well for us. 31 Everything you have brought on us and everything you have done to us, you have done with true judgment. 32 You handed us over to our enemies, lawless and most hateful rebels, and to an unjust king, the most wicked in the whole world. 33 We cannot open our mouths. Shame and disgrace have come on your servants and on those who worship you.

34 Do not abandon us completely, for the sake of your name, and do not break your covenant. 35 Do not take your mercy from us, for the sake of Abraham, whom you love, and Isaac your servant, and Israel your holy one. 36 You told them you would make their descendants as numerous as the stars of heaven and the sand on the seashore.

37 Master, we have become fewer than all the nations, and we are humbled throughout the earth today because of our sins. 38 At this time there is no ruler and prophet, nor leader, nor burnt offering, nor sacrifice, nor offering, nor incense, nor place to make an offering before you and to find mercy. 39 But with a crushed soul and a humbled spirit may we be accepted, as with burnt offerings of rams and bulls, and as with tens of thousands of fat lambs. 40 May our sacrifice come before you today and make atonement as it follows you, for those who trust in you suffer no shame. May it reach completion as it follows you.

41 Now we follow you with our whole heart, and we fear you, and we seek your face. Do not put us to shame. 42 Deal with us with your gentleness and abundant mercy. 43 Rescue us through your wonders and bring glory to your name, Lord.

44 May all who show evil to your servants be bewildered and disgraced, stripped of all their power. May their strength be broken. 45 Let them know that you alone are the Lord God, and glorious over the whole world.”

The Angel in the Furnace

46 The king’s servants who threw them in kept heating the furnace. When they threw all three in at once, the furnace was red hot, seven times its usual heat. When they threw them in, those throwing them were above them, while the others stoked the fire beneath them with naphtha, loose flax fibers, pitch, and brushwood. 47 The flame poured out forty-nine cubits above the furnace. 48 It broke through and burned up the Chaldeans it found around the furnace. 49 An angel of the Lord came down into the furnace with Azariah and his companions, and shook the flame of the fire out of the furnace. 50 He made the inside of the furnace like a breeze whistling with dew.⁠a The fire did not touch them at all, hurt them, or bother them.

The Song of the Three

51 The three took up their song as if with one mouth, singing hymns, glorifying, blessing, and exalting God in the furnace. They said,

52 “You are blessed, Lord, the God of our ancestors, and to be praised and highly exalted forever. Blessed is your glorious holy name, praised above all and highly exalted for all ages. 53 You are blessed in the temple of your holy glory, and to be praised in song and glorified above all forever. 54 You are blessed on the throne of your kingdom, and to be praised in song and highly exalted forever. 55 You are blessed who look into the depths, seated on the cherubim, and to be praised and glorified forever. 56 You are blessed in the vault of heaven, and to be praised in song and glorified forever.

57 Bless the Lord, all works of the Lord. Sing hymns to him and exalt him above all forever. 58 Bless the Lord, angels of the Lord. Sing hymns to him and exalt him above all forever. 59 Bless the Lord, heavens. Sing hymns to him and exalt him above all forever. 60 Bless the Lord, all waters above heaven. Sing hymns to him and exalt him above all forever. 61 Bless the Lord, all powers of the Lord. Sing hymns to him and exalt him above all forever. 62 Bless the Lord, sun and moon. Sing hymns to him and exalt him above all forever. 63 Bless the Lord, stars of heaven. Sing hymns to him and exalt him above all forever. 64 Bless the Lord, every shower and dew. Sing hymns to him and exalt him above all forever.

65 Bless the Lord, all winds. Sing hymns to him and exalt him above all forever. 66 Bless the Lord, fire and heat. Sing hymns to him and exalt him above all forever. 67 Bless the Lord, frost and cold. Sing hymns to him and exalt him above all forever. 68 Bless the Lord, dews and snowstorms. Sing hymns to him and exalt him above all forever. 69 Bless the Lord, ice and cold. Sing hymns to him and exalt him above all forever. 70 Bless the Lord, hoarfrost and snow. Sing hymns to him and exalt him above all forever. 71 Bless the Lord, nights and days. Sing hymns to him and exalt him above all forever. 72 Bless the Lord, light and darkness. Sing hymns to him and exalt him above all forever. 73 Bless the Lord, lightning and clouds. Sing hymns to him and exalt him above all forever.

74 Let the earth bless the Lord. Let it sing hymns to him and exalt him above all forever. 75 Bless the Lord, mountains and hills. Sing hymns to him and exalt him above all forever. 76 Bless the Lord, everything growing on the earth. Sing hymns to him and exalt him above all forever. 77 Bless the Lord, springs. Sing hymns to him and exalt him above all forever. 78 Bless the Lord, seas and rivers. Sing hymns to him and exalt him above all forever. 79 Bless the Lord, sea monsters and everything moving in the waters. Sing hymns to him and exalt him above all forever. 80 Bless the Lord, all birds of the sky. Sing hymns to him and exalt him above all forever. 81 Bless the Lord, four-footed creatures and wild animals of the earth. Sing hymns to him and exalt him above all forever.

82 Bless the Lord, sons of humankind. Sing hymns to him and exalt him above all forever. 83 Bless the Lord, Israel. Sing hymns to him and exalt him above all forever. 84 Bless the Lord, priests. Sing hymns to him and exalt him above all forever. 85 Bless the Lord, servants. Sing hymns to him and exalt him above all forever. 86 Bless the Lord, spirits and souls of the righteous. Sing hymns to him and exalt him above all forever. 87 Bless the Lord, those who are holy and humble in heart. Sing hymns to him and exalt him above all forever.

88 Bless the Lord, Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael. Sing hymns to him and exalt him above all forever. For he has rescued us from Hades, and saved us from the hand of death, and delivered us from the middle of the burning flame, and redeemed us from the fire.

89 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy is forever. 90 Bless the God of gods, all who worship him. Sing hymns and give thanks, for his mercy is forever and forever and ever.”

The King Honors Their God

91 When the king heard them singing hymns, and stood and saw them alive, King Nebuchadnezzar was amazed. He rose quickly and said to his friends, 92 “Look! I see four men unbound, walking in the fire, and no harm has come to them, and the appearance of the fourth is like an angel of God.”

93 The king approached the door of the blazing furnace and called them by name, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the God of gods, the Most High, come out of the fire!” The men came out from the middle of the fire.

94 The consuls, governors, heads of families, and the king’s friends gathered. They saw that the fire had not touched the men’s bodies, their hair was not burned, their trousers were unchanged, and they had no smell of fire on them.

95 King Nebuchadnezzar answered, “Blessed is the Lord, the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who sent his angel and saved his servants who trusted in him. They disregarded the command of the king, and gave up their bodies to burning, to avoid serving or worshiping any god except their own. 96 I decree that among every nation, tribe, and language, whoever blasphemes against the Lord, the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, will be torn limb from limb, and his house will be confiscated. No other god can rescue in this way.”

97 The king gave Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego authority over the whole region, and appointed them rulers.

The King’s Dream of a Tree

4 In the eighteenth year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar said, “I was at peace in my home, prospering on my throne. 5 I had a dream and was alarmed. Fear fell on me.

10 “As I slept, I saw a tall tree growing on the earth. It was immense, and no other tree was like it. 11 It was immense. Its top reached heaven and its trunk the clouds, filling the space beneath heaven. The sun and moon lived in it and lit the whole earth. 12 Its branches were about thirty stadia long. All the earth’s wild animals found shade beneath it, and the birds of the sky nested in it. Its fruit was abundant and good, and it fed every living creature.

13 I watched in my sleep, and an angel was sent in power from heaven.

14 He called out to it, ‘Cut it down and destroy it! The Most High has ordered it uprooted and made useless.’

15 He said this, ‘Leave one of its roots in the ground so he can feed on grass like an ox with the earth’s wild animals in the mountains. 16 May his body be changed by the dew of heaven, and may he graze with them for seven years, 17 until he knows that the Lord of heaven has authority over everything in heaven and on the earth, and does whatever he wishes among them.’

17a It was cut down before me in one day and destroyed in one hour of the day. Its branches were scattered to every wind. It was dragged and thrown away. He ate the earth’s grass with the earth’s wild animals, was handed over to prison, and was bound by them in shackles and bronze handcuffs. I was utterly amazed by all this, and sleep left my eyes.

Daniel Explains the Dream

18 “I got up from my bed in the morning and called Daniel, the ruler of the scholars and leader of the dream interpreters. I told him the dream, and he explained its entire meaning.

19 Daniel was utterly amazed, and a sense of dread pressed on him. He was afraid, gripped by trembling, and his expression changed. He shook his head and remained amazed for an hour, then answered me in a gentle voice, ‘King, may this dream come on those who hate you, and its meaning on your enemies. 20 The tree planted in the earth, so immense in appearance, is you, King. 21 And all the birds of the sky that nest in it, the strength of the earth and the nations and all the languages to the ends of the earth, and all the regions serve you.

22 As for the tree rising toward heaven, with its trunk touching the clouds, you, King, were raised above everyone on the face of the whole earth. Your heart rose in pride and power against the Holy One and his angels. Your deeds were seen, how you devastated the living God’s house because of the consecrated people’s sins. 23 In the vision you saw, an angel was sent in power by the Lord and said to remove the tree and cut it down. The great God’s judgment will come on you. 24 The Most High and his angels are pursuing you.

25 They will take you to prison and send you to a deserted place. 26 As for the root of the tree that was left and not uprooted, the place of your throne will be kept for you for a season and an hour. Look! They are preparing against you. They will whip you and bring the decreed things on you.

27 The Lord lives in heaven, and his authority is over all the earth. Pray to him about your sins and redeem all your wrongdoing by giving to the poor, so you may receive gentleness, live many days on your royal throne, and escape his destruction. Cherish these words, for my word is accurate and your time is complete.’”

The Judgment on the King

28 When the words ended and Nebuchadnezzar heard the interpretation of the vision, he kept these words in his heart.

29 After twelve months the king was walking on the walls of the city with all his glory, and walking along its towers. 30 He spoke up, “This is Babylon the great, that I built! It will be called my royal house through the might of my strength, to honor my glory.”

31 As his speech ended, he heard a voice from heaven, “This is said to you, King Nebuchadnezzar! The kingdom of Babylon has been taken away from you, and is given to another, a despised man in your house. Look! I am appointing him over your kingdom, and he will receive your authority and your glory and your luxury, so that you may know that the God of heaven has authority over the kingdom of humans, and will give it to whomever he wishes. By sunrise, another king will rejoice in your house and take your glory and your strength and your authority. 32 The angels will pursue you for seven years, and you will not be seen or speak with anyone. They will feed you grass like an ox, and you will graze on the green grass of the earth. Look! In place of your glory, they will bind you, and someone else will have your luxurious house and your kingdom. 33 By morning, everything will be fulfilled against you, Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. None of these things will fail.”

The King’s Captivity

33a “I, Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, was bound for seven years. They fed me grass like an ox, and I ate the green grass of the earth. After seven years I devoted my soul to pleading, and I petitioned about my sins before the Lord the God of heaven, and about my acts of ignorance I prayed to the great God of gods. 33b My hair became like the wings of an eagle, my nails like those of a lion. My flesh and heart changed. I walked naked with the earth’s wild animals. I had a dream, and dread gripped me. After a while, a deep sleep overtook me, and drowsiness fell on me.

34 At the end of the seven years the time of my redemption came, and my sins and acts of ignorance were fulfilled before the God of heaven. I prayed about my acts of ignorance to the great God of gods, One angel called to me from heaven, ‘Nebuchadnezzar, serve the holy God of heaven, and give glory to the Most High. The kingdom of your nation is given back to you.’

The Kingdom Restored

36 “At that time my kingdom was restored to me, and my glory was given back to me.

37 “I acknowledge the Most High and praise the one who created heaven, earth, seas, rivers, and everything in them. I give thanks and praise, for he is God of gods, Lord of lords, and King of kings. He performs signs and wonders and changes times and seasons, taking away kings’ rule and appointing others in their place.

37a “From now on I will serve him, and trembling has gripped me out of fear of him, and I praise all his holy ones. The nations’ gods have no power in themselves to transfer one king’s kingdom to another, to kill and make alive, to perform signs and great, terrifying wonders, or to change immense things, as the God of heaven did with me. He changed great things about me. Every day of my reign, for my life, I will bring sacrifices to the Most High as a sweet fragrance to the Lord, and I will do what pleases him, I and my people, my nation and my regions under my authority. I will condemn to death those who have spoken against the God of heaven and those caught saying anything.”

The King’s Letters

37b King Nebuchadnezzar wrote a circular letter to all the nations in every place, and to the countries and all the languages living in all the countries, for generation after generation, “Praise the Lord the God of heaven, and gloriously bring him sacrifice and offering. I, king of kings, gloriously acknowledge him because he has acted this way toward me. That very day he seated me on my throne, and I took hold of my authority and my kingdom among my people, and my majesty was restored to me.

37c “King Nebuchadnezzar, to all the nations and all the countries and all their inhabitants. May your peace multiply at all times! I will show you the deeds the great God has done with me. I thought it right to show you and your scholars that God exists and his wonders are great. His kingdom is an eternal kingdom, his authority from generation to generation.” He sent letters about everything that had happened to him during his reign to all the nations under his rule.

The Feast and Its Sign

King Belshazzar made a great feast on the day of the dedication of his palace, and he invited two thousand of his nobles. On that day Belshazzar, elated by wine and boasting, praised all the cast and carved gods of the nations in his place, and did not give praise to the Most High God. That very night, fingers like a person’s appeared and wrote on the wall of his house, on the plaster, opposite the lamp: “Mene, Peres, Tekel.” This is their meaning. Mene, it has been numbered. Peres, it has been taken away. Tekel, it is established.

1 King Belshazzar made a great banquet for his companions, and he drank wine. 2 His heart grew proud, and he ordered to bring the gold and silver vessels of the house of God, that his father Nebuchadnezzar had brought from Jerusalem, and to pour wine in them for his companions. 3 The vessels were brought, and they drank from them. 4 They blessed their handmade idols but did not bless the eternal God, who had authority over their spirit.

The Writing on the Wall

5 At that very hour, fingers like those of a human hand appeared and wrote on the wall of his house, on the plaster, opposite the light, facing King Belshazzar. He saw a hand writing. 6 His expression changed, and fear and dread pressed hard on him. So the king hurriedly stood up and looked at that writing, and his companions around him were boasting.

7 The king loudly called for the enchanters and sorcerers and Chaldeans and astrologers to explain the meaning of the writing. They came to look at the writing, but they could not explain it to the king. The king issued a decree. Anyone who explained the writing’s meaning would be dressed in purple and given a gold necklace and authority over a third of the kingdom. 8 The enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologers came in, but no one could explain the writing’s meaning.

9 Then the king summoned the queen about the sign and showed her how large it was and that no one could explain its meaning to him.

Daniel Is Summoned

10 Then the queen reminded him of Daniel, one of the captives from Judea.

11 She said to the king, “The man was knowledgeable and wise, and surpassed all the wise men of Babylon. 12 A holy spirit is in him. In the days of your father the king he explained extraordinary meanings to Nebuchadnezzar your father.”

13 Then Daniel was brought in to the king, and the king addressed him,

16 “Daniel, can you explain the writing’s meaning to me? I will dress you in purple, put a gold necklace on you, and give you authority over a third of my kingdom.”

Daniel Explains the Writing

17 Then Daniel stood before the writing and read it, and answered the king this way, “This is the writing. It has been numbered. It has been tallied. It has been taken away. The writing hand stopped. This is their meaning.

23 “King, you made a banquet for your friends, and you drank wine, and the vessels from the living God’s house were brought to you, and you drank from them, you and your nobles, and you praised all the idols made by human hands, and you did not bless the living God. Your spirit is in his hand, and he himself gave you your kingdom. You did not bless or praise him.

26 “This is the writing’s meaning. The time of your reign has been numbered. Your kingdom is ending. It has been cut short and finished. Your kingdom is being given to the Medes and Persians.”

The Kingdom Is Taken Away

29 Then King Belshazzar dressed Daniel in purple, and put a gold necklace on him, and gave him authority over a third of his kingdom. 30 The meaning came true for King Belshazzar, and the kingdom was taken away from the Chaldeans and was given to the Medes and to the Persians.

Daniel and the Royal Decree

1 Artaxerxes of the Medes received the kingdom, and Darius was advanced in years and honored in his old age. 2 He appointed 127 satraps over all his kingdom, 3 with three men as their leaders. Daniel was one of these three men, 4 with authority over everyone in the kingdom. Daniel was dressed in purple, and great and distinguished before King Darius, since he was distinguished, knowledgeable, and discerning, and a holy spirit was in him, and he succeeded in the king’s business that he handled. Then the king decided to put Daniel over his whole kingdom, the two men appointed with him, and the 127 satraps.

5 When the king decided to put Daniel over his whole kingdom, the two young men discussed a plan and agreed among themselves, speaking to each other. They could find no sin or act of ignorance in Daniel to use in accusing him before the king. 6 They said, “Come, let us establish a decree among ourselves. For thirty days, no one may make any request or pray any prayer to any god except King Darius. Anyone who does will die.” They intended to bring Daniel down before the king and have him thrown into the lions’ pit, for they knew Daniel prayed and pleaded with the Lord his God three times a day.

7 The men came and said before the king,

8 “We have established a decree and a statute. Anyone who prays any prayer or makes any request of any god for thirty days, except King Darius, will be thrown into the lions’ pit.” 9 They asked the king to establish the decree and keep it unchanged. They knew Daniel prayed and pleaded three times a day and wanted him brought down through the king and thrown into the lions’ pit. 10 King Darius established and confirmed it.

Daniel Continues to Pray

11 When Daniel learned of the decree the king had established against him, he opened the windows of his upstairs room facing Jerusalem. He fell facedown and pleaded three times a day, as he had done before. 12 They watched Daniel and caught him praying three times a day, every day.

13 The men appealed to the king, “King Darius, did you not decree that no one may pray any prayer or make any request of any god for thirty days except you, King? Anyone who does will be thrown into the lions’ pit.” The king answered them, “That is accurate, and the decree stands.”

13a They told him, “We put you under oath by the decrees of the Medes and Persians. Do not change the order, show favoritism, or reduce anything that has been said. Punish the man who has not kept this decree.” He said, “I will do as you say. This has been established for me.”

14 They said, “Look! We found Daniel your friend praying and pleading before his God’s face three times a day.”

Daniel in the Lions’ Pit

15 The grieving king ordered Daniel thrown into the lions’ pit according to the decree he had established against him. The king was deeply distressed about Daniel and tried to rescue him from the satraps until sunset, 16 but he could not rescue him from them.

17 King Darius called out to Daniel, “Your God, whom you continually serve three times a day, will rescue you from the lions’ power. Be brave until morning!”

18 Then Daniel was thrown into the lions’ pit, and a stone was brought and placed over the pit’s opening, and the king sealed it with his own ring and with the rings of his nobles, so they could not remove Daniel and the king could not pull him out of the pit.

19 Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night fasting, grieving over Daniel. Daniel’s God cared for him, shut the lions’ mouths, and they did not bother Daniel.

Daniel Is Found Alive

20 King Darius got up early in the morning, and took the satraps with him, and stood at the opening of the lions’ pit. 21 The king called loudly to Daniel, weeping, “Daniel, are you alive then, and has your God, whom you serve continually, saved you from the lions, and have they not harmed you?”

22 Daniel responded to the loud voice and said, “King, I am still alive. 23 God has saved me from the lions, since righteousness was found in me before him. Before you too, King, neither an act of ignorance nor a sin was found in me. But you listened to men who lead kings astray, and you threw me into the lions’ pit to be destroyed.”

24 All the forces gathered and saw that the lions had not bothered Daniel. 25 The two men who testified against Daniel were thrown to the lions with their wives and children. The lions killed them and crushed their bones.

Darius’s Decree

26 Then Darius wrote to all the nations and regions and languages living in all his land, saying, 27 “Everyone in my kingdom must worship and serve Daniel’s God, for he is a God who endures and lives for generations upon generations, forever. 28 I, Darius, will worship and serve him all my days. Handmade idols cannot save as Daniel’s God rescued Daniel.” 29 King Darius was gathered to his people. Daniel was appointed over Darius’s kingdom, and Cyrus the Persian received his kingdom.

The Four Beasts

1 In the first year of the reign of Belshazzar over the region of Babylonia, Daniel saw a vision in his head as he lay on his bed. Then Daniel wrote down the vision he saw as the main points of an account.

2 “On my bed I watched in my sleep at night. The four winds of heaven fell on the great sea. 3 Four beasts rose from the sea, each different from the others. 4 The first was like a lioness, with wings like an eagle’s. I watched until her wings were plucked, and she was lifted up from the earth, and was set on human feet, and a human heart was given to her. 5 After her came another beast, like a bear. It stood on one side and had three ribs in its mouth. It said this, ‘Get up! Devour plenty of flesh!’ 6 After this I watched another beast, like a leopard, and four wings were stretched out over it, and the beast had four heads, and a tongue was given to it.

7 After this, in the night vision, I watched a fourth beast, terrifying and overwhelmingly powerful in its terror. It had large iron teeth and was eating and crushing, trampling all around with its feet. It behaved differently from all the beasts before it and had ten horns.⁠a 8 There were many plans in its horns. Another single horn grew among them, small among its horns. Three of the first horns were dried up by it. This horn had eyes like human eyes and a mouth speaking great things. It waged war against the holy ones.

The Heavenly Court

9 “I watched until thrones were set in place and an Ancient of Days sat down. His clothing was like snow, and the hair on his head like pure white wool. The throne was like a flame of fire. 10 A river of fire flowed out before him. A thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.⁠b The court sat, and books were opened.

11 I watched then at the sound of the great words the horn spoke. The beast was beaten to death, its body perished, and it was handed over to be burned with fire. 12 He removed those around him from their authority, and they were given a span of life until a time and season.

One Like a Son of Man

13 “I watched in the night vision. On the clouds of heaven one like a son of man was coming, and he was present as the Ancient of Days,⁠c and those standing by were present with him. 14 He was given authority, and all the earth’s nations according to their kinds, and all glory serving him. His authority is an eternal authority that will never be removed, and his kingdom will never be destroyed.

The Meaning of the Beasts

15 “I, Daniel, was exhausted by these things in the night vision. 16 I approached one of those standing by, and asked him for the exact truth about all these things. He answered me and explained the meaning of the words, 17 ‘These great beasts are four kingdoms that will disappear from the earth. 18 The Most High’s holy ones will receive the kingdom and possess it forever and forever and ever.’

19 “Then I wanted to learn exactly about the fourth beast, which destroyed everything and was extremely terrifying. Its teeth were iron and its claws bronze, devouring everything around and trampling with its feet. 20 I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head and the other one that grew up, causing three to fall. That horn had eyes and a mouth speaking great things, and its appearance surpassed the others. 21 I watched that horn waging war against the holy ones and routing them, 22 until the Ancient of Days came. He gave judgment to the Most High’s holy ones. The time was given, and the holy ones possessed the kingdom.

The Fourth Kingdom

23 I was told about the fourth beast, ‘There will be a fourth kingdom on earth, which will surpass the whole earth, throw it into turmoil, and grind it to pieces. 24 As for the kingdom’s ten horns, ten kings will arise, and another king will arise after them. He will surpass the earlier ones in evil and humble three kings. 25 He will speak words against the Most High and wear down the Most High’s holy ones. He will expect to change times and law. Everything will be handed over to him until a time and times and until half a time. 26 The court will sit, and they will destroy the authority and plan to defile and destroy completely. 27 He gave the kingdom, authority, their greatness, and the rule of all kingdoms under heaven to a holy people of the Most High, to reign over an eternal kingdom. All authorities will be subjected to him and obey him.’

28 “Until the account’s conclusion, I, Daniel, was gripped by great astonishment, and my physical condition changed within me. I fixed the matter in my heart.”

The Ram and the Goat

1 In the third year of the reign of Belshazzar, I, Daniel, saw a vision after the first one I had seen. 2 I saw it in my dream vision while I was in the city of Susa, in the region of Elymais, still by the gate of Elam. 3 Looking up, I saw one large ram standing opposite the gate, and it had horns, one taller than the other, and the taller one was growing. 4 After this I saw the ram butting east, north, west, and south, No beasts could stand before it, and no one could rescue anything from its grip. It did as it wished and rose high.

5 As I considered this, a male goat came from the west over the face of the earth, and did not touch the earth. The goat had a horn between its eyes. 6 It came at the horned ram I had seen standing by the gate and charged at it in furious rage. 7 I saw it advancing toward the ram in fury. It struck the ram and broke its two horns. The ram no longer had the strength to stand against the goat. The goat tore it to the ground and crushed it, and no one could rescue the ram from the goat. 8 The male goat grew extremely strong. When it had grown strong, its large horn broke, and four other horns grew behind it toward the four winds of heaven.

The Strong Horn

9 From one of them grew a single strong horn. It grew strong and struck south, east, and north. 10 It rose to the stars of heaven, was hurled from the stars to the earth, and was trampled by them, 11 until the commander in chief rescues the captives. Because of him, the ancient mountains were thrown down, and their place and sacrifice were taken away. He put it right down on the earth. It prospered, and it came about, and the sanctuary will be devastated. 12 Sins came on the sacrifice, and righteousness was thrown to the ground. It acted and prospered.

13 I heard another holy one speaking, and the other said to Palmoni, who was speaking, “How long will the vision last, the sacrifice that was taken away, the sin of devastation that was given, and the holy things left devastated to be trampled?”

14 He said to him, “Until evening and morning, 2,300 days. Then the sanctuary will be cleansed.”

Gabriel Explains the Vision

15 While I, Daniel, was watching the vision and trying to understand it, someone who looked like a man stood before me. 16 I heard a man’s voice from the middle of the Ulai. He called out, “Gabriel, help that man understand the vision.” The man cried out, “The vision is for that command.” 17 He came and stood beside where I stood. As he came, I was disturbed and fell facedown. He told me, “Understand, son of man, this vision is still for the hour of the appointed time.”

18 As he spoke with me, I fell asleep facedown on the ground. He touched me and raised me up on the spot.

19 He told me, “Look! I am telling you what will happen at the end of the anger against the sons of your people, for it still remains for the hours of the final appointed time. 20 The ram with the horns that you saw, is the king of the Medes and Persians. 21 The male goat is the king of the Greeks. The large horn between its eyes is the first king. 22 As for the four horns that were broken and rose behind it, four kings will arise from his nation, but without his strength.

The Shameless King

23 “At the end of their kingdom, when their sins reach their full measure, a king with a shameless face will arise, one who understands riddles. 24 His strength will be established, though not by his own strength. He will cause astonishing destruction, prosper, act, and destroy powerful men and a people of holy ones. 25 His purpose is against the holy ones. Deceit will prosper in his hands, and his heart will rise high. He will destroy many by trickery and stand for the destruction of people. He will make a gathering by hand and repay.

26 “The evening and morning vision was found to be true. The vision is closed now, for it is still for many days to come.”

27 I, Daniel, was sick for many days. I got up and handled the king’s business again. I was exhausted by the vision, and no one understood it.

Daniel Considers the Seventy Years

1 In the first year under Darius son of Xerxes, of Median ancestry, who reigned over the kingdom of the Chaldeans. 2 In the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, considered in the books the number of years when a decree came to the land through Jeremiah the prophet, to rise up for the fulfillment of Jerusalem’s disgrace, seventy years.

3 I turned my face toward the Lord God, to find prayer and mercy, with fasting and sackcloth and ashes.

Daniel’s Prayer

4 I prayed to the Lord God, confessed, and said, “Look, Lord, you are the great, strong, and fearsome God. You keep your covenant and mercy for those who love you and keep your decrees. 5 We have sinned, we have done wrong, we have acted without reverence, turned away, and violated your commands and your judgments. 6 We did not listen to your servants the prophets and what they spoke in your name to our kings, rulers, ancestors, and every nation on earth.

7 “Righteousness belongs to you, Lord, but shame covers our faces today, the people of Judah, Jerusalem’s inhabitants, and all the people of Israel, those near and far in all the regions where you scattered them because of the offenses they committed before you. 8 Master, shame covers our faces and those of our kings, rulers, and ancestors, because we have sinned against you. 9 Righteousness and mercy belong to the Lord because we turned away from you. 10 We did not listen to the voice of the Lord our God, by following your law that you gave before Moses and us through your servants the prophets.

11 “All Israel abandoned your law and turned away to avoid listening to your voice. The curse came on us, and the oath written in the law of Moses, God’s servant, because we sinned against him. 12 He established his decrees for us, all he spoke against us and against our judges, all you judged for us, to bring great disasters on us. Nothing under heaven has happened like what happened in Jerusalem. 13 As written in Moses’s covenant, all these disasters came on us. We did not seek the face of the Lord our God to turn from our sins and understand your righteousness, Lord. 14 The Lord God watched over the disasters and brought them on us. The Lord our God is righteous in everything he does, and we did not listen to his voice.

15 “Master, Lord our God, you brought your people out of Egypt with your raised arm and made a name for yourself that lasts to this day. We have sinned and acted in ignorance. 16 Master, in your righteousness, turn your fury and anger away from your city Jerusalem, your holy mountain. Because of our sins and our ancestors’ acts of ignorance, Jerusalem and your people, Lord, have become a disgrace among all our neighbors. 17 Master, hear your servant’s prayer and my pleas. Let your face look on your devastated holy mountain for the sake of your servants, Master. 18 Turn your ear toward me, Lord, and hear me. Open your eyes and see our devastation and that of your city, which bears your name. We make our pleas in our prayers before you because of your mercy, rather than our righteous deeds. 19 Lord, show mercy! Lord, hear and act! Do not delay, for your own sake, Master, because your city Zion and your people Israel bear your name.”

Gabriel Brings an Answer

20 I was still speaking, praying and confessing my sins and the sins of my people Israel, and pleading in prayer before the Lord my God and for our God’s holy mountain. 21 While I was still speaking in prayer, the man I had first seen in my sleep, Gabriel, came swiftly toward me at the time of the evening sacrifice.

22 He came and spoke with me, “Daniel, I have just come out to show you understanding. 23 At the beginning of your plea, a command went out from the Lord, and I have come to show you, because you have received mercy. Think about the command.

The Seventy Weeks

24 “Seventy weeks have been decided for your people and the city Zion, for sin to be brought to completion, wrongdoing to become scarce, wrongdoing to be wiped away, the vision to be understood, eternal righteousness to be given, the vision to be completed, and joy to be brought to a holy of holies.⁠a 25 You will know, understand, and rejoice. You will find commands to answer, and you will build Jerusalem as a city for the Lord. 26 After seven and seventy and sixty-two, an anointing will be removed⁠b and will be no more. A kingdom of nations will destroy the city and the sanctuary along with the anointed one. Its end will come with anger, and until the time of the end it will be fought against in war. 27 The covenant will prevail for many and will return again and be rebuilt in width and length. At the completion of times, after seven and seventy times and sixty-two years, until the time of the end of war, the devastation will also be removed when the covenant prevails for many weeks. At the end of the week, the sacrifice and drink offering will be taken away. On the temple there will be an abomination of devastations until the end, and an end will be imposed on the devastation.”

Daniel’s Mourning and Vision

1 In the first year of King Cyrus of the Persians, a command was shown to Daniel, who was named Belshazzar. The vision and command were true, and the powerful multitude will understand the command. I understood it through a vision.

2 In those days I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks. 3 I ate no desirable bread, and no meat or wine entered my mouth. I applied no oil to myself until I had completed the three weeks of days.

4 On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, I was on the bank of the great river, which is the Tigris. 5 I looked up and saw a man dressed in fine linen, with fine linen wrapped around his waist and light coming from his middle. 6 His body was like Tarshish, and his face like the appearance of lightning, and his eyes like torches of fire,⁠a and his arms and his feet like flashing bronze, and the sound of his speech like the roar of a crowd.

7 I, Daniel, saw this great vision, and the men who were with me did not see this vision, and great fear fell on them, and they hurried away. 8 I was left alone and saw this great vision. I had no strength left. A spirit turned against me to destroy me, and I could not withstand it. 9 I did not hear the sound of his speech. I had fallen facedown on the earth.

Daniel Is Strengthened

10 He reached a hand toward me and raised me onto my knees, onto the soles of my feet.

11 He told me, “Daniel, you are a man who has received mercy. Consider the commands I am speaking to you and stand in your place, for I have just been sent to you.” As he spoke this command to me, I stood trembling.

12 He said to me, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. From the first day you turned your face to understand and be humbled before the Lord your God, your word was heard. I came because of your word. 13 The general of the king of the Persians opposed me for twenty-one days. Michael, one of the foremost rulers, came to help me, and I left him there with the general of the king of the Persians.”

14 He told me, “I have come to show you what will happen to your people at the end of days, for the vision is still for days to come.”

15 As he spoke these commands to me, I turned my face toward the earth and fell silent.

16 Something like a human hand touched my lips. I opened my mouth and spoke to the one standing before me, “My lord, something like a vision turned against my side, against me, and I had no strength. 17 How can a servant speak with his lord? I grew weak. I have no strength, and no breath was left in me.”

18 Again someone with a human appearance touched me and strengthened me.

19 He told me, “You are a man who has received mercy. Do not be afraid! Be well, courageous, and strong!” As he spoke to me, I grew strong and said, “Let my lord speak, for he has strengthened me.”

The Conflict of the Generals

20 He said to me, “Do you know why I came to you? I will return to fight the general of the king of the Persians. As I was leaving, the general of the Greeks was coming in. 21 I will certainly show you the first things in the record of truth. No one helped me with these things except Michael the angel.”

The Kingdoms to Come

1 In the first year of King Cyrus he told me to be strong and courageous.

2 “I have come to show you the truth. Look! Three kings have risen in opposition in Persia. The fourth will gain far greater riches than all the others. When his wealth makes him strong, he will rise against every king of the Greeks. 3 A powerful king will arise, rule a great domain, and do as he pleases. 4 When he rises, his kingdom will be broken and divided toward the four winds of heaven, without his strength or the dominion he exercised. His kingdom will be removed, and he will teach these things to others.

Egypt and the Northern Kingdom

5 “He will strengthen Egypt’s kingdom. One of the rulers will overpower him and rule. His domain will be a great domain. 6 At the end of years, he will bring them, and Egypt’s king will enter the northern kingdom to make agreements. He will not prevail, for his arm will not establish strength. His arm and those of his companions will grow numb, and he will remain for a time.

7 “A plant will arise from his root on its own. The northern king will come against his force in his strength, cause turmoil, and prevail. 8 He will overthrow their gods with their cast images and their crowds with their treasured vessels. They will carry the silver and gold into captivity in Egypt, and there will be a year for the northern king. 9 He will enter Egypt’s kingdom for days and return to his own land.

10 “His son will also be provoked and gather a great crowd. He will march against it, sweeping along, pass through, return, and be greatly provoked. 11 Egypt’s king will become angry and fight the northern king, and the gathering will be handed over to him. 12 He will take the gathering. His heart will rise high, and he will trouble many and will not be afraid. 13 The northern king will return and gather a larger gathering from the city than the first, at the completion of the year’s appointed time. He will enter it against him with a great crowd and much wealth.

The Northern King’s Advance

14 “At that time, plans will rise against Egypt’s king. He will rebuild the ruins of your nation and rise to establish the prophecy, and they will stumble. 15 The northern king will come, turn his spears, and take the fortified city. The arms of Egypt’s king will stand with his rulers, and he will lack the strength to resist him. 16 The one who comes against him will do as he wishes, and no one will oppose him. He will stand in the land, and everything will be accomplished in his hands. 17 He will turn his face to attack all his work by force and make agreements with him. He will give him a human daughter to destroy her. He will not be persuaded, and it will not be. 18 He will turn his face toward the sea and take many. He will turn back the anger of their insult with an oath matching his insult. 19 He will turn his face to strengthen his own land, stumble, fall, and be found no more.

A Despised Ruler

20 “From his root a royal plant will arise to rise up, a man striking a king’s glory. In the last days, he will be broken, though neither in anger nor in war. 21 Someone easily despised will arise in his place and will not be given royal glory. He will come suddenly. A king will prevail in his inheritance. 22 He will break the broken arms before him. 23 With the covenant and a people joined to him, he will act deceitfully, and against a strong nation with a very small nation. 24 He will suddenly devastate a city and do what neither his ancestors nor their ancestors did. He will give them plunder, captured goods, and wealth. He will plot against the strong city, and his plans will be futile.

25 His strength and heart will be stirred against Egypt’s king with a great crowd. Egypt’s king will be provoked to war with an extremely strong crowd. He will not stand, for a plot will be devised against him. 26 His worries will consume him and turn him away. He will pass by and sweep away, and many wounded will fall.

27 Two kings alone will dine together, eat at one table, and tell lies. They will not prosper, for the end is still for an appointed time. 28 He will return to his land with much wealth. His heart will be against the holy one’s covenant. He will act and return to his land.

The Sanctuary Is Defiled

29 “At the appointed time, he will also enter Egypt, and the last will not be like the first. 30 Romans will come, drive him out, and threaten him. He will return in anger against the holy one’s covenant and act. He will return and plot against them because they abandoned the holy one’s covenant. 31 Arms from him will rise, defile the sanctuary of fear, remove the sacrifice, and set up an abomination of devastation. 32 Through sins against the covenant, they will defile with a hard people. The people who know these things will prevail and act.

33 The nation’s thoughtful people will understand for many. They will stumble by the sword and grow old by it. In captivity and looting, they will be stained for days. 34 When they are broken, they will gather a little strength. Many will gather to them in the city, and many as in an inheritance. 35 Some of those who understand will consider cleansing themselves, being chosen, and being cleansed until the time of the end, for the time is still for hours to come.

The King Exalts Himself

36 “The king will do as he wishes, be provoked to anger, and rise above every god. He will speak strange things against the God of gods and prosper until the anger is completed, for the end is coming upon him. 37 He will give no thought to his ancestors’ gods or to a woman’s desire, for he will rise high in everything, and strong nations will be subjected to him. 38 He will move against his place and honor a god his ancestors did not know with gold, silver, precious stone, and desirable things. 39 He will act against cities and come to a strong fortress with a foreign god. If he acknowledges him, he will increase glory, rule over it extensively, and distribute land as a gift.

The Final Conflict

40 “At the hour of the end, Egypt’s king will lock horns with him. The northern king will rage against him with chariots, many horses, and many ships, and he will enter Egypt’s land. 41 He will enter my land. 42 In Egypt’s land, no one will escape. 43 He will seize the place of gold, the place of silver, and all Egypt’s desirable things. Libyans and Ethiopians will be in his crowd. 44 A report from the east and north will trouble him. He will go out in fierce rage with a sword to destroy and kill many. 45 He will then pitch his tent between the seas and the mountain of the holy one’s will. The hour of his end will come, and no one will help him.

The Time of the End

1 “At that hour, Michael, the great angel who stands over the sons of your people, will pass by. That day will be a day of distress unlike any since they came into being until that day. On that day, all the people will be raised high, everyone found written in the book.

2 Many who sleep across the expanse of the earth will rise, some to eternal life, others to disgrace, and others to scattering and eternal shame. 3 Those who understand will shine like the lights of heaven, and those who strengthen my words like the stars of heaven forever and ever.

4 You, Daniel, hide the commands and seal the book until the time of the end, until the many go mad and the earth is filled with wrongdoing.”

The Final Words to Daniel

5 I, Daniel, looked and saw two others standing, one on each side of the river.

6 I said to the one dressed in fine linen, who was above, “When, then, will the wonders you have told me reach their end, and these things be cleansed?”

7 I heard the one dressed in fine linen, who was above the river’s water, “Until the time of the end.” He raised his right and left hands to heaven and swore by the God who lives forever, “The power for the release of a holy people will reach its completion in a time, times, and half a time. All these things will be accomplished.”

8 I heard but did not understand about that very time. I said, “My lord, what does this statement mean, and what are these comparisons about?”

9 He told me, “Go away, Daniel, for the commands are hidden and sealed until 10 many are tested and made holy and the sinners sin. No sinners will understand, but those who understand will pay attention. 11 From the time the continual sacrifice is removed and the abomination of devastation is made ready to be set up, there are 1,290 days. 12 Blessed is the one who endures and will gather 1,335 days. 13 You, go and rest! There are still days and hours until the end’s fulfillment. You will rest and rise to your glory at the end of days.”