Daniel’s Development in the King’s Court

¹ In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.

² And the Lord gave Jehoiakim the king of Judah into his hand and ⌞some of⌟¹ of the utensils of the temple of God,² and he brought them to the land of Shinar to the temple of his gods, and he brought the utensils to ⌞the treasury⌟³ of his gods.

1. Literally “from the end/extremity/limits”
2. Hebrew “the God”
3. Literally “the house of the treasury”

³ And the king ⌞ordered⌟¹ Ashpenaz, the commander of his court officials, to bring ⌞some of the Israelites⌟² from ⌞the royal family⌟³ and from the lords,⁴

1. Literally “said to”
2. Literally “from the sons/children of Israel”
3. Literally “from the seed of the kingship”
4. Or “nobles”

⁴ youths who ⌞have no physical defect⌟,¹ and who are ⌞handsome⌟,² and who are prudent³ in all wisdom and ⌞endowed with knowledge⌟,⁴ and who understand insight, and who have the ⌞ability⌟⁵ in them to serve in the palace of the king. And the king ordered him to teach them the literature and the language of the Chaldeans.

1. Literally “there is not in them any physical defect”
2. Literally “good/pleasing of appearance”
3. Or “insightful”
4. Literally “who have knowledge of knowledge”
5. Literally “strength”

⁵ And the king assigned to them ⌞his daily portion⌟¹ from the fine food of the king, and from ⌞the wine that he drank⌟,² and instructed that ⌞they were to be educated for three years⌟.³ And at the end of their training, ⌞they were to be stationed⌟⁴ ⌞before⌟⁵ the king.

1. Literally “the portion of the day on its day”
2. Literally “the wine of his drink”
3. Literally “and to be educated them years three”
4. Literally “they would stand”
5. Literally “to the face of”

⁶ Now there was among them ⌞from the Judeans⌟,¹ Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.

1. Literally “from the children of Judah”

⁷ And the commander of the court officials gave them names, and he called Daniel, Belteshazzar; and Hananiah, Shadrach; and Mishael, Meshach; and Azariah, Abednego.

Daniel’s Resolve

⁸ Now ⌞Daniel resolved⌟¹ that he would not defile himself with the fine food of the king, and with ⌞the wine that he drank⌟,² and so he requested from the commander of the court officials permission so that he would not defile himself.

1. Literally “Daniel placed upon his heart”
2. Literally “the wine of his drink”

⁹ And God¹ gave Daniel favor and compassion ⌞before⌟² the commander of the court officials,

1. Hebrew “the God”
2. Literally “to the face of”

¹⁰ and the commander of the court officials said to Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord, the king, who has determined your food and your drink, for ⌞why should⌟¹ he see your face having a worse appearance than the young men who ⌞are your age⌟?² Then you will endanger my head with the king.”

1. Literally “to what would”
2. Literally “like your age”; “your” is plural

¹¹ Then¹ Daniel asked the guard² whom the commander of the court officials had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,

1. Hebrew “And”
2. Or “overseer”

¹² “Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us ⌞some of the vegetables⌟,¹ and let us eat and let us drink water.

1. Literally “from the vegetables”

¹³ Then¹ let our appearances and the appearance of the young men who are eating the fine food of the king be compared ⌞before you⌟,² and then deal with your servants ⌞according to what you see⌟.”³

1. Hebrew “And”
2. Literally “in your presence”
3. Literally “and according to/that you see”

¹⁴ So he agreed to this proposal with them, and he tested them for ten days.

¹⁵ And at the end of ten days their appearances appeared better and they were healthier of body than all the young men who were eating the fine food of the king.

¹⁶ ⌞So⌟¹ the guard ⌞continued to withhold⌟² their fine food and the wine of their drink, and he gave them³ vegetables.

1. Literally “And it happened”
2. Literally “he was … withdrawing”
3. Hebrew “to them”

¹⁷ ⌞And as for these four young men⌟,¹ God² gave to them knowledge and insight into all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had insight into all visions³ and dreams.

1. Literally “And these young men, four of them”
2. Hebrew “the God”
3. Hebrew “vision”

¹⁸ And at the end of the time the king had set to bring them, the commander of the court officials brought them in ⌞before⌟¹ Nebuchadnezzar.

1. Literally “to the face of”

¹⁹ And the king spoke with them, ⌞and among all of them no one was found like⌟¹ Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; then they stood ⌞before⌟² the king.

1. Literally “and he was not found from all of them like”
2. Literally “to the face of”

²⁰ And in every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king inquired from them, he found them ten times better than all of the magicians¹ and conjurers² that ⌞were in his entire kingdom⌟.³

1. Or “soothsayer-priests”
2. Or “enchanters”
3. Literally “in the whole of his kingdom”

²¹ And Daniel was there until the first year of Cyrus the king.

The King’s Troubling Dream

¹ Now¹ in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams; and his spirit was troubled and his sleep left him.

1. Hebrew “And”

² So the king said to call the magicians¹ and the conjurers² and the sorcerers and the ⌞astrologers⌟³ to tell to the king his dreams. And they came in and they stood ⌞before⌟⁴ the king.

1. Or “soothsayer-priests”
2. Or “enchanters”
3. Literally “Chaldeans”
4. Literally “to the face of”

³ And the king said to them, “⌞I have had a dream⌟¹ and my spirit is anxious to know the dream.”

1. Literally “A dream I have dreamed”

⁴ And the ⌞astrologers⌟¹ said to the king in Aramaic,² “O king, live forever! Tell the dream to your servants and we will reveal the explanation.”

1. Literally “Chaldeans”
2. The text of Daniel is in Aramaic from this point on through Daniel chapter 7. Then the text resumes in Hebrew to the end of the book

⁵ The king answered and said to the ⌞astrologers⌟,¹ “The command from me is firm: if you do not make known to me the dream and its explanation,² then you will be broken into pieces and your houses will be laid in ruins.

1. Literally “Chaldeans”
2. Or “interpretation”

⁶ But if you tell me the dream and its explanation, you will receive gifts and rewards¹ and great honor from me. Therefore, tell me the dream and its explanation.”²

1. Aramaic “reward”
2. Or “interpretation”

⁷ They answered once more and said, “Let the king tell the dream to his servants and we will make the explanation known.”

⁸ The king answered and said, “⌞Certainly⌟¹ I know that ⌞you are trying to gain time⌟² ⌞because⌟³ you have seen ⌞that this matter is firmly decreed by me⌟,⁴

1. Literally “From a certainty”
2. Literally “the time you are gaining”
3. Literally “all because of that”
4. Literally “that firm from me is the decree”

⁹ for if you do not make the dream known to me, ⌞your verdict is fixed⌟,¹ and you have conspired to say a lying and deceitful word to me until the ⌞circumstances⌟² will change. Therefore, tell me the dream, and I will know that you can tell me its explanation.”

1. Literally “one is your verdict”
2. Literally “time”

¹⁰ The ⌞astrologers⌟¹ answered the king and said, “There is not a man on earth that is able to reveal the word of the king; ⌞in fact⌟,² no great and powerful king has ever asked a thing like this of any magician³ or conjurer⁴ or ⌞astrologer⌟.⁵

1. Literally “Chaldeans”
2. Literally “all because that”
3. Or “soothsayer-priest”
4. Or “enchanter”
5. Literally “Chaldean”

¹¹ And the thing that the king is asking is too difficult and ⌞there is no one who⌟¹ can reveal it to the king except the gods ⌞whose dwelling is not with mortals⌟.”²

1. Literally “there is not another”
2. Literally “concerning their dwelling is not with flesh”

¹² Because of this the king became angry, and he became very much enraged, and he said that all the wise men of Babylon are to be destroyed.

¹³ And the decree was issued, and the wise men ⌞were on the verge of being executed⌟,¹ and they searched for Daniel and his companions to be executed.

1. Literally “were in the process of being killed”

¹⁴ Then Daniel responded prudently and discretely to Arioch, the commander of the imperial guard of the king, who had gone out to execute the wise men of Babylon.

¹⁵ ⌞He asked⌟¹ and said to Arioch, the royal official of the king, “⌞Why⌟² is the decree from the king so severe?” Then Arioch explained the matter³ to Daniel.

1. Literally “he answered”
2. Literally “Over what”
3. Or “situation”

¹⁶ And Daniel went in and requested from the king that he would give him time, and ⌞he would tell the king⌟¹ the explanation.²

1. Literally “to tell/reveal to the king”
2. Or “interpretation”

¹⁷ Then Daniel went to his home, and he made the matter known to Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, his companions,

¹⁸ and told them to seek mercy ⌞from the God of heaven⌟¹ concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his companions, along with the remainder of the wise men of Babylon, would not be killed.

1. Literally “from before the God of the heaven”

¹⁹ Then in a vision of the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel; then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.

²⁰ Daniel ⌞said⌟:¹ “Let his name, the name of God,² be blessed ⌞throughout the ages⌟,³ for the wisdom and the power ⌞are his⌟.⁴

1. Literally “answered and he said”
2. Aramaic “the God”
3. Literally “from the age unto the age”
4. Literally “of to him it is”

²¹ And he changes the times and the seasons, and he deposes kings and he sets up kings; he gives wisdom¹ to wise men and knowledge to men who know understanding.

1. Aramaic “the wisdom”

²² He reveals the deep and the hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him.

²³ To you, O God of my ancestors,¹ I give thanks and I give praises, for the wisdom and the power you gave to me, and now you have made known to me what we have asked from you, for you have made known to us the matter of the king.”

1. Or “fathers”

Daniel Praises God and Interprets the King’s Dream

²⁴ ⌞Therefore⌟¹ Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed² to destroy the wise men of Babylon; he went and thus he said to him: “You must not destroy the wise men of Babylon; take me in before the king and I will give the explanation³ to the king.”

1. Literally “Now because this”
2. Aramaic “has appointed”
3. Or “interpretation”

²⁵ Then Arioch ⌞quickly⌟¹ brought Daniel in before the king and thus he said to him: “I have found a man among ⌞the exiles⌟² of Judah³ who ⌞can relate⌟⁴ the explanation⁵ to the king.

1. Literally “in haste”
2. Literally “the children of exiles”
3. Aramaic “Jehud”
4. Literally “he will make known”
5. Or “interpretation”

²⁶ ⌞The king then asked⌟¹ and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, “Are you able to make known to me the dream that I have seen and its explanation?”²

1. Literally “The king answered”
2. Or “interpretation”

²⁷ Daniel answered the king and said, “The mystery that the king asks, no wise men, conjurers,¹ magicians,² or diviners are able to make known to the king.

1. Or “enchanters”
2. Or “soothsayer-priests”

²⁸ But there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what it is that will be at the end of days. This is your dream and the visions of your head on your bed.

²⁹ “As for you, king,¹ your thoughts on your bed ⌞turned to⌟² what it was that would be ⌞in the future⌟,³ and the revealer of mysteries has made known to you what that would be.

1. Aramaic “the king”
2. Literally “they went up”
3. Literally “after this”

³⁰ And as for me, it is not because of wisdom that is in me more than ⌞any other living person⌟¹ that this mystery is revealed to me, but ⌞in order that⌟² the explanation³ may be made known to the king and you will ⌞understand⌟⁴ the thoughts of your ⌞mind⌟.⁵

1. Literally “all of living beings”
2. Literally “concerning the matter of”
3. Or “interpretation”
4. Literally “know”
5. Literally “heart”

³¹ “You, O king, were looking and, look, there was one great statue. This statue was huge and its brilliance extraordinary, standing there before you, and its appearance was frightening.¹

1. Or “dreadful”

³² The head of this statue was of fine gold, its chest and its arms of silver, its belly and its thighs of bronze,

³³ its legs of iron, its feet, part of them of iron and part of them of clay.

³⁴ You were looking on ⌞until⌟¹ a stone was chiseled out²—that not by hands—and it struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay, and it broke them in pieces.

1. Literally “until that”
2. Or “became loose”

³⁵ Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold ⌞all at once⌟¹ broke into pieces² and they became like chaff from the summer threshing floor, and the wind carried them away and any trace of them could not be found. But the stone that struck the statue became a great mountain and it filled the whole earth.

1. Literally “like one”
2. Or “were crushed”

³⁶ “This was the dream, and now we will tell its interpretation to the king.

³⁷ You, O king, the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power and the might and the glory,

³⁸ and also ⌞human beings wherever they dwell⌟,¹ the animals of the field and the birds² of heaven³—he has given into your hand and made you ruler over all of them—you are the head of gold.

1. Literally “and into all that dwell sons of humankind”
2. Aramaic “bird”
3. Or “the sky”

³⁹ And after you another kingdom inferior to yours will arise, and another third kingdom of bronze that will rule over the whole earth.

⁴⁰ And a fourth kingdom will be strong as iron, and ⌞just as⌟¹ iron crushes and smashes ⌞everything⌟,² and as iron shatters all of these other metals, so it will crush and it will shatter these nations.

1. Literally “all of because”
2. Literally “the whole thing”

⁴¹ ⌞And just as⌟¹ you saw the feet and the toes, ⌞partly potter’s clay⌟² and ⌞partly iron⌟,³ it will be a divided kingdom; and ⌞some hardness⌟⁴ of the iron will be in it, ⌞just as⌟⁵ you have seen the iron mixed with the wet clay.

1. Literally “And that”
2. Literally “from them clay of the potter”
3. Literally “from them iron”
4. Literally “from the hardness”
5. Literally “all of because that”

⁴² And as the toes of the feet were partly iron and partly clay, so part of the kingdom will be strong ⌞and partly brittle⌟.¹

1. Literally “and from it, it will be brittle”

⁴³ And in that you saw the iron was mixed with wet clay, so ⌞they will mix in marriage⌟¹ and they will not cling ⌞to one another⌟,² just as iron does not mix with clay.

1. Literally “mixing they will in the seed of man”
2. Literally “this one with that one”

⁴⁴ And ⌞in the day of those kings⌟,¹ the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will ⌞never⌟² be destroyed, and the kingdom will not be left for another nation,³ and it will bring an end to all these kingdoms, but it will stand ⌞forever⌟.⁴

1. Literally “in their days of those kings”
2. Literally “to forever not”
3. Or “people”
4. Literally “to eternity”

⁴⁵ ⌞Inasmuch as⌟¹ you saw that a stone from the mountain was chiseled out² but not by hands, and that it crushed the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold, thereby the great God made known to the king what will be ⌞in the future⌟,³ and the dream is certain and its explanation trustworthy.”

1. Literally “All of because that”
2. Or “became loose”
3. Literally “after this”

The King’s Response to Daniel and His God

⁴⁶ Then the king, Nebuchadnezzar, fell on his face and he paid homage to Daniel; and he commanded them to offer a grain offering and incense offering to him.

⁴⁷ The king answered Daniel and said, “⌞Truly⌟¹ your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings, and he reveals mysteries, for you are able to reveal this mystery.”

1. Literally “From truth that”

⁴⁸ Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and the chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon.

⁴⁹ And Daniel made a request from the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego over the affairs of the province of Babylon, while Daniel remained in the court of the king.

The Faithfulness of Three Young Israelites and God’s Deliverance

¹ Nebuchadnezzar the king made a statue of gold. Its height was sixty cubits and its width was six cubits; he set it up in the valley of Dura in the province of Babylon.

² Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent directions to assemble the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates and all of the officials of the provinces to come to the dedication of the statue that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.

³ Then the satraps, the prefects, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the province were assembled for the dedication of the statue that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up, and were standing ⌞before⌟¹ the statue that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

1. Literally “to the front”

⁴ Then the herald proclaimed ⌞aloud⌟,¹ “To you ⌞it is commanded⌟,² O peoples, ⌞nations and people of all languages⌟,³

1. Literally “with power”
2. Literally “they are saying”
3. Literally “the nations and the languages”

⁵ that at the time that you hear the sound of the horn, the flute, the lyre, the trigon, the harp, the drum and all kinds of music, you must fall down and you must worship the statue of gold¹ that Nebuchadnezzar the king has set up.

1. Aramaic “the gold”

⁶ And ⌞whoever⌟¹ does not fall down and worship will be thrown ⌞immediately⌟² into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire.”

1. Literally “who that”
2. Literally “the time”

⁷ ⌞Therefore⌟,¹ ⌞at that time⌟,² ⌞as soon as⌟³ all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, the flute, the lyre, the trigon, the harp and all kinds of music, all the peoples, ⌞the nations and people of all languages⌟⁴ were falling down and were worshiping the statue of gold⁵ that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.

1. Literally “All of because this”
2. Literally “at the time”
3. Literally “as that”
4. Literally “the nations and the languages”
5. Aramaic “the gold”

⁸ ⌞Therefore⌟¹ ⌞at this time⌟² some ⌞astrologers⌟³ came forward and ⌞they denounced the Jews⌟.⁴

1. Literally “All because of this”
2. Literally “at it the time”
3. Literally “Chaldean men”
4. Literally “they ate their pieces of the Jews”

⁹ ⌞They responded and said⌟¹ to Nebuchadnezzar the king, “O king, may you live ⌞forever⌟!²

1. Literally “they answered and were saying”
2. Literally “to eternity”

¹⁰ You, O king, have made a decree that ⌞everyone⌟¹ who hears the sound of the horn, the flute, the lyre, the trigon, the harp and the drum and all kinds of music, he shall fall down and shall worship the statue of gold.²

1. Literally “all of humanity”
2. Aramaic “the gold”

¹¹ ⌞And whoever⌟¹ ⌞does not fall down⌟² and worship shall be thrown into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire.

1. Literally “And who that”
2. Literally “not he falls down”

¹² However there are Judean men whom you have appointed¹ over the affairs of the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—these men, O king, ⌞pay you no heed⌟² and were not serving your god, and the statue of gold³ that you set up they are not worshiping.”

1. Aramaic “whom you have appointed them”
2. Literally “not they pay heed to you”
3. Aramaic “the gold”

¹³ Then Nebuchadnezzar said in rage and anger to bring in Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego; then they brought in these men before the king.

¹⁴ Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you are not serving my god, and you are not worshiping the statue of gold¹ that I have set up?

1. Aramaic “the gold”

¹⁵ Now if you are ready so that ⌞when⌟¹ you hear the sound of the horn, the flute, the lyre, the trigon, the harp and the drum and all kinds of music, you fall down and you worship the statue that I have made, that will be good. But if you do not worship it, ⌞immediately⌟² you will be thrown into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire, and ⌞who is the god⌟³ who⁴ will rescue you from my hands?”

1. Literally “at that time”
2. Literally “at that very time”
3. Literally “who he god”
4. Or “that”

¹⁶ Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego answered and said to the king, Nebuchadnezzar, “We have no need on this matter ⌞to present a defense to you⌟.¹

1. Literally “to return to you”

¹⁷ ⌞If it is so⌟,¹ our God, whom we serve, is able to rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire. And from your hand, O king, let him rescue us.

1. Literally “If there is”

¹⁸ And if not, let it be known to you, O king, that ⌞we will not serve your gods⌟,¹ and the statue of gold² that you have set up we will not worship.”

1. Literally “your gods not there is us serving”
2. Aramaic “the gold”

The Wrath of the King and His Fiery Furnace of Death

¹⁹ Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with anger and the image of his face was changed ⌞toward⌟¹ Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, so he ⌞ordered and said⌟² to heat up the one furnace seven times what was usual to heat it up.

1. Literally “against”
2. Literally “answering and saying”

²⁰ And he commanded ⌞the strongest men of the guards⌟¹ who were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and to throw them into the furnace of blazing fire.

1. Literally “to the strong men, men of strength”

²¹ Then these men were bound with their garments, their trousers and their turbans and their other clothing, and they were thrown into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire.

²² ⌞Therefore⌟¹ ⌞because⌟² the word of the king was severe and the furnace was exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed these men who lifted up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.

1. Literally “because of this”
2. Literally “from that”

²³ But these men, the three of them, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, fell down into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire, and they were bound.

²⁴ Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and he rose up in haste and he asked, saying to his advisers, “Did we not throw three men, bound, into the midst of the fire? They answered, saying to the king, “Certainly, O king!”

²⁵ ⌞He answered⌟,¹ saying, “Look, I see four men unbound walking in the midst of the fire and there is no damage to them, and the² appearance of the fourth man resembles the son of a god.”

1. Literally “was answering”
2. Aramaic “its”

²⁶ Then Nebuchadnezzar approached the door of the furnace of blazing fire, and he called out, saying, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, ⌞servants⌟¹ of the Most High God, come out² and come here!”

1. Literally “his servant”
2. Or “Go out”

²⁷ And the satraps, the prefects, the governors and the advisors of the king were assembling, and they saw these men, that the fire had no power over their bodies, and the hair of their heads was¹ not singed, and their garments were not harmed, and the smell of fire did not come from them.

1. Aramaic plural

The King’s Praise for the Great Deliverance of the Three Young Israelites

²⁸ Nebuchadnezzar ⌞responded⌟,¹ saying, “Blessed be their God, the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who sent his angel² and rescued his servants who trusted in him, and the command of the king they disobeyed, and they gave their bodies so that they did not serve and did not worship any god except their God.

1. Literally “answering”
2. Or “messenger”

²⁹ And from me ⌞is set forth⌟¹ a decree that any people, nation, or language that may utter criticism against their God—the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego—will be broken into pieces and their² house will be made like ruins. ⌞For⌟³ there is not another God who is able to rescue like this God.”

1. Literally “setting out”
2. Aramaic “his”
3. Literally “All of because”

³⁰ Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.

Nebuchadnezzar Declares What the Most High God Has Done for Him

^{1 1} Nebuchadnezzar the king to all of the nations, the peoples and languages that live in the whole earth: “May your prosperity increase!

1. Daniel 4:1–4:37 in the English Bible is 3:31–4:34 in the Hebrew Bible

² It is pleasing to me to recount the signs and wonders that the Most High God worked for me.

³ How great are his signs and wonders, how strong is his kingdom, ⌞an everlasting kingdom⌟;¹ and his sovereignty is from generation to generation.

1. Literally “a kingdom of eternity”

The Dream and the King’s Search for an Interpreter

⁴ “I, Nebuchadnezzar, was content in my house and prospering in my palace.

⁵ And I saw a dream and a revelation on my bed and it frightened me, and the visions of my head terrified me.

⁶ And a decree was ⌞sent out⌟,¹ ordering that all the wise men of Babylon were to be brought in before me so that they may make known to me the explanation of the dream.

1. Literally “put/placed”

⁷ Then the magicians,¹ the conjurers,² the ⌞astrologers⌟³ and the diviners came in and I told them the dream, but they could not make known to me its explanation.⁴

1. Or “soothsayer-priests”
2. Or “enchanters”
3. Literally “Chaldeans”
4. Or “interpretation”

⁸ Then ⌞at last⌟¹ Daniel came before me ⌞whose name was⌟² Belteshazzar, ⌞according to⌟³ the name of my god, and ⌞in whom was the spirit of the holy gods⌟,⁴ ⌞and I related the dream to him⌟.⁵

1. Literally “until another”
2. Literally “who name his”
3. Literally “like”
4. Literally “and who the spirit of gods holy in him”
5. Literally “and the dream before him I told”

⁹ “ ‘O Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians,¹ I myself know that the spirit² of the holy gods is in you, and ⌞no mystery is too difficult⌟³ for you. Now tell me the visions of my dream that I saw, and its explanation.⁴

1. Or “soothsayer-priests”
2. Or “a spirit”
3. Literally “every mystery is not difficult”
4. Or “interpretation”

¹⁰ Now these were the visions of my head as I was lying on my bed: I was ⌞gazing⌟¹ and, look, a tree was in the midst of the earth, and its height was exalted.

1. Literally “seeing”

¹¹ The tree grew and it became strong, and its height reached to heaven,¹ and ⌞it was visible to the end of the whole earth⌟.²

1. Or “the sky”
2. Literally “and its appearance was to the end of the whole earth”

¹² Its foliage was beautiful, and its fruit abundant, and in it was provision for all. Under it the animals¹ of the field sought shade, and in its branches the birds of heaven² nested, and from it all the living beings were fed.

1. Aramaic “animal”
2. Or “the sky”

¹³ “ ‘I was looking in the vision of my head as I lay on my bed, and look, a watcher,¹ and a holy one, came down from heaven.

1. Or “angelic being”

¹⁴ He cried ⌞aloud⌟¹ and so he said: “Cut down the tree and chop off its branches; shake off its foliage and scatter its fruit. Let the animals flee from under it, and the birds from its branches.

1. Literally “in strength”

¹⁵ But the stump of its roots leave in the earth, ⌞along with⌟¹ a band of iron and bronze; leave it in the grass of the field. And in² the dew of heaven let it³ be watered, and with the animals⁴ let his lot be in the grass of the earth.

1. Literally “and with”
2. Or “with”
3. Or “him,” that is, the king
4. Aramaic “animal”

¹⁶ Let his mind be changed from that of a human,¹ and let the mind of an animal be given to him, and let seven times pass over him.

1. Or “the human”

¹⁷ The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, and the decision by the command of the holy ones, ⌞in order that⌟¹ the living will know that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdom of humankind, and ⌞to whomever⌟² he wills he gives it, and he even sets the humblest of men over it.”

1. Literally “until matter that”
2. Literally “to whom that”

¹⁸ “ ‘This is the dream that I, Nebuchadnezzar the king, saw. Now¹ you, Belteshazzar, declare its explanation, ⌞for⌟² all of the wise men of my kingdom were not able to make the explanation known to me, but you are able because the spirit of holy gods is in you.’

1. Or “And”
2. Literally “all of because that”

Daniel Relates and Interprets the Dream

¹⁹ “Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was distressed ⌞for some time⌟,¹ and his thoughts disturbed him. The king answered and he said, ‘Belteshazzar, let the dream and its explanation not disturb you.’ Belteshazzar answered and said, ‘My lord, may the dream and its explanation be for those who hate you and for your enemies.

1. Literally “for one hour”

²⁰ The tree that you saw, which grew and became strong and its height reached to heaven¹ and ⌞it was visible to the end of the whole earth⌟,²

1. Or “the sky”
2. Literally “its appearance to the all the earth”

²¹ and its foliage was beautiful and its fruit abundant, and so there was provision for all in it, and the animals¹ of the field lived under it and in its branches nest the birds of heaven,²

1. Aramaic “animal”
2. Or “the sky”

²² —it is you, O king, who have grown great and you have grown strong, and so your greatness has increased and it has reached to heaven¹ and your sovereignty to the end of the earth.

1. Or “the sky”

²³ And inasmuch that the king saw the watcher, a holy one coming down from heaven¹ and he said, “Cut down the tree and destroy it, but the stump of its root in the earth leave with a band of iron and bronze in the grass of the field, and let it be watered with the dew of heaven and let his lot be with the animals of the field ⌞until seven times have passed over him⌟.”²

1. Or “the sky”
2. Literally “until that seven times they pass over him”

²⁴ This is the explanation, O king, and it is a decree of the Most High that has come upon my lord the king:

²⁵ you will be driven away ⌞from human society⌟¹ and ⌞you will dwell⌟² with the animals³ of the field, and you will be caused to graze grass like the oxen ⌞yourself⌟,⁴ and you will be watered with the dew of heaven, and seven periods of time will pass over you until that you have acknowledged that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdom of humankind, and ⌞to whom he wills⌟⁵ he gives it.

1. Literally “from the humankind”
2. Literally “your dwelling will be”
3. Aramaic “animal”
4. Literally “with respect to you”
5. Literally “that he wills”

²⁶ ⌞And in that⌟¹ they said to leave alone the stump of the tree’s root, so your kingdom will be restored for you ⌞when⌟² you acknowledge that heaven is sovereign.

1. Literally “And for”
2. Literally “from that”

²⁷ Therefore, O king, let my advice be acceptable to you and your sin remove¹ with righteousness and your iniquity with having mercy on the oppressed, ⌞in case there might be a prolongation of your prosperity⌟.’ ”²

1. Or “replace”
2. Literally “if will be prolongation for your prosperity”

God Judges the King for His Hubris

²⁸ ⌞All this happened⌟¹ to Nebuchadnezzar the king.

1. Literally “It came upon”

²⁹ At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of ⌞the royal palace⌟¹ of Babylon.

1. Literally “the place of the kingdom”

³⁰ And the king answered and said, “Is this not the great Babylon which I have built as a royal palace by the strength of my own power, and for the glory of my own majesty?”

³¹ While the words were still in the mouth of the king, a voice from heaven came, saying, ‘To you, King Nebuchadnezzar, it is declared that the kingdom has departed from you,

³² and you will be driven away from ⌞human society⌟¹ and your dwelling will be with the animals² of the field and they will cause you to graze the grass like oxen, and seven times will pass over you, until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdom of humankind and that he gives it to whom he wills.’

1. Literally “the humankind”
2. Aramaic “animal”

³³ ⌞Immediately⌟¹ the word was fulfilled ⌞concerning⌟² Nebuchadnezzar, and he was expelled from ⌞human society⌟³ and he ate grass like oxen, and his body was bathed with the dew of heaven until his hair was like the hair of an eagle and his nails grew like a bird’s claws.

1. Literally “In that hour”
2. Literally “over”
3. Literally “the humankind”

The King Praises and Extols the Most High God

³⁴ “But at the end of ⌞that period⌟,¹ I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up my eyes to heaven, and then my reason returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and ⌞the one who lives forever⌟² I praised and I honored. “For his sovereignty is an everlasting sovereignty, and his kingdom continues from generation to generation.

1. Literally “the day”
2. Literally “the one living forever”

³⁵ And all the dwellers of the earth are regarded as nothing, and he does ⌞according to⌟¹ his desire in the host of heaven and among the dwellers of earth, and there is not one who can hold back his hand, or ⌞ask him⌟,² ‘What are you doing?’

1. Literally “as”
2. Literally “or asks to him”

³⁶ “⌞At that time⌟¹ my reason returned to me, and also the glory of my kingdom and my majesty and splendor returned to me, and my advisers and my lords² searched me out, and I was established over my kingdom and abundant greatness was added to me.

1. Literally “In it the time”
2. Or “nobles”

³⁷ Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and honor the king of heaven, for all his works are truth,¹ and his ways are justice and that he is able to humble those who walk in pride.”

1. Or “true”

The Mysterious Writing on the Wall

¹ Belshazzar the king made a great festival for a thousand of his lords,¹ and ⌞in the presence of⌟² the thousand lords he was drinking wine.³

1. Or “nobles”
2. Literally “to over against”
3. Or “the wine”

² ⌞When he tasted the wine⌟,¹ Belshazzar commanded that they bring the vessels of gold and silver that Nebuchadnezzar his ⌞predecessor⌟² had taken from the temple that was in Jerusalem, so that the king and his lords,³ his wives and his concubines may drink from them.

1. Literally “At the taste of the wine”
2. Literally “father”
3. Or “nobles”

³ Then they brought in the vessels of gold that they took from the temple, the house of God that was in Jerusalem, and the king and his lords,¹ his wives and his concubines drank from them.

1. Or “nobles”

⁴ They drank the wine and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood and stone.¹

1. All these metals have the definite article that does not have to be translated into English to retain the meaning

⁵ ⌞Immediately⌟¹ ⌞human fingers⌟² appeared and they wrote ⌞opposite⌟³ the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the palace of the king, and the king was watching⁴ the palm of the hand that was writing.

1. Literally “In its the hour”
2. Literally “fingers of the hand of a man”
3. Literally “to over against”
4. Or “gazing at”

⁶ Then his face changed and his thoughts terrified him, and ⌞his hip joints gave way⌟¹ and ⌞his knees knocked together⌟.²

1. Literally “the limbs of his hip became loose”
2. Literally “his knees this to this they knocked together”

⁷ The king cried ⌞aloud⌟¹ to bring in the conjurers,² the ⌞astrologers⌟³ and the diviners; the king ⌞spoke⌟⁴ and said to the wise men of Babylon, “Any man that can read this writing and can tell me its explanation will be clothed in purple and will have a necklace of gold hung around his neck and he will rule as third in authority in the kingdom.”

1. Literally “with strength”
2. Or “enchanters”
3. Literally “Chaldeans”
4. Literally “answered”

⁸ Then all the wise men of the king came in, but they were not able to read the writing or to make known its explanation.¹

1. Aramaic “the explanation/ interpretation”

⁹ Then the king, Belshazzar, became greatly terrified, and ⌞his facial features⌟¹ changed upon him, and his lords² were perplexed.

1. Literally “shining of his face”
2. Or “nobles”

¹⁰ Because of the words of the king and his lords,¹ the queen came into ⌞the banqueting hall⌟² and the queen ⌞spoke up⌟³ and said, “O king, live ⌞forever⌟,⁴ and let not your thoughts terrify you and do not let your facial expressions ⌞grow pale⌟.⁵

1. Or “nobles”
2. Literally “the house of the drinking”
3. Literally “answered”
4. Literally “to eternity”
5. Literally “change”

¹¹ There is a man in your kingdom ⌞who has the spirit of the holy gods in him⌟.¹ And in the days of your ⌞predecessor⌟,² enlightenment and insight and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods was found in him; and, O king, Nebuchadnezzar your ⌞predecessor⌟³ appointed him as chief of the magicians,⁴ the conjurers,⁵ the ⌞astrologers⌟,⁶ and the diviners. Your ⌞predecessor⌟⁷ the king did this

1. Literally “who the spirit of holy gods is in him”
2. Literally “father”
3. Literally “father”
4. Or “soothsayer-priests”
5. Or “enchanters”
6. Literally “Chaldeans”
7. Literally “father”

¹² ⌞because⌟¹ there was found in him an excellent spirit and understanding and insight for interpreting dreams and explaining riddles and solving riddles; that is, in Daniel ⌞whom the king named⌟² Belteshazzar. Now, let Daniel be called and he will tell the explanation.”³

1. Literally “all of because that”
2. Literally “whom the king gave his name”
3. Or “interpretation”

Daniel Deciphers and Interprets the Writing

¹³ Then Daniel was brought in before the king, and the king ⌞spoke⌟¹ and said to Daniel, “You are Daniel ⌞who are one of the exiles⌟² of Judah³ whom my ⌞predecessor⌟,⁴ the king, brought from Judah.⁵

1. Literally “answered”
2. Literally “who from sons of the exile”
3. Aramaic “Jehud”
4. Literally “father”
5. Aramaic “Jehud”

¹⁴ And I have heard that a spirit of the gods is in you and enlightenment and insight and excellent wisdom was found in you.

¹⁵ And now the wise men and the conjurers¹ were brought in before me so that they could read this writing in order to make its explanation² known to me, but they were not able to disclose the explanation³ of the matter.

1. Or “enchanters”
2. Or “interpretation”
3. Or “interpretation”

¹⁶ But I have heard concerning you that you are able ⌞to produce interpretations⌟¹ and to solve riddles; now if you are able to read the writing and to make known its explanation² to me, you will be clothed in purple and a necklace of gold will be placed around your neck and you will rule as third in command in the kingdom.”

1. Literally “to interpret interpretations”
2. Or “interpretation”

¹⁷ Then Daniel answered and said before the king, “Let your gifts be for yourself or your rewards give to another; nevertheless, I will read the writing to the king and I will make known to him the explanation.¹

1. Or “interpretation”

¹⁸ ⌞O king⌟,¹ the Most High God gave the kingdom and the greatness and the glory and the majesty to Nebuchadnezzar your ⌞predecessor⌟.²

1. Literally “You, O king”
2. Literally “father”

¹⁹ And because of the greatness that he gave to him, all the peoples, the nations and languages trembled and feared before him; whomever he wanted he killed, and whomever he wanted he let live, and whomever he wanted he honored, and whomever he wanted he humbled.

²⁰ But ⌞when⌟¹ his heart became arrogant and his spirit became hard so as to act proudly, he was deposed from the throne of his kingdom and the² glory ⌞was taken away from him⌟.³

1. Literally “as that”
2. Or “his”
3. Literally “they took away”

²¹ And he was driven away ⌞from human society⌟¹ and his mind was made like the animals² and his dwelling was with the wild asses; and ⌞he was given⌟³ grass like oxen to eat, and with⁴ the dew of heaven his body was bathed, until he acknowledged that the Most High God is sovereign over the kingdom of humankind, and ⌞whoever⌟⁵ he wants he sets over it.

1. Literally “from the sons of the humankind”
2. Aramaic “with the animals”
3. Literally “they gave him”
4. Aramaic “from”
5. Literally “to from that”

²² “But you his ⌞successor⌟,¹ Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart ⌞even though⌟² you knew all this.

1. Literally “son”
2. Literally “all of because that”

²³ And now you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven, and the vessels of his temple you have brought in before you, and you and your lords,¹ your wives and your concubines, have been drinking wine from² them, and you have praised the gods of silver, gold, bronze, iron, wood, and stone³ that do not see and do not hear and do not know, but the God ⌞who holds your life in his hand⌟⁴ and all of your ways ⌞come from him⌟,⁵ you have not honored.

1. Or “nobles”
2. Aramaic “with”
3. All the materials in this list have the definite article that does not have to be translated into English
4. Literally “who your breath is in his hand”
5. Literally “belong to him”

²⁴ So then the palm of the hand was sent out from his presence and this writing was inscribed.

²⁵ “Now this was the writing that was inscribed: ‘Mene, Mene, Tekel and Parsin.’

²⁶ “This is the explanation of the matter:¹ ‘Mene’—God has numbered your kingdom and brought an end to it.

1. Or “word, message”

²⁷ “ ‘Tekel’—you have been weighed on scales and you have been found wanting.¹

1. Or “deficient”

²⁸ “ ‘Peres’—your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and Persians.’ ”

²⁹ Then Belshazzar commanded, and they clothed Daniel with purple and placed a necklace of gold around his neck, and they made a proclamation concerning him that he would be the third ruler in authority in the kingdom.

³⁰ ⌞That same night⌟¹ Belshazzar, the Chaldean king, was killed.

1. Literally “In it, in the night”

^{31 1} And Darius the Mede received the kingdom ⌞when he was about sixty-two years old⌟.²

1. Daniel 5:31–6:28 in the English Bible is 6:1–29 in the Hebrew Bible
2. Literally “when a son of sixty and two years”

Daniel’s Integrity and His Entrapment by His Enemies

¹ ⌞It pleased Darius⌟,¹ and he set up one hundred and twenty satraps over the kingdom, that they were ⌞throughout the whole kingdom⌟,²

1. Literally “It was pleasant before Darius”
2. Literally “in all the kingdom”

² and over them were three administrators, of whom Daniel was one, so that these satraps were giving account to them, and the king would not be suffering loss.

³ Then Daniel ⌞began distinguishing himself⌟¹ above the administrators and the satraps ⌞because⌟² an exceptional spirit was in him, and so the king planned to appoint him over the whole kingdom.

1. Literally “was distinguishing himself”
2. Literally “all of because that”

⁴ Then the other administrators and satraps ⌞began to seek⌟¹ to find a pretext against Daniel ⌞in connection with the kingdom⌟,² but they were not able to find any pretext and ⌞corruption⌟³ ⌞because⌟⁴ he was trustworthy, and no⁵ negligence or ⌞corruption⌟⁶ ⌞could be found in him⌟.⁷

1. Literally “were seeking”
2. Literally “from the side of the kingdom”
3. Literally “being corrupt”
4. Literally “all because that”
5. Aramaic “any”
6. Literally “being corrupt”
7. Literally “not could be found”

⁵ Then these men ⌞said⌟,¹ “We will not find any pretext² against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God.”

1. Literally “were saying”
2. Or “basis for accusation”

⁶ So the administrators and the satraps conspired ⌞with respect to⌟¹ the king and so they said to him, “Darius, O king, live ⌞forever⌟!²

1. Literally “on/upon”
2. Literally “to eternity”

⁷ All of the administrators of the kingdom, and the prefects, the satraps, the counselors and the governors took counsel and have agreed to establish an edict of the king and to enforce a decree that ⌞whoever⌟¹ will seek a prayer from any god or human except from you for up to thirty days will be thrown into ⌞the lion pit⌟.²

1. Literally “all that”
2. Literally “pit of lions”

⁸ Now, O king, establish the edict and you must sign the document so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians which cannot be revoked.”

⁹ ⌞So⌟¹ the king, Darius, signed the writing and the interdict.²

1. Literally “Like to before this”
2. Or “the writing that is the interdict”

¹⁰ Now ⌞when⌟¹ Daniel realized that the document was signed, he went to his house (⌞now he had windows in his upper room that were open⌟² toward Jerusalem), and three times ⌞daily⌟³ he knelt on his knees and prayed and gave praise before his God, ⌞just as⌟⁴ he had been doing ⌞previously⌟.⁵

1. Literally “as that”
2. Literally “and windows were open to him in his upper room”
3. Literally “in the day”
4. Literally “all because that”
5. Literally “from before this”

¹¹ Then these men came as a group and they found Daniel praying and pleading for mercy before his God.

¹² Then they approached ⌞and spoke with the king⌟¹ concerning the edict of the king, “⌞Did you not sign an edict⌟² that any person who would seek anything from any God or human within thirty days except from you, O king, would be thrown into ⌞the lion pit⌟?”³ The king answered and said, “The matter as you have just stated is certain according to the law of the Medes and Persians which cannot be revoked.”

1. Literally “and saying before the king”
2. Literally “Not an edict you signed?”
3. Literally “pit of lions”

God’s Miraculous Deliverance of Daniel Again

¹³ Then ⌞they responded⌟¹ and said before the king, “Daniel, who is from ⌞the exiles⌟² of Judah,³ ⌞is not paying any attention⌟⁴ to you, O king, or to the decree that you have signed, ⌞and three times daily⌟⁵ he says his prayer.”

1. Literally “they answered”
2. Literally “the sons of the exile”
3. Aramaic “Jehud”
4. Literally “not he sets his mind”
5. Literally “and three times on the day”

¹⁴ Then the king, when¹ he heard that ⌞report⌟,² he was extremely distressed over it; and ⌞concerning Daniel⌟³ ⌞he was determined⌟⁴ to rescue him. And until the setting of the sun he was making every effort to deliver him.

1. Aramaic “as ”
2. Literally “word”
3. Literally “upon Daniel”
4. Literally “he set his heart”

¹⁵ Then these men came as a group to the king and ⌞said⌟,¹ “Recall, O king, that with respect to the law of² the Medes and Persians that ⌞any⌟³ decree or edict that the king establishes cannot be changed.”

1. Literally “saying”
2. Aramaic “to”
3. Literally “all/every”

¹⁶ Then the king gave the command, and Daniel was brought in and they threw him into ⌞the lion pit⌟.¹ ⌞The king said⌟² to Daniel, “Your God, whom you serve ⌞faithfully⌟,³ may he rescue you!”

1. Literally “pit of lions”
2. Literally “The king answered and saying”
3. Literally “in the loyalty”

¹⁷ And a¹ stone was brought and it was put on the entrance of the pit, and the king sealed it with his signet ring and with the signet rings of his lords,² so that nothing would be changed concerning Daniel.

1. Aramaic “one”
2. Or “nobles”

¹⁸ Then the king went to his palace and spent the night in fasting, and no food was brought in before him and his sleep fled from him.

¹⁹ Then the king got up at daybreak, at first light, and he went ⌞in haste⌟¹ to ⌞the lion pit⌟.²

1. Literally “to hasten”
2. Literally “pit of lions”

²⁰ And ⌞when he came near⌟¹ to the pit, he cried out to Daniel with a distressed voice, and the king ⌞spoke⌟² and said to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, your God whom you serve faithfully, was he able to rescue you from the lions?”

1. Literally “as coming near him”
2. Literally “answered”

²¹ Then Daniel spoke to¹ the king, “O king, live ⌞forever⌟!²

1. Aramaic “with”
2. Literally “unto endless ages”

²² My God sent his angel and he shut the mouth of the lions and they did not¹ hurt me, ⌞because⌟² before him ⌞I was found⌟³ blameless, and also before you, O king, I have not done any wrong.”

1. Aramaic “would not”
2. Literally “all of because that”
3. Literally “it was found for me”

²³ Then the king was exceedingly glad over it¹ and commanded that Daniel be lifted up from the pit; and there was not any wound found on him, because he had trusted in his God.

1. That is, the situation

²⁴ The king then commanded, and these men were brought ⌞who had accused Daniel⌟,¹ and they threw them and their children and their wives into ⌞the lion pit⌟,² and they had not reached the floor of the pit ⌞before⌟³ the lions had overpowered them and they had crushed all of their bones.

1. Literally “they ate his pieces of Daniel”
2. Literally “pit of lions”
3. Literally “until that”

The King Praises the God of Daniel and Daniel Prospers

²⁵ Then Darius the king wrote to all the people, the nations, and the languages living in the whole earth, “May your prosperity become great!

²⁶ ⌞I make a decree⌟¹ that in all the dominion of my kingdom people will be trembling and fearing before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God and endures ⌞forever⌟² and his³ kingdom is one that will not be destroyed and his ⌞dominion has no end⌟.⁴

1. Literally “From before me is put forth a decree”
2. Literally “to eternity/endless ages”
3. Literally “and whose”
4. Literally “dominion his to the end”

²⁷ He is rescuing, delivering, and working signs and wonders in the heavens and on earth, for he has rescued Daniel from the ⌞power⌟¹ of the lions.”

1. Literally “hand”

²⁸ So this Daniel prospered during the kingdom of Darius and during the kingdom of Cyrus the Persian.

Daniel’s Vision of Four Beasts and the Son of Man

¹ In the first year of Belshazzar the king of Babylon, Daniel saw a dream and visions¹ of his head as he lay on his bed; then he wrote down the dream and the ⌞summary⌟² of the words ⌞as follows⌟:³

1. Or “the visions”
2. Literally “head”
3. Literally “saying”

² Daniel ⌞explained⌟¹ and said, “I was looking in my vision in the night, and look, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea.

1. Literally “answered”

³ And four great beasts were coming up from the sea, differing ⌞from one another⌟.¹

1. Literally “this from this”

⁴ The first was like a lion and ⌞had⌟¹ the wings of an eagle. I was watching until its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the earth and it was raised on its feet like a human, and a human heart was given to it.

1. Literally “for him/it”

⁵ And look, another beast, a second one, looking like a bear. And it was raised up on one side and three tusks¹ were in its mouth between its teeth, and so ⌞it was told⌟,² “Arise, eat much flesh!”

1. Or “ribs”
2. Literally “they were saying”

⁶ After this I was watching and look, another beast like a leopard; ⌞it had four wings⌟¹ of a bird on its back, and ⌞the beast had⌟² four heads, and dominion was given to it.

1. Literally “and there were to it four wings”
2. Literally “to the beast”

⁷ After this in the visions of the night I was looking and there was a fourth beast, terrifying and frightful and exceedingly strong, and ⌞it had⌟¹ ⌞great iron teeth⌟,² and it was devouring and crushing, and it stamped the remainder³ with its feet; and it was different from all the other beasts ⌞that preceded it⌟⁴ ⌞and it had ten horns⌟.⁵

1. Literally “were to it”
2. Literally “teeth of iron for it great”
3. Or “residue”
4. Literally “that preceding her/it”
5. Literally “and ten horns for her/it”

⁸ I was considering the horns, and look, another little horn came up ⌞among⌟¹ them, and three of the earlier horns ⌞were rooted out⌟² from before it, and there were eyes like the eyes of a human³ in this horn and also a mouth that was speaking boastfully.

1. Literally “between”
2. Literally “dehorned”
3. Or “humankind”

⁹ “⌞I continued watching⌟¹ until thrones were placed and an Ancient of Days sat; his clothing was like white snow and the hair of his head was like pure wool and his throne was a flame² of fire and its wheels³ were burning fire.

1. Literally “I was watching”
2. Or “ablaze with”
3. Aramaic “wheel”

¹⁰ A stream of fire issued forth and flowed ⌞from his presence⌟;¹ thousands upon thousands served him and ten thousand upon ten thousand stood before him. The judge sat, and the books were opened.

1. Literally “from before him”

¹¹ “⌞I continued watching⌟¹ then² because of the noise of the boastful words of the horn who was speaking; ⌞I continued watching⌟³ until the beast was slain and its body was destroyed, and it was given over to burning with fire.

1. Literally “I was watching”
2. Aramaic “in then”
3. Literally “I was watching”

¹² And as for the remainder of the beasts, ⌞their dominion was taken away⌟,¹ but a prolongation ⌞of their life⌟² was given to them for a season and a time.

1. Literally “they took away their dominion”
2. Literally “in life”

¹³ “⌞I continued watching⌟¹ in the visions of the night, and look, with the clouds of heaven one like a son of man² was coming, and he came to the Ancient of Days, and ⌞was presented⌟³ before him.

1. Literally “I was watching”
2. Or “mortal,” or “son of humankind”
3. Literally “they presented him”

¹⁴ And to him was given dominion and glory and kingship that¹ all the peoples, the nations, and languages would serve him; his dominion is a dominion ⌞without end⌟² that will not cease, and his kingdom is one that will not be destroyed.

1. Aramaic “and”
2. Literally “of eternity”

Daniel Explains and Interprets the Vision

¹⁵ “⌞As for me, Daniel⌟,¹ my spirit was troubled ⌞within me⌟,² and the visions of my head terrified me.

1. Literally “I Daniel”
2. Literally “in the midst of sheath”

¹⁶ So I approached one of the attendants and I asked him¹ about the truth concerning all this; and he told me² that he would make known to me the explanation of the matter.

1. Aramaic “from him”
2. Aramaic “to me”

¹⁷ ‘These great beasts which are four in number are four kings who will arise from the earth.

¹⁸ But the holy ones¹ of the Most High will receive the kingdom, and they will take possession of the kingdom forever, ⌞forever and ever⌟.’²

1. Or “saints”
2. Literally “forever and to forever”

¹⁹ “Then I desired to make certain concerning the fourth beast that was different from ⌞all the others⌟¹—exceedingly terrifying, with its iron teeth and its claws of bronze; it devoured and crushed and stamped the remainder with its feet—

1. Literally “all of them”

²⁰ and concerning the horns that were on its head, and concerning the other horn that came up and ⌞before which three horns fell⌟,¹ and this horn ⌞had eyes⌟² and a mouth speaking ⌞boastfully⌟,³ and its appearance was larger than its companions.

1. Literally “and fell from before it three”
2. Literally “and eyes to it”
3. Literally “abundantly”

²¹ ⌞I continued watching⌟,¹ and this horn made war with the holy ones² and it prevailed over them,

1. Literally “I was watching”
2. Or “saints”

²² until the Ancient of Days came and gave judgment to the holy ones¹ of the Most High; and the time arrived and the holy ones² took possession of the kingdom.

1. Or “saints”
2. Or “saints”

²³ “And he said, ‘The fourth beast is the fourth kingdom that will be on the earth that will be different from all the other kingdoms, and it will devour the whole earth and it will trample it and it will crush it.

²⁴ And as for the ten horns coming from it, from this kingdom¹ ten kings will arise, and another will arise after them. And he will be different from the earlier ones, and he will subdue three kings.

1. Or “the kingdom”

²⁵ And he will speak words against the Most High, and he will wear out the holy ones¹ of the Most High, and he will attempt to change times and law, and they will be given into his hand for a time and two times and half a time.

1. Or “saints”

²⁶ Then the court will sit, and his dominion will be removed,¹ to be eradicated and to be destroyed ⌞totally⌟.²

1. Or “taken away”
2. Literally “until the end”

²⁷ And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to the nation of the holy ones¹ of the Most High; his kingdom ⌞is an everlasting kingdom⌟,² and all the dominions will serve and obey him.’

1. Or “saints”
2. Literally “is a kingdom of eternity”

²⁸ ⌞This is the end of the account⌟.¹ ⌞As for me, Daniel⌟²—my thoughts terrified me greatly and my face changed over me, but I kept the matter in my heart.”³

1. Literally “Up to here is the end of the account”
2. Literally “I Daniel”
3. Or “to myself”

The Vision of a Small Horn that Oppresses Israel and Threatens the Temple

¹ In the third year of the kingdom of Belshazzar the king, a vision appeared ⌞to me, Daniel⌟,¹ after the one that appeared to me ⌞previously⌟.²

1. Literally “I Daniel”
2. Literally “in the beginning”

² And I saw in the vision, ⌞and when I saw⌟,¹ I was in Susa, the citadel that was in the province of Elam. And I saw in the vision, and ⌞I myself⌟² was at the stream of Ulai.³

1. Literally “and it was at my seeing”
2. Literally “I, I was”
3. Or “Ulai Canal” (NASB); “stream of the Ulai” (NEB)

³ And I lifted up my eyes and I saw, and look! A ram¹ standing ⌞before⌟² the stream, and ⌞it had⌟³ two horns, and the horns were long, but the one was longer than the second, and the longer one came up ⌞after the other one⌟.⁴

1. Hebrew “One ram”
2. Literally “to the face of”
3. Literally “for it”
4. Literally “in the behind of the other”

⁴ I saw the ram charging westward and northward and southward, and ⌞none of the beasts stood before it⌟,¹ and there was no rescuing from ⌞its power⌟,² and it did ⌞what it wanted⌟³ and it became strong.⁴

1. Literally “all the beasts not they withstood to the face of him”
2. Literally “its hand”
3. Literally “according to its will”
4. Or “it/he magnified itself/himself”

⁵ And I was considering this, and look, a he-goat coming from the west across the face of the whole earth, and it was not touching the ground;¹ and the he-goat had ⌞a conspicuous horn⌟² between its eyes.

1. Or “earth,” or “land”
2. Literally “a horn of vision”

⁶ Then it came toward the ram ⌞that had the two horns⌟¹ that I saw standing ⌞before⌟² the stream, and it ran at it with³ the rage of its power.

1. Literally “the owner of the two horns”
2. Literally “to the face of”
3. Or “in”

⁷ And I saw it approaching the ram and it was furious at it, and it struck the ram, and it broke its two horns, and ⌞there was not strength in the ram to stand before him⌟,¹ and he threw it down to the ground and trampled it, ⌞and there was no one who could rescue the ram⌟² from its power.

1. Literally “and not was strength in the ram to withstand to the face of him”
2. Literally “and not he/it was one rescuing”

⁸ And the he-goat grew ⌞exceedingly great⌟,¹ and ⌞at the height of its power⌟² the great horn was broken, and four conspicuous horns³ came up in place of it toward the four winds of heaven.

1. Literally “until much”
2. Literally “and at his being powerful”
3. LXX reads “others” here for “conspicuous.” The words in Hebrew can be confused for each other

⁹ ⌞And from one of them⌟¹ came forth a horn, ⌞a little one⌟,² and it grew exceedingly³ toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the beautiful land.

1. Literally “And from the one from them”
2. Literally “one from little”
3. Or “pre-eminently”

¹⁰ And it grew up to the host of heaven, and it threw down to the ground some of the host and some of the stars and trampled them.

¹¹ Even against the prince of the hosts it acted arrogantly and took away from him the regular burnt offering, and the place of his sanctuary was overthrown.

¹² And on account of transgression, the host was given over to the horn in addition to the regular burnt offering. And it cast down truth to the ground, and it ⌞acted⌟,¹ and it had success.

1. Literally “did”

¹³ And I heard a certain holy one speaking, and a certain other holy one said to the specific one ⌞who was speaking⌟,¹ “⌞For how long⌟² is the vision concerning the regular burnt offering, and the transgression that makes desolate, and the giving over of the sanctuary and the host to trampling?”

1. Literally “the one speaking”
2. Literally “Until when”

¹⁴ And he said to me, “For two thousand three hundred evenings and mornings, then the sanctuary will be restored.”

Gabriel Gives Angelic Help and Interprets the Vision

¹⁵ ⌞And then⌟¹ when I, Daniel, saw the vision, and I was seeking understanding, there was one standing before me with the appearance of a man.

1. Literally “And it happened”

¹⁶ And I heard the voice of a human at the Ulai, and he called and said, “Gabriel, make this man understand the vision.”

¹⁷ And he came beside ⌞where I was standing⌟,¹ and ⌞when he came⌟² I became terrified and I fell prostrate on my face. And he said to me, “Understand, son of man,³ that the vision is for the time of the end.”

1. Literally “my standing”
2. Literally “at his coming”
3. Or “mortal,” or “son of humankind”

¹⁸ And ⌞when he spoke⌟¹ with me I fell into a trance with my face to the ground, and he touched me and made me stand on by feet.

1. Literally “at his speaking”

¹⁹ And he said, “Look, I am making known to you what will happen in the period of wrath,¹ for it refers to the appointed time of the end.

1. Or “the wrath”

²⁰ “The ram that you saw ⌞who had two horns⌟¹ represents the kings of Media and Persia.

1. Literally “the owner of the two horns”

²¹ “And the hairy he-goat is the ⌞kingdom⌟¹ of Greece, and the great horn that is between his eyes—he is the first king.

1. Literally “king”

²² And the horn that was broken, and then there arose four horns in place of it—these are four kingdoms that will arise from his nation, but not with his power.

²³ And at the end of their kingdom, when the transgressions are completed, a king will arise, fierce in countenance and skilled in riddles.

²⁴ And his power will grow, but not by his own power, and he will cause fearful destruction, and he will succeed and ⌞he will act⌟,¹ and he will destroy the mighty and the people of the holy ones.²

1. Literally “he will do”
2. Or “saints”

²⁵ And by his planning¹ he will make a success of deceit by² his hand, and in his ⌞mind⌟³ he will ⌞boast⌟,⁴ and in their ease he will destroy many, and even against the prince of princes he will rise up, and he will be broken, but not by human hands.

1. Or “cunning”
2. Hebrew “in”
3. Literally “heart”
4. Literally “magnify himself”

²⁶ And the vision of the evening and the morning that has been ⌞described⌟,¹ it is true; and you, seal up the vision, for ⌞it refers to many days to come⌟.”²

1. Literally “told”
2. Literally “for to days many”

²⁷ And I, Daniel, was overcome, and I became ill for some days, and I ⌞performed⌟¹ the business of the king, and I was dismayed over the vision and ⌞I did not understand it⌟.²

1. Literally “did”
2. Literally “there was not understanding”

Daniel’s Prayer for His People

¹ In the first year of Darius, the son of Ahasuerus,¹ from the offspring of the Medes, who became king over the kingdom of the Chaldeans—

1. That is, Xerxes

² in the first year of his kingship I, Daniel, observed in the scrolls the number of the years that it was that were to be fulfilled according to the word of Yahweh to Jeremiah the prophet for the devastation of Jerusalem—seventy years.

³ Then I turned my face to the Lord God to seek him by prayer and pleas for mercy,¹ in fasting and in sackcloth and ashes.

1. Or “supplications”

⁴ And I prayed to Yahweh my God, and I made confession and I said, “O Lord, the great and awesome God, keeping the covenant and loyal love with those who love him and with those who keep his commandments,

⁵ we have sinned and we have done wrong and we acted wickedly and we rebelled and have been turning aside from your commandments and from your ordinances.

⁶ We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes and our ancestors¹ and to all the people of the land.

1. Or “fathers”

⁷ “⌞Righteousness belongs to you, O Lord⌟,¹ and on us is open shame, just as it is this day to the people of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to all Israel, ⌞those who are near and those who are far off⌟² in all the lands to which you have driven them,³ because of their infidelity which they displayed against you.

1. Literally “for you Lord the righteousness”
2. Literally “those near and those far”
3. Hebrew “to which you have driven them there”

⁸ Yahweh, on us is open shame, on our kings, on our princes, and on our ancestors,¹ because we have sinned against you.

1. Or “fathers”

⁹ ⌞Compassion and forgiveness belong to the Lord, our God⌟,¹ for we have rebelled against him,

1. Literally “to the Lord our God the compassion and the forgiveness”

¹⁰ and we have not listened to the voice of Yahweh our God, by following his law ⌞which he placed before us⌟¹ by the hand of his servants the prophets.

1. Literally “which he gave to the face of us”

¹¹ “And all Israel transgressed your law and turned aside so as not to listen to your voice, and so the curse and the oath which was written in the law of Moses, the servant of God, has been poured out upon us, because we have sinned against him.

¹² And so he has carried out his words which he spoke against us and against our rulers who ruled us, to bring upon us a great calamity which was not done under all of heaven as it was done in Jerusalem.

¹³ Just as it is written in the law of Moses, all of this calamity has come upon us, and ⌞we have not implored⌟¹ the face of Yahweh our God so as to turn from our iniquities and to attend closely to your faithfulness.²

1. Literally “we not implored”
2. Or “truth”

¹⁴ So Yahweh has kept watch over the¹ calamity, and now he has brought it upon us. Indeed, Yahweh our God is righteous concerning all his works² that he has done, but we have not listened to his voice.

1. Or “his”
2. Or “acts”

¹⁵ “And now, Lord our God, who have brought your people out from the land of Egypt with a strong hand, and you have made for yourself a name until this day—we have sinned, we have acted wickedly.

¹⁶ Lord, according to all your righteousness, please let your anger and your rage turn away from your city Jerusalem, ⌞your holy mountain⌟,¹ because through our sins and through the iniquities of our ancestors² Jerusalem and your people have become an object of mockery among all of our neighbors.

1. Literally “the mountain of your holiness”
2. Or “fathers”

¹⁷ “And now, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his pleas for mercy. Shine¹ your face upon your desolate sanctuary ⌞for your sake, O Lord⌟.²

1. Or “let shine” or “cause to shine”
2. Literally “for the sake of the Lord”

¹⁸ Incline your ear, my God, and listen; open your eyes and look at our desolation and the city that is called by your name, for we are not presenting our pleas for mercy ⌞before you⌟¹ because of our righteousness, but rather because of your great compassion.

1. Literally “to the face of you”

¹⁹ Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, pay heed and act! You must not delay ⌞for your sake⌟,¹ my God; because ⌞your city and your people are called by your name⌟.”²

1. Literally “for the sake of you”
2. Literally “your name is called over your city and over your people”

Gabriel’s Announcement and Presentation of the Seventy Sets of Seven

²⁰ Now I was still speaking and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my plea ⌞before⌟¹ Yahweh my God, on behalf ⌞of the holy mountain of my God⌟.²

1. Literally “to the face of”
2. Literally “the mountain of the holiness of my God”

²¹ And I was still speaking in prayer, and the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision ⌞previously⌟,¹ ⌞in my weariness touched me⌟² at the time of the evening offering.

1. Literally “in the beginning”
2. Literally “my being wearied, touching me”

²² And he instructed me and he spoke with me and he said, “Daniel I have now come out¹ to teach you understanding.

1. Or “forth”

²³ At the beginning of your pleas for mercy, a word went out, and now I have come to declare¹ it, for you are highly esteemed, and so consider the word and understand the vision.

1. Or “deliver”

The Seventy Sets of Seven Detailed

²⁴ “Seventy weeks is decreed for your people and ⌞for your holy city⌟,¹ to put an end to the transgression and to seal up sin² and to make atonement for guilt and to bring in everlasting righteousness and to seal vision and prophet and to anoint ⌞the most holy place⌟.³

1. Literally “for the city of your holiness”
2. Or “to make an end to sin”
3. Literally “the holy place of holy places”

²⁵ And you must know and you must understand¹ that from the time of the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem until an anointed² one—a leader—will be ⌞seven weeks and sixty-two weeks⌟;³ it will be restored and will be built with streets and a moat, but ⌞in a time of oppression⌟.⁴

1. Or “so you are to know and discern” (NASB), or “know then and understand” (e.g. NEB)
2. Or “messiah”
3. Literally “weeks seven and weeks sixty and two”
4. Literally “in distress/oppression of the times/time”

²⁶ “And after the sixty and two weeks an anointed one¹ shall be cut off, and ⌞he shall have nothing⌟,² and the people of the coming leader will destroy the city and the sanctuary,³ and its end will be with the flood and on to the end there shall be war; these desolations are determined.

1. Or “messiah”
2. Literally “there is not for him”
3. Or “holy place”

²⁷ And he will make a strong covenant with the many for one week, but in half of the week he will let cease sacrifice and offering ⌞and in its place⌟¹ a desolating abomination comes even until ⌞the determined complete destruction⌟² is poured out on the desolator.”

1. Literally “and on a wing of”
2. Literally “a complete destruction and being determined”

Daniel’s Vision of a Dazzling Heavenly Messenger

¹ In the third year of Cyrus the king of the Persians, a word¹ was revealed to Daniel, who was called by his name Belteshazzar, and the word² was reliable and it concerned a great tribulation,³ and he understood the word⁴ and ⌞he received understanding⌟.⁵

1. Or “matter,” or “message”
2. Or “matter,” or “message”
3. Or “conflict”
4. Or “matter,” or “message”
5. Literally “and understanding to him”

² In those days, I, Daniel, I myself¹ was in mourning ⌞for three whole weeks⌟.²

1. This is an emphatic use of the first person personal pronoun
2. Literally “three weeks of days”

³ I had not eaten any choice food, and meat and wine did not enter my mouth, and ⌞I did not use any ointment⌟¹ ⌞until the end of three whole weeks⌟.²

1. Literally “I have not anointed at all”
2. Literally “until being full/complete three weeks of days”

⁴ And then on the twenty-fourth day of the first month, I myself¹ was on the bank of the great river; that is, the Tigris.

1. This is an emphatic use of the first person personal pronoun

⁵ And I lifted up my eyes and I saw,¹ and there was a man, and he was dressed in linen, and his waist was girded with the gold of Uphaz.

1. Or “looked”

⁶ Now his body was like turquoise,¹ and his face was like the appearance of lightning, and his eyes were like torches of fire, and his arms and his legs were like the gleam of polished bronze, and the sound of his words was like the sound of a multitude.

1. Or “yellow jasper” or other gold-colored stones; the exact identity of ancient precious stones is difficult

⁷ And I saw, I, Daniel ⌞alone⌟,¹ the vision; and the people who were with me ⌞did not see⌟² the vision; nevertheless, a great trembling fell upon them and they fled in order to hide themselves.

1. Literally “to alone me”
2. Literally “not they saw”

⁸ And I myself, Daniel, alone saw this great vision, and as a result ⌞no strength was left in me⌟¹ and ⌞my complexion grew deathly pale⌟,² and I did not retain any strength.

1. Literally “not was left in me strength”
2. Literally “and complexion my changed over me to destruction”

⁹ And I heard the sound of his words, and ⌞when I heard⌟¹ the sound of his words I myself began falling into a trance on my face, ⌞with my face to the ground⌟.²

1. Literally “at my hearing”
2. Literally “and my face toward the ground”

¹⁰ And look, a hand touched me and it roused me to my knees¹ and the palms² of my hands.

1. Hebrew “on my knees”
2. Hebrew “palm”

¹¹ And he said to me, “Daniel, a man beloved, pay attention to the words that I am speaking to you and ⌞stand upright where you are⌟,¹ for I have now been sent to you.” And ⌞while he was speaking⌟² with me this word,³ I stood up trembling.

1. Literally “stand on your position”
2. Literally “at his speaking”
3. Or “matter,” or “message”

¹² And he said to me, “You must not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and to humble yourself ⌞before⌟¹ your God, your words were heard, and I myself² have come because of your words.

1. Literally “to the face of”
2. This is an emphatic use of the first person personal pronoun

¹³ But the prince of the kingdom of Persia stood ⌞before me⌟¹ for twenty-one days. And look,² Michael, one of the chief princes, came to assist me, and I left him there beside the king of the Persians.

1. Literally “to front of me”
2. Or “finally”

¹⁴ And I have come¹ to instruct you about what² will happen to your people ⌞in the future⌟,³ for there is a further vision here ⌞for the future⌟.⁴

1. Hebrew “I came”
2. Hebrew “that”
3. Literally “at the end of the days”
4. Literally “for the days”

¹⁵ And while he was speaking with me according to these words, I turned my face toward the ground and I was speechless.

¹⁶ Then look, there was ⌞one in the form of a human⌟;¹ he touched my lips and I opened my mouth and I spoke and I said to the one standing ⌞before me⌟,² “My lord, because of the vision my anxieties fell upon me and I have not retained my strength.

1. Literally “as the likeness of a son of man”
2. Literally “to opposite me”

¹⁷ So ⌞how am I, a servant of my lord⌟¹ to speak with ⌞you, my lord⌟,² and I ⌞just now⌟³ ⌞have no strength in me⌟?”⁴

1. Literally “how is he able a servant of my lord this”
2. Literally “with my lord this”
3. Literally “from now”
4. Literally “not it remains in me strength”

¹⁸ And ⌞he again touched⌟¹ me, ⌞the one in the form of a human⌟,² and he strengthened me.

1. Literally “he added to and touched”
2. Literally “like vision of a man”

¹⁹ And he said, “You must not fear, O beloved man. ⌞Peace be to you⌟;¹ be strong and be courageous!” And ⌞when he spoke⌟² with me, I was strengthened and I said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.”

1. Literally “Peace to/for you”
2. Literally “at his speaking”

²⁰ Then he asked, “Do you know why I have come to you? And now I return to fight against the prince of Persia and I myself¹ am going, and look,² the prince of Javan³ will come.

1. This is an emphatic use of the first person personal pronoun
2. Or “listen”
3. That is, Greece

²¹ However, I will tell you ⌞what is inscribed⌟¹ in the book of truth, and there is not one who contends with me against these beings ⌞except⌟² Michael, your prince.”

1. Literally “the being inscribed”
2. Literally “but if”

A Survey of the Kings of the North and South

¹ “And I, in the first year of Darius the Mede, ⌞I stood⌟¹ as a support and as a protection for him.

1. Literally “my standing”

² And now I will reveal the truth to you. Look! Still three kings will arise in Persia, and the fourth will get abundance and great wealth, even more than all of them, and ⌞when he becomes strong⌟¹ through his wealth, then he will stir up ⌞everyone⌟² against the kingdom of Javan.³

1. Literally “at his strength”
2. Literally “the all”
3. That is, Greece

³ And a mighty king will arise, and he will rule with great dominion, and he will do ⌞as he pleases⌟.¹

1. Literally “as his pleasure”

⁴ But ⌞as he rises in power⌟,¹ his kingdom will be divided toward the four winds of heaven, but not to his posterity, and not according to his dominion by which he ruled, for his kingdom will be uprooted and be given ⌞to others besides them⌟.²

1. Literally “as his rising/to rise”
2. Literally “to others from to alone these”

⁵ “Then the king of the south will grow strong and also ⌞one of his officials⌟,¹ and he will grow stronger ⌞than him⌟² and he will rule ⌞a dominion greater than his dominion⌟.³

1. Literally “from among his officials”
2. Literally “over him”
3. Literally “a dominion great dominion his”

⁶ And at the end of some years they will make an alliance, and the daughter of the king of the south will come to the king of the north to make a peace treaty, but ⌞she will not retain her position of power⌟,¹ and his offspring² will not endure, and she will be given up, she and her attendants and her child supporting her, in those times.³

1. Literally “she will not retain the power of her arm”
2. Or “power”
3. Hebrew “in the times”

⁷ And a branch from her roots¹ will rise up in his place, and he will come against the army and he will enter the stronghold of the king of the north and he will take action against them and he will prevail.

1. That is, a member of her family

⁸ And also their gods with their idols and with the ⌞precious vessels⌟,¹ silver and gold he will take to Egypt into captivity, and for years ⌞he will leave the king of the north alone⌟.²

1. Literally “vessels of their desire”
2. Literally “he will stand back from the king of the north”

⁹ And then he¹ will come into the kingdom of the king of the south, but he will return to his land.

1. That is, the king of the north

¹⁰ “But his sons will wage war and they will gather a multitude of great forces and ⌞he will advance with great force⌟,¹ and he will overflow like a flood and he will pass through and he will return, and they will wage war up to his fortress.

1. Literally “he will come, to come”

¹¹ And the king of the south will become furious, and he will go and he will battle against him, against the king of the north; and he will muster a great multitude, and the multitude will be given into his hand.

¹² When the multitude is carried off, his heart will be exalted and he will overthrow ⌞tens of thousands⌟,¹ but he will not prevail.

1. Literally “myriads”

¹³ And the king of the north will again raise a multitude, greater than the former, and ⌞at the end of some years⌟¹ he will surely come with a great army and with great supplies.²

1. Literally “to the end of the times years”
2. Or “resources”

¹⁴ “And in these times many will rise up against the king of the south, and ⌞the violent ones of your people⌟¹ will lift themselves ⌞to fulfill⌟² the vision, but they will fall.

1. Literally “the sons of the lawless ones of your people”
2. Literally “to cause to stand”

¹⁵ And the king of the north will come, and he will throw up siege ramps¹ and capture a city of fortifications and the military forces of the south and ⌞his choice troops⌟² will not stand, for³ there is no strength left to resist.

1. Hebrew “ramp”
2. Literally “the army of his chosen troops”
3. Hebrew “and”

¹⁶ And the one coming to him will act ⌞according to⌟¹ his pleasure, and there is no one who ⌞will stand⌟² ⌞before him⌟,³ and he will stand in ⌞the beautiful land⌟⁴ and complete destruction will be in his power.

1. Literally “as”
2. Literally “standing”
3. Literally “to the face of him”
4. Literally “in the land of the beauty”

¹⁷ And he will set his face to come with the authority of his whole kingdom and will form an agreement;¹ and he will ⌞act⌟,² and the daughter of women he will give to him to destroy it,³ but the ploy will not succeed ⌞and she will not support him⌟.⁴

1. Or “treaty,” or “peace proposal”; the Hebrew is difficult
2. Literally “do, perform”
3. Or “her”
4. Literally “and not for him will she be”

¹⁸ And he will turn his face to the coastlands, and he will capture many, but¹ a commander will end his insults to him ⌞so that instead his insults will turn back upon him⌟.²

1. Hebrew “and”
2. Literally “so that not his insults he will return against him”

¹⁹ And he will turn back his face toward¹ the strongholds of his land, but he will stumble and he will fall and will not be found.

1. Hebrew “to”

²⁰ “Then in his place will arise one sending an official throughout the glory¹ of his kingdom, and ⌞in a few days⌟² he will be broken, but not in anger and not in battle.

1. Or “splendor”
2. Literally “in some days”

²¹ And in his place a despicable person will arise on whom¹ they have not conferred the majesty of the kingdom, and he will come in ⌞without warning⌟² and he will seize the kingdom by deceit.

1. Hebrew “him”
2. Literally “in ease”

²² And ⌞before him⌟¹ ⌞mighty military forces⌟² will be utterly swept away, and they will be broken, and also the leader of the covenant.

1. Literally “to the face of him”
2. Literally “military forces of the flood”

²³ And after an alliance is made with him, he will act deceitfully, and he will rise and he will become powerful with few people backing him.

²⁴ In a time of ease and in the rich parts of the province, he will come and he will do what ⌞his predecessors⌟¹ did not do; he will distribute plunder and spoil and possessions to them, and he will devise his plans against fortifications, but only ⌞for a time⌟.²

1. Literally “his fathers and the father of his fathers”
2. Literally “until time”

²⁵ And he will stir up his power and his heart against the king of the south and ⌞with a much greater and stronger army⌟;¹ but he will not succeed, for they will devise plans against him.

1. Literally “with an army great and numerous exceedingly”

²⁶ And those who eat of his royal rations will break him and his army will be overwhelmed, and many will fall, slain.

²⁷ ⌞And two of the kings⌟¹ ⌞will bend their hearts⌟² to evil. And at the ⌞same table⌟³ they will speak lies, but what is discussed will not succeed, for still an end is coming at the appointed time.

1. Literally “And two of them, the kings”
2. Literally “their heart”
3. Literally “one table”

²⁸ Then he will return to his land with many possessions, but his heart will be set against ⌞the holy covenant⌟,¹ and he will take action and he will return to his land.

1. Literally “covenant of holiness”

²⁹ “At the appointed time he will return and he will come into the south, but it will not be ⌞as it was before⌟.¹

1. Literally “as the former and as the last”

³⁰ And the ships of Kittim will come against him, and he will lose heart, and he will turn back, and he will be enraged ⌞against the holy covenant⌟,¹ and he will take action, and he will turn back, and he will pay attention to those who forsake ⌞the holy covenant⌟.²

1. Literally “against the covenant of holiness”
2. Literally “the covenant of holiness”

³¹ And military forces from him ⌞will occupy⌟¹ and will profane² the ⌞sanctuary stronghold⌟,³ and they will abolish the regular burnt offering, and they will set up the abomination that causes desolation.

1. Literally “will stand forth”
2. Or “desecrate”
3. Literally “the sanctuary, the stronghold”

³² “And those who violate the covenant he will seduce with flattery, but the persons who know their God¹ will stand firm and will take action.

1. Hebrew “the ones who know his God”

³³ And those who have insight ⌞will instruct⌟¹ the many, but they will fall by sword and by flame, by captivity and by plunder ⌞for some time⌟.²

1. Literally “make understand”
2. Literally “during days”

³⁴ And ⌞when they fall⌟¹ they will receive little help, and many will join with them in hypocrisy.

1. Literally “in/at their falling”

³⁵ And even some of those ⌞who have insight⌟¹ will fall² in order for them to be refined by it, and to be purified and cleansed until the time of the end, for the appointed time is still to come.

1. Literally “the ones who produce insight”
2. Or “stumble”

³⁶ “Then the king will do ⌞as he pleases⌟,¹ and he will exalt himself and will consider himself above any god, and he will speak horrendous things ⌞against⌟² the God of gods, yet he will succeed until the period of anger is finished, for what is determined will be done.

1. Literally “as his pleasure”
2. Literally “over”

³⁷ He will not pay respect to the gods of his ancestors,¹ or to the darling of women, and not to any god will he pay respect, for he will consider himself great over all gods.

1. Or “fathers”

³⁸ But ⌞instead⌟¹ he will honor the god of fortresses, a god whom his ancestors² did not know. He will honor him with gold, and with silver, and with precious stones³ and with costly gifts.

1. Literally “in his place”
2. Or “fathers”
3. Hebrew “precious stone”

³⁹ And he will deal with the ⌞fortified strongholds⌟¹ with the help of ⌞a foreign god⌟;² and he will increase wealth for whoever will acknowledge him, and he will cause them to rule³ over the many, and he will distribute land for a price.

1. Literally “the fortifications of strongholds”
2. Literally “the god of a foreign land”
3. Or “appoint”

⁴⁰ “And at the time of the end the king of the south will attack him, and the king of the north will storm against him with chariots¹ and with horsemen and with many ships, and he will advance against the countries and ⌞he will sweep through like a flood⌟.²

1. Hebrew “chariot”
2. Literally “and he will overflow them and he will pass through”

⁴¹ And he will come ⌞into the beautiful land⌟¹ and many will fall victim, but these will escape from his power: Edom and Moab and the best part² of the ⌞Ammonites⌟.³

1. Literally “into the land of the beauty”
2. A difficult word to translate in this context: possibly it means “the foremost” (NASB), or it may mean “the remnant” (NEB)
3. Literally “sons/children of Ammon”

⁴² And he will stretch out his hand against countries and the land of Egypt ⌞will not escape⌟.¹

1. Literally “not it will be to escape”

⁴³ And he will rule over the treasures of gold and the silver and over all the precious things of Egypt; and the Libyans and the Cushites will follow in his footsteps.

⁴⁴ But reports will terrify him from the east and from the north, and he will go out with great fury to destroy and to exterminate many.

⁴⁵ And then he will pitch the tents of his palace between the sea and ⌞the beautiful holy mountain⌟,¹ and he will come to his end, and there is no one² helping him.”

1. Literally “the mountain of the beauty holiness”
2. Or “not one”

The Time of the Judgment and the Resurrection of Two Groups

¹ “Now at that time, Michael, the great prince, will arise, ⌞the protector⌟¹ over the sons of your people, and it will be a time of distress that has not been since your people ⌞have been⌟² a nation until that time. And at that time your people will escape, ⌞everyone who is found⌟³ written in the scroll.⁴

1. Literally “the one who stands with”
2. Literally “to be” or “being”
3. Literally “all of the being found”
4. Or “book”

² And many from those sleeping ⌞in the dusty ground⌟¹ will awake, some to ⌞everlasting life⌟² and some to disgrace and ⌞everlasting contempt⌟.³

1. Literally “of the ground of dust”
2. Literally “life of eternity”
3. Literally “contempt of eternity”

³ But the ones having insight will shine like the brightness of the expanse, and the ones providing justice for the many¹ will be like the stars ⌞forever and ever⌟.²

1. Or “leading the many in righteousness”
2. Literally “to eternity and ever”

⁴ But you, Daniel, keep the words secret and seal the scroll¹ until the time of the end; many will run back and forth and knowledge will increase.”

1. Or “book”

⁵ Then I looked, I myself, Daniel, and look, there were two others standing: ⌞one on this bank of the stream and one on the other⌟.¹

1. Literally “one here on the bank of the stream and one there on the bank of the stream”

⁶ Then he said to the man who was clothed in linen who was above¹ the water of the stream,² “⌞How long until⌟³ the end of the wonders?”

1. Hebrew “from above”
2. Or “river”
3. Literally “Until when”

⁷ And I heard the man who was clothed in linen who was above¹ the water of the stream,² and he raised his right hand and his left hand to heaven and he swore ⌞by the one who lives forever⌟³ that an appointed time, appointed times, and half an appointed time would pass when the shattering of ⌞the power of the holy people⌟⁴ ⌞would be completed⌟;⁵ then all these things will be accomplished.

1. Hebrew “from above”
2. Or “river”
3. Literally “by the life of the eternity”
4. Literally “the power of the people of holiness”
5. Literally “to come to an end”

Daniel Seeks Additional Insights

⁸ Now I myself heard, but I did not understand, and I said, “My lord, what will be the outcome of these things?”

⁹ And he said, “Go, Daniel, for the words are secret and are sealed up until the time of the end.

¹⁰ Many will be purified and will be cleansed and will be refined, but the wicked will act wickedly ⌞and none of the wicked will understand⌟,¹ but ⌞those who have insight⌟² will understand.

1. Literally “and not will understand all the wicked”
2. Literally “the ones having insight”

¹¹ And from the time the regular burnt offering is removed and the abomination that causes desolation ⌞is set up⌟¹ there will be one thousand two hundred and ninety days.

1. Literally “to be set up” or “to put in place”

¹² Happy is the one who is persevering, and attains to the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days.

¹³ But you, go on to the end and rest, and you will arise for your allotted inheritance at the end of the days.”