eng_aiv Amundson Interpretive Version Daniel Daniel Daniel Dan Daniel id=eng_aiv name=Amundson Interpretive Version (AIV) status=draft spec=USFM-USX 3.1.1 export=2026-11-02 char:add=translator-addition-italic char:wj=words-of-Jesus-as-received-unmapped note:f=footnotes para:r=parallel-passage-references para:d=psalm-superscriptions Daniel Removed to Babylon In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and laid siege upon it. And the Lord gave into his hand Jehoiakim king of Judah, and some of the vessels of the house of God, and he brought them into the land of Shinar,1.2 That is, Babylonia to the house of his god, and he brought the vessels into the house of treasure of his god. And the king said to Ashpenaz the chief of his eunuchs to bring in some of the sons of Israel, and some of the seed of the king and of the nobles, young men in whom there was not any blemish, and of good appearance, and being skilled in all wisdom, and knowing knowledge, and understanding learning, and who had power in them to serve in the palace of the king and to teach them and literature and language of the Chaldeans.1.4 That is, the Babylonians And the king counted out for them provision day by day from the choice portion of the king, and from the wine of his banquets, and of training for them three years, after which they were to stand before the king. And there were among them of the sons of Judah—Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. And the chief of the eunuchs set for them names; and he gave to Daniel Belteshazzar, and to Hananiah Shadrach, and to Mishael Meshach, and to Azariah Abed-nego. Daniel’s Faithfulness And Daniel set upon his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king, nor with the wine of his banquets; therefore he sought from the chief of the eunuchs that he would not defile himself. And God gave Daniel for kindness and compassion before the chief of the eunuchs. And the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel: “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your⁺ food and your⁺ drink; for why should he see your⁺ faces sadder than the young men who are your⁺ age? And you⁺ would endanger my head before the king.” And Daniel said to the guardian, whom the chief of the eunuchs had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, “Test, please, your servants ten days, and let them give to us from the vegetables only to eat, and water only to drink. And let our appearance be seen before you, and the appearance of the young men that are eating the portion of the king, and according to what you see, deal with your servants.” And he listened to them, to this word, and he tested them ten days. And at the end of ten days, their appearance was seen better and fatter in flesh than all the young men eating the portion of the king. And it came to pass that the steward took away their portions, and the wine for their drinking, and gave to them vegetables. Daniel’s Wisdom And these four young men, God gave to them knowledge and understanding in all literature and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. And at the end of the days, when the king had said to bring them in, then the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. And the king spoke to them, and there was not found among them all one like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; and they stood before the king. And in all matters of wisdom and understanding that the king inquired of them, he found them ten hands above all the magicians and the enchanters who were in all his kingdom. And Daniel was there until the first year of Cyrus the king. Nebuchadnezzar’s Troubling Dream And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, and his spirit was troubled that his sleep left him. And the king commanded to call the magicians, and the enchanters, and the sorcerers, and the astrologers,2.2 Or Chaldeans; also in verses 4 and 5, and twice similarly in verse10 to tell to the king his dreams. And they came and stood before the king. And the king said to them: “I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit is anxious to know the dream.” And the astrologers spoke to the king in Aramaic, “O king, may you live forever! Tell the dream to your servants, and we will show the interpretation.” 2.4 The original text from this point of Daniel 2:4 through Daniel 7:28 is in Aramaic. The king answered and said to the astrologers, “The word from me is firm: If you⁺ do not make known to me the dream and its interpretation, you⁺ shall be cut into limbs, and your houses shall be made a dunghill! And if you⁺ show the dream and its interpretation, you⁺ will receive gifts and rewards and great honor from me. Therefore show me the dream and its interpretation.” They answered again and said, “May the king tell the dream to his servants, and we will show its interpretation.” The king answered and said, “For sure I know that you⁺ are buying time, all because you⁺ see that the word is gone from me, that if you⁺ do not make known to me the dream, it is one decree for you⁺. And you⁺ have agreed to speak lying and corrupt words before me until the times should change. Therefore you must tell the dream to me, and I will know that you⁺ can show me its interpretation.” The astrologers answered before the king and said, “There is not a man on earth who is able to show the word of the king, because that not any king, lord, or ruler has asked a thing like this from any magician, or enchanter, or astrologer. And the thing that the king is asking is difficult, and there is not another who can show it to the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.” All because of this, the king was very angry and he became furious, and he gave a command to destroy all the wise men of Babylon. And the decree went out, and they began killing the wise men, and they sought Daniel and his companions to kill them. The Dream Revealed to Daniel Then Daniel responded with counsel and discretion to Arioch the captain of the guard of the king, who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon. He answered and said to Arioch, captain of the king: “For what is this urgent decree from the king?” Then Arioch made known the matter to Daniel. And Daniel went in and sought from the king that he should give to him time to show the interpretation to the king. Then Daniel went to his house, and to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah his companions, he made known the matter, and he sought mercies from before the God of heaven concerning this secret, so that Daniel and his companions should perish not with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. Then to Daniel, in a vision which was of the night, the secret was revealed. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven, and Daniel answered, saying, “Let the name of God be blessed from age even to age, for the wisdom and might that are unto Him. And He is the One changing the times and the seasons, removing kings and setting up kings, giving wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those knowing with understanding. He is the One revealing deep and secret things, knowing what is in the darkness, for the light dwells with Him. To You, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and I praise You, for You have given wisdom and might. To me and now You have made known to me what we asked of You, for the matter of the king You have made known to us.” Daniel Interprets the Dream Therefore according to this, Daniel went in unto Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon; he went and thus said to him: “You should not destroy the wise men of Babylon. Take me before the king, and I will show the interpretation to the king.” Then Arioch, going with haste, brought Daniel before the king, and thus said to him: “I have found a man from the sons of the captivity of Judah who will show the interpretation to the king.” The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, “Are you able to make known to me the dream that I have seen, and its interpretation?” Daniel answered before the king and said: “The secret that the king has been asking, the wise men, the enchanters, the magicians, and the diviners are not able to show to the king; but there is a God in heaven revealing secrets, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will come to pass in the latter days. Your dream, and the visions of your head upon your bed, this it is: To you, O king, your thought on your bed came up what would come to be after this; and the One revealing secrets has made known to you what will come to pass. And to me—not with wisdom that is in me more than all the living—this secret has been revealed to me, but in order that the interpretation should be made known to the king and that you may know the thoughts of your heart. You, O king, were watching, and behold, a great image.2.31 Or statue; here and through the rest of Daniel 2 This great image, whose splendor was excellent, was standing before you, and its appearance was frightening. This image, its head was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet, part of them of iron and part of them of clay. You were looking, until that a stone was cut out,2.34 LXX cut out from a mountain but not with hands, and it struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and it shattered them. Then they were crushed as one—the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold, and they became like chaff from the threshing floors in summer, and the wind carried them away, and any trace of them could not be found. And the stone that struck the image became as a great mountain, and it filled all the earth. This is the dream, and its interpretation we will tell before the king. You, O king, are king of kings—for the God of heaven has given to you the kingdom, the power, and the strength, and the glory. And in everywhere the sons of man are dwelling, or the beasts of the field, or the birds of the heavens, He has given them into your hand, and He has made you ruler over them all. You are that head of gold! And after you another kingdom will arise, inferior to you, and another third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth. And there will be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron, because that iron breaks in pieces and shatters everything; and like iron that crushes all these, it will break in pieces and it will crush. And as you saw the feet and the toes, partly of the clay of a potter, and partly of iron, so the kingdom shall be divided; and some of the strength of the iron will be in it, as you saw the iron mixed with common clay. And as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, so partly the kingdom will be strong, and part will be brittle. And as you saw the iron mixed with common clay, they will be mixing together with the seed of man; they will not be adhering this to that, as iron does not mix with clay. And in the days of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will not be destroyed for the ages, and this other kingdom will not be left to the people; it will break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it will stand to the ages, all because that you saw that from the mountain was cut out the stone that was without hands, that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold, the great God has made known to the king what will come to be after this. And the dream is true, and its interpretation trustworthy.” Nebuchadnezzar Promotes Daniel Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face, and to Daniel he paid homage, and an offering and he commanded that incense be poured forth to him. The king Answered Daniel and said: “Of a truth it is that your⁺ God, He is God of gods and Lord of kings, and the One revealing secrets, since you were able to reveal this secret.” Then the king gave high honor to Daniel, and he gave many great gifts to him; and he made him ruler over all the province of Babylon and chief of the administrators over all the wise men of Babylon. And Daniel requested of the king, and he appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, and Daniel was in the gate of the king. Nebuchadnezzar’s Golden Statue Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image3.1 Or statue; here and throughout Daniel 3 of gold; its height was sixty cubits, its width six cubits.3.1 The statue was approximately 90 feet high and 9 feet wide (27.4 meters high and 2.7 meters wide). He set it up in the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. And Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the satraps, the administrators, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the province, to come for the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. Then were gathered together the satraps, the administrators, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the province, for the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. And the herald was calling out with force: “To you⁺ it is commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, that at the time when you⁺ hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe, and all kinds of music,3.5 The precise identification of some musical instruments in this chapter is uncertain. you⁺ shall fall down and give homage to the image of gold that Nebuchadnezzar the king has set up! And whoever does not fall down and give homage to it, he shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning furnace of fire!” All because of this, at that time, accordingly as all the people heard the sound of the horn, the flute, the lyre, trigon, pipe, and all kinds of music, they fell down—all the people, nations, and languages—giving homage to the image of gold that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego Accused All because of this, at that time some astrologers,3.8 Or Chaldeans men, came forward and they ate to pieces the Jews. They spoke and said to Nebuchadnezzar the king, “O King, may you live forever! You, O king, have set forth a decree that any man who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, and pipe, and all kinds of music, must fall down and give homage to the image of gold. And whoever does not fall down and give homage, he shall be cast into the midst of a burning furnace of fire! There are men of the Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego; these men do not set upon you, O king, the regard! To your gods they do not serve, and to the image of gold that you have set up they do not give homage!” Then Nebuchadnezzar, in rage and fury, commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. Then they brought these men before the king. Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, that you⁺ are not giving service to my gods and not giving homage to the image of gold that I have set up? Now, if you⁺ are ready, at that time when you⁺ hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, and pipe, and all kinds of music, then you⁺ fall down and give homage to the image that I have made! And if you⁺ will not give homage in it, immediately you⁺ shall be cast into the midst of a burning furnace of fire—and who is the god who will deliver you⁺ from my hands?” Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego answered, and said to the king: “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to answer you in this matter. If our God, whom we serve, exists, He is able3.17 Or If this be so, then the God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning furnace of fire. From your hand, O king, He will deliver us. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that to your gods we are not serving, and to the image of gold that you have set up we will not give homage.” The Fiery Furnace Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the image of his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. He spoke and commanded to heat the furnace seven times more than it is seen to be heated. And to men mighty of valor who were in his army, he commanded to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, to cast them into the burning furnace of fire. Then these men were bound in their coats, their trousers, and their turbans, and their garments, and they were cast into the midst of the burning furnace of fire. All because of this, upon that the command of the king was urgent and the furnace was extremely hot, these men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, the flame of fire killed them. And these three men—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, fell into the midst of the burning furnace of fire, bound. Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was startled, and he rose in haste; he spoke and said to his counselors, “Was it not that we cast three men into the midst of the fire, bound?” They answered and said to the king, “Certainly, O King.” He answered and said, “Behold! I am seeing four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and there is to them no harm! And his appearance, that of the fourth, is like a son of the gods!3.25 Or like the Son of God” Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning furnace of fire; he answered and said: “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, servants of God Most High, come out and come here!” So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego came out from the midst of the fire. And gathered together the satraps, the administrators, and the governors, and the counselors of the king, and they saw these men whom the fire had no power over their bodies, and the hair of their head was not singed, and their garments were not changed, and the smell of fire had not passed over them. Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who sent His angel3.28 Or Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and who changed the word of the king, and gave up their bodies that they should not serve and not give homage to any god, except to their God! And a decree from me shall be set forth, that any people, nation, or language, that speaks wrong against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, shall be cut into limbs and their houses shall be made a dunghill—all because that there is no other God who is able to deliver like this.” Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego in the province of Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar Confesses God’s Kingdom Nebuchadnezzar the king, to all the peoples, nations, and languages who are dwelling in all the earth: Your⁺ peace be multiplied! The signs and wonders that the Most High God has worked for me, it seemed proper for me to show. His signs, how great, and His wonders, how mighty! His kingdom is a kingdom for the age, and His dominion is from generation to generation! Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream of a Great Tree I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house, and flourishing in my palace. I saw a dream, and it frightened me, and the thoughts upon my bed and visions of my head alarmed me. And from me a decree was set forth to bring in before me all the wise men of Babylon, that the interpretation of the dream they should make known to me. Then came in the magicians, the enchanters, the astrologers,4.7 Or Chaldeans and the diviners; and I told the dream before them, and its interpretation they could not make known to me. And at last came before me Daniel—of whom his name is Belteshazzar according to the name of my god, and for whom the Spirit of the holy gods is in him—and I told the dream before him: “O Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, because I know that the Spirit of the holy gods is in you, and a secret is not constraining for you, may you tell to me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and its interpretation. And the visions of my head upon my bed: I was looking, and behold, a tree in the midst of the earth, and its height was great. The tree grew large and became strong, and its height reached to the heavens, and the sight of it to the ends of all the earth. Its leaves were lovely, and its fruit abundant, and food for all was in it; under it the beasts of the field found shade, and in its branches the birds of the heavens dwelt, and from it all flesh was fed. I was looking at the visions of my head upon my bed, and behold, a watcher, a holy one4.13 Or an angelic watcher or a messenger; also in verses 17 and 23 from heaven, was coming down. He called out with strength, and thus said: ‘Chop down the tree and cut off its branches. Strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the beasts flee from under it, and the birds from its branches. Nevertheless, leave the stump and its roots in the ground, with a band of iron and bronze, in the grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and his portion with the beasts in the grass of the earth. Let his heart be changed from that of a man, and let the heart of a beast be given to him, and let seven times pass over him. By decree of the watchers is the sentence, and by word of the holy ones is the decision, in order that those living may know that the Most High is ruling over the kingdom of men; and to whom He wishes, He gives it, and the lowest of men He sets over it.’ This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, have seen; and you, Belteshazzar, must declare its interpretation, inasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation. And you are able, for the Spirit of the holy gods is in you.” Daniel Interprets the Second Dream Then Daniel, of whom his name is Belteshazzar, was dismayed for one moment, and his thoughts disturbed him. The king answered and said, “Belteshazzar, the dream and its interpretation, do not let it trouble you.” Belteshazzar answered and said, “My lord, the dream, be for those hating you, and its interpretation for your enemies!” The tree that you saw, which grew large and became strong, and whose height reached to the heavens, and in view of all the earth, and whose leaves were lovely, and its fruit abundant, and food for all was in it, under which dwelt the beasts of the field, and in whose branches the birds of the heavens dwelt— it is you, O king, who have grown great and become strong; for your greatness has grown great, and it reaches to the heavens, and your dominion to the end of the earth. In that the king saw a watcher and a holy one coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Chop down the tree and destroy it, but its stump and roots leave in the earth, with a band that is of iron and bronze, in the tender grass that is of the field; and with the dew of heaven let it be wet, and with the beasts of the field let his portion be, until that seven times should pass over him!’ This is the interpretation, O king, and the decree of the Most High it is that has come upon my lord the king: That they shall drive you away from men, and with the beasts of the field shall be your dwelling; and they shall make you eat grass like oxen, and from the dew of heaven they shall wet you; and seven times shall pass over you, until that you come to know that the Most High is ruling over the kingdom of men, and to whom that, He chooses He gives it. And as they commanded to leave the stump and its roots for the tree, your kingdom will be assured to you from when you come to know that Heaven is ruling. Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you; and may you break off your sins with righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor, that there may be a lengthening of your prosperity.” The Second Dream Fulfilled This all came upon Nebuchadnezzar the king. At the end of twelve months, he was walking about the palace of the kingdom of Babylon. The king answered and said, “Is not this the great Babylon, which I myself have built as a house for the kingdom by the might of my power and for the honor of my majesty?” The words still in the mouth of the king, a voice from heaven fell: “To you it is spoken, Nebuchadnezzar the king: The kingdom has passed away from you! And they shall drive you away from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field; they shall make you eat you grass like oxen, and seven times shall pass over you, until when you come to know that the Most High is ruling over the kingdom of man, and to whom that He chooses, He gives it.” At that moment the word was fulfilled concerning Nebuchadnezzar, and he was driven from men, and he ate grass like oxen, and with the dew of heaven his body became wet, until his hair had grown as eagles, and his nails as birds. Nebuchadnezzar Restored And at the end of the days, I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to the heavens, and my understanding returned to me, and to the Most High I offered blessing, and to the One Living forever I gave praise and honor: “For His dominion is a dominion everlasting, and His kingdom is from generation to generation; and all those dwelling in the earth are regarded as nothing, and He does according to His will among the host of the heaven and those dwelling in the earth; and there is no one who can strike on His hand or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’” At that time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my honor and splendor returned to me; and my counselors and nobles sought for me, and to my kingdom I was restored, and surpassing greatness was added to me. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for whom all His works are true, and His ways justice, and those who walk about in pride, He is able to bring low. Belshazzar’s Feast Belshazzar5.1 Some translators (Many years later) Belshazzar to account for the time elapsed, probably about 30 years, since the previous chapter. the king made a great feast for a thousand of his nobles, and before the thousand he was drinking wine. Belshazzar commanded during the tasting of the wine to bring the vessels of gold and silver that Nebuchadnezzar his father5.2 Or predecessor or grandfather; also in verses 11, 13, and 18 had taken from the temple that was in Jerusalem, so that they might drink from them—the king and his lords, his wives and his concubines. So they brought the vessels of gold that had been taken from the temple of the house of God that was in Jerusalem, and they drank from them—the king and his lords, his wives and his concubines. They drank wine and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone. The Handwriting on the Wall At that moment appeared the fingers of the hand of a man, and they were writing over against of the lampstand upon the plaster of the wall of the palace of the king. And the king saw the palm of the hand that was writing. Then the king, his countenance changed about him, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his hips were loosened and his knees knocked, this against this. The king called out with strength to bring in the enchanters, the astrologers,5.7 Or Chaldeans; also in verse 11 and the diviners. The king spoke and said to the wise men of Babylon that, “Any man who can read this writing and show to me its interpretation, with purple he shall be clothed, and a chain of gold shall be around his neck, and as the third in the kingdom he shall rule!” Then all the wise men of the king came in, and they were not able to read the writing or to make known its interpretation to the king. Then King Belshazzar was greatly dismayed, and his countenance was changed about him, so that his nobles were perplexed. The queen, because of the words of the king and his nobles, came to the house of the banquet. The queen5.10 Or queen mother answered and said, “O king, may you live forever. Do not let your thoughts trouble you, and do not let your countenance change. There is a man in your kingdom, in whom is the Spirit of the holy gods. In the days of your father, light and insight and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, were found in him. And King Nebuchadnezzar your father, appointed him chief of the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and diviners—your father the king— all because that an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, the interpreting of dreams, and the solution of riddles, and explaining enigmas, were found in him—in this Daniel, whom the king had set as his name Belteshazzar. Now let Daniel be called, and he will show the interpretation.” Daniel Interprets the Handwriting Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king answered and said to Daniel, “Are you he, the Daniel who is from the sons of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought from Judah? And I have heard about you, that the spirit of the gods is in you, and light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you. And the wise men, the enchanters, have been brought before me that they might read this writing and make known to me its interpretation, and they are not able to show the interpretation of the matter. And I have heard about you, that you are able to give interpretations and to loosen knots; now, if you are able to read this writing and to make known to me its interpretation, you will be clothed in purple, and a chain of gold shall be around your neck, and as the third in the kingdom you shall rule!” Then Daniel answered and said before the king, “Your gifts, let them be for yourself, and may you give your rewards to another; nevertheless, the writing I will read to the king, and the interpretation I will make known to him. You, O king—God Most High gave the kingdom, and the majesty, and the glory, and the honor, to Nebuchadnezzar your father. And because of the majesty that He gave to him, all peoples, nations, and languages came to be trembling and fearful from before him. Whomever he would be willing, he would be slaying; and whomever he would be willing, he would be keeping alive; and whomever he would be willing, he would be raising up; and whomever he would be willing, he would be bringing low. And when his heart was lifted up and his spirit was hardened to be proud, he was brought down from the throne of his kingship, and they took away his glory from him. And he was driven away from the sons of men, and his heart was made like with the beast, and with the wild donkeys was his dwelling; they fed him grass like oxen, and with the dew of heaven his body became wet, until that he came to know that God Most High is ruling over the kingdom of men, and whomever that He chooses, He establishes over it. And you, his son,5.22 Or descendant or successor or grandson O Belshazzar, you have not humbled your heart, all even though all of this you knew, and against the Lord of heaven you have lifted yourself up. And the vessels of His house they have brought before you, and you, and your nobles, your wives, and your concubines, have been drinking wine from them. And to the gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, which do not see, and do not hear, and do not have knowledge, you have given praise. And to the God in whose hand is your breath, and all your ways are to Him, you have not shown honor! Then from before Him were sent the fingers of the hand, and this inscription was written. And this is the inscription that was written: Mene, MENE, TEKEL, and PARSIN. This is the interpretation of each word: Mene—5.26 Mene sounds like the Aramaic for numbered. God has numbered your kingdom and brought it to an end! Tekel—5.27 Tekel sounds like the Aramaic for weighed. you have been weighed in the balances and found lacking! Peres—5.28 Peres (the singular of Parsin) sounds like the Aramaic for divided and for Persia. your kingdom has been divided and given to the Mede and Persian!” Then Belshazzar commanded, and they clothed Daniel in purple, and a chain of gold around his neck, and proclaimed concerning him that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom. That night Belshazzar king of the Chaldeans5.30 That is, the Babylonians was slain; and Darius the Mede received the kingdom, a son of sixty-two years. The Plot against Daniel It was acceptable before Darius, and he established over the kingdom a hundred and twenty satraps, who would be over all the kingdom; and over them three administrators, of whom Daniel was one, that these satraps should be giving an account of themselves, so that the king should not be suffering loss. Then this Daniel came to be distinguished over the administrators and the satraps, because that an extraordinary spirit was in him; and the king was planning to establish him over all of the kingdom. Then the administrators and the satraps were looking for a matter to find against Daniel regarding the kingdom, and any matter or corruption they were not able to find, all because that he was trustworthy, and there was not found any neglect or corruption in him. Then these men said that, “We shall not find against this Daniel any charge, unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God.” Then these administrators and satraps went as a group to the king, and thus they said to him: “O King Darius, may you live forever! Have consulted together all the administrators of the kingdom—the administrators and the satraps, the counselors and the advisors—to establish a statute of the king and to make firm a decree that anyone who makes a petition of any god or man for thirty days, except of you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions. Now, O king, may you establish this decree and sign the writing, so that it cannot be changed according to the law of the Mede and Persian, which shall not pass away!” All because of this, King Darius signed the writing and the decree. Daniel in the Lions’ Den And Daniel, when he came to know that the writing was signed, he went to his house, and the windows were opened unto him in his upper room toward Jerusalem; and three times in a day he would kneel down on his knees and pray and give thanks before his God, as was his custom from before this. Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. Then they went and spoke before the king concerning the decree of the king: “Did you not sign a decree that every man who makes a petition of any god or man up to thirty days, except of you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?” The king answered and said, “Certain is the word, according to the law of the Mede and Persian, which shall not pass away.” Then they answered and said before the king that, “Daniel, who is from the sons of the captivity of Judah, he does not set on you, O king, regard, or on the decree that you have signed, and three times in a day he makes his petition.” Then the king, when he heard these words, was greatly displeased with himself, and he set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and until the going down of the sun he was exerting himself to rescue him. Then these men went as a group upon the king, and were saying to the king: “Know, O king, that it is the law of the Mede and Persian that any decree or statute that the king establishes cannot be changed.” Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and they cast him into the den of lions. The king spoke and said to Daniel, “Your God, to whom you give service continually, may He deliver you.” And one stone was brought and was laid over the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his signet ring and with the signets of his nobles, that the matter might not be changed concerning Daniel. Then the king went to his palace, and spent the night fasting, and entertainments were not brought before him; and his sleep fled from him. Then the king arose in the morning at daylight, and he went in haste to the den of lions. And at his coming near to the den, to Daniel, with a pained voice he cried out. The king was speaking and saying to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, your God, to whom you give service continually, has He been able to deliver you from the lions?” Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, may you live forever! My God sent His angel, and he shut the mouth of the lions, and they have not hurt me, because that before Him was found innocence for me! And also before you, O king, I have not done wrong.” Then the king was exceedingly glad himself, and he commanded for Daniel to be brought up from the den. And Daniel was brought up from the den, and not any harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. And the king commanded, and they brought these men who had sought to eat to pieces Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions—they, their children, and their wives—and they had not reached to the bottom of the den when the lions overpowered them, and all their bones they broke in pieces. Darius Honors God Then Darius the king wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages who were dwelling in all the earth: “May peace to you⁺ abound! From before me is set forth a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom they are to be trembling and fearful from before the God of Daniel, for He is the living God, and enduring forever, and His kingdom is that which shall not be destroyed, and His dominion is to the end! He delivers and rescues, and He works signs and wonders in heaven and on the earth— He who has delivered Daniel from the hand of the lions.” And this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus6.28 Or prospered during the reign of Darius, that is, the reign of Cyrus the Persian. Daniel’s Vision of the Four Beasts (Revelation 13:1–10) In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel saw a dream, and visions of his head upon his bed. Then he wrote down the dream, telling the sum of the matters. Daniel answered and said: “I was looking in my vision at night, and behold, four winds of the heavens were stirring up the great sea.7.2 Perhaps the Great Sea, that is, the Mediterranean Sea And four great beasts were coming up from the sea, changing this one from this one. The first was like a lion, with wings of an eagle unto it. I was looking until that its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the earth, and it was made to stand on two feet like a man, and a heart of man was given to it. And behold, another beast, a second, being like a bear, and to one side it was raised up, and three ribs were in its mouth between its teeth; and thus they said to it, ‘Arise, devour much flesh!’ After this, I was looking, and behold, another, like a leopard, and unto it were four wings of a bird on its back, and four heads were unto the beast, and dominion was given to it. After this, I was looking in my visions of the night, and behold, a fourth beast, being fearsome and terrible and exceedingly strong. Great teeth of iron were unto it; it was devouring and breaking in pieces, and it was trampling the remainder with its feet; and it was different from all the beasts that were before it, and ten horns were unto it. I was giving consideration to these horns, and behold, another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were uprooted from before it. And behold, the eyes were like the eyes of a man in this horn, and a mouth speaking great things. Daniel’s Vision of the Ancient of Days I was looking, until that thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took His seat. His garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was as flames of fire, and its wheels were burning fire; A river of fire was flowing and coming forth from before Him. A thousand thousands ministered to Him, and myriads upon myriads stood before Him; the judgment was seated, and books were opened. I was looking then, because of the voice of the great words that the horn was speaking; I was looking until that the beast was slain, and its body was destroyed and was given to the burning flame. And the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away; and an extension in life was given to them for a season and a time. Daniel’s Vision of the Son of Man I was looking in my visions of the night, and behold, upon the clouds of heaven, One like the Son of Man was coming,7.13 Or one like a son of man and to the Ancient of Days he reached, and before Him they brought Him near. 7.13 See Matthew 24:30, Matthew 26:64, Mark 13:26, Mark 14:62, Luke 21:27, Revelation 1:13, and Revelation 14:14. And to him was given dominion, and honor, and a kingdom, so that all the peoples, nations, and languages should give service to him; his dominion is a dominion everlasting, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom is one that shall not be destroyed! Daniel’s Visions Interpreted My spirit was grieved—I, Daniel—in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head alarmed me. I came near to one of those standing there, and I asked of him the truth about all this. And he told it to me, and the interpretation of these things he made known to me. ‘These great beasts, of which they are four, are four kings who will arise from the earth. And the saints will receive the kingdom of the Most High, and they will possess the kingdom to the age, and to the age of Ages!’ Then I wished to know about the fourth beast, which was different from them all, exceedingly fearsome, with its teeth of iron and its claws of bronze, devouring, breaking into pieces, and trampling the remainder with its feet, and about the ten horns that were on its head, and the other that came up, and how fell from before it three, and this horn with eyes unto it, and a mouth speaking great things, and its appearance greater than its companions. I was looking, and this horn was making war against the saints, and prevailing against them, until that the Ancient of Days came and judgment was made for the saints of the Most High, and the time was reached for the saints to possess the kingdom. Thus he said: ‘The fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom on the earth, which shall be different from all the kingdoms; It will devour all the earth, and will trample it, and break it in pieces. And the ten horns: From the kingdom, ten kings will arise; and another will arise after them, and he will be different from the former, and three kings he will bring low. And he will speak words against the Most High, and the saints of the Most High he will wear out, and he will intend to change the times and the law; they will be given into his hand for a time, and times, and half a time. And the judgment will be seated, and his dominion they will take away, to devastate and to destroy it to the end. And the kingdom, and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under all the heavens shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; His kingdom is a kingdom everlasting, and all dominions will serve and will obey Him.’ Even to this is end the of the matter. I, Daniel, my thoughts greatly troubled me, and my countenance changed about me, and I kept the matter in my heart.” Daniel’s Vision of the Ram and the Goat In the third year of the reign of Belshazzar the king, a vision appeared to me—I, Daniel—after that which had appeared to me at the first. And I saw in the vision; and it was, in my looking, that I was in Susa the citadel, which is in Elam the province. And I saw in the vision that I was by the River Ulai. And I lifted up my eyes, and looked, and behold! One ram was standing at the face of the river, and unto it were two horns; and the two horns were high, and one was higher than the second, and the higher one came up later. I saw the ram charging to the west, and to the north, and to the south; and all living creatures could not stand before him, and there was no one to deliver from his hand; and he did according to his will, and he became great. And I was considering, and behold, a male of the goats was coming from the west, over the face of all the earth, and without touching on the ground, and the goat had a conspicuous horn between his eyes. And he came to the ram, owner of the two horns, which I had seen standing at the face of the river, and he ran toward him with the fury of his power. And I saw him coming close beside the ram, and he was enraged at him, and he struck the ram and broke the two of his horns. And there was no power in the ram to stand before his face, and he cast him down to the ground and trampled him, and there was no one to deliver the ram from his hand. And the male of the goats grew as far as exceedingly, and with his becoming mighty, the large horn was broken, and came up four conspicuous ones in place of it, toward the four winds of the heavens. And from the one of them came forth one little horn, and it grew great exceedingly toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the Beautiful Land. And he grew up to the host of the heavens, and he cast down to the ground some of the host, and some of the stars, and he trampled them. And to the Prince of the host he became great, and from Him was taken away the daily sacrifice, and the place of His sanctuary was cast down. And an army will be given over, along with the daily sacrifice, because of transgression, and he will cast down truth to the ground; and he will act, and will prosper. And I heard one holy one speaking; one holy one said to the one who was speaking, “Until when is the vision of the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, the giving over of both the sanctuary and of the host to be trampled?” And he said to me: “Until two thousand and three hundred evenings and mornings—then the sanctuary will be made right.” Gabriel Interprets Daniel’s Vision And it came to pass in my seeing—I, Daniel—the vision I sought understanding, that behold, one having the appearance of a man was standing before me. And I heard the voice of a man between the Ulai, and he called out and said, “Gabriel, to this one give understanding of the vision.” And he came alongside my station; and at his coming, I was afraid, and fell on my face. And he said to me, “Understand, O son of man, that regarding the time of the end is the vision.” And at his speaking with me, I fell into a deep sleep, with my face to the ground. And he touched me and stood me on my station. And he said, “Behold, I will make known to you what will come to be at the latter end of the indignation, for it concerns the appointed time of the end. The ram that you saw, owner of the two horns, are the kings of Media and Persia. And the male goat is the king of Javan,8.21 That is, Greece and the large horn that is between his eyes is the first king. And the broken one, and that arose the four in its place, is four kingdoms from that nation that will rise up, and not with its power. And in the latter time of their reign, at the completion of those transgressing, there will arise a king, strong of face and understanding riddles; and his power will be mighty—not by his power—and marvelously He will destroy, and he will prosper in what he does, and He will destroy the mighty ones and the people the holy ones. And by his cunning he will also make prosper deceit under his hand, and in his heart he will magnify himself. And when at ease he will destroy many; and against the Prince of princes he will rise, and without human hand he will be broken. And the vision of the evenings and the mornings that was told is true; and you, seal up the vision, for it is after many days.” And I, Daniel, was overcome and was sick for days. And I rose and went about the business of the king; and I was appalled by the vision, and it was not understood. Daniel’s Prayer for His People In the first year of Darius son of Ahasuerus,9.1 Or Xerxes of the seed of the Medes, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans—9.1 That is, the Babylonians in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, perceived in the books the number of the years that, according to the word of YHWH, must be to Jeremiah the prophet to bring fulfillment to the desolations of Jerusalem: Seventy years.9.2 See Jeremiah 25:11–12 and Jeremiah 29:10. And I set my face toward the Lord God to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes. And I prayed to YHWH my God, and I made confession and said: “O Lord God, the great and fearsome One, the One keeping the covenant and the loving devotion9.4 Forms of the Hebrew chesed are translated here and in most cases throughout the Scriptures as loving devotion; the range of meaning includes love, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, and mercy, as well as loyalty to a covenant. to those loving Him and those keeping His commandments. We have sinned and we have done wrong, and we have been wicked and we have rebelled and turned aside from Your precepts and Your ordinances. And we have not listened to Your servants the prophets, those who spoke in Your name to our kings, and our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. Unto You, O Lord, is the righteousness, and unto us is shame of face, as on this day, to the men of Judah, and to those dwelling in Jerusalem, and to all of Israel—those near, and those far off—in all the lands to which You have driven them there because of their unfaithfulness with which they were unfaithful to You! O YHWH, unto us is shame of face—to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers—because we have sinned against You. Unto the Lord our God are compassion and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against Him, and we did not listen to the voice of YHWH our God, to walk in His laws that He gave before our faces by the hand of His servants the prophets. And all Israel has transgressed Your law, turning aside not to listen to Your voice. And has been poured out on us the oath and the curse that is written in the Law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against Him. And He has made stand His word, which He spoke against us and against our judges who judged us, by bringing upon us great calamity—which has not been done under all the heavens, like what has been done to Jerusalem. As it is written in the Law of Moses, all this calamity has come upon us, we have pleaded and not before the face of YHWH our God, to turn back from our iniquity, and to gain discernment of Your truth. And YHWH has kept watch over the calamity, and has brought it upon us, for righteous is YHWH our God in all His deeds that He does, and we have not listened to His voice. And now, O Lord our God, who brought out Your people from the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and made for Yourself a name as on this day, we have sinned; we have acted wickedly. O Lord, according to all Your righteousness, let be turned back, please, Your anger and Your fury from Your city Jerusalem, the mountain of Your holiness! For because of our sins and the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and Your people are a reproach to all around us. And now, listen, our God, to the prayer of Your servant and to his supplications, and cause to shine Your face on Your sanctuary that is desolate—for the sake of the Lord! Incline, O my God, Your ear, and hear; open Your eyes, and see our desolations and the city upon which Your name is called. For it is not because of our righteous acts that we are letting fall our supplications before Your face, but because of Your many mercies. O Lord, may You hear! O Lord, may You forgive! O Lord, may You be attentive and act! Do not delay, for Your sake, O my God, for Your name is called upon Your city and upon Your people!” Gabriel’s Prophecy of the Seventy Weeks And still I was speaking and praying and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and letting fall my supplication before YHWH my God over the holiness of the mountain of my God— and still I was speaking in prayer, when the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, was flying swiftly, reaching to me at the time of the sacrifice of the evening. And he gave understanding and spoke with me, and he said, “O Daniel, now I have come forth to give you insight for understanding. At the beginning of your supplications, the command went forth, and I have come to declare it, for you are precious. And understand the word and understand the vision. Seventy sevens9.24 Or Seventy weeks; also twice in verse 25 and once in verse 26 are determined for your people and for the city of your holiness, to finish the transgression, and to seal off sin, and to make atonement for iniquity, and to bring in righteousness everlasting, and to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Holy of Holies.9.24 Or the Most Holy Place or the Most Holy One And you shall know and you shall understand that from the going forth of the word to return and to rebuild Jerusalem, until Messiah,9.25 Or Anointed One; also in verse 26 a Prince—seven sevens; and sixty and two sevens: it will return and it will be built—street and trench—and in distress of the times! And after sixty and two sevens,9.26 Or Then after sixty-two weeks Messiah will be cut off, and not for Him. And the people of the leader who is coming will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end is in a flood, and until the end, war and desolations are determined. And he will make strong a covenant with the many for one seven; and in the middle of the seven the sacrifice and offering he will make cease, and on a wing of abominations he shall make it desolate,9.27 Or for one week; similarly again in this verse until the consummation that is decreed is poured out on the one bringing desolation. 9.27 Or And on the wing (will come) the abomination that causes desolation Daniel’s Vision by the Tigris In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, a word was revealed to Daniel, of whom his name is called Belteshazzar. And the word was true and the conflict great;10.1 Or true and greatly burdensome and he understood the word, and understanding of the vision was unto him. In those days, I, Daniel, was mourning for three weeks of days. Desirable food I did not eat, and meat and wine did not come into my mouth, and I did not anoint myself at all until the fulfilling of three weeks of days. And on the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was on the side of the great river—it is the Tigris— and I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, one man clothed in linen, and his loins girded with gold of Uphaz. And his body was like beryl, and his face like the appearance of lightning, and his eyes like torches of fire, and his arms and feet like an eye of polished bronze, and the voice of his speaking was like the voice of a multitude. And I saw—I, Daniel, by myself—the vision: For the men who were with me did not see the vision, but a great trembling fell upon them and they fled to hide themselves. And I was left by myself, and I saw this great vision; and no power was left in me, for my complexion was turned in me to deathly pale, and I did not retain strength. And I heard the voice of his speaking; and at my hearing the voice of his speaking, I was sleeping deeply on my face, and my face to the ground. And behold, a hand touched me, and it set me trembling on my knees and the palms of my hands. And he said to me: “O Daniel, man most precious, may you have understanding of the words that I am speaking to you, and may you stand upon your station, for now I have been sent to you.” And in his speaking with me this word, I stood trembling. And he said to me: “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you gave your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. And the prince of the kingdom of Persia was standing in front of me for twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there alongside the kings of Persia. And I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for yet the vision is for those days.” And at his speaking with me these words, I turned my face to the ground, and I became speechless. And behold, one with the likeness of the sons of man10.16 Most MT manuscripts; DSS, LXX, and one MT manuscript with the likeness of the hand of a man was touching upon my lips. And I opened my mouth and spoke, and said to the one standing before me, “My lord. Because of the vision, have turned over my pains upon me, and I retain no strength. And how is the servant of such as my lord able to speak with such as my lord? And for me, from now there remains in me no strength, and breath has not been left in me.” And he continued and touched me, the one with the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me. And he said, “Do not fear, O man most precious! Peace be with you! Be strong, and be strong.” And at his speaking with me, I was strengthened, and said: “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.” And he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? Now I must return to fight with the prince of Persia; and I am going forth, and behold, the prince of Javan10.20 That is, Greece will come. Truly I will declare to you what is inscribed in the Book of Truth, and there is no one strengthening himself with me against these, but only Michael your⁺ prince. Kings of the South and North “ And I, in the first year of Darius the Mede, my standing is for a strengthener and for a stronghold to him. And now I declare to you the truth: Behold, yet three kings will be rising up in Persia; and the fourth will be rich, with greater riches than all. And according to his strength by his riches, he will rouse everyone against the kingdom of Javan.11.2 That is, Greece And a mighty king will arise, and he will rule with great dominion, and he will do according to his will. And according to his standing, his kingdom will be broken up and will be divided to the four winds of the heavens, not to his posterity, and not according to his dominion by which he ruled; for his kingdom will be uprooted, and unto others apart from these. And the king of the south will become strong, and one from his princes and will gain strength even over him, and he will rule; a great dominion is his dominion. And at the end of years they will be united. And the daughter of the king of the south will come to the king of the north to make an agreement; she will not retain the strength of her arm, and neither will he stand, nor his arm.11.6 Or offspring And she will be given up, and those who brought her, and the one who begat her,11.6 Or she begat; see Vulgate and Syriac. and the one who strengthened her in those times. And one will arise from a branch of her roots in his place. And he will come with an army, and he will come into the fortress of the king of the north, and he will deal with them and he will prevail. And even their gods, with their princes, with the vessels of their desiring, silver and gold, he will carry away into captivity to Egypt. And he will stand back some years from the king of the north, and he will come into the kingdom of the king of the south, and he will return to his own land. And his sons will stir up strife, and they will gather a multitude of great forces, and it will keep coming continually, and will flow over and pass through, and it will return and carry the war as far as his fortress. And the king of the south will be enraged, and he will go out and fight with him, with the king of the north; and he will raise up a great multitude, and the multitude will be given into his hand. And he has taken away the multitude, and his heart will be lifted up; and thousands he will cause to fall, and he will not prevail. For the king of the north will return, and he will raise a multitude greater than the first; at the end of the times of years, he will come forcefully with a great army and with many supplies. And in those times, many will rise up against the king of the south; and sons of violence among your people will exalt themselves to fulfill the vision, and they will fall. And the king of the north will come, and he will build a siege mound, and he will capture a city of fortifications; and the forces of the south will not stand; even their best troops will have no strength to stand. And the one coming against him will do according to his will, and no one will stand before his face; and he will stand in the land of glory, with destruction in his hand. And he will set his face to enter with the strength of all his kingdom, and upright ones with him; and he will act, and the daughter of women he will give to him, to corrupt her, and she will not stand and she will not be for him.11.17 Or and she will not stand with him or support him And he will turn back his face to the coastlands, and he will capture many, and a prince will bring to an end the scorn unto him. Nevertheless his scorn he will cause to turn back to him. And he will turn his face toward the fortress of his own land, and he will stumble and fall, and he will not be found. And there will arise upon his station one making pass through a pressing for the splendor of the kingdom; and in a few days he will be broken, though not in anger and not in battle. And will arise upon his station a despicable one, and they will not give upon him the splendor of royalty, and he will come in a time of ease and will seize the kingdom by flatteries. And the arms of the flood will be swept away from before him, and they will be broken, and also the prince of the covenant. And after they join with him, he will act with deceit, for he will come up and become strong with a small number of people. In a time of ease, he will enter the richest provinces, and he will do what his fathers have not done, nor the fathers of his fathers: Plunder and spoils and riches he will disperse unto them. And against the fortifications he will devise his plans, and only for a time. And he will rouse his power and his heart against the king of the south with a great army. And the king of the south will be stirred up to battle, even exceedingly with a great and mighty army, and he will not stand, for they will devise plans against him. And those eating of his choice portion will destroy him, and his army will be swept away, and many will fall slain. And the two, kings, their heart is on evil. At a common table they speak lies, and it will not prosper, for still the end is at the appointed time. And he will return to his land with great riches, and his heart will be against the covenant of holiness; and he will act, and he will return to his own land. At the appointed time he will return, and he will come into the south; and this last time will not be like the first. For the ships of Kittim11.30 Or the western coastlands or the Mediterranean islands will come against him, and he will be disheartened, and he will return, being angered against the covenant of holiness. And he will act, and he will turn back, and he will pay attention to those forsaking the holy covenant. And forces from him will stand, and they will profane the sanctuary and the fortress, and they will turn away the daily sacrifice, and they will set up the abomination of desolation. And those acting wickedly toward the covenant he will corrupt by flatteries; and the people who know their God will remain strong, and will take action. And those acting prudently among the people will bring understanding to many; and they will fall by sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by plunder, for days. And in their falling, they will be helped with a little help. And many will be joined to them with flatteries, and some of understanding will fall, in order to refine them and to purify, and to make them white, until the time of the end. For it is yet for the appointed time. The King Who Exalts Himself And the king will act according to his desires, and he will exalt and magnify himself over every god, and he will speak blasphemies against the God of gods. And he will prosper until the wrath is accomplished, for what is decreed will be done. And to the God of his fathers he will not pay attention, or to for the one desired by women. And he will not pay attention to any god, for he will magnify himself above them all. And he will show honor to a god of fortresses in their place, and he will show honor to a god that his fathers did not know, with gold, and with silver, and with precious stones, and with desirable things. And he will act against the fortifications of strongholds with a foreign god. On those who acknowledge him, he will increase glory and make them to rule over many; and the land he will divide at a price. 11.39 Or for a reward And at the time of the end, the king of the south will thrust against him,11.40 Or will wage war with him and the king of the North will storm against him with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he will come into the lands, and will flow over and pass through. And he will come into the land of glory; and many will be overthrown, and these will escape from his hand: Edom, and Moab, and the first part of the sons of Ammon. And he will stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt will not be for an escape. And he will rule over the treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; and the Libyans and Cushites11.43 That is, people from the upper Nile region will be in his steps. And news will disturb him from the east and from the north, and he will go forth with great fury to destroy and to devote to destruction11.44 Forms of the Hebrew cherem refer to the giving over of things or persons, either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering. many. And he will plant the tents of his palace between the seas, to the mountain of the beauty of holiness; and he will come to his end, and no one will help him. The End Times (Revelation 1:1–3) “ And at that time Michael the great prince will stand up, the one standing over the sons of your people. And there will be a time of distress, which has not come to be, from coming to be a nation until that time; and at that time your people will be delivered, everyone being found written in the book. And many of those sleeping in the soil of the dust will awake—these to life everlasting, and these to shame and contempt everlasting. 12.2 See John 5:29 and Revelation 11:18. And those acting wisely will shine like the shining of the firmament; and those justifying many like the stars, forever and ever.12.3 Or expanse or heavens; see also Genesis 1:6–8. 12.3 See Matthew 13:43. And you, O Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book until the time of the end. Many will roam about, and knowledge will multiply.” And I looked—I, Daniel—and behold, two others were standing, one here on the lip of the river, and one here on the lip of the river. And one said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “Until when is the end of these wonders?” And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, and he lifted up his right hand and his left hand to the heavens, and he swore by the One living forever that it shall be for a time, times, and a half; and with the completing of the shattering of the hand of the people of holiness, all these things will be completed. And I heard, and I did not understand; and I said, “My lord, what is the end of these?” And he said, “Go, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end. Many will be purified, be made white, and be refined, and the wicked will act wickedly; and not any of the wicked will understand, but the wise ones will understand. And from the time the daily sacrifice is taken away and the abomination of desolation is set up will be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. Blessed is the one waiting and who reaches to the days—a thousand, three hundred, thirty-five. And you, go until the end; for you will rest, and you will stand to your inheritance at the end of the days.”