Daniel 7

1In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream and told the sum of the matters.

1In the first year that Belshazzar was king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream and saw visions in his mind while lying on his bed. He wrote down the dream and summarized the main points.

2Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of heaven brake forth upon the great sea.

2Daniel said: In my vision at night, I saw the four winds of heaven churning up the great sea.

3And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.

3Four huge beasts came up out of the sea, and each one was different from the others.

4The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made to stand upon two feet as a man; and a man’s heart was given to it.

4The first beast looked like a lion but had eagle's wings. I watched until its wings were pulled off. It was lifted from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a human, and it was given a human mind.

5And, behold, another beast, a second, like to a bear; and it was raised up on one side, and three ribs were in its mouth between its teeth: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.

5Then I saw a second beast that looked like a bear. It was raised up on one side and had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told, 'Get up and eat your fill of meat!'

6After this I beheld, and, lo, another, like a leopard, which had upon its back four wings of a bird; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.

6After that, I saw another beast that looked like a leopard. On its back it had four wings like those of a bird. This beast also had four heads, and it was given authority to rule.

7After this I saw in the night-visions, and, behold, a fourth beast, terrible and powerful, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth; it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.

7After this, in my night visions, I saw a fourth beast. It was terrifying, powerful, and very strong. It had large iron teeth; it crushed and devoured its victims and trampled whatever was left. It was different from all the previous beasts, and it had ten horns.

8I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things.

8While I was thinking about the horns, another small horn grew up among them. Three of the first horns were pulled out by the roots to make room for it. This little horn had eyes like a human and a mouth that spoke boastfully.

9I beheld till thrones were placed, and one that was ancient of days did sit: his raiment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames, and the wheels thereof burning fire.

9As I looked, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow, and the hair on his head was like pure wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze.

10A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousands of thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.

10A river of fire flowed out from his presence. Millions of angels served him, and hundreds of millions stood before him. The court sat in judgment, and the books were opened.

11I beheld at that time because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake; I beheld even till the beast was slain, and its body destroyed, and it was given to be burned with fire.

11I kept watching because of the arrogant words the little horn was speaking. I watched until the fourth beast was killed and its body was destroyed and thrown into the fire.

12And as for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.

12As for the other three beasts, their power was taken away, but they were allowed to stay alive for a specific period of time.

13I saw in the night-visions, and, behold, there came with the clouds of heaven one like unto a son of man, and he came even to the ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.

13In my vision at night, I saw someone like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence.

14And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and languages should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

14He was given authority, glory, and sovereign power. People from every nation, race, and language worshiped him. His rule is eternal and will never end, and his kingdom will never be destroyed.

15As for me, Daniel, my spirit was grieved in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me.

15I, Daniel, was deeply troubled in my spirit, and the visions I saw terrified me.

16I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth concerning all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things.

16I went up to one of those standing there and asked him what all this meant. So he explained it to me and told me what these things signified.

17These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, that shall arise out of the earth.

17These four huge beasts represent four kings who will rise to power on the earth.

18But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.

18But the holy people of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever—yes, forever and ever.

19Then I desired to know the truth concerning the fourth beast, which was diverse from all of them, exceeding terrible, whose teeth were of iron, and its nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet;

19Then I wanted to know the true meaning of the fourth beast, which was so different from the others and so terrifying. It had iron teeth and bronze claws, and it crushed and devoured its victims, trampling the remains.

20and concerning the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up, and before which three fell, even that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake great things, whose look was more stout than its fellows.

20I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head and the other horn that came up later. That horn made three others fall; it had eyes and a mouth that spoke boastfully, and it looked more imposing than the others.

21I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;

21As I watched, this horn was making war against the holy people and was defeating them,

22until the ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the Most High, and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.

22until the Ancient of Days came and judged in favor of the holy people of the Most High. Then the time arrived for the holy people to take possession of the kingdom.

23Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all the kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.

23He gave me this explanation: 'The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it.'

24And as for the ten horns, out of this kingdom shall ten kings arise: and another shall arise after them; and he shall be diverse from the former, and he shall put down three kings.

24The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them, another king will arise, different from the earlier ones, and he will defeat three kings.

25And he shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High; and he shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and half a time.

25He will speak out against the Most High and strike down the holy people of the Most High. He will try to change the sacred festivals and the laws. The holy people will be handed over to him for a time, times, and half a time.

26But the judgment shall be set, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.

26But the court will sit in judgment, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever.

27And the kingdom and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High: his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.

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

28Here is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts much troubled me, and my countenance was changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart.

28This is the end of the account. I, Daniel, was very disturbed by my thoughts, and my face turned pale with fear, but I kept these things to myself.