Daniel 7
1 In the first year of Belshazzar, king of Babylon, Daniel, beheld, a dream, and visions of his head upon his bed, —then, the dream, he wrote, the sum of the matters, he told.
In the first year of Belshazzar's reign as king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream in which visions passed through his mind as he lay in bed. Afterwards he wrote down the dream, describing it in summary form.
2 Daniel spake and said, I was looking, in my vision [which came] with the night, —when, lo! the four winds of the heavens, bursting forth upon the great sea;
In my vision that I had that night I saw a tremendous storm, blowing from every direction, stirring up a great sea.
3 and four large wild beasts, coming up out of the sea, —diverse, one from another: —
Four very large beasts were coming up from the sea, every one of them different.
4 The foremost, like a lion, having, the wings of an eagle, —I looked until the wings thereof, were torn out, and it was lifted up from the earth, and, upon its feet, like a man, was it caused to stand, and, the heart of a man, was given to it.
The first was like a lion and had the wings of an eagle. As I watched, its wings were torn off and it was pulled upright so it was standing with its hind legs on the ground and it was given the mind of a human being.
5 And, lo! another wild beast, a second, resembling a bear, and, on one side, was it raised up, with three ribs in its mouth, between its teeth, —and, thus, were they saying to it, Rise! devour much flesh.
A second beast appeared, looking like a bear, hunched up on one side and holding three ribs in its mouth with its teeth. It was told, “Get up and eat all the flesh you can.”
6 After that, I was looking, and lo! another like a leopard, and it, had four wings of a bird upon its back, —and four heads, had the wild beast, and dominion, was given to it,
After this I saw a third beast. It looked like a leopard with four wings like those of a bird on its back, and it had four heads. It was given power to impose its rule.
7 After that, I was looking in the visions of the night, when lo! a fourth wild beast, terrible and well-hipped and exceeding strong, and it had, large teeth of iron, it devoured and brake in pieces, and, the residue—with its feet, it trampled down, —and, it, was diverse from all the wild beasts that were before it, and it had, ten horns.
Then in my vision that I had that night a fourth beast appeared. It was terrifying, frightening, and extremely powerful, with great iron teeth. It tore apart and ate up its victims, and then trampled on what was left. This beast was different to those that came before it, and it had ten horns.
8 I was considering the horns, when lo! another horn, a little one, came up among them, and, three of the former horns, were uprooted from before it, —and lo! eyes, like the eyes of a man, in this horn, and, a mouth, speaking great things.
As I was wondering about the horns, another horn, a little one, came up between them and three of the earlier horns were pulled out before it. It had human-looking eyes and a mouth that made arrogant boasts.
9 I continued looking, until that, thrones, were placed, and, the Ancient of days, took his seat, —whose, garment, like snow, was white, and, the hair of his head, like pure wool, his throne, was flames of fire, his wheels, a burning fire.
While I was watching, thrones were set up and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothes were white as snow and his hair looked like the purest wool. His throne blazed like flames; its wheels like burning fire.
10 A stream of fire, was flowing on and issuing forth from before him, a thousand thousand, waited upon him and, ten thousand times ten thousand, before him, stood up, —Judgment, took its seat, and, books, were opened.
A stream of fire poured out, flowing from before him. A thousand thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court sat to begin its judgment, and the books were opened.
11 I continued looking, then because of the sound of the great words which the horn was speaking, I continued looking, until that the wild beast, was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning of the fire.
I was watching because of the boasts the little horn was making. I went on watching until that beast was killed and its body destroyed by burning.
12 As concerning the rest of the beasts, their dominion, was taken away, —but, a lengthening of life, was given to them, until time and season.
The rest of the beasts were allowed to go on living for a season and a time, but their power to rule had been taken away.
13 I continued looking in the visions of the night, when lo! with the clouds of the heavens, one like a son of man, was coming, —and, unto the Ancient of days, he approached, and, before him, they brought him near;
As I continued watching in my vision that I had that night I saw one like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence.
14 and, unto him, were given dominion and dignity and kingship, that all peoples, races and tongues, unto him, should do service, —his dominion, was an age-abiding dominion, which should not pass away, and, his kingdom, that which should not be destroyed.
He was given authority, glory, and the power to rule over all people, the different nations and languages, so they would all worship him. His rule is everlasting—it will never cease, and his kingdom will never be destroyed.
15 The spirit of, me, Daniel, was grieved in the midst of the sheath, —and, the visions of my head, terrified me.
I, Daniel, was deeply disturbed—the visions that had passed through my mind frightened me.
16 I drew near unto one of them who stood by, and made exact enquiry of him, concerning all this, —so he told me, and, the interpretation of the things, made he known unto me.
I went up to one of the attendants and asked him to explain what all this meant. He said he would explain it so I could understand.
17 These great wild beasts, which are four, —are four kings who shall arise out of the earth;
“These four large beasts symbolize four kingdoms that will rise to power on the earth.
18 but the holy ones of the Highest, shall receive the kingdom, —and shall possess the kingdom for the age, yea for the age of ages.
But those dedicated to the Most High will eventually receive the kingdom. They will possess the kingdom forever, for ever and ever.”
19 Then desired I to be sure, concerning the fourth wild beast, which was diverse from all of them, —exceeding terrible, whose, teeth, were iron, and, his claws, of bronze, he devoured, brake in pieces, and, the residue—with his feet, he trampled down;
Then I wanted to know what the fourth beast stood for—the one that was different to the rest and so terrifying. It had iron teeth and bronze claws, and it tore apart and ate up its victims, trampling on what was left.
20 also concerning the ten horns, which were in his head, and the other, which came up, and there fell—from among them that were before it—three, —and this horn which had, eyes, and, a mouth, speaking great things, and, his look, was more proud than his fellows:
I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head, and the other one that came up later, causing three of the other horns to fall. This horn looked more impressive than the others and had eyes and a mouth that made arrogant boasts.
21 I continued looking, when, this horn, made war with the holy ones, —and prevailed against them:
I watched as this horn attacked God's dedicated people and was conquering them,
22 until that the Ancient of Days, came, and, justice, was granted to the holy ones of the Highest, —and, the time, arrived, that the holy ones should possess, the kingdom.
until the Ancient of Days came and gave judgment in favor of the dedicated people of the Most High, and at that time they took possession of the kingdom.
23 Thus, he said, The fourth wild beast, is a fourth kingdom which shall be in the earth, which shall be diverse from all the kingdoms, —and shall devour all the earth, and shall trample it down, and break it in pieces.
Then he told me, “The fourth beast stands for the fourth kingdom to rule the earth. It will be different to all the rest of the kingdoms. The beast will eat up the whole world, trampling it down and crushing it.
24 And, the ten horns of that kingdom, are ten kings who will arise, —and, another, will arise after them, and, he, will be diverse from the former ones, and, three kings, will he cast down;
The ten horns are ten kings that will come to power from this kingdom. The one who comes later is different from them, and will defeat three of them.
25 and, words against the Most High, will he speak, and, the holy ones of the Highest, will he afflict, —and will hope to change times and law, and they will be given into his hand, for a season and seasons and the dividing of a season,
He will speak words of defiance against the Most High and oppress the dedicated people of the Most High, and attempt to change times and laws, and they will be placed under his power for a time, two times, and half a time.
26 but, Judgment, will take its seat, —and, his dominion, will they take away, to destroy and make disappear unto an end.
Then the court will execute judgment and take away his power, destroying it forever.
27 And, the kingdom, and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under all the heavens, shall be given to the people of the holy ones of the Highest, —his kingdom, is an age-abiding kingdom, and, all the dominions, unto him, will render service, and show themselves obedient.
Then the right to rule, the power, and the greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be given to those dedicated to the Most High. His kingdom will last forever, and all who rule will serve and obey him.”
28 Hitherto is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, greatly did my thoughts terrify me, and, my bright looks, were changed upon me, but, the matter—in mine own heart, I kept.
This is the end of the summary. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts really disturbed me and my face turned pale, but I kept it all to myself.
