Open English Translation DAN Chapter 9

9 It was when Dareyavesh (Darius, the son of Ahashverosh, a descendant of the Medes) was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans (perhaps better known by Westerners as Babylonians), 2 and during that first year of his reign that I, Daniel, understood from the sacred books that Yahweh had told the prophet Yirmeyah (Jeremiah) that Yerushalem city would be destroyed and remain in ruins for seventy years.[ref]

3 Then I turned my focus to the Lord God, to make my requests known to him, as I fasted, wore sackcloth, and sprinkled myself with ashes. 4 I prayed to my god Yahweh, and I confessed to him, “My master, the powerful and awe-inspiring God, who keeps his agreement and shows loyal commitment to those who love him and keep his commands. 5 We Israelis have sinned and done wrong. We have done wicked things and rebelled against you, not wanting to obey your rules and instructions. 6 We ignored the challenges from your servants the prophets who spoke to our kings, our generals, and our ancestors on your behalf, and to all the people of the land. 7 Perfect goodness can only be found in you, my master, but we have shame on our faces, as we have today. Yes, the men of Yehudah, the inhabitants of Yerushalem, and all Yisrael whether near or far away, in all the countries where you’ve driven them because of their treachery against you. 8 We’ve sinned against you, Yahweh, and we deserve the shame that’s on our kings, our generals, and our ancestors.

9 “Yet you, our god and master, continue to show compassion and forgiveness, even though we’ve rebelled against you 10 and haven’t obeyed your words, Yahweh our god, by following the instructions that you gave us through your servants the prophets. 11 All Yisrael has broken your law and turned away—not obeying your words. The curse and oath that are written in the law given through your servant Mosheh, have been applied to us, because we have sinned against you. 12 You have confirmed your words, which warned both us and our rulers about the potential of a great calamity. Yes, what has happened to Yerushalem hasn’t happened anywhere else in the world. 13 As it’s written in the Mosheh’s law, we’ve undergone all that calamity, yet we haven’t tried to earn our god Yahweh’a favour our god by turning away from our disobedience and giving attention to your truth. 14 Therefore Yahweh kept pondering the need for calamity and then eventually brought it on us, because our god Yahweh is always does what is right and yet we haven’t obeyed what he said.

15 “Now, my master, our god, who used his amazing power to bring his people out of Egypt, and have made a reputation for yourself which stands until today, we have sinned against you and been wicked. 16 My master, because you always do what is right, turn your anger from your city Yerushalem—your holy mountain, because Yerushalem and your people have become an object of scorn to all those around us due to our own sins, as well as those of our predecessors. 17 So now, our god, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his pleas for mercy. For your sake, my master, show favour to your devastated sanctuary. 18 My god, turn your ear and listen. Open your eyes and see our terrible state here in exile, and the state of the city that is called by your name. We aren’t asking all this because we’re good enough to deserve it, but because of your extensive mercy. 19 Master, master, listen to us and forgive us. Master, pay attention and take action. Don’t delay, my god, for your own sake, because your city and your people are called by your name.”

20 While I was speaking and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Yisrael, and presenting my requests to my god Yahweh on behalf of his holy mountain, 21 while I was still speaking in prayer, God’s man Gavri’el who I had seen in the earlier vision, came speedily flying to me at the time of the evening sacrifice.[ref] 22 He told me, “Daniel, I’ve come here now to give you insight and to help you understand. 23 An order was given right at the beginning of your prayer and fasting, and I’ve come personally to tell you, because you’re highly respected, so then consider the message and understand the vision:

24 It’s been decreed that there’ll be 490 years for your people and your holy city, to stop the transgression, to put an end to sin, to pay the price for disobedience, to bring in righteousness that will then last forever, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most holy place. NEEDS MORE WORK 25 Know and understand that from the issuing of the command to restore and build Yerushalem until an anointed one (a prince) comes, there will be 49 years and 434 years. It’ll be built again with a plaza and a moat, but in distressing times. 26 After those 434 years, the anointed one will be killed and be left with nothing. The followers of that coming prince will destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end will come with a flood, and then there’ll be war until the end with much destruction having been decreed. 27 He’ll make a firm agreement with many people for seven years. In the middle of that time, he’ll put an end to sacrifices and offerings. On the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, until the complete destruction that is decreed is poured out on the desolator.”[ref] NEEDS MORE WORK