Open English Translation G DAN Chapter 8

8 In the third year of the reign of King Belshatsar (Belshazzar), a vision appeared to me, even to me, Daniyel, after that which appeared to me at the first. 2 I saw the vision. Now it was so, that when I saw, I was in the citadel of Shushan (Susa), which is in the province of Eylam. I saw in the vision, and I was by the river Ulay. 3 Then I lifted up my eyes, and saw a ram which had two horns stood before the river. The two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last. 4 I saw the ram pushing westward, northward, and southward. No animals could stand before him. There wasn’t anyone who could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and magnified himself.

5 As I was considering, look, a male goat came from the west over the surface of the whole earth, and didn’t touch the ground. The goat had a notable horn between his eyes. 6 He came to the ram that had the two horns, which I saw standing before the river, and ran on him in the fury of his power. 7 I saw him come close to the ram, and he was moved with anger against him, and struck the ram, and broke his two horns. There was no power in the ram to stand before him; but he threw him down to the ground, and trampled on him. There was no one who could deliver the ram out of his hand. 8 The male goat magnified himself greatly. When he was strong, the great horn was broken; and instead of it there came up four notable horns towards the four winds of the sky.

9 Out of one of them came out a little horn, which grew very great, towards the south, and towards the east, and towards the glorious land. 10 It grew great, even to the army of the sky; and it threw down some of the army and of the stars to the ground, and trampled on them. 11 Yes, it magnified itself, even to the prince of the army; and it took away from him the continual burnt offering, and the place of his sanctuary was thrown down. 12 The army was given over to it together with the continual burnt offering through disobedience. It threw down truth to the ground, and it did its pleasure and prospered.

13 Then I heard a holy one speaking; and another holy one said to that certain one who spoke, “How long will the vision about the continual burnt offering, and the disobedience that makes desolate, to give both the sanctuary and the army to be trodden under foot be?”

14 He said to me, “To two thousand and three hundred evenings and mornings. Then the sanctuary will be cleansed.”

15 When I, even I Daniyel, had seen the vision, I tried to understand it. Then someone who looked like a man stood in front of me. 16 I heard a man’s voice between the banks of the Ulay, which called, and said, “Gavriel (Gabriel), make this man understand the vision.”

17 So he came near where I stood; and when he came, I was frightened, and fell on my face; but he said to me, “Understand, son of man; for the vision belongs to the time of the end.”

18 Now as he was speaking with me, I fell into a deep sleep with my face towards the ground; but he touched me, and set me upright.

19 He said, “Listen, I’ll make you know what’ll be in the latter time of the indignation; for it belongs to the appointed time of the end. 20 The ram which you saw, that had the two horns, they’re the kings of Maday (Media) and Paras (Persia). 21 The rough male goat is the king of Yavan (Greece). The great horn that’s between his eyes is the first king. 22 As for that which was broken, in the place where four stood up, four kingdoms will stand up out of the nation, but not with his power.

23 “In the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors have come to the full, a king of fierce face, and understanding dark sentences, will stand up. 24 His power will be mighty, but not by his own power. He’ll destroy awesomely, and will prosper in what he does. He’ll destroy the mighty ones and the holy people. 25 Through his policy he’ll cause deceit to prosper in his hand. He’ll magnify himself in his heart, and he’ll destroy many in their security. He’ll also stand up against the prince of princes; but he’ll be broken without human power.

26 “The vision of the evenings and mornings which has been told is true; but seal up the vision, for it belongs to many days to come.”

27 I, Daniyel, fainted, and was sick for some days. Then I rose up, and did the king’s business. I wondered at the vision, but no one understood it.