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10 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a thing was revealed unto Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar; and the thing was true, even a great warfare: and he understood the thing, and had understanding of the vision. In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three whole weeks. I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine into my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled. And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is [a]Hiddekel, I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, a man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with pure gold of Uphaz: his body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as flaming torches, and his arms and his feet like unto burnished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude. And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision; for the men that were with me saw not the vision; but a great quaking fell upon them, and they fled to hide themselves. So I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me; for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength. Yet heard I the voice of his words; and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I fallen into a deep sleep on my face, with my face toward the ground.

10 And, behold, a hand touched me, which [b]set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands. 11 And he said unto me, O Daniel, thou man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright; for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling. 12 Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel; for from the first day that thou didst set thy heart to understand, and to humble thyself before thy God, thy words were heard: and I am come for thy words’ sake. 13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days; but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me: and I [c]remained there with the kings of Persia. 14 Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days; for the vision is yet for many days. 15 And when he had spoken unto me according to these words, I set my face toward the ground, and was dumb. 16 And, behold, one in the likeness of the sons of men touched my lips: then I opened my mouth, and spake and said unto him that stood before me, O my lord, by reason of the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I retain no strength. 17 For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord? for as for me, straightway there remained no strength in me, neither was there breath left in me.

18 Then there touched me again one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me. 19 And he said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he spake unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me. 20 Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I am come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I go forth, lo, the prince of [d]Greece shall come. 21 But I will tell thee that which is inscribed in the writing of truth: and there is none that [e]holdeth with me [f]against these, but Michael your prince. 11 And as for me, in the first year of Darius the Mede, I stood up to confirm and strengthen him.

And now will I show thee the truth. Behold, there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia; and the fourth shall be far richer than they all: and when he is waxed strong through his riches, [g]he shall stir up all against the realm of [h]Greece. And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will. And when he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken, and shall be divided toward the four winds of heaven, but not to his posterity, nor according to his dominion wherewith he ruled; for his kingdom shall be plucked up, even for others besides these.

And the king of the south [i]shall be strong, and one of his princes; and he shall be strong above him, and have dominion; his dominion shall be a great dominion. And at the end of years they shall join themselves together; and the daughter of the king of the south shall come to the king of the north to make [j]an agreement: but she shall not retain the strength of her arm; neither shall he stand, nor his arm; but she shall be given up, and they that brought her, and he that begat her, and he that strengthened her in those times.

But out of a shoot from her roots shall one stand up in his [k]place, who shall come [l]unto the army, and shall enter into the fortress of the king of the north, and shall deal against them, and shall prevail. And also their gods, with their [m]molten images, and with their goodly vessels of silver and of gold, shall he carry captive into Egypt; and he shall [n]refrain some years from the king of the north. And he shall come into the realm of the king of the south, but he shall return into his own land.

10 And his sons shall war, and shall assemble a multitude of great forces, [o]which shall come on, and overflow, and pass through; and [p]they shall return and war, even to his fortress. 11 And the king of the south shall be moved with anger, and shall come forth and fight with him, even with the king of the north; and he shall set forth a great multitude, and the multitude shall be given into his hand. 12 And the multitude shall [q]be lifted up, and his heart shall be exalted; and he shall cast down tens of thousands, but he shall not prevail. 13 And the king of the north shall return, and shall set forth a multitude greater than the former; and he shall come on at the end of the times, even [r]of years, with a great army and with much substance. 14 And in those times there shall many stand up against the king of the south: also the children of the violent among thy people shall lift themselves up to establish the vision; but they shall fall. 15 So the king of the north shall come, and cast up a mound, and take [s]a well-fortified city: and the forces of the south shall not stand, neither his chosen people, neither shall there be any strength to stand. 16 But he that cometh against him shall do according to his own will, and none shall stand before him; and he shall stand in the glorious land, and in his hand shall be destruction. 17 And he shall set his face to come with the strength of his whole kingdom, and with him [t]equitable conditions; and he shall perform them: and he shall give him the daughter of women, [u]to corrupt her; but [v]she shall not stand, neither be for him. 18 After this shall he turn his face unto the [w]isles, and shall take many: but a [x]prince shall cause the reproach offered by him to cease; yea, moreover, he shall cause his reproach to turn upon him. 19 Then he shall turn his face toward the fortresses of his own land; but he shall stumble and fall, and shall not be found.

20 Then shall stand up in his place one that shall cause an exactor to pass through the glory of the kingdom; but within few days he shall be [y]destroyed, neither in anger, nor in battle. 21 And in his [z]place shall stand up a contemptible person, to whom they had not given the honor of the kingdom: but he shall come in time of security, and shall obtain the kingdom by flatteries. 22 And the overwhelming forces shall be overwhelmed from before him, and shall be broken; yea, also the prince of [aa]the covenant. 23 And after the league made with him he shall work deceitfully; for he shall come up, and shall become strong, with a small people. 24 In time of security shall he come even upon the fattest places of the province; and he shall do that which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers’ fathers; he shall scatter among them prey, and spoil, and substance: yea, he shall devise his devices against the strongholds, even for a time. 25 And he shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the south with a great army; and the king of the south shall war in battle with an exceeding great and mighty army; but he shall not stand; for they shall devise devices against him. 26 Yea, they that eat of his dainties shall [ab]destroy him, and his army shall overflow; and many shall fall down slain. 27 And as for both these kings, their hearts shall be to do mischief, and they shall speak lies at one table: but it shall not prosper; for yet the end shall be at the time appointed.

28 Then shall he return into his land with great substance; and his heart shall be against the holy covenant; and he shall do his pleasure, and return to his own land. 29 At the time appointed he shall return, and come into the south; but it shall not be in the latter time as it was in the former. 30 For ships of Kittim shall come against him; therefore he shall be grieved, and shall return, and have indignation against the holy covenant, and shall do his pleasure: he shall even return, and have regard unto them that forsake the holy covenant. 31 And forces shall stand on his part, and they shall profane the sanctuary, even the fortress, and shall take away the continual burnt-offering, and they shall set up the abomination that maketh desolate. 32 And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he [ac]pervert by flatteries; but the people that know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. 33 And [ad]they that are wise among the people shall instruct many; yet they shall fall by the sword and by flame, by captivity and by spoil, many days. 34 Now when they shall fall, they shall be helped with a little help; but many shall join themselves unto them with flatteries. 35 And some of [ae]them that are wise shall fall, to refine them, and to purify, and to make them white, even to the time of the end; because it is yet for the time appointed.

36 And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods; and he shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished; for that which is determined shall be done. 37 Neither shall he regard the gods of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god; for he shall magnify himself above all. 38 But in his [af]place shall he honor the god of fortresses; and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honor with gold, and silver, and with precious stones and pleasant things. 39 And he shall deal with the strongest fortresses by the help of a foreign god: [ag]whosoever acknowledgeth him [ah]he will increase with glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for a price.

40 And at the time of the end shall the king of the south [ai]contend with him; and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass through. 41 He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown; but these shall be delivered out of his hand: Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. 42 He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries; and the land of Egypt shall not escape. 43 But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps. 44 But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him; and he shall go forth with great fury to destroy and [aj]utterly to sweep away many. 45 And he shall plant the tents of his palace [ak]between the sea and the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.

12 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince who standeth for the children of thy people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting [al]contempt. And [am]they that are wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

Then I, Daniel, looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on the brink of the river on this side, and the other on the brink of the river on that side. And one said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders? And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and a half; and when they have made an end of breaking in pieces the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my lord, what shall be the [an]issue of these things? And he said, Go thy way, Daniel; for the words are shut up and sealed till the time of the end. 10 Many shall purify themselves, and make themselves white, and be refined; but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand; but [ao]they that are wise shall understand. 11 And from the time that the continual burnt-offering shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. 12 Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days. 13 But go thou thy way till the end be; for thou shalt rest, and shalt stand in thy lot, at the end of the days.

Footnotes

  1. Daniel 10:4 That is, Tigris.
  2. Daniel 10:10 Or, set me tottering upon etc.
  3. Daniel 10:13 Or, was not needed
  4. Daniel 10:20 Hebrew Javan.
  5. Daniel 10:21 Hebrew strengtheneth himself.
  6. Daniel 10:21 Or, concerning these things
  7. Daniel 11:2 Or, all this shall stir up the realm
  8. Daniel 11:2 Hebrew Javan.
  9. Daniel 11:5 Or, shall be strong; but one of his princes shall be etc.
  10. Daniel 11:6 Or, equitable conditions
  11. Daniel 11:7 Or, office
  12. Daniel 11:7 Or, against
  13. Daniel 11:8 Or, princes
  14. Daniel 11:8 Or, continue more years than etc.
  15. Daniel 11:10 Or, and he
  16. Daniel 11:10 Or, he
  17. Daniel 11:12 Or, be carried away
  18. Daniel 11:13 Or, for
  19. Daniel 11:15 Or, the fortified cities
  20. Daniel 11:17 Or, upright ones
  21. Daniel 11:17 Or, to destroy it
  22. Daniel 11:17 Or, it
  23. Daniel 11:18 Or, coast-lands
  24. Daniel 11:18 Or, captain
  25. Daniel 11:20 Hebrew broken.
  26. Daniel 11:21 Or, office
  27. Daniel 11:22 Or, his covenant
  28. Daniel 11:26 Hebrew break.
  29. Daniel 11:32 Hebrew make profane.
  30. Daniel 11:33 Or, the teachers of the people
  31. Daniel 11:35 Or, the teachers
  32. Daniel 11:38 Or, office
  33. Daniel 11:39 Or, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory
  34. Daniel 11:39 Or, shall increase glory
  35. Daniel 11:40 Hebrew push at.
  36. Daniel 11:44 Hebrew to devote many.
  37. Daniel 11:45 Or, between the seas at
  38. Daniel 12:2 Or, abhorrence
  39. Daniel 12:3 Or, the teachers
  40. Daniel 12:8 Or, latter end
  41. Daniel 12:10 Or, the teachers

Daniel’s Vision of a Man

10 In the third year of Cyrus(A) king of Persia, a revelation was given to Daniel (who was called Belteshazzar).(B) Its message was true(C) and it concerned a great war.[a] The understanding of the message came to him in a vision.

At that time I, Daniel, mourned(D) for three weeks. I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips;(E) and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over.

On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank(F) of the great river, the Tigris,(G) I looked up(H) and there before me was a man dressed in linen,(I) with a belt of fine gold(J) from Uphaz around his waist. His body was like topaz,(K) his face like lightning,(L) his eyes like flaming torches,(M) his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze,(N) and his voice(O) like the sound of a multitude.

I, Daniel, was the only one who saw the vision; those who were with me did not see it,(P) but such terror overwhelmed them that they fled and hid themselves. So I was left alone,(Q) gazing at this great vision; I had no strength left,(R) my face turned deathly pale(S) and I was helpless.(T) Then I heard him speaking, and as I listened to him, I fell into a deep sleep, my face to the ground.(U)

10 A hand touched me(V) and set me trembling on my hands and knees.(W) 11 He said, “Daniel, you who are highly esteemed,(X) consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you, and stand up,(Y) for I have now been sent to you.” And when he said this to me, I stood up trembling.

12 Then he continued, “Do not be afraid,(Z) Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble(AA) yourself before your God, your words(AB) were heard, and I have come in response to them.(AC) 13 But the prince(AD) of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael,(AE) one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. 14 Now I have come to explain(AF) to you what will happen to your people in the future,(AG) for the vision concerns a time yet to come.(AH)

15 While he was saying this to me, I bowed with my face toward the ground and was speechless.(AI) 16 Then one who looked like a man[b] touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and began to speak.(AJ) I said to the one standing before me, “I am overcome with anguish(AK) because of the vision, my lord, and I feel very weak. 17 How can I, your servant, talk with you, my lord? My strength is gone and I can hardly breathe.”(AL)

18 Again the one who looked like a man touched(AM) me and gave me strength.(AN) 19 “Do not be afraid, you who are highly esteemed,”(AO) he said. “Peace!(AP) Be strong now; be strong.”(AQ)

When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Speak, my lord, since you have given me strength.”(AR)

20 So he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? Soon I will return to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I go, the prince of Greece(AS) will come; 21 but first I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth.(AT) (No one supports me against them except Michael,(AU) your prince. 11 And in the first year of Darius(AV) the Mede, I took my stand to support and protect him.)

The Kings of the South and the North

“Now then, I tell you the truth:(AW) Three more kings will arise in Persia, and then a fourth, who will be far richer than all the others. When he has gained power by his wealth, he will stir up everyone against the kingdom of Greece.(AX) Then a mighty king will arise, who will rule with great power and do as he pleases.(AY) After he has arisen, his empire will be broken up and parceled out toward the four winds of heaven.(AZ) It will not go to his descendants, nor will it have the power he exercised, because his empire will be uprooted(BA) and given to others.

“The king of the South will become strong, but one of his commanders will become even stronger than he and will rule his own kingdom with great power. After some years, they will become allies. The daughter of the king of the South will go to the king of the North to make an alliance, but she will not retain her power, and he and his power[c] will not last. In those days she will be betrayed, together with her royal escort and her father[d] and the one who supported her.

“One from her family line will arise to take her place. He will attack the forces of the king of the North(BB) and enter his fortress; he will fight against them and be victorious. He will also seize their gods,(BC) their metal images and their valuable articles of silver and gold and carry them off to Egypt.(BD) For some years he will leave the king of the North alone. Then the king of the North will invade the realm of the king of the South but will retreat to his own country. 10 His sons will prepare for war and assemble a great army, which will sweep on like an irresistible flood(BE) and carry the battle as far as his fortress.

11 “Then the king of the South will march out in a rage and fight against the king of the North, who will raise a large army, but it will be defeated.(BF) 12 When the army is carried off, the king of the South will be filled with pride and will slaughter many thousands, yet he will not remain triumphant. 13 For the king of the North will muster another army, larger than the first; and after several years, he will advance with a huge army fully equipped.

14 “In those times many will rise against the king of the South. Those who are violent among your own people will rebel in fulfillment of the vision, but without success. 15 Then the king of the North will come and build up siege ramps(BG) and will capture a fortified city. The forces of the South will be powerless to resist; even their best troops will not have the strength to stand. 16 The invader will do as he pleases;(BH) no one will be able to stand against him.(BI) He will establish himself in the Beautiful Land and will have the power to destroy it.(BJ) 17 He will determine to come with the might of his entire kingdom and will make an alliance with the king of the South. And he will give him a daughter in marriage in order to overthrow the kingdom, but his plans[e] will not succeed(BK) or help him. 18 Then he will turn his attention to the coastlands(BL) and will take many of them, but a commander will put an end to his insolence and will turn his insolence back on him.(BM) 19 After this, he will turn back toward the fortresses of his own country but will stumble and fall,(BN) to be seen no more.(BO)

20 “His successor will send out a tax collector to maintain the royal splendor.(BP) In a few years, however, he will be destroyed, yet not in anger or in battle.

21 “He will be succeeded by a contemptible(BQ) person who has not been given the honor of royalty.(BR) He will invade the kingdom when its people feel secure, and he will seize it through intrigue. 22 Then an overwhelming army will be swept away(BS) before him; both it and a prince of the covenant will be destroyed.(BT) 23 After coming to an agreement with him, he will act deceitfully,(BU) and with only a few people he will rise to power. 24 When the richest provinces feel secure, he will invade them and will achieve what neither his fathers nor his forefathers did. He will distribute plunder, loot and wealth among his followers.(BV) He will plot the overthrow of fortresses—but only for a time.

25 “With a large army he will stir up his strength and courage against the king of the South. The king of the South will wage war with a large and very powerful army, but he will not be able to stand because of the plots devised against him. 26 Those who eat from the king’s provisions will try to destroy him; his army will be swept away, and many will fall in battle. 27 The two kings, with their hearts bent on evil,(BW) will sit at the same table and lie(BX) to each other, but to no avail, because an end will still come at the appointed time.(BY) 28 The king of the North will return to his own country with great wealth, but his heart will be set against the holy covenant. He will take action against it and then return to his own country.

29 “At the appointed time he will invade the South again, but this time the outcome will be different from what it was before. 30 Ships of the western coastlands(BZ) will oppose him, and he will lose heart.(CA) Then he will turn back and vent his fury(CB) against the holy covenant. He will return and show favor to those who forsake the holy covenant.

31 “His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice.(CC) Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation.(CD) 32 With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist(CE) him.

33 “Those who are wise will instruct(CF) many, though for a time they will fall by the sword or be burned or captured or plundered.(CG) 34 When they fall, they will receive a little help, and many who are not sincere(CH) will join them. 35 Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined,(CI) purified and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time.

The King Who Exalts Himself

36 “The king will do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify himself(CJ) above every god and will say unheard-of things(CK) against the God of gods.(CL) He will be successful until the time of wrath(CM) is completed, for what has been determined must take place.(CN) 37 He will show no regard for the gods of his ancestors or for the one desired by women, nor will he regard any god, but will exalt himself above them all. 38 Instead of them, he will honor a god of fortresses; a god unknown to his ancestors he will honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and costly gifts. 39 He will attack the mightiest fortresses with the help of a foreign god and will greatly honor those who acknowledge him. He will make them rulers over many people and will distribute the land at a price.[f]

40 “At the time of the end the king of the South(CO) will engage him in battle, and the king of the North will storm(CP) out against him with chariots and cavalry and a great fleet of ships. He will invade many countries and sweep through them like a flood.(CQ) 41 He will also invade the Beautiful Land.(CR) Many countries will fall, but Edom,(CS) Moab(CT) and the leaders of Ammon will be delivered from his hand. 42 He will extend his power over many countries; Egypt will not escape. 43 He will gain control of the treasures of gold and silver and all the riches of Egypt,(CU) with the Libyans(CV) and Cushites[g] in submission. 44 But reports from the east and the north will alarm him, and he will set out in a great rage to destroy and annihilate many. 45 He will pitch his royal tents between the seas at[h] the beautiful holy mountain.(CW) Yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him.

The End Times

12 “At that time Michael,(CX) the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress(CY) such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book(CZ)—will be delivered.(DA) Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake:(DB) some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.(DC) Those who are wise[i](DD) will shine(DE) like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness,(DF) like the stars for ever and ever.(DG) But you, Daniel, roll up and seal(DH) the words of the scroll until the time of the end.(DI) Many will go here and there(DJ) to increase knowledge.”

Then I, Daniel, looked, and there before me stood two others, one on this bank of the river and one on the opposite bank.(DK) One of them said to the man clothed in linen,(DL) who was above the waters of the river, “How long will it be before these astonishing things are fulfilled?”(DM)

The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, lifted his right hand(DN) and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by him who lives forever,(DO) saying, “It will be for a time, times and half a time.[j](DP) When the power of the holy people(DQ) has been finally broken, all these things will be completed.(DR)

I heard, but I did not understand. So I asked, “My lord, what will the outcome of all this be?”

He replied, “Go your way, Daniel, because the words are rolled up and sealed(DS) until the time of the end.(DT) 10 Many will be purified, made spotless and refined,(DU) but the wicked will continue to be wicked.(DV) None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.(DW)

11 “From the time that the daily sacrifice(DX) is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation(DY) is set up, there will be 1,290 days.(DZ) 12 Blessed is the one who waits(EA) for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days.(EB)

13 “As for you, go your way till the end.(EC) You will rest,(ED) and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance.(EE)

Footnotes

  1. Daniel 10:1 Or true and burdensome
  2. Daniel 10:16 Most manuscripts of the Masoretic Text; one manuscript of the Masoretic Text, Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint Then something that looked like a human hand
  3. Daniel 11:6 Or offspring
  4. Daniel 11:6 Or child (see Vulgate and Syriac)
  5. Daniel 11:17 Or but she
  6. Daniel 11:39 Or land for a reward
  7. Daniel 11:43 That is, people from the upper Nile region
  8. Daniel 11:45 Or the sea and
  9. Daniel 12:3 Or who impart wisdom
  10. Daniel 12:7 Or a year, two years and half a year