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Daniel 8
New Catholic Bible
Daniel 8
New Catholic Bible
Daniel’s Vision of a Ram and a Goat[a]
Chapter 8
Vision of the Ram and He-Goat. 1 In the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar, I, Daniel, had another vision subsequent to the first vision that I had previously experienced. 2 In my vision I saw myself in the citadel of Susa[b] in the province of Elam, standing by the Ulai canal.
3 When I looked up, I saw a ram standing beside the river. It had two horns. Both of the horns were tall, but one was taller than the other, although the other had appeared first. 4 I observed the ram butting toward the west, the north, and the south. No beast could withstand it or escape from its power. It did as it pleased and became very strong.
5 As I was pondering this, a he-goat appeared from the west, skimming over the entire surface of the world without touching the ground, and between its eyes it had one prominent horn. 6 It approached the two-horned ram, which I had seen standing by the river, and charged it with savage fury.
7 I saw it charge the ram in a fit of rage and attack it with the full force of its fury, breaking both of its horns and leaving the ram powerless to withstand the attack. Having thrown the ram to the ground, it trampled it underfoot, and there was no one there to rescue the ram. 8 The he-goat then grew even more powerful but at the height of its strength the great horn shattered, and in its place there came forth four majestic horns pointing toward the four winds of heaven.
9 Out of one of these horns sprang forth a small horn which grew ever larger and poured forth its strength toward the south and the east and toward the beautiful land. 10 It grew until it reached the host of heaven, after which it flung down to the earth some of the host as well as some of the stars and trampled on them.
11 It even challenged arrogantly the power of the prince of the host. It abolished his right to offer the daily sacrifice and destroyed his sanctuary. 12 The army, too, was abolished, while the daily sacrifice was replaced by sin. It cast truth to the ground and succeeded in everything it did.
13 Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to the speaker, “How long will it be before this vision is fulfilled—the vision of sacrifice, the desolation of transgressions, and daily trampling of the sanctuary and the host?” 14 The first one replied, “Until two thousand three hundred evenings and mornings have passed. Then the sanctuary will be purified.”
15 Interpretation of the Vision. While I, Daniel, tried to understand the vision that I had seen, I saw someone standing before me who had the appearance of a man. 16 Then I heard a human voice from the Ulai cry out, “Gabriel, explain to him the meaning of the vision.” 17 As he then approached the place where I was standing, I fell prostrate in terror. However, he said to me, “Understand this, son of man. The vision refers to the end time.”
18 As he spoke to me, I fell to the ground in a trance, face downward. However, he touched me and raised me to my feet. 19 “I will show you,” he said, “what will take place later in the period of wrath, for at the appointed time there will be an end.
20 “The two-horned ram that you saw represents the kings of Media and Persia. 21 The male goat is the king of Greece, and the large horn between its eyes represents the first king. 22 As for the horn that was broken and replaced by four other horns, four kingdoms shall rise from his nation but be lacking his power.
23 “At the end of their reign,
when their sins have reached their zenith,
a king will arise,
bold in countenance and skilled in intrigue.
24 His strength will continually increase,
but not by any power of his own.
He will wreak untold havoc
and succeed in whatever he does.
He will destroy mighty nations
as well as the holy ones, God’s people.
25 “By cunning and deceit,
he will succeed in his treacherous plans.
He will devise great schemes
and wreak havoc on unsuspecting people.
He will finally challenge the power
of the Prince of princes,
but he will be broken
without any human intervention.
26 The vision of the evenings and the mornings
that has been revealed is true.
However, you must keep this vision secret,
because it points to times far ahead.”
27 Then I, Daniel, was overcome by exhaustion, and I lay sick for several days. After that I arose and attended to the king’s business. But I was perplexed by the vision, which I was unable to understand.
Footnotes
- Daniel 8:1 Daniel has a new vision. First, there is a ram with two horns of unequal length (that is, of unequal power): the Medes and the Persians. Then a goat comes from the West, a king of Greece, to snatch them from their place: Alexander the Great. When the latter dies, in 323 B.C., his successors, or Diadochi, will argue over the empire: the Lagids, the Seleucids, the Antigonids, and later the Attalids. Finally, the beautiful land, Jerusalem, falls into the power of Antiochus (v. 9), who attempts to subdue the soul of Israel by violence (v. 10). He identifies himself with God, suppresses the daily sacrifice (in 167 B.C.), and erects an altar for Zeus over the altar in the temple. But the days of the persecutor are numbered.
- Daniel 8:2 Susa, the capital of Elam, was the summer residence of the Persian kings.
Daniel 8
New International Reader's Version
Daniel 8
New International Reader's Version
Daniel Has a Vision About a Ram and a Goat
8 It was the third year of King Belshazzar’s rule. After the vision that had already appeared to me, I had another one. 2 In my vision I saw myself in the city of Susa. It has high walls around it. It is in the land of Elam. In the vision I was beside the Ulai Canal. 3 I looked up and saw a ram that had two horns. It was standing beside the canal. Its horns were long. One of them was longer than the other. But that horn grew up later. 4 I watched the ram as it charged toward the west. It also charged toward the north and the south. No animal could stand up against it. Not one of them could save anyone from its power. It did as it pleased. And it became great.
5 I was thinking about all of this. Then a goat suddenly came from the west. It had a large horn between its eyes. The goat raced across the whole earth without even touching the ground. 6 It came toward the ram that had the two horns. It was the ram I had seen standing beside the canal. The goat was very angry. It charged at the ram. 7 I saw it attack the ram with mighty force. It struck the ram and broke the ram’s two horns. The ram didn’t have the power to stand up against it. The goat knocked the ram to the ground and stomped on it. No one could save the ram from the goat’s power. 8 The goat became very great. But when its power was at its greatest, the goat’s large horn was broken off. In its place four large horns grew up toward the four winds of heaven.
9 Out of one of the four horns came another horn. It was small at first but became more and more powerful. It grew to the south and to the east and toward the beautiful land of Israel. 10 It grew until it reached the stars in the sky. It threw some of them down to the earth. And it stomped on them. 11 It set itself up to be as great as the commander of the Lord’s army. It took away the daily sacrifices from the Lord. And his temple in Jerusalem was thrown down. 12 Because many of the Lord’s people refused to obey him, they were handed over to the horn. The daily sacrifices were also given over to it. The horn was successful no matter what it did. And true worship of God was thrown down to the ground.
13 Then I heard a holy angel speaking. Another holy angel spoke to him. He asked, “How long will it take for the vision to come true? When will the daily sacrifices be stopped? When will those who refuse to obey God be destroyed? When will the temple be handed over to an enemy? And when will some of the Lord’s people be stomped on?”
14 One of the holy angels said to me, “It will take 2,300 evenings and mornings. Then the temple will be made holy again.”
Gabriel Tells Daniel What His Vision Means
15 I was having the vision. And I was trying to understand it. Then I saw someone who looked like a man. 16 I heard a voice from the Ulai Canal. It called out, “Gabriel, tell Daniel what his vision means.”
17 Gabriel came close to where I was standing. I was terrified and fell down flat with my face toward the ground. Here is what he said to me. “Son of man, I want you to understand the vision. It’s about the time of the end.”
18 While he was speaking to me, I was sound asleep. I lay with my face on the ground. Then he touched me. He raised me to my feet.
19 He said, “I am going to tell you what will happen later. It will take place when God is angry. The vision is about the appointed time of the end. 20 You saw a ram that had two horns. It stands for the kings of Media and Persia. 21 The goat stands for the king of Greece. The large horn between its eyes is the first king. 22 Four horns took the horn’s place when it was broken off. They stand for four kingdoms that will come from his nation. But those kingdoms will not be as powerful as his.
23 “Toward the end of their rule, those who refuse to obey God will become completely evil. Then another king will appear. He will have a scary-looking face. He will be a master at making clever plans. 24 He will become very strong. But he will not get that way by his own power. People will be amazed at the way he destroys everything. He will be successful no matter what he does. He will destroy mighty people. Those mighty people are God’s holy people. 25 He will tell lies in order to succeed. He will think he is more important than anyone else. When people feel safe, he will destroy many of them. He will stand up against the greatest Prince of all. Then he will be destroyed. But he will not be killed by human beings.
26 “The vision of the evenings and mornings that has been given to you is true. But seal up the vision. It is about a time far off.”
27 I, Daniel, was worn out. I was too tired to get up for several days. Then I got up and returned to my work for the king. The vision bewildered me. I couldn’t understand it.
Daniel 8
New King James Version
Daniel 8
New King James Version
Vision of a Ram and a Goat
8 In[a] the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar a vision appeared to me—to me, Daniel—after the one that appeared to me (A)the first time. 2 I saw in the vision, and it so happened while I was looking, that I was in (B)Shushan,[b] the [c]citadel, which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in the vision that I was by the River Ulai. 3 Then I lifted my eyes and saw, and there, standing beside the river, was a ram which had two horns, and the two horns were high; but one was (C)higher than the other, and the higher one came up last. 4 I saw the ram pushing westward, northward, and southward, so that no animal could [d]withstand him; nor was there any that could deliver from his hand, (D)but he did according to his will and became great.
5 And as I was considering, suddenly a male goat came from the west, across the surface of the whole earth, without touching the ground; and the goat had a notable (E)horn between his eyes. 6 Then he came to the ram that had two horns, which I had seen standing beside the river, and ran at him with furious power. 7 And I saw him confronting the ram; he was moved with rage against him, [e]attacked the ram, and broke his two horns. There was no power in the ram to withstand him, but he cast him down to the ground and trampled him; and there was no one that could deliver the ram from his hand.
8 Therefore the male goat grew very great; but when he became strong, the large horn was broken, and in place of it (F)four notable ones came up toward the four winds of heaven. 9 (G)And out of one of them came a little horn which grew exceedingly great toward the south, (H)toward the east, and toward the (I)Glorious Land. 10 (J)And it grew up to (K)the host of heaven; and (L)it cast down some of the host and some of the stars to the ground, and trampled them. 11 (M)He even exalted himself as high as (N)the Prince of the host; (O)and by him (P)the daily sacrifices were taken away, and the place of [f]His sanctuary was cast down. 12 Because of transgression, (Q)an army was given over to the horn to oppose the daily sacrifices; and he cast (R)truth down to the ground. He (S)did all this and prospered.
13 Then I heard (T)a holy one speaking; and another holy one said to that certain one who was speaking, “How long will the vision be, concerning the daily sacrifices and the transgression [g]of desolation, the giving of both the sanctuary and the host to be trampled underfoot?”
14 And he said to me, “For two thousand three hundred [h]days; then the sanctuary shall be cleansed.”
Gabriel Interprets the Vision
15 Then it happened, when I, Daniel, had seen the vision and (U)was seeking the meaning, that suddenly there stood before me (V)one having the appearance of a man. 16 And I heard a man’s voice (W)between the banks of the Ulai, who called, and said, (X)“Gabriel, make this man understand the vision.” 17 So he came near where I stood, and when he came I was afraid and (Y)fell on my face; but he said to me, “Understand, son of man, that the vision refers to the time of the end.”
18 (Z)Now, as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep with my face to the ground; (AA)but he touched me, and stood me upright. 19 And he said, “Look, I am making known to you what shall happen in the latter time of the indignation; (AB)for at the appointed time the end shall be. 20 The ram which you saw, having the two horns—they are the kings of Media and Persia. 21 And the [i]male goat is the [j]kingdom of Greece. The large horn that is between its eyes (AC)is the first king. 22 (AD)As for the broken horn and the four that stood up in its place, four kingdoms shall arise out of that nation, but not with its power.
23 “And in the latter time of their kingdom,
When the transgressors have reached their fullness,
A king shall arise,
(AE)Having fierce [k]features,
Who understands sinister schemes.
24 His power shall be mighty, (AF)but not by his own power;
He shall destroy [l]fearfully,
(AG)And shall prosper and thrive;
(AH)He shall destroy the mighty, and also the holy people.
25 “Through(AI) his cunning
He shall cause deceit to prosper under his [m]rule;
(AJ)And he shall exalt himself in his heart.
He shall destroy many in their prosperity.
(AK)He shall even rise against the Prince of princes;
But he shall be (AL)broken without human [n]means.
26 “And the vision of the evenings and mornings
Which was told is true;
(AM)Therefore seal up the vision,
For it refers to many days in the future.”
27 (AN)And I, Daniel, fainted and was sick for days; afterward I arose and went about the king’s business. I was [o]astonished by the vision, but no one understood it.
Footnotes
- Daniel 8:1 The Hebrew language resumes in Dan. 8:1.
- Daniel 8:2 Or Susa
- Daniel 8:2 Or fortified palace
- Daniel 8:4 Lit. stand before him
- Daniel 8:7 Lit. struck
- Daniel 8:11 The temple
- Daniel 8:13 Or making desolate
- Daniel 8:14 Lit. evening-mornings
- Daniel 8:21 shaggy male
- Daniel 8:21 Lit. king, representing his kingdom, Dan. 7:17, 23
- Daniel 8:23 Lit. countenance
- Daniel 8:24 Or extraordinarily
- Daniel 8:25 Lit. hand
- Daniel 8:25 Lit. hand
- Daniel 8:27 amazed
Daniel 8
New International Version
Daniel 8
New International Version
Daniel’s Vision of a Ram and a Goat
8 In the third year of King Belshazzar’s(A) reign, I, Daniel, had a vision,(B) after the one that had already appeared to me. 2 In my vision I saw myself in the citadel of Susa(C) in the province of Elam;(D) in the vision I was beside the Ulai Canal. 3 I looked up,(E) and there before me was a ram(F) with two horns, standing beside the canal, and the horns were long. One of the horns was longer than the other but grew up later. 4 I watched the ram as it charged toward the west and the north and the south. No animal could stand against it, and none could rescue from its power.(G) It did as it pleased(H) and became great.
5 As I was thinking about this, suddenly a goat with a prominent horn between its eyes came from the west, crossing the whole earth without touching the ground. 6 It came toward the two-horned ram I had seen standing beside the canal and charged at it in great rage. 7 I saw it attack the ram furiously, striking the ram and shattering its two horns. The ram was powerless to stand against it; the goat knocked it to the ground and trampled on it,(I) and none could rescue the ram from its power.(J) 8 The goat became very great, but at the height of its power the large horn was broken off,(K) and in its place four prominent horns grew up toward the four winds of heaven.(L)
9 Out of one of them came another horn, which started small(M) but grew in power to the south and to the east and toward the Beautiful Land.(N) 10 It grew until it reached(O) the host of the heavens, and it threw some of the starry host down to the earth(P) and trampled(Q) on them. 11 It set itself up to be as great as the commander(R) of the army of the Lord;(S) it took away the daily sacrifice(T) from the Lord, and his sanctuary was thrown down.(U) 12 Because of rebellion, the Lord’s people[a] and the daily sacrifice were given over to it. It prospered in everything it did, and truth was thrown to the ground.(V)
13 Then I heard a holy one(W) speaking, and another holy one said to him, “How long will it take for the vision to be fulfilled(X)—the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, the rebellion that causes desolation, the surrender of the sanctuary and the trampling underfoot(Y) of the Lord’s people?”
14 He said to me, “It will take 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary will be reconsecrated.”(Z)
The Interpretation of the Vision
15 While I, Daniel, was watching the vision(AA) and trying to understand it, there before me stood one who looked like a man.(AB) 16 And I heard a man’s voice from the Ulai(AC) calling, “Gabriel,(AD) tell this man the meaning of the vision.”(AE)
17 As he came near the place where I was standing, I was terrified and fell prostrate.(AF) “Son of man,”[b] he said to me, “understand that the vision concerns the time of the end.”(AG)
18 While he was speaking to me, I was in a deep sleep, with my face to the ground.(AH) Then he touched me and raised me to my feet.(AI)
19 He said: “I am going to tell you what will happen later in the time of wrath,(AJ) because the vision concerns the appointed time(AK) of the end.[c](AL) 20 The two-horned ram that you saw represents the kings of Media and Persia.(AM) 21 The shaggy goat is the king of Greece,(AN) and the large horn between its eyes is the first king.(AO) 22 The four horns that replaced the one that was broken off represent four kingdoms that will emerge from his nation but will not have the same power.
23 “In the latter part of their reign, when rebels have become completely wicked, a fierce-looking king, a master of intrigue, will arise. 24 He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause astounding devastation and will succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy those who are mighty, the holy people.(AP) 25 He will cause deceit(AQ) to prosper, and he will consider himself superior. When they feel secure, he will destroy many and take his stand against the Prince of princes.(AR) Yet he will be destroyed, but not by human power.(AS)
26 “The vision of the evenings and mornings that has been given you is true,(AT) but seal(AU) up the vision, for it concerns the distant future.”(AV)
27 I, Daniel, was worn out. I lay exhausted(AW) for several days. Then I got up and went about the king’s business.(AX) I was appalled(AY) by the vision; it was beyond understanding.
Footnotes
- Daniel 8:12 Or rebellion, the armies
- Daniel 8:17 The Hebrew phrase ben adam means human being. The phrase son of man is retained as a form of address here because of its possible association with “Son of Man” in the New Testament.
- Daniel 8:19 Or because the end will be at the appointed time
New International Reader's Version (NIRV) 
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New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.