Daniel

Stories of Daniel and his friends in exile and visions about future kingdoms and God's sovereignty.

Chapter 7

1 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters.

*In the first year of King Belshazzar of Babylon, Daniel had a dream with important visions while lying in bed. He wrote down the dream and shared its main points.

2 Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea.

*Daniel said, "I had a vision at night where I saw the four winds from heaven fighting on a huge sea.

3 And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.

*Four big creatures rose from the ocean, each different from the others.

4 The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man’s heart was given to it.

*I saw something like a lion with eagle wings. Its wings were taken away, and it rose from the ground. It stood on human feet and was given a human heart.

5 And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.

*And look, another animal, the second one, looked like a bear. It stood up on its side and had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. They told it, "Get up and eat lots of meat."

6 After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.

*After that, I saw another creature, like a leopard with four bird wings on its back. It also had four heads, and it was given control.

7 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.

*After this, I saw a scary and powerful beast in a dream at night. It had huge iron teeth and destroyed everything in its path. Its feet crushed whatever was left. This beast was different from the others and had ten horns.

8 I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.

*I looked at the horns and saw a smaller one appear among them. Before this new horn, three of the original horns were pulled out by their roots. This new horn had eyes like a person's and could talk about important things.

9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.

*I saw thrones fall and the ancient ruler take his seat. He wore a white robe like snow and had hair like pure white wool. His throne looked like flaming fire, and his wheels were like burning flames.

10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.

*A blazing river flowed out in front of him. Many, many helpers served him, and an enormous number of people stood before him. The court was ready, and the books were opened.

11 I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame.

*I saw what happened when the horn spoke loudly: I watched until the animal was killed, its body destroyed, and then given to the fire to burn.

12 As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time.

*About the other animals, their rule was taken away, but they lived longer for some time.

13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.

*In a night vision, I saw someone like the Son of Man arrive with clouds from the sky. He approached the Ancient One, and they presented him to Him.

14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

*He received power, honor, and a kingdom where everyone, including all peoples and languages, must serve him. His rule will last forever and his kingdom will never be destroyed.

15 I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me.

*I, Daniel, felt sad inside and my body's center, and the images in my mind caused me distress.

16 I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things.

*I approached someone nearby and asked about the meaning of everything happening. He explained it to me and revealed the meaning behind these events.

17 These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.

*These big animals, there are four, are actually four rulers who will come from the ground.

18 But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.

*But the holy ones of the highest God will get the kingdom and keep it forever, always and always.

19 Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet;

*Then I would understand the truth about the fourth strange beast, much scarier than the others. It had iron teeth and brass nails. This beast destroyed, broke apart, and crushed whatever was left under its feet.

20 And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.

*And from the ten horns on his head, and the new one that rose up, and caused three others to fall: this strong horn with eyes and a big mouth, boasted loudly, being mightier than the rest.

21 I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;

*I saw, and the same horn fought against the holy people and won against them.

22 Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.

*Until the very old ruler arrived, and the important judges were chosen for the holy people; then the right time came for the holy ones to rule the kingdom.

23 Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.

*So he said, "The fourth beast will be a different kingdom on Earth. It will take over the entire world, crush it, and break it into pieces.

24 And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.

*The ten horns come from this kingdom and are like 10 leaders. After them, a new one will appear, different from the first one, and he will defeat three other leaders.

25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

*He will say big things against the greatest one, making the holy people tired, trying to change when things happen and laws. He'll have control over them for a certain amount of time.

26 But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.

*But the judges will decide, and they will remove his power, completely destroying it forever.

27 And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.

*The kingdom and control over everything, plus greatness, will be given to the holy people's group, who have a never-ending kingdom. Everyone will follow and listen to them.

28 Hitherto is the end of the matter. As for me Daniel, my cogitations much troubled me, and my countenance changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart.

*So far, this is the conclusion. About me, Daniel, my thoughts were very confused, and my expression changed a lot: but I kept it inside my heart.

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