Daniel 7

1In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel saw a dream and visions in his head while on his bed. Then he wrote down the dream—the summary of the words he told.

2Daniel answered and said, “I was seeing in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea.”

3And four great beasts were coming up from the sea, different from one another.

4The first was like a lion, and it had the wings of an eagle. I kept watching until its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the earth and made to stand on two feet like a man, and a human heart was given to it.

5And look, another beast, a second one, resembling a bear; it was raised up on one side, and three ribs were in its mouth between its teeth. And this is what they were saying to it: “Arise, eat much flesh.”

6After this I kept looking, and behold, another, like a leopard; it had four wings of a bird on its back, and the beast had four heads, and dominion was given to it.

7After this I kept looking in the visions of the night, and behold, a fourth beast, terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had large iron teeth; it devoured and crushed, and it trampled the remainder with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns.

8I was considering the horns, and behold, another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. And behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things.

9I kept watching until thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head was like pure wool. His throne was flames of fire; its wheels were a burning fire.

10A river of fire was flowing and coming out from before him; a thousand thousands were serving him, and ten thousand times ten thousand were standing before him. The court sat, and the books were opened.

11I kept watching then because of the sound of the great words that the horn was speaking. I kept watching until the beast was killed, and its body was destroyed and given over to the burning fire.

12As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but an extension of life was given to them for a time and a season.

13I kept looking in the visions of the night, and behold, with the clouds of heaven one like a son of man was coming, and he came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought him near before him.

14And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will not be destroyed.

15As for me, Daniel, my spirit was distressed within me, and the visions of my head terrified me.

16I approached one of those standing there and asked him the certainty about all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of the matter.

17These great beasts, which are four, are four kings who will arise from the earth.

18But the holy ones of the Most High will receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever—forever and ever.

19Then I wanted to know for certain about the fourth beast, which was different from all of them, exceedingly terrifying, with teeth of iron and claws of bronze, which devoured, crushed, and trampled what was left with its feet.

20and about the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn that came up, before which three fell—the horn that had eyes and a mouth speaking great things, and whose appearance was greater than that of its companions.

21I kept watching, and that horn was making war with the holy ones and was prevailing over them,

22until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the Most High, and the time arrived, and the saints took possession of the kingdom.

23Thus he said: ‘The fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom on the earth, which will be different from all the kingdoms; and it will devour the whole earth and trample it down and crush it.’

24As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings will arise; and another will arise after them. He will be different from the former ones, and he will humble three kings.

25He will speak words against the Most High, and he will wear out the saints of the Most High. He will intend to change times and law, and they will be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time.

26But the court will sit, and his dominion will be taken away, to be destroyed and annihilated to the end.

27And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under all heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High. His kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.

28This is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly terrified me, and my appearance changed because of it; but I kept the matter in my heart.