Daniel uklonjen u Babilon 1U trećoj godini vladavine Jehoiakimovog kralja Judeje, nabukodonozor kralj Babilona došao je u Jeruzalem i opsjedao ga. 2I Gospodin je predao u svoju ruku Jehoiakim kralja Judeje, zajedno s nekim člancima iz doma Božjeg. Odnio ih je u zemlju Shinar, u kuću svoga Boga, gdje ih je stavio u riznicu svoga Boga. 3Tada je kralj naredio Ashpenazu, poglavaru svojih dvorskih dužnosnika, da dovede neke Izraelce iz kraljevske obiteljiB i plemstva - 4mladića bez mane, zgodan, nadaren u svoj mudrosti, upućen, brz za razumijevanje i kvalificiran služiti u kraljevoj palači - i podučiti ih jeziku i književnosti Kaldejaca. c 5Kralj im je dodijelio dnevne zalihe kraljevske hrane i vina. Trebali su se obučavati tri godine, nakon čega su trebali ući u kraljevu službu. 6Među tim mladićima bili su neki iz Judeje: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael i Azariah. 7Glavni dužnosnik dao im je nova imena: Danielu je dao ime Belteshazzar; Hananiji, Shadrachu; za Mishaela, Meshacha; i u Azariah, Abednego. Danielova vjernost 8Ali Daniel je odlučio da se neće oskvrnuti kraljevom hranom ili vinom. Pa je zamolio glavnog službenika za dopuštenje da se ne oskvrne. 9Bog je dao Danielu naklonost i suosjećanje od glavnog dužnosnika, 10, ali je rekao Danielu: "Bojim se mog gospodara kralja, koji vam je dodijelio hranu i piće. Jer zašto bi vidio vaša lica kako izgledaju mršavije od lica ostalih mladića tvojih godina? Ugrozio bi moju glavu pred kraljem!" 11Tada je Daniel rekao upravitelju kojeg je glavni dužnosnik imenovao nad Danielom, Hananijom, Mishaelom i Azarijom, 12: "Molim vas, testirajte svoje sluge deset dana. Dajmo nam samo povrće za jelo i vodu za piće. 13Zatim usporedite naše nastupe s onima mladića koji jedu kraljevsku hranu i bavite se svojim slugama prema onome što vidite." 14Pristao je na to i testirao ih deset dana. 15I na kraju deset dana, izgledali su zdravije i bolje hranjeno od svih mladića koji su jeli kraljevu hranu. 16Tako je stjuard nastavio uskraćivati njihov izbor hrane i vina koje su trebali piti, a umjesto toga im je dao povrće. Danielova mudrost 17Ovoj četvorici mladića Bog je dao znanje i razumijevanje u svakoj vrsti književnosti i mudrosti. A Daniel je imao uvid u sve vrste vizija i snova. 18Sada, na kraju vremena koje je odredio kralj, glavni dužnosnik ih je predstavio Nabukodonozoru. 19I kralj je razgovarao s njima, a među svim mladićima nije našao nikoga jednakog Danielu, Hananiji, Mishaelu i Azariahu. Tako su ušli u kraljevu službu. 20U svakoj stvari mudrosti i razumijevanja o kojoj ih je kralj konzultirao, našao ih je deset puta bolje od svih mađioničara i čarobnjaka u cijelom svom kraljevstvu. 21A Daniel je ostao tamo do prve godine kralja Cyrusa. 2 A To jest, Babilonija 3 b Hebrejski iz sjemena kraljevstva 4 c To jest, Babilonci Nebuchadnezzar’s Troubling Dream 1U drugoj godini svoje vladavine, Nabukodonozor je imao snove koji su mu mučili duh, a san mu je pobjegao. 2Tako je kralj naredio da pozove mađioničare, čarobnjače, čarobnjake i astrologekako bi objasnio svoje snove. Kada su došli i stali pred kralja, 3im je rekao: "Imao sam san i moj duh je nestrpljiv da ga shvati." 4Tada su astrolozi odgovorili kralju na aramejskom,b "O kralju, živi vječno! Recite svojim slugama san, a mi ćemo dati tumačenje." 5Kralj je odgovorio astrolozima: "Moja riječ je konačna: Ako mi ne kažete san i njegovo tumačenje, bit ćete izrezani na komade i vaše će kuće biti svedene na ruševine. 6Ali ako mi kažeš san i njegovu interpretaciju, dobit ćeš od mene darove i nagrade i veliku čast. Reci mi san i njegovu interpretaciju." 7Drugi put su odgovorili: "Neka kralj ispriča san svojim slugama, a mi ćemo dati tumačenje." 8Kralj je odgovorio: "Sigurno znam da odugovlačite s vremenom, jer vidite da je moja riječ konačna. 9Ako mi ne kažeš san, postoji samo jedan dekret za tebe. Urotili ste se da govorite preda mnom lažne i lažne riječi, nadajući se da će se situacija promijeniti. Zato mi recite san i znat ću da mi možete dati njegovo tumačenje." 10Astrolozi su odgovorili kralju: "Nitko na zemlji ne može učiniti ono što kralj traži! Nijedan kralj, koliko god bio velik i moćan, nikada nije tražio ništa slično od bilo kojeg mađioničara, čarobnjaka ili astrologa. 11Ono što kralj traži toliko je teško da mu to nitko ne može reći osim bogova, čije prebivalište nije sa smrtnicima.« 12Ovaj odgovor učinio je kralja toliko bijesnim bijesom da je naredio da se unište svi mudraci Babilona. 13Tako je izašao dekret da će mudraci biti pogubljeni, a ljudi su otišli potražiti Daniela i njegove prijatelje da ih pogube. San otkriven Danielu 14Kad je Arioch, zapovjednik kraljeve garde, izašao pogubiti mudrace Babilona, Daniel je odgovorio diskretno i taktično. 15"Zašto je kraljeva uredba tako oštra?", upitao je. U to je vrijeme Arioch objasnio situaciju Danielu. 16Daniel je ušao i zamolio kralja da mu da malo vremena, kako bi mu mogao dati tumačenje. 17Zatim se Daniel vratio u svoju kuću i objasnio stvar svojim prijateljima Hananiji, Mishaelu i Azariji (18) pozivajući ih da mole za milost od Boga neba u vezi s tim otajstvom, kako Daniel i njegovi prijatelji ne bi bili ubijeni s ostalim mudracima Babilona. 19Tijekom noći, otajstvo je otkriveno Danielu u viđenju, a on je blagoslovio Boga neba 20i izjavio: "Blagoslovljeno bilo božje ime zauvijek i zauvijek, jer mudrost i moć pripadaju Njemu. 21On mijenja vrijeme i godišnja doba; On uklanja kraljeve i uspostavlja ih. On daje mudrost mudrima i znanje za razlučivanje. 22On otkriva duboke i skrivene stvari; On zna što leži u tami. i svjetlost prebiva s Njim. 23Za tebe, Bože mojih očeva, Zahvaljujem i hvalim, jer ste mi dali mudrost i moć. A sada ste mi to obznanili. ono što smo tražili, jer vi ste nam obznanili san o kralju." Daniel tumači san 24Stoga je Daniel otišao u Arioch, kojeg je kralj postavio da uništi mudrace Babilona, i rekao mu: "Ne ubijajte mudrace Babilona! Dovedi me pred kralja i dat ću mu tumačenje." 25Arioch je žurno doveo Daniela pred kralja i rekao mu: "Pronašao sam čovjeka među prognanicima iz Judeje koji će kralju reći tumačenje." 26Kralj je odgovorio Danielu, koji se zvao Belteshazzar, "Možete li mi reći što sam vidio u snu, kao i njegovo tumačenje?" 27Daniel je odgovorio kralju: "Nijedan mudar čovjek, čarobnjač, medij ili mađioničar ne može objasniti kralju otajstvo o čijem se pitanju raspituje. 28Ali na nebu postoji Bog koji otkriva otajstva i obznanio je kralju Nabukodonozoru što će se dogoditi u posljednjim danima. Vaš san i vizije koje su vam pale na pamet dok ste ležali na krevetu bile su sljedeće: 29Dok si ležao na krevetu, kralju, misli su ti se okrenule budućnosti, a Otkrivač misterija ti je obznanio što će se dogoditi. 30I za mene je ova misterija otkrivena, ne zato što imam više mudrosti od bilo kojeg živog čovjeka, već kako bi tumačenje moglo biti poznato kralju, i da biste razumjeli misli svog uma. 31Dok si ti, kralju, gledao, pojavio se veliki kipC. Veliki i blistavi kip stajao je pred vama, a njegov oblik bio je strašan. 32Glava kipa bila je čisto zlato, prsa i ruke srebrne, trbuh i bedra brončani, 33noge željezne, a noge dijelom željezne, a dijelom glinene. 34Dok ste gledali, kamen je izrezan, ali ne ljudskim rukama. Udario je u kip na nogama od željeza i gline i zgnječio ih. 35Tada su željezo, glina, bronca, srebro i zlato razbijeni i ljeti postali poput kukolja na vršidbenom podu. Vjetar ih je odnio, a ni traga im se nije mogla naći. Ali kamen koji je udario u kip postao je velika planina i ispunio cijelu zemlju. 36To je bio san. Sada ćemo reći kralju njegovo tumačenje. 37Ti si, kralju, kralj kraljeva, kojemu je Bog neba dao suverenost, moć, snagu i slavu. 38Gdje god obitavaju sinovi ljudi ili zvijeri na polju ili ptice u zraku, on ih je dao u vašu ruku i učinio vas vladavim nad svima njima. Ti si ta zlatna glava. 39Ali nakon tebe, pojavit će se još jedno kraljevstvo, inferiorno vašem. Zatim će treće kraljevstvo, jedno od bronce, vladati cijelom zemljom. 40Konačno, postojat će četvrto kraljevstvo snažno poput željeza; jer željezo razbija i gnječi sve stvari, a poput željeza koje lomi sve stvari, razbit će se i slomiti sve ostale. 41I baš kao što ste vidjeli da su stopala i prsti napravljeni dijelom od ispaljene gline, a dijelom od željeza, tako će ovo biti podijeljeno kraljevstvo, ipak će dio snage željeza biti u njemu - baš kao što ste vidjeli željezo pomiješano s glinom. 42A kako su prsti stopala bili dijelom željezni, a dijelom glina, tako će i ovo kraljevstvo biti djelomično snažno, a dijelom lomljivo. 43Kao što ste vidjeli željezo pomiješano s glinom, tako će se narodimiješati jedni s drugima, ali se neće držati zajedno ništa više od mješavina željeza s glinom. 44U danima tih kraljeva, Bog neba će uspostaviti kraljevstvo koje nikada neće biti uništeno, niti će biti prepušteno drugom narodu. Uništit će sva ta kraljevstva i privesti ih kraju, ali će i sama stajati zauvijek. 45I baš kao što ste vidjeli kamen izrezan iz planine bez ljudskih ruku, i to je razbilo željezo, broncu, glinu, srebro i zlato, tako je veliki Bog rekao kralju što će se dogoditi u budućnosti. San je istinit, a njegovo tumačenje pouzdano." Nabukodonozor promovira Daniela 46Pri tome je kralj Nabukodonozor pao na lice, odao počast Danielu i naredio da mu se predstavi prinos tamjana. 47Kralj je rekao Danielu: "Vaš Bog je doista Bog bogova i Gospodar kraljeva, Otkrivač otajstava, budući da ste mogli otkriti ovo otajstvo." 48Tada je kralj promaknuo Daniela i dao mu mnogo velikodušnih darova. Postavio ga je za vladara nad cijelom provincijom Babilonom i glavnog upravitelja nad svim mudracima Babilona. 49I na Danielov zahtjev, kralj je imenovao Shadracha, Meshacha i Abedema da upravljaju provincijom Babilon, dok je Daniel ostao na kraljevom dvoru. 2 a Ili Kaldejci ; također u stihovima 4, 5 i 10 4 b Izvorni tekst iz ove točke Daniela 2,4 do Daniela 7,28 nalazi se na aramejskom. 31 c Ili slika ; ovdje i kroz ostatak Daniela 2 34 d LXX izrezao iz planine 43 e aramejski sjeme ljudi Zlatni kip Nabukodonozora 1Kralj Nabukodonozor napravio je zlatni kip, šezdesetkubita visok i šest lakata širok, b i postavio ga je na ravnicu Dure u provinciji Babilon. 2Tada je kralj Nabukodonozor poslao poruku da okupi satrape, župane, guvernere, savjetnike, blagajnike, suce, suce i sve ostale dužnosnike provincija kako bi prisustvovali posveti kipa koji je postavio. 3Dakle, satrapi, župani, guverneri, savjetnici, rizničari, suci, suci i svi vladari provincija okupili su se na posveti kipa koji je postavio kralj Nabukodonozor i stajali su pred njim. 4Tada je glasnik glasno izjavio: »O ljudi svakog naroda i jezika, to je ono što vam je zapovjeđeno: 5Čim čujete zvuk roga, flaute, zithera, lire, harfe, cijevi i svih vrsta glazbe,c morate pasti i štovati zlatni kip koji je postavio kralj Nabukodonozor. 6A tko ne padne i ne pokloni se, odmah će biti bačen u plamteću vatrenu peć." 7Stoga, čim bi svi ljudi čuli zvuk roga, flaute, zithera, lire, harfe i svih vrsta glazbe, ljudi svakog naroda i jezika pali bi i štovali zlatni kip koji je postavio kralj Nabukodonozor. Shadrach, Meshach i Abednego optuženi 8U to su se vrijeme javili neki astrolozi d i zlonamjerno optužili Židove, 9govoreći kralju Nabukodonozoru: "O kralju, živi vječno! 10Ti si, kralju, izdao dekret da svatko tko čuje zvuk roga, flaute, zithera, lire, harfe, cijevi i svih vrsta glazbe mora pasti i obožavati zlatni kip, 11i da će onaj tko ne padne i štuje biti bačen u plamteću vatrenu peć. 12Ali postoje neki Židovi koje ste imenovali da upravljaju provincijom Babilon - Shadrach, Meshach i Abednego - koji su vas ignorirali, kralju, i odbili služiti svojim bogovima ili štovati zlatni kip koji ste postavili.« 13Tada je Nabukodonozor, bijesan od bijesa, pozvao Shadracha, Meshacha i Abednega. Dakle, ti su ljudi dovedeni pred kralja (14) i Nabukodonozor im je rekao: "Shadrach, Meshach i Abednego, je li istina da ne služite mojim bogovima ili ne štujete zlatni kipić koji sam postavio? 15Sada, ako ste spremni, čim čujete zvuk roga, flaute, zithera, lire, harfe, cijevi i svih vrsta glazbe, morate pasti i obožavati kip koji sam napravio. Ali ako odbijete štovati, odmah ćete biti bačeni u plamteću vatrenu peć. Koji će te onda Bog moći izbaviti iz mojih ruku?" 16Shadrach, Meshach i Abednego odgovorili su kralju: "O Nabukodonozare, nemamo potrebe odgovarati vam po ovom pitanju. 17Ako Bog kojemu služimo postoji, onda je u stanjuizbaviti nas iz užarene vatrene peći i iz tvoje ruke, kralju. 18Ali čak i ako to ne učini, neka vam bude poznato, kralju, da nećemo služiti vašim bogovima ili štovati zlatni kipić koji ste postavili.« Vatrena peć 19Pri tome je Nabukodonozor bio ispunjen bijesom, a izraz na njegovom licu promijenio se prema Shadrachu, Meshachu i Abednegu. Naredio je da se peć zagrije sedam puta toplije nego inače, 20i zapovjedio je nekim moćnim ljudima hrabrosti u svojoj vojsci da vežu Shadracha, Meshacha i Abedenga i bace ih u vatrenu peć. 21Tako su bili vezani, nosili su haljine, hlače, turbane i drugu odjeću, i bačeni su u plamteću vatrenu peć. 22Kraljeva zapovijed bila je toliko hitna, a peć toliko vruća da je vatreni plamen ubio ljude koji su nosili Shadracha, Meshacha i Abednega. 23A ova trojica, Shadrach, Meshach i Abednego, čvrsto vezani, pali su u plamteću vatrenu peć. 24Odjednom je kralj Nabukodonozor skočio u čudu i upitao svoje savjetnike: "Zar nismo bacili trojicu muškaraca, čvrsto vezanih, u vatru?" "Naravno, kralju", odgovorili su. 25"Gle!" uzviknuo je. »Vidim četiri čovjeka, nevezana i neozlijeđena, kako hodaju u vatri – a četvrti izgleda kao sin bogova! f" 26Tada je Nabukodonozor prišao vratima užarene vatrene peći i zazvao: "Shadrach, Meshach i Abednego, sluge Svevišnjeg Boga, izađite!" Tako su Shadrach, Meshach i Abednego izašli iz vatre (27) i kad su se satrapi, prefekti, guverneri i kraljevski savjetnici okupili, vidjeli su da vatra nema utjecaja na tijela tih ljudi. Nijedna dlaka njihovih glava nije bila opečena, njihove haljine nisu bile pogođene, a na njima nije bilo mirisa vatre. 28Nabukodonozor je izjavio: »Blago Bogu Shadrachu, Mešahu i Abednegu, koji je poslao svog anđelag i izbavio svoje sluge koji su vjerovali u njega. Prekršili su kraljevu zapovijed i riskirali svoje živote umjesto da služe ili štuju bilo kojeg boga osim vlastitog Boga. 29Zato proglašavam da će ljudi bilo koje nacije ili jezika koji kažu bilo što uvredljivo protiv Boga Shadracha, Meshacha i Abedema biti izrezani na komade, a njihove kuće svedene na ruševine. Jer ne postoji drugi bog koji može izbaviti na ovaj način.« 30Tada je kralj promovirao Shadracha, Meshacha i Abedenga u pokrajini Babilon. 1 a Slika Ili ; ovdje i u cijelom Danielu 3 1 b Kip je bio visok oko 90 stopa i širok 9 stopa (visok 27,4 metra i širok 2,7 metara). 5 c Precizna identifikacija nekih glazbenih instrumenata u ovom poglavlju je neizvjesna. 8 d Ili Kaldejci 17 e Ili ako je to tako, onda je Bog koji služi sposoban 25 f Ili poput Sina Božjega 28 g Ili Anđela Nabukodonozor ispovijeda Božje kraljevstvo 1Kralj Nabukodonozor, Ljudima svakog naroda i jezika koji prebivaju na cijeloj zemlji: Neka se vaš prosperitet umnoži. 2Zadovoljstvo mi je izjavljivati znakove i čudesa koje je Svevišnji Bog učinio za mene. 3Koliko su veliki Njegovi znakovi, kako moćna Njegova čuda! Njegovo kraljevstvo je vječno kraljevstvo; Njegova vlast traje iz generacije u generaciju. Nabukodonozor san o velikom stablu 4Ja, Nabukodonozor, bio sam opušten u svojoj kući i cvjetao sam u svojoj palači. 5Imao sam san i to me uplašilo; Dok sam bio u krevetu, slike i vizije u mom umu su me uznemirile. 6Zato sam izdao dekret da svi mudraci Babilona budu dovedeni pred mene da mi tumače san. 7Kad su došli mađioničari, čarobnjaci, astrolozi, a i božanski, rekao sam im san, a oni mi ga nisu mogli protumačiti. 8Ali konačno, u moju prisutnost došao je Daniel (čije je ime Belteshazzar po imenu moga boga, i u kojem je duh svetih bogova). I rekao sam mu san: 9"O Belteshazzar, poglavica mađioničara, znam da je duh svetih bogova u vama i da vas nikakva misterija ne zbunjuje. Zato mi objasnite vizije koje sam vidio u snu i njihovu interpretaciju. 10U tim vizijama mog uma dok sam ležao u krevetu, vidio sam da se to dogodilo: Bilo je drvo usred zemlje. I njegova visina je bila velika. 11Stablo je postalo veliko i snažno; njegov vrh je stigao do neba, I bilo je vidljivo do kraja svijeta. 12Lišće mu je bilo lijepo. plod je bio u izobilju, A na njemu je bila hrana za sve. Pod njim su zvijeri s polja pronašle sklonište, u svojim granama ugnijezdile su se ptice zraka, I iz nje je svako stvorenje bilo nahranjeno. 13Dok sam ležao na krevetu, vidio sam u vizijama svog uma promatrača, b. svetog, kako silazi s neba. 14Zazvao je glasnim glasom: 'Posijeci drvo i odreži mu grane; Skinite lišće i raspršite plodove. Neka zvijeri bježe ispod njega, i ptice iz njegovih grana. 15Ali ostavite panj s korijenima u tlu, i željeznu i brončanu traku oko nje, u nježnoj travi polja. Neka bude natopljen nebeskom rosom i pasti sa zvijerima na travi zemlje. 16Neka se njegovo mišljenje promijeni od mišljenja čovjeka, i neka mu se da um zvijeri dok ga sedam puta ne prođe. 17Ova odluka je dekret promatrača, presuda koju su proglasili Sveti, tako da će živi znati da Svevišnji vlada kraljevstvom čovječanstva i daje ga kome želi, postavljajući preko njega najnižeg čovjeka.' 18To je san koji sam ja, kralj Nabukodonozor, vidio. Belteshazzar, reci mi tumačenje, jer nitko od mudraca moga kraljevstva mi to ne može protumačiti. Ali ti si sposoban, jer je duh svetih bogova u tebi." Daniel tumači Drugi san 19For a time, Daniel, who was also known as Belteshazzar, was perplexed, and his thoughts alarmed him. So the king said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its interpretation alarm you.” “My lord,” replied Belteshazzar, “may the dream apply to those who hate you, and its interpretation to your enemies! 20The tree you saw that grew large and strong, whose top reached the sky and was visible to all the earth, 21whose foliage was beautiful and whose fruit was abundant, providing food for all, under which the beasts of the field lived, and in whose branches the birds of the air nested— 22you, O king, are that tree! For you have become great and strong; your greatness has grown to reach the sky, and your dominion extends to the ends of the earth. 23And you, O king, saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying: ‘Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump with its roots in the ground, and a band of iron and bronze around it, in the tender grass of the field. Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and graze with the beasts of the field till seven times pass him by.’ 24This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree that the Most High has issued against my lord the king: 25You will be driven away from mankind, and your dwelling will be with the beasts of the field. You will feed on grass like an ox and be drenched with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass you by, until you acknowledge that the Most High rules over the kingdom of mankind and gives it to whom He wishes. 26As for the command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots, your kingdom will be restored to you as soon as you acknowledge that Heaven rules. 27Therefore, may my advice be pleasing to you, O king. Break away from your sins by doing what is right, and from your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed. Perhaps there will be an extension of your prosperity.” The Second Dream Fulfilled 28All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. 29Twelve months later, as he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30the king exclaimed, “Is this not Babylon the Great, which I myself have built by the might of my power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?” 31While the words were still in the king’s mouth, a voice came from heaven: “It is decreed to you, King Nebuchadnezzar, that the kingdom has departed from you. 32You will be driven away from mankind to live with the beasts of the field, and you will feed on grass like an ox. And seven times will pass you by, until you acknowledge that the Most High rules over the kingdom of mankind and gives it to whom He wishes.” 33At that moment the sentence against Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from mankind. He ate grass like an ox, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird. Nebuchadnezzar Restored 34But at the end of those days I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven, and my sanity was restored to me. Then I praised the Most High, and I honored and glorified Him who lives forever: “For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom endures from generation to generation. 35All the peoples of the earth are counted as nothing, and He does as He pleases with the army of heaven and the peoples of the earth. There is no one who can restrain His hand or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’ ” 36At the same time my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne, and surpassing greatness was added to me. 37Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, for all His works are true and all His ways are just. And He is able to humble those who walk in pride. 7 a Or Chaldeans 13 b Or an angelic watcher or a messenger ; also in verses 17 and 23 Belshazzar’s Feast 1Later,a King Belshazzar held a great feast for a thousand of his nobles, and he drank wine with them. 2Under the influence of the wine, Belshazzar gave orders to bring in the gold and silver vessels that Nebuchadnezzar his fatherb had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king could drink from them, along with his nobles, his wives, and his concubines. 3Thus they brought in the gold vessels that had been taken from the temple, the house of God in Jerusalem, and the king drank from them, along with his nobles, his wives, and his concubines. 4As they drank the wine, they praised their gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone. The Handwriting on the Wall 5At that moment the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand in the royal palace. As the king watched the hand that was writing, 6his face grew pale and his thoughts so alarmed him that his hips gave way and his knees knocked together. 7The king called out for the enchanters, astrologers,c and diviners to be brought in, and he said to these wise men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this inscription and tells me its interpretation will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around his neck, and he will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.” 8So all the king’s wise men came in, but they could not read the inscription or interpret it for him. 9Then King Belshazzar became even more terrified, his face grew even more pale, and his nobles were bewildered. 10Hearing the outcry of the king and his nobles, the queend entered the banquet hall. “O king, may you live forever!” she said. “Do not let your thoughts terrify you, or your face grow pale. 11There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him. In the days of your father he was found to have insight, intelligence, and wisdom like that of the gods. Your father, King Nebuchadnezzar, appointed him chief of the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and diviners. Your own father, the king, 12did this because Daniel, the one he named Belteshazzar, was found to have an extraordinary spirit, as well as knowledge, understanding, and the ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve difficult problems. Summon Daniel, therefore, and he will give you the interpretation.” Daniel Interprets the Handwriting 13So Daniel was brought before the king, who asked him, “Are you Daniel, one of the exiles my father the king brought from Judah? 14I have heard that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that you have insight, intelligence, and extraordinary wisdom. 15Now the wise men and enchanters were brought before me to read this inscription and interpret it for me, but they could not give its interpretation. 16But I have heard about you, that you are able to give interpretations and solve difficult problems. Therefore, if you can read this inscription and give me its interpretation, you will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around your neck, and you will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.” 17In response, Daniel said to the king, “You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else. Nevertheless, I will read the inscription for the king and interpret it for him. 18As for you, O king, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar sovereignty and greatness, glory and honor. 19Because of the greatness that He bestowed on him, the people of every nation and language trembled in fear before him. He killed whom he wished and kept alive whom he wished; he exalted whom he wished and humbled whom he wished. 20But when his heart became arrogant and his spirit was hardened with pride, he was deposed from his royal throne, and his glory was taken from him. 21He was driven away from mankind, and his mind was like that of a beast. He lived with the wild donkeys and ate grass like an ox, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven until he acknowledged that the Most High God rules over the kingdom of mankind, setting over it whom He wishes. 22But you his son,e O Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, even though you knew all this. 23Instead, you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven. The vessels from His house were brought to you, and as you drank wine from them with your nobles, wives, and concubines, you praised your gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. But you have failed to glorify the God who holds in His hand your very breath and all your ways. 24Therefore He sent the hand that wrote the inscription. 25Now this is the inscription that was written: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN. 26And this is the interpretation of the message: MENEf means that God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end. 27TEKELg means that you have been weighed on the scales and found deficient. 28PERESh means that your kingdom has been divided and given over to the Medes and Persians.” 29Then Belshazzar gave the command, and they clothed Daniel in purple, placed a gold chain around his neck, and proclaimed him the third highest ruler in the kingdom. 30That very night Belshazzar king of the Chaldeansi was slain, 31and Darius the Mede received the kingdom at the age of sixty-two. 1 a Aramaic does not include Later . Some translators include Many years later to account for the time elapsed, probably about 30 years, since the previous chapter. 2 b Or predecessor or grandfather ; also in verses 11, 13, and 18 7 c Or Chaldeans ; also in verse 11 10 d Or queen mother 22 e Or descendant or successor or grandson 26 f Mene sounds like the Aramaic for numbered . 27 g Tekel sounds like the Aramaic for weighed . 28 h Peres (the singular of Parsin ) sounds like the Aramaic for divided and for Persia . 30 i That is, the Babylonians The Plot against Daniel 1Now it pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom, 2and over them three administrators, including Daniel, to whom these satraps were accountable so that the king would not suffer loss. 3Soon, by his extraordinary spirit, Daniel distinguished himself among the administrators and satraps. So the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. 4Thus the administrators and satraps sought a charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom, but they could find no charge or corruption, because he was trustworthy, and no negligence or corruption was found in him. 5Finally these men said, “We will never find any charge against this Daniel, unless we find something against him concerning the law of his God.” 6So the administrators and satraps went together to the king and said, “O King Darius, may you live forever! 7All the royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers, and governors have agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce a decree that for thirty days anyone who petitions any god or man except you, O king, will be thrown into the den of lions. 8Therefore, O king, establish the decree and sign the document so that it cannot be changed—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.” 9Therefore King Darius signed the written decree. Daniel in the Lions’ Den 10Now when Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went into his house, where the windows of his upper room opened toward Jerusalem, and three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God, just as he had done before. 11Then these men went as a group and found Daniel petitioning and imploring his God. 12So they approached the king and asked about his royal decree: “Did you not sign a decree that for thirty days any man who petitions any god or man except you, O king, will be thrown into the den of lions?” The king replied, “According to the law of the Medes and Persians the order stands, and it cannot be repealed.” 13Then they told the king, “Daniel, one of the exiles from Judah, shows no regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed. He still makes his petition three times a day.” 14As soon as the king heard this, he was deeply distressed and set his mind on delivering Daniel, and he labored until sundown to rescue him. 15Then the men approached the king together and said to him, “Remember, O king, that by the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or ordinance established by the king can be changed.” 16So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the den of lions. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!” 17A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that nothing concerning Daniel could be changed. 18Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting. No entertainment was brought before him, and sleep fled from him. 19At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the den of lions. 20When he reached the den, he cried out in a voice of anguish, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?” 21Then Daniel replied, “O king, may you live forever! 22My God sent His angel and shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, for I was found innocent in His sight, and I have done no wrong against you, O king.” 23The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den, and when Daniel was lifted out of the den, no wounds whatsoever were found on him, because he had trusted in his God. 24At the command of the king, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought and thrown into the den of lions—they and their children and wives. And before they had reached the bottom of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones. Darius Honors God 25Then King Darius wrote to the people of every nation and language throughout the land: “May your prosperity abound. 26I hereby decree that in every part of my kingdom, men are to tremble in fear before the God of Daniel: For He is the living God, and He endures forever; His kingdom will never be destroyed, and His dominion will never end. 27He delivers and rescues; He performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth, for He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.” 28So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrusa the Persian. 28 a Or prospered during the reign of Darius, that is, the reign of Cyrus Daniel’s Vision of the Four Beasts 1In the first year of the reign of Belshazzar over Babylon, Daniel had a dream, and visions passed through his mind as he lay on his bed. He wrote down the dream, and this is the summary of his account. 2Daniel declared: “In my vision in the night I looked, and suddenly the four winds of heaven were churning up the great sea.a 3Then four great beasts came up out of the sea, each one different from the others: 4The first beast was like a lion, and it had the wings of an eagle. I watched until its wings were torn off and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man, and given the mind of a man. 5Suddenly another beast appeared, which looked like a bear. It was raised up on one of its sides, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. So it was told, ‘Get up and gorge yourself on flesh!’ 6Next, as I watched, another beast appeared. It was like a leopard, and on its back it had four wings like those of a bird. The beast also had four heads, and it was given authority to rule. 7After this, as I watched in my vision in the night, suddenly a fourth beast appeared, and it was terrifying—dreadful and extremely strong—with large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed; then it trampled underfoot whatever was left. It was different from all the beasts before it, and it had ten horns. 8While I was contemplating the horns, suddenly another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. This horn had eyes like those of a man and a mouth that spoke words of arrogance. Daniel’s Vision of the Ancient of Days 9As I continued to watch, 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 flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze. 10A river of fire was flowing, coming out from His presence. Thousands upon thousands attended Him, and myriads upon myriads stood before Him. The court was convened, and the books were opened. 11Then I kept watching because of the arrogant words the horn was speaking. As I continued to watch, the beast was slain, and its body was destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire. 12As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was removed, but they were granted an extension of life for a season and a time. Daniel’s Vision of the Son of Man 13In my vision in the night I continued to watch, and I saw One like the Son of Manb coming with the clouds of heaven.c He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into His presence. 14And He was given dominion, glory, and kingship, that the people of every nation and language should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His kingdom is one that will never be destroyed. Daniel’s Visions Interpreted 15I, Daniel, was grieved in my spirit, and the visions in my mind alarmed me. 16I approached one of those who were standing there, and I asked him the true meaning of all this. So he told me the interpretation of these things: 17‘These four great beasts are four kings who will arise from the earth. 18But the saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom and possess it forever—yes, forever and ever.’ 19Then I wanted to know the true meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others—extremely terrifying—devouring and crushing with iron teeth and bronze claws, then trampling underfoot whatever was left. 20I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head and the other horn that came up, before which three of them fell—the horn whose appearance was more imposing than the others, with eyes and with a mouth that spoke words of arrogance. 21As I watched, this horn was waging war against the saints and prevailing against them, 22until the Ancient of Days arrived and pronounced judgment in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for them to possess the kingdom. 23This is what he said: ‘The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on the earth, different from all the other kingdoms, and it will devour the whole earth, trample it down, and crush it. 24And the ten horns are ten kings who will rise from this kingdom. After them another king, different from the earlier ones, will rise and subdue three kings. 25He will speak out against the Most High and oppress the saints of the Most High, intending to change the appointed times and laws; and the saints will be given into his hand for a time, and times, and half a time. 26But the court will convene, and his dominion will be taken away and completely destroyed forever. 27Then the sovereignty, dominion, and greatness of the kingdoms under all of heaven will be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will serve and obey Him.’ 28Thus ends the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts troubled me greatly, and my face turned pale. But I kept the matter to myself.” Daniel’s Vision of the Ram and the Goat 1In the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar, a vision appeared to me, Daniel, subsequent to the one that had appeared to me earlier. 2And in the vision I saw myself in the citadel of Susa, in the province of Elam. I saw in the vision that I was beside the Ulai Canal. 3Then I lifted up my eyes and saw a ram with two horns standing beside the canal. The horns were long, but one was longer than the other, and the longer one grew up later. 4I saw the ram charging toward the west and the north and the south. No animal could stand against him, and there was no deliverance from his power. He did as he pleased and became great. 5As I was contemplating all this, suddenly a goat with a prominent horn between his eyes came out of the west, crossing the surface of the entire earth without touching the ground. 6He came toward the two-horned ram I had seen standing beside the canal and rushed at him with furious power. 7I saw him approach the ram in a rage against him, and he struck the ram and shattered his two horns. The ram was powerless to stand against him, and the goat threw him to the ground and trampled him, and no one could deliver the ram from his power. 8Thus the goat became very great, but at the height of his power, his large horn was broken off, and four prominent horns came up in its place, pointing toward the four winds of heaven. 9From one of these horns a little horn emerged and grew extensively toward the south and the east and toward the Beautiful Land. 10It grew as high as the host of heaven, and it cast down some of the host and some of the stars to the earth, and trampled them. 11It magnified itself, even to the Prince of the host; it removed His daily sacrifice and overthrew the place of His sanctuary. 12And in the rebellion,a the host and the daily sacrifice were given over to the horn, and it flung truth to the ground and prospered in whatever it did. 13Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to him, “How long until the fulfillment of the vision of the daily sacrifice, the rebellion that causes desolation, and the surrender of the sanctuary and of the host to be trampled?” 14He said to me, “It will take 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary will be properly restored.” Gabriel Interprets Daniel’s Vision 15While I, Daniel, was watching the vision and trying to understand it, there stood before me one having the appearance of a man. 16And I heard the voice of a man calling from between the banks of the Ulai: “Gabriel, explain the vision to this man.” 17As he came near to where I stood, I was terrified and fell facedown. “Son of man,” he said to me, “understand that the vision concerns the time of the end.” 18While he was speaking with me, I fell into a deep sleep, with my face to the ground. Then he touched me, helped me to my feet, 19and said, “Behold, I will make known to you what will happen in the latter time of wrath, because it concerns the appointed time of the end. 20The two-horned ram that you saw represents the kings of Media and Persia. 21The shaggy goat represents the king of Greece,b and the large horn between his eyes is the first king. 22The four horns that replaced the broken one represent four kingdoms that will rise from that nation, but will not have the same power. 23In the latter part of their reign, when the rebellion has reached its full measure, an insolent king, skilled in intrigue, will come to the throne. 24His power will be great, but it will not be his own. He will cause terrible destruction and succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy the mighty men along with the holy people. 25Through his craft and by his hand, he will cause deceit to prosper, and in his own mind he will make himself great. In a time of peace he will destroy many, and he will even stand against the Prince of princes. Yet he will be broken off, but not by human hands. 26The vision of the evenings and the mornings that has been spoken is true. Now you must seal up the vision, for it concerns the distant future.” 27I, Daniel, was exhausted and lay ill for days. Then I got up and went about the king’s business. I was confounded by the vision; it was beyond understanding. Daniel’s Prayer for His People 1In the first year of Darius son of Xerxes,a a Mede by descent, who was made ruler over the kingdom of the Chaldeansb — 2in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the sacred books, according to the word of the LORD to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years.c 3So I turned my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and petition, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. 4And I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed, “O, Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant of loving devotiond to those who love Him and keep His commandments, 5we have sinned and done wrong. We have acted wickedly and rebelled. We have turned away from Your commandments and ordinances. 6We have not listened to Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings, leaders, and fathers, and to all the people of the land. 7To You, O Lord, belongs righteousness, but this day we are covered with shame—the men of Judah, the people of Jerusalem, and all Israel near and far, in all the countries to which You have driven us because of our unfaithfulness to You. 8O LORD, we are covered with shame—our kings, our leaders, and our fathers—because we have sinned against You. 9To the Lord our God belong compassion and forgiveness, even though we have rebelled against Him 10and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God to walk in His laws, which He set before us through His servants the prophets. 11All Israel has transgressed Your law and turned away, refusing to obey Your voice; so the oath and the curse written in the Law of Moses the servant of God has been poured out on us, because we have sinned against You. 12You have carried out the words spoken against us and against our rulers by bringing upon us a great disaster. For under all of heaven, nothing has ever been done like what has been done to Jerusalem. 13Just as it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come upon us, yet we have not sought the favor of the LORD our God by turning from our iniquities and giving attention to Your truth. 14Therefore the LORD has kept the calamity in store and brought it upon us. For the LORD our God is righteous in all He does; yet we have not obeyed His voice. 15Now, O Lord our God, who brought Your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and who made for Yourself a name renowned to this day, we have sinned; we have acted wickedly. 16O Lord, in keeping with all Your righteous acts, I pray that Your anger and wrath may turn away from Your city Jerusalem, Your holy mountain; for because of our sins and the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and Your people are a reproach to all around us. 17So now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of Your servant. For Your sake, O Lord, cause Your face to shine upon Your desolate sanctuary. 18Incline Your ear, O my God, and hear; open Your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears Your name. For we are not presenting our petitions before You because of our righteous acts, but because of Your great compassion. 19O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and act! For Your sake, O my God, do not delay, because Your city and Your people bear Your name.” Gabriel’s Prophecy of the Seventy Weeks 20While I was speaking, praying, confessing my sin and that of my people Israel, and presenting my petition before the LORD my God concerning His holy mountain— 21while I was still praying, Gabriel, the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice. 22He instructed me and spoke with me, saying: “O Daniel, I have come now to give you insight and understanding. 23At the beginning of your petitions, an answer went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are highly precious. So consider the message and understand the vision: 24Seventy weekse are decreed for your people and your holy city to stop their transgression, to put an end to sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy Place.f 25Know and understand this: From the issuance of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem, until the Messiah,g the Prince, there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks. It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of distress. 26Then after the sixty-two weeksh the Messiah will be cut off and will have nothing. Then the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood, and until the end there will be war; desolations have been decreed. 27And he will confirm a covenant with many for one week,i but in the middle of the week he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of the temple will come the abomination that causes desolation,j until the decreed destruction is poured out upon him.k” 1 a Hebrew Ahasuerus 1 b That is, the Babylonians 2 c See Jeremiah 25:11–12 and Jeremiah 29:10. 4 d Forms of the Hebrew chesed are translated here and in most cases throughout the Scriptures as loving devotion ; the range of meaning includes love , goodness , kindness , faithfulness , and mercy , as well as loyalty to a covenant . 24 e Or Seventy sevens ; also twice in verse 25 and once in verse 26 24 f Or the Holy of Holies or the Most Holy One ; literally the Most Holy 25 g Or the Anointed One ; also in verse 26 26 h Hebrew Then after sixty-two sevens 27 i Or for one seven ; similarly again in this verse 27 j Literally And on the wing (will come) the abomination that causes desolation, or And on the wing of abominations (will come) one who causes desolation, 27 k Literally until the decreed consummation is poured out upon (him who) is desolate. Daniel’s Vision by the Tigris 1In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, a message was revealed to Daniel, who was called Belteshazzar. The message was true, and it concerned a great conflict.a And the understanding of the message was given to him in a vision. 2In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three full weeks. 3I ate no rich food, no meat or wine entered my mouth, and I did not anoint myself with oil until the three weeks were completed. 4On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river, the Tigris, 5I lifted up my eyes, and behold, there was a certain man dressed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist. 6His body was like beryl, his face like the brilliance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of polished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude. 7Only I, Daniel, saw the vision; the men with me did not see it, but a great terror fell upon them, and they ran and hid themselves. 8So I was left alone, gazing at this great vision. No strength remained in me; my face grew deathly pale, and I was powerless. 9I heard the sound of his words, and as I listened, I fell into a deep sleep, with my face to the ground. 10Suddenly, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. 11He said to me, “Daniel, you are a man who is highly precious. Consider carefully the words that I am about to say to you. Stand up, for I have now been sent to you.” And when he had said this to me, I stood up trembling. 12“Do not be afraid, Daniel,” he said, “for from the first day that you purposed to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. 13However, the prince of the kingdom of Persia opposed me for twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia. 14Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision concerns those days.” 15While he was speaking these words to me, I set my face toward the ground and became speechless. 16And suddenly one with the likeness of a manb touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and said to the one standing before me, “My lord, because of the vision, I am overcome with anguish, and I have no strength. 17How can I, your servant, speak with you, my lord? Now I have no strength, nor is any breath left in me.” 18Again the one with the likeness of a man touched me and strengthened me. 19“Do not be afraid, you who are highly precious,” he said. “Peace be with you! Be strong now; be very strong!” As he spoke with me, I was strengthened and said, “Speak, my lord, for you have strengthened me.” 20“Do you know why I have come to you?” he said. “I must return at once to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I have gone forth, behold, the prince of Greecec will come. 21But first I will tell you what is inscribed in the Book of Truth. Yet no one has the courage to support me against these, except Michael your prince. 1 a Or true and greatly burdensome 16 b Most MT manuscripts; literally with the likeness of sons of man ; DSS, LXX, and one MT manuscript with the likeness of the hand of a man 20 c Hebrew of Javan Kings of the South and North 1“And I, in the first year of Darius the Mede, stood up to strengthen and protect him. 2Now then, I will tell you the truth: Three more kings will arise in Persia, and then a fourth, who will be far richer than all the others. By the power of his wealth, he will stir up everyone against the kingdom of Greece.a 3Then a mighty king will arise, who will rule with great authority and do as he pleases. 4But as soon as he is established, his kingdom will be broken up and parceled out toward the four winds of heaven. It will not go to his descendants, nor will it have the authority with which he ruled, because his kingdom will be uprooted and given to others. 5The king of the South will grow strong, but one of his commanders will grow even stronger and will rule his own kingdom with great authority. 6After some years they will form an alliance, and the daughter of the king of the South will go to the king of the North to seal the agreement. But his daughter will not retain her position of power, nor will his strengthb endure. At that time she will be given up, along with her royal escort and her fatherc and the one who supported her. 7But one from her family lined will rise up in his place, come against the army of the king of the North, and enter his fortress, fighting and prevailing. 8He will take even their gods captive to Egypt, with their metal images and their precious vessels of silver and gold. For some years he will stay away from the king of the North, 9who will invade the realm of the king of the South and then return to his own land. 10But his sons will stir up strife and assemble a great army, which will advance forcefully, sweeping through like a flood, and will again carry the battle as far as his fortress. 11In a rage, the king of the South will march out to fight the king of the North, who will raise a large army, but it will be delivered into the hand of his enemy. 12When the army is carried off, the king of the South will be proud in heart and will cast down tens of thousands, but he will not triumph. 13For the king of the North will raise another army, larger than the first, and after some yearse he will advance with a great army and many supplies. 14In those times many will rise up against the king of the South. Violent ones among your own people will exalt themselves in fulfillment of the vision, but they will fail. 15Then the king of the North will come, build up a siege ramp, and capture a fortified city. The forces of the South will not stand; even their best troops will not be able to resist. 16The invader will do as he pleases, and no one will stand against him. He will establish himself in the Beautiful Land, with destruction in his hand. 17He will resolve to come with the strength of his whole kingdom, and will reach an agreement with the king of the South. He will give him a daughter in marriage in order to overthrow the kingdom, but his plan will not succeed or help him.f 18Then he will turn his face to the coastlands and capture many of them. But a commander will put an end to his reproach and will turn it back upon him. 19After this, he will turn back toward the fortresses of his own land, but he will stumble and fall and be no more. 20In his place one will arise who will send out a tax collector for the glory of the kingdom; but within a few days he will be destroyed, though not in anger or in battle. 21In his place a despicable person will arise; royal honors will not be given to him, but he will come in a time of peace and seize the kingdom by intrigue. 22Then a flood of forces will be swept away before him and destroyed, along with a prince of the covenant. 23After an alliance is made with him, he will act deceitfully; for he will rise to power with only a few people. 24In a time of peace, he will invade the richest provinces and do what his fathers and forefathers never did. He will lavish plunder, loot, and wealth on his followers, and he will plot against the strongholds—but only for a time. 25And with a large army he will stir up his power and his courage against the king of the South, who will mobilize a very large and powerful army but will not withstand the plots devised against him. 26Those who eat from his provisions will seek to destroy him; his army will be swept away, and many will fall slain. 27And the two kings, with their hearts bent on evil, will speak lies at the same table, but to no avail, for still the end will come at the appointed time. 28The king of the North will return to his land with great wealth, but his heart will be set against the holy covenant; so he will do damage and return to his own land. 29At the appointed time he will invade the South again, but this time will not be like the first. 30Ships of Kittimg will come against him, and he will lose heart. Then he will turn back and rage against the holy covenant and do damage. So he will return and show favor to those who forsake the holy covenant. 31His forces will rise up and desecrate the temple fortress. They will abolish the daily sacrifice and set up the abomination of desolation. 32With flattery he will corrupt those who violate the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist him. 33Those with insight will instruct many, though for a time they will fall by sword or flame, or be captured or plundered. 34Now when they fall, they will be granted a little help, but many will join them insincerely. 35Some of the wise will fall, so that they may be refined, purified, and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time. The King Who Exalts Himself 36Then the king will do as he pleases and will exalt and magnify himself above every god, and he will speak monstrous things against the God of gods. He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed, for what has been decreed must be accomplished. 37He will show no regard for the gods of his fathers, nor for the one desired by women, nor for any other god, because he will magnify himself above them all. 38And in their place, he will honor a god of fortresses—a god his fathers did not know—with gold, silver, precious stones, and riches. 39He will attack the strongest fortresses with the help of a foreign god and will greatly honor those who acknowledge him, making them rulers over many and distributing the land for a price.h 40At the time of the end, the king of the South will engage him in battle,i but the king of the North will storm out against him with chariots, horsemen, and many ships, invading many countries and sweeping through them like a flood. 41He will also invade the Beautiful Land, and many countries will fall. But these will be delivered from his hand: Edom, Moab, and the leaders of the Ammonites. 42He will extend his power over many countries, and not even the land of Egypt will escape. 43He will gain control of the treasures of gold and silver and over all the riches of Egypt, and the Libyans and Cushitesj will also submit to him. 44But news from the east and the north will alarm him, and he will go out with great fury to destroy many and devote them to destruction.k 45He will pitch his royal tents between the sea and the beautiful holy mountain, but he will meet his end with no one to help him. 2 a Hebrew of Javan 6 b Or offspring 6 c Or child ; see Vulgate and Syriac. 7 d Literally a branch from her roots 13 e Hebrew at the end of the times 17 f Or but she will not stand with him or support him 30 g Or western coastlands or Mediterranean islands 39 h Or for a reward 40 i Hebrew will thrust at him 43 j That is, people from the upper Nile region 44 k Forms of the Hebrew cherem refer to the giving over of things or persons, either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering. The End Times 1"U to vrijeme Michael, veliki princ koji bdije nad vašim narodom, ustat će. Doći će vrijeme nevolje, kakve se neće dogoditi od početka naroda do tada. Ali u to vrijeme vaš će narod – svatko čije se ime nalazi zapisano u knjizi – biti isporučen. 2I mnogi koji spavaju u prašini zemlje probudit će se, neki u vječni život, ali drugi u sramotu i vječni prezir. 3 Tada ćemudri zasjati poput sjaja nebesa,b i oni koji mnoge vode do pravednosti zasjat će poput zvijezda zauvijek i zauvijek. c 4Ali ti, Daniele, ušutkaj ove riječi i zapečati knjigu do kraja. Mnogi će lutati i zabavljati se, a znanje će se povećavati." 5Onda sam ja, Daniel, pogledao i vidio još dvojicu kako stoje tamo, jednog na ovoj obali rijeke i jednog na suprotnoj obali. 6Jedan od njih rekao je čovjeku odjevenom u posteljinu, koji je bio iznad voda rijeke, "Koliko dugo do ispunjenja tih čuda?" 7A čovjek odjeven u platno, koji je bio iznad voda rijeke, podigao je desnu ruku i lijevu ruku prema nebu, i čuo sam ga kako se kune u Onoga koji živi vječno, govoreći: "Bit će to neko vrijeme, i vremena, i pola vremena. Kada moć svetog naroda konačno bude uništena, sve će te stvari biti dovršene.« 8Čuo sam, ali nisam razumio. Pa sam pitao: "Gospodaru, kakav će biti ishod ovih stvari?" 9"Idi svojim putem, Daniele", odgovorio je, "jer su riječi zatvorene i zapečaćene do kraja. 10Mnogi će biti pročišćeni, besprijekorni i profinjeni, ali opaki će nastaviti djelovati opako. Nitko od zlih neće razumjeti, ali mudri će razumjeti. 11A od trenutka ukidanja dnevne žrtve i postavljanja grozote pustoši, bit će 1290 dana. 12Blagoslovljen je onaj koji čeka i dolazi do kraja 1335 dana. 13Ali što se tebe tiče, idi svojim putem do kraja. Odmorit ćete se i ustat ćete na svoje nasljedstvo na kraju dana.« 18. 3 b Ili prostranstvo ili svod ; vidi također Postanak 1:6–8. 3 c Vidi Matej 13:43. Berejska Biblija (www. Berean.Bible) Berean Study Bible (BSB) © 2016, 2018 by Bible Hub i Berean.Bible. Koristi dozvola. Sva prava pridržana. Dostupna su besplatna preuzimanja i licenciranje. Vidi također berejsku doslovnu Bibliju i Berejsku međulinearnu Bibliju. Biblijsko središte |
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