Daniel 7

Daniel Sees Four Beasts

1In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel saw a dream and visions of his head upon his bed. Then he wrote down the dream. He told the summary of the matter. 2Daniel answered and said:

“I was looking in my vision by night,
and look, the four winds of the heavens
were stirring up the great sea. 3Four great beasts
came up from the sea,
each different from the others. 4The first was like a lion
and had wings of an eagle.
I watched until its wings were torn off,
and it was lifted from the ground
and made to stand on two feet like a human being,
and a human heart
was given to it. 5And look, another beast,
a second one, like a bear.
It was raised up on one side,
and three ribs were in its mouth
between its teeth.
And thus they said to it:
‘Rise, devour much flesh!’ 6After this I was looking,
and look, 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 was looking
in the visions of the night,
and look, a fourth beast,
terrifying and dreadful
and exceedingly strong.
It had great iron teeth.
It devoured and crushed
and trampled what remained with its feet.
It was different
from all the beasts before it,
and it had ten horns.

The Little Horn

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

The Ancient of Days Sits in Judgment

9“I watched
until thrones were set in place,
and the Ancient of Days sat.

His clothing was white as snow,
and the hair of his head
like pure wool.
His throne was flames of fire;
its wheels were burning fire. 10A river of fire
flowed and came out from before him.
A thousand thousands served him,
and ten thousand times ten thousand
stood before him.

The court sat,
and the books were opened.

The Fourth Beast Is Destroyed

11“I watched then because of the sound of the great words that the horn was speaking. I watched until the beast was killed, and its body was destroyed and given over to be burned with 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.

One Like a Son of Man

13“I was looking
in the visions of the night,
and look, with the clouds of the heavens
one like a son of man was coming.
He came to the Ancient of Days
and was brought near before him. 14To him were given
dominion, glory, and kingdom,
so that all peoples, nations, and languages
should serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that will not pass away,
and his kingdom
one that will not be destroyed.

Daniel Asks for the Interpretation

15“As 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 truth concerning all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of the matters: 17‘These 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, even forever and ever.’

The Fourth Beast and Its Horns

19“Then I desired to know the truth concerning the fourth beast, which was different from all the others, exceedingly terrifying, with teeth of iron and claws of bronze, which devoured, crushed, and trampled what remained with its feet; 20and concerning the ten horns that were on its head and the other horn that came up and before which three fell, that horn which had eyes and a mouth speaking great things and whose appearance was greater than its companions. 21I was watching, and that horn made war with the holy ones and prevailed over them, 22until the Ancient of Days came and judgment was given for the holy ones of the Most High, and the time came when the holy ones possessed the kingdom.

The Kingdom Will Be Given to the Holy Ones

23“Thus he said:

‘The fourth beast
will be a fourth kingdom on earth,
different from all the kingdoms.
It will devour the whole earth,
trample it down,
and crush it. 24As for the ten horns,
from this kingdom ten kings will arise,
and another will arise after them.
He will be different from the former ones
and will humble three kings. 25He will speak words
against the Most High
and wear down
the holy ones 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 destroy and bring it to an end
until the end. 27Then the kingdom,
the dominion,
and the greatness of the kingdoms
under all the heavens
will be given
to the people of the holy ones of the Most High.
His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and all dominions
will serve and obey him.’

Daniel Keeps the Matter in His Heart

28“Here is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly terrified me and my color changed, but I kept the matter in my heart.”