Shared Word Translation
Daniel 8
Daniel Sees a Ram and a Goat
In the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar, a vision appeared to me, Daniel, after the one that appeared to me at first. I saw in the vision, and when I saw, I was in Susa the citadel, which is in the province of Elam. I saw in the vision, and I was beside the Ulai canal. I lifted my eyes and saw, and look, a ram standing before the canal with two horns. The two horns were high, but one was higher than the other, and the higher one came up last. I saw the ram charging westward, northward, and southward. No animal could stand before it, and there was no one who could rescue from its hand. It did according to its will and became great.
The Goat Strikes the Ram
While I was considering, look, a male goat came from the west across the face of the whole earth without touching the ground, and the goat had a conspicuous horn between its eyes. It came to the ram with the two horns that I had seen standing before the canal and ran at it in the fury of its strength. I saw it come close to the ram, and it became enraged against it. It struck the ram and broke its two horns, and there was no strength in the ram to stand before it. It threw it to the ground and trampled it, and there was no one to rescue the ram from its hand. Then the male goat became exceedingly great. But when it was strong, the great horn was broken, and in its place four conspicuous horns came up toward the four winds of the heavens.
A Little Horn Grows Great
From one of them came a little horn, which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the Beautiful Land. It grew as great as the host of the heavens and caused some of the host and some of the stars to fall to the earth, and it trampled them. It even grew great up to the Prince of the host. From him the continual offering was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was thrown down. A host was given over with the continual offering because of transgression, and it threw truth to the ground. It acted and prospered.
How Long?
Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to the one who was speaking, “Until when is the vision concerning the continual offering, the transgression that causes desolation, and the giving over of sanctuary and host to be trampled?” He said to me, “For two thousand three hundred evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary shall be restored to its rightful state.”
Gabriel Is Sent to Explain the Vision
When I, Daniel, had seen the vision, I sought understanding. Then look, standing before me was one with the appearance of a man. I heard a human voice between the banks of the Ulai, and it called and said, “Gabriel, make this one understand the vision.” So he came near where I stood. When he came, I was terrified and fell on my face. But he said to me, “Understand, son of man, that the vision is for the time of the end.” While he was speaking with me, I fell into a deep sleep with my face to the ground. But he touched me and made me stand where I had stood. He said, “Look, I am making known to you what will be at the latter time of wrath, for it concerns the appointed time of the end.
The Ram and Goat Are Interpreted
“The ram that you saw with the two horns: these are the kings of Media and Persia. The hairy goat is the king of Greece, and the great horn between its eyes is the first king. As for the horn that was broken and four that arose in its place, four kingdoms will arise from his nation, but not with his strength.
A Fierce King Will Arise
“At the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors have completed their transgression, a king fierce of face and understanding riddles will arise. His power will be mighty, but not by his own power. He will destroy extraordinarily and prosper and act. He will destroy mighty ones and the people of the holy ones. By his cunning he will make deceit prosper in his hand. He will grow great in his heart, and in ease he will destroy many. He will rise against the Prince of princes, but he will be broken—not by human hand.
Seal Up the Vision
“The vision of the evenings and mornings that was spoken is true. But you, seal up the vision, for it concerns many days from now.” Then I, Daniel, was exhausted and sick for days. Afterward I rose and did the king’s business. But I was appalled by the vision, and there was no one who understood it.