Fluent Translation · Read & Reflect
Daniel 8
The ram and the goat
In the third year of King Belshazzar’s reign, a vision appeared to me, Daniel, after the one I had seen earlier. In the vision I saw myself in the citadel of Susa, in the province of Elam. As I watched the vision, I was beside the Ulai canal. I looked up and saw a ram standing beside the canal. It had two long horns, one longer than the other; the longer one had grown up later. I saw the ram charging west, north, and south. No animal could stand against it, and none could rescue from its power. It did as it pleased and became great. As I was considering this, a male goat came from the west, crossing the whole earth without touching the ground. It had a conspicuous horn between its eyes. It came toward the two-horned ram I had seen beside the canal and charged at it in furious strength. I saw it close in on the ram, raging against it. It struck the ram and broke both its horns. The ram had no strength to resist. The goat hurled it to the ground and trampled it, and no one could rescue the ram from its power. The male goat became exceedingly great. But at the height of its strength, its great horn was broken. Four conspicuous horns grew up in its place toward the four winds of heaven.
The little horn
From one of them came a small horn. It grew immensely toward the south, toward the east, and toward the Beautiful Land. It grew as high as heaven’s host, threw some of the host and stars to the earth, and trampled them. It exalted itself even against the Prince of the host. The regular offering was taken away from him, and the site of his sanctuary was thrown down. Because of rebellion, a host was handed over along with the regular offering. The horn threw truth to the ground and prospered in what it did. I heard a holy one speaking. Another holy one asked the one who was speaking, “How long will the vision last—the regular offering, the rebellion that devastates, and the giving over of sanctuary and host to be trampled?” He answered me, “For 2,300 evenings and mornings. Then the sanctuary will be set right.”
Gabriel explains
When I, Daniel, had seen the vision and was trying to understand it, someone with the appearance of a man stood before me. I heard a human voice from between the banks of the Ulai calling, “Gabriel, help this man understand the vision.” He came near where I stood. I was terrified at his approach and fell facedown. He said to me, “Understand, son of man: the vision concerns the time of the end.” As he spoke to me, I fell into a deep sleep, facedown on the ground. He touched me and stood me on my feet. He said, “I will tell you what will happen in the final period of wrath, for the end comes at its appointed time. The two-horned ram you saw represents the kings of Media and Persia. The shaggy goat is the king of Greece, and the great horn between its eyes is the first king. The broken horn and the four that arose in its place mean four kingdoms will arise from that nation, but without his strength. Toward the end of their reign, when the rebels have reached their full measure, a fierce-faced king, skilled in riddles, will arise. His power will grow strong, though not by his own power. He will cause extraordinary destruction, succeed in what he does, and destroy the mighty and the people of the holy ones. Through his cunning he will make deceit succeed. In his heart he will exalt himself, and he will destroy many while they are at ease. He will stand against the Prince of princes, but he will be broken without a human hand. The vision of the evenings and mornings that was told is true. But you must seal up the vision, for it concerns days far ahead.” I, Daniel, was exhausted and ill for days. Then I got up and returned to the king’s work. I was appalled by the vision and could not understand it.