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Daniel 9-12
Holman Christian Standard Bible

Daniel’s Prayer

9 In the first year of Darius,(A) the son of Ahasuerus, a Mede by birth, who was ruler over the kingdom of the Chaldeans: 2 In the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the books according to the word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet that the number of years for the desolation of Jerusalem would be 70.(B) 3 So I turned my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and petitions, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.(C)

4 I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed:

Ah, Lord—the great and awe-inspiring God(D) who keeps His gracious covenant(E) with those who love Him(F) and keep His commands(G)— 5 we have sinned,(H) done wrong, acted wickedly, rebelled,(I) and turned away from Your commands and ordinances.(J) 6 We have not listened to Your servants the prophets,(K) who spoke in Your name to our kings, leaders, fathers, and all the people of the land.

7 Lord, righteousness belongs to You,(L) but this day public shame belongs to us: the men of Judah, the residents of Jerusalem, and all Israel—those who are near and those who are far, in all the countries where You have dispersed them because of the disloyalty they have shown toward You. 8 Lord, public shame(M) belongs to us, our kings, our leaders, and our fathers, because we have sinned against You.(N) 9 Compassion and forgiveness belong to the Lord our God, though we have rebelled against Him 10 and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God by following His instructions that He set before us through His servants(O) the prophets.

11 All Israel has broken Your law and turned away,(P) refusing to obey You. The promised curse[a] written in the law of Moses,(Q) the servant of God, has been poured out on us because we have sinned against Him. 12 He has carried out His words(R) that He spoke against us and against our rulers[b](S) by bringing on us so great a disaster that nothing like what has been done to Jerusalem has ever been done(T) under all of heaven. 13 Just as it is written in the law of Moses,(U) all this disaster has come on us, yet we have not appeased(V) the Lord our God by turning from our iniquities and paying attention to Your truth.(W) 14 So the Lord kept the disaster in mind and brought it on us, for the Lord our God is righteous in all He has done. But we have not obeyed Him.

15 Now, Lord our God, who brought Your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand(X) and made Your name renowned(Y) as it is this day, we have sinned, we have acted wickedly. 16 Lord, in keeping with all Your righteous acts, may Your anger and wrath(Z) turn away from Your city Jerusalem, Your holy mountain;(AA) for because of our sins and the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and Your people have become an object of ridicule to all those around us.

17 Therefore, our God, hear the prayer and the petitions of Your servant. Show Your favor(AB) to Your desolate sanctuary(AC) for the Lord’s sake. 18 Listen,[c] my God, and hear. Open Your eyes and see our desolations and the city called by Your name. For we are not presenting our petitions before You based on our righteous acts, but based on Your abundant compassion. 19 Lord, hear! Lord, forgive! Lord, listen and act! My God, for Your own sake, do not delay,(AD) because Your city and Your people are called by Your name.

The 70 Weeks of Years

20 While I was speaking, praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel,(AE) and presenting my petition before Yahweh my God concerning the holy mountain of my God— 21 while I was praying, Gabriel,(AF) the man I had seen in the first vision,(AG) came to me in my extreme weariness, about the time of the evening offering.(AH) 22 He gave me this explanation: “Daniel, I’ve come now to give you understanding.(AI) 23 At the beginning of your petitions an answer went out, and I have come to give it, for you are treasured by God.(AJ) So consider the message and understand the vision:(AK)

24 Seventy weeks[d] are decreed(AL)
about your people and your holy city—
to bring the rebellion to an end,
to put a stop to sin,
to wipe away iniquity,
to bring in everlasting righteousness,(AM)
to seal up vision and prophecy,
and to anoint the most holy place.
25 Know and understand this:
From the issuing of the decree
to restore and rebuild Jerusalem(AN)
until Messiah(AO) the Prince[e]
will be seven weeks and 62 weeks.[f]
It will be rebuilt with a plaza and a moat,
but in difficult times.
26 After those 62 weeks[g]
the Messiah will be cut off(AP)
and will have nothing.
The people of the coming prince
will destroy the city(AQ) and the sanctuary.
The[h] end will come with a flood,(AR)
and until the end there will be[i] war;
desolations are decreed.
27 He will make a firm covenant[j]
with many for one week,[k]
but in the middle of the week
he will put a stop to sacrifice and offering.
And the abomination of desolation(AS)
will be on a wing(AT) of the temple[l][m]
until the decreed destruction(AU)
is poured out on the desolator.”

Vision of a Glorious One

10 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia,(AV) a message was revealed to Daniel, who was named Belteshazzar.(AW) The message was true and was about a great conflict. He understood the message and had understanding of the vision.(AX)

2 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three full weeks.(AY) 3 I didn’t eat any rich food,(AZ) no meat or wine entered my mouth, and I didn’t put any oil on my body until the three weeks were over. 4 On the twenty-fourth day of the first month,[n] as I was standing on the bank of the great river,(BA) the Tigris, 5 I looked up, and there was a man dressed in linen,(BB) with a belt of gold(BC) from Uphaz[o](BD) around his waist. 6 His body was like topaz,[p] his face like the brilliance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches,(BE) his arms and feet like the gleam of polished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude.(BF)

7 Only I, Daniel, saw the vision.(BG) The men who were with me did not see it,(BH) but a great terror fell on them,(BI) and they ran and hid. 8 I was left alone, looking at this great vision.(BJ) No strength was left in me; my face grew deathly pale,[q](BK) and I was powerless. 9 I heard the words he said, and when I heard them I fell into a deep sleep,[r](BL) with my face to the ground.

Angelic Conflict

10 Suddenly, a hand touched me and raised me to my hands and knees. 11 He said to me, “Daniel, you are a man treasured by God.(BM) Understand the words that I’m saying to you. Stand on your feet,(BN) for I have now been sent to you.”(BO) After he said this to me, I stood trembling.

12 “Don’t be afraid,(BP) Daniel,” he said to me, “for from the first day that you purposed to understand and to humble yourself before your God,(BQ) your prayers were heard. I have come because of your prayers.(BR) 13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia opposed me for 21 days. Then Michael,(BS) one of the chief princes, came to help me after I had been left there with the kings of Persia.(BT) 14 Now I have come to help you understand what will happen to your people in the last days,(BU) for the vision refers to those days.”(BV)

15 While he was saying these words to me, I turned my face toward the ground and was speechless.(BW) 16 Suddenly one with human likeness(BX) touched my lips.(BY) I opened my mouth and said to the one standing in front of me, “My lord, because of the vision, anguish overwhelms me and I am powerless.(BZ) 17 How can someone like me,(CA) your servant,[s] speak with someone like you, my lord? Now I have no strength, and there is no breath in me.”

18 Then the one with human likeness touched me again and strengthened me.(CB) 19 He said, “Don’t be afraid,(CC) you who are[t] treasured by God.(CD) Peace to you; be very strong!”(CE)

As he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.”(CF)

20 He said, “Do you know why I’ve come to you? I must return at once to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I leave, the prince of Greece will come.(CG) 21 No one has the courage to support me against them except Michael,(CH) your prince. However, I will tell you what is recorded in the book of truth. 11 1 In the first year of Darius the Mede,(CI) I stood up to strengthen and protect him. 2 Now I will tell you the truth.(CJ)

Prophecies about Persia and Greece

“Three more kings will arise in Persia, and the fourth will be far richer than the others. By the power he gains through his riches, he will stir up everyone against the kingdom of Greece.(CK) 3 Then a warrior king will arise; he will rule a vast realm and do whatever he wants.(CL) 4 But as soon as he is established, his kingdom will be broken up and divided to the four winds of heaven,(CM) but not to his descendants; it will not be the same kingdom that he ruled, because his kingdom will be uprooted and will go to others besides them.(CN)

Kings of the South and the North

5 “The king of the South(CO) will grow powerful, but one of his commanders will grow more powerful and will rule a kingdom greater than his. 6 After some years they will form an alliance, and the daughter of the king of the South will go to the king of the North(CP) to seal the agreement. She will not retain power, and his strength will not endure. She will be given up, together with her entourage, her father,[u] and the one who supported her during those times. 7 In the place of the king of the South, one from her family[v] will rise up, come against the army, and enter the fortress of the king of the North. He will take action against them and triumph. 8 He will take even their gods captive to Egypt, with their metal images and their precious articles of silver and gold.(CQ) For some years he will stay away from the king of the North, 9 who will enter the kingdom of the king of the South and then return to his own land.

10 “His sons will mobilize for war and assemble a large number of armed forces. They will advance, sweeping through like a flood,[w](CR) and will again wage war as far as his fortress. 11 Infuriated, the king of the South will march out to fight with the king of the North who will raise a large army but they will be handed over to his enemy. 12 When the army is carried off, he will become arrogant and cause tens of thousands to fall, but he will not triumph. 13 The king of the North will again raise a multitude larger than the first. After some years[x](CS) he will advance with a great army and many supplies.

14 “In those times many will rise up against the king of the South. Violent ones among your own people will assert themselves to fulfill a vision, but they will fail. 15 Then the king of the North will come, build up an assault ramp,(CT) and capture a well-fortified city. The forces of the South will not stand; even their select troops will not be able to resist. 16 The king of the North who comes against him will do whatever he wants,(CU) and no one can oppose him. He will establish himself in the beautiful land[y](CV) with total destruction in his hand. 17 He will resolve(CW) to come with the force of his whole kingdom and will reach an agreement with him.[z] He will give him a daughter in marriage[aa] to destroy it,[ab] but she will not stand with him or support him. 18 Then he will turn his attention to the coasts and islands[ac](CX) and capture many. But a commander will put an end to his taunting; instead, he will turn his taunts against him.(CY) 19 He will turn his attention back to the fortresses of his own land, but he will stumble, fall,(CZ) and be no more.(DA)

20 “In his place one will arise who will send out a tax collector(DB) for the glory of the kingdom; but within a few days he will be shattered, though not in anger[ad] or in battle.

21 “In his place a despised(DC) person will arise; royal honors will not be given to him, but he will come during a time of peace[ae](DD) and seize the kingdom by intrigue. 22 A flood of forces will be swept away before him; they will be shattered, as well as the covenant prince. 23 After an alliance is made with him, he will act deceitfully. He will rise to power with a small nation.[af] 24 During a time of peace,[ag] he will come into the richest parts of the province(DE) and do what his fathers and predecessors never did. He will lavish plunder, loot, and wealth on his followers, and he will make plans against fortified cities, but only for a time.

25 “With a large army he will stir up his power and his courage against the king of the South. The king of the South will prepare for battle with an extremely large and powerful army, but he will not succeed, because plots will be made against him. 26 Those who eat his provisions(DF) will destroy him; his army will be swept away, and many will fall slain. 27 The two kings, whose hearts are bent on evil, will speak lies(DG) at the same table but to no avail, for still the end will come at the appointed time.(DH) 28 The king of the North will return to his land with great wealth, but his heart will be set against the holy covenant;[ah] he will take action, then return to his own land.

29 “At the appointed time he will come again to the South, but this time[ai] will not be like the first. 30 Ships of Kittim[aj](DI) will come against him, and being intimidated, he will withdraw. Then he will rage against the holy covenant and take action. On his return, he will favor those who abandon the holy covenant. 31 His forces will rise up and desecrate the temple fortress. They will abolish the daily sacrifice(DJ) and set up the abomination of desolation.(DK) 32 With flattery he will corrupt those who act wickedly toward the covenant, but the people who know their God will be strong and take action.(DL) 33 Those who are wise among the people(DM) will give understanding to many, yet they will die by sword and flame,(DN) and be captured and plundered for a time. 34 When defeated, they will be helped by some, but many others will join them insincerely.(DO) 35 Some of the wise will fall so that they may be refined,(DP) purified, and cleansed(DQ) until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time.

36 “Then the king will do whatever he wants.(DR) He will exalt and magnify himself above every god,(DS) and he will say outrageous things against the God of gods.(DT) He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed,(DU) because what has been decreed will be accomplished. 37 He will not show regard for the gods[ak] of his fathers, the god longed for by women, or for any other god,(DV) because he will magnify himself above all. 38 Instead, he will honor a god of fortresses—a god his fathers did not know—with gold, silver, precious stones, and riches. 39 He will deal with the strongest fortresses with the help of a foreign god. He will greatly honor those who acknowledge him,[al] making them rulers over many and distributing land as a reward.

40 “At the time of the end, the king of the South will engage him in battle, but the king of the North will storm against him(DW) with chariots, horsemen, and many ships. He will invade countries and sweep through them like a flood.(DX) 41 He will also invade the beautiful land,(DY) and many will fall. But these will escape from his power: Edom, Moab, and the prominent people[am] of the Ammonites.(DZ) 42 He will extend his power against the countries, and not even the land of Egypt will escape. 43 He will get control over the hidden treasures of gold and silver and over all the riches of Egypt. The Libyans and Cushites will also be in submission.[an](EA) 44 But reports from the east(EB) and the north will terrify him, and he will go out with great fury to annihilate and completely destroy many. 45 He will pitch his royal tents between the sea and[ao] the beautiful holy mountain,(EC) but he will meet his end with no one to help him.

12 At that time
Michael(ED) the great prince
who stands watch over your people will rise up.
There will be a time of distress(EE)
such as never has occurred(EF)
since nations came into being until that time.(EG)
But at that time all your people
who are found written in the book(EH) will escape.(EI)
2 Many of those who sleep in the dust(EJ)
of the earth will awake,
some to eternal life,(EK)
and some to shame and eternal contempt.(EL)
3 Those who are wise will shine
like the bright expanse of the heavens,(EM)
and those who lead many to righteousness,(EN)
like the stars forever and ever.

4 “But you, Daniel, keep these words secret(EO) and seal the book(EP) until the time of the end.(EQ) Many will roam about,(ER) and knowledge will increase.”[ap]

5 Then I, Daniel, looked, and two others were standing there, one on this bank of the river and one on the other. 6 One of them said to the man dressed in linen,(ES) who was above the waters of the river,(ET) “How long until the end(EU) of these extraordinary things?” 7 Then I heard the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river. He raised both his hands[aq](EV) toward heaven and swore by Him who lives eternally(EW) that it would be for a time, times, and half a time.(EX) When the power of the holy people is shattered, all these things will be completed.

8 I heard but did not understand. So I asked, “My lord, what will be the outcome of these things?”(EY)

9 He said, “Go on your way, Daniel, for the words are secret(EZ) and sealed until the time of the end.(FA) 10 Many will be purified,(FB) cleansed, and refined,(FC) but the wicked will act wickedly;(FD) none of the wicked will understand, but the wise will understand.(FE) 11 From the time the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation(FF) is set up,(FG) there will be 1,290 days. 12 The one who waits(FH) for and reaches 1,335 days is blessed. 13 But as for you, go on your way to the end;[ar] you will rest, then rise(FI) to your destiny at the end of the days.”

Footnotes

  1. Daniel 9:11 Lit The curse and the oath
  2. Daniel 9:12 Lit against rulers who ruled us
  3. Daniel 9:18 Lit Stretch out Your ear
  4. Daniel 9:24 = 490 years
  5. Daniel 9:25 Or until an anointed one, a prince
  6. Daniel 9:25 = 49 years and 434 years
  7. Daniel 9:26 = 434 years
  8. Daniel 9:26 Lit Its, or His
  9. Daniel 9:26 Or end of a
  10. Daniel 9:27 Or will enforce a covenant
  11. Daniel 9:27 = 7 years
  12. Daniel 9:27 LXX; MT reads of abominations
  13. Daniel 9:27 Or And the desolator will be on the wing of abominations, or And the desolator will come on the wings of monsters (or of horror); Hb obscure
  14. Daniel 10:4 = Nisan (March–April)
  15. Daniel 10:5 Some Hb mss read Ophir
  16. Daniel 10:6 The identity of this stone is uncertain.
  17. Daniel 10:8 Lit my splendor was turned on me to ruin
  18. Daniel 10:9 Lit a sleep on my face
  19. Daniel 10:17 Lit Can I, a servant of my lord
  20. Daniel 10:19 Lit afraid, man
  21. Daniel 11:6 Some Hb mss, Theod read the child; Syr, Vg read her children
  22. Daniel 11:7 Lit from the shoot of her roots
  23. Daniel 11:10 Lit advance and overflow and pass through
  24. Daniel 11:13 Lit At the end of the times
  25. Daniel 11:16 = Israel
  26. Daniel 11:17 = the king of the South
  27. Daniel 11:17 Lit him the daughter of women
  28. Daniel 11:17 Perhaps the kingdom
  29. Daniel 11:18 of the Mediterranean
  30. Daniel 11:20 Or not openly
  31. Daniel 11:21 Or come without warning
  32. Daniel 11:23 Or a few people
  33. Daniel 11:24 Or Without warning
  34. Daniel 11:28 Or the Jewish people and religion
  35. Daniel 11:29 Lit but the last
  36. Daniel 11:30 = the Romans
  37. Daniel 11:37 Or God
  38. Daniel 11:39 Or those he acknowledges
  39. Daniel 11:41 Lit the first
  40. Daniel 11:43 Lit Cushites at his steps
  41. Daniel 11:45 Or the seas at
  42. Daniel 12:4 LXX reads and the earth will be filled with unrighteousness
  43. Daniel 12:7 Lit raised his right and his left
  44. Daniel 12:13 LXX omits to the end
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Daniel 9-12
New International Version

Daniel’s Prayer

9 In the first year of Darius(A) son of Xerxes[a](B) (a Mede by descent), who was made ruler over the Babylonian[b] kingdom— 2 in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the word of the Lord given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy(C) years. 3 So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting,(D) and in sackcloth and ashes.(E)

4 I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed:(F)

“Lord, the great and awesome God,(G) who keeps his covenant of love(H) with those who love him and keep his commandments, 5 we have sinned(I) and done wrong.(J) We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away(K) from your commands and laws.(L) 6 We have not listened(M) to your servants the prophets,(N) who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes and our ancestors,(O) and to all the people of the land.

7 “Lord, you are righteous,(P) but this day we are covered with shame(Q)—the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, both near and far, in all the countries where you have scattered(R) us because of our unfaithfulness(S) to you.(T) 8 We and our kings, our princes and our ancestors are covered with shame, Lord, because we have sinned against you.(U) 9 The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving,(V) even though we have rebelled against him;(W) 10 we have not obeyed the Lord our God or kept the laws he gave us through his servants the prophets.(X) 11 All Israel has transgressed(Y) your law(Z) and turned away, refusing to obey you.

“Therefore the curses(AA) and sworn judgments(AB) written in the Law of Moses, the servant of God, have been poured out on us, because we have sinned(AC) against you. 12 You have fulfilled(AD) the words spoken against us and against our rulers by bringing on us great disaster.(AE) Under the whole heaven nothing has ever been done like(AF) what has been done to Jerusalem.(AG) 13 Just as it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come on us, yet we have not sought the favor of the Lord(AH) our God by turning from our sins and giving attention to your truth.(AI) 14 The Lord did not hesitate to bring the disaster(AJ) on us, for the Lord our God is righteous in everything he does;(AK) yet we have not obeyed him.(AL)

15 “Now, Lord our God, who brought your people out of Egypt with a mighty hand(AM) and who made for yourself a name(AN) that endures to this day, we have sinned, we have done wrong. 16 Lord, in keeping with all your righteous acts,(AO) turn away(AP) your anger and your wrath(AQ) from Jerusalem,(AR) your city, your holy hill.(AS) Our sins and the iniquities of our ancestors have made Jerusalem and your people an object of scorn(AT) to all those around us.

17 “Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, Lord, look with favor(AU) on your desolate sanctuary. 18 Give ear,(AV) our God, and hear;(AW) open your eyes and see(AX) the desolation of the city that bears your Name.(AY) We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy.(AZ) 19 Lord, listen! Lord, forgive!(BA) Lord, hear and act! For your sake,(BB) my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.”

The Seventy “Sevens”

20 While I was speaking and praying, confessing(BC) my sin and the sin of my people Israel and making my request to the Lord my God for his holy hill(BD)— 21 while I was still in prayer, Gabriel,(BE) the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice.(BF) 22 He instructed me and said to me, “Daniel, I have now come to give you insight and understanding.(BG) 23 As soon as you began to pray,(BH) a word went out, which I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed.(BI) Therefore, consider the word and understand the vision:(BJ)

24 “Seventy ‘sevens’[c] are decreed for your people and your holy city(BK) to finish[d] transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone(BL) for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness,(BM) to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the Most Holy Place.[e]

25 “Know and understand this: From the time the word goes out to restore and rebuild(BN) Jerusalem until the Anointed One,[f](BO) the ruler,(BP) comes, there will be seven ‘sevens,’ and sixty-two ‘sevens.’ It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble.(BQ) 26 After the sixty-two ‘sevens,’ the Anointed One will be put to death(BR) and will have nothing.[g] The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood:(BS) War will continue until the end, and desolations(BT) have been decreed.(BU) 27 He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’[h] In the middle of the ‘seven’[i] he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple[j] he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed(BV) is poured out on him.[k]”[l]

Daniel’s Vision of a Man

10 In the third year of Cyrus(BW) king of Persia, a revelation was given to Daniel (who was called Belteshazzar).(BX) Its message was true(BY) and it concerned a great war.[m] The understanding of the message came to him in a vision.

2 At that time I, Daniel, mourned(BZ) for three weeks. 3 I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips;(CA) and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over.

4 On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank(CB) of the great river, the Tigris,(CC) 5 I looked up(CD) and there before me was a man dressed in linen,(CE) with a belt of fine gold(CF) from Uphaz around his waist. 6 His body was like topaz,(CG) his face like lightning,(CH) his eyes like flaming torches,(CI) his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze,(CJ) and his voice(CK) like the sound of a multitude.

7 I, Daniel, was the only one who saw the vision; those who were with me did not see it,(CL) but such terror overwhelmed them that they fled and hid themselves. 8 So I was left alone,(CM) gazing at this great vision; I had no strength left,(CN) my face turned deathly pale(CO) and I was helpless.(CP) 9 Then I heard him speaking, and as I listened to him, I fell into a deep sleep, my face to the ground.(CQ)

10 A hand touched me(CR) and set me trembling on my hands and knees.(CS) 11 He said, “Daniel, you who are highly esteemed,(CT) consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you, and stand up,(CU) for I have now been sent to you.” And when he said this to me, I stood up trembling.

12 Then he continued, “Do not be afraid,(CV) Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble(CW) yourself before your God, your words(CX) were heard, and I have come in response to them.(CY) 13 But the prince(CZ) of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael,(DA) one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. 14 Now I have come to explain(DB) to you what will happen to your people in the future,(DC) for the vision concerns a time yet to come.(DD)”

15 While he was saying this to me, I bowed with my face toward the ground and was speechless.(DE) 16 Then one who looked like a man[n] touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and began to speak.(DF) I said to the one standing before me, “I am overcome with anguish(DG) because of the vision, my lord, and I feel very weak. 17 How can I, your servant, talk with you, my lord? My strength is gone and I can hardly breathe.”(DH)

18 Again the one who looked like a man touched(DI) me and gave me strength.(DJ) 19 “Do not be afraid, you who are highly esteemed,”(DK) he said. “Peace!(DL) Be strong now; be strong.”(DM)

When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Speak, my lord, since you have given me strength.”(DN)

20 So he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? Soon I will return to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I go, the prince of Greece(DO) will come; 21 but first I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth.(DP) (No one supports me against them except Michael,(DQ) your prince. 11 1 And in the first year of Darius(DR) the Mede, I took my stand to support and protect him.)

The Kings of the South and the North

2 “Now then, I tell you the truth:(DS) Three more kings will arise in Persia, and then a fourth, who will be far richer than all the others. When he has gained power by his wealth, he will stir up everyone against the kingdom of Greece.(DT) 3 Then a mighty king will arise, who will rule with great power and do as he pleases.(DU) 4 After he has arisen, his empire will be broken up and parceled out toward the four winds of heaven.(DV) It will not go to his descendants, nor will it have the power he exercised, because his empire will be uprooted(DW) and given to others.

5 “The king of the South will become strong, but one of his commanders will become even stronger than he and will rule his own kingdom with great power. 6 After some years, they will become allies. The daughter of the king of the South will go to the king of the North to make an alliance, but she will not retain her power, and he and his power[o] will not last. In those days she will be betrayed, together with her royal escort and her father[p] and the one who supported her.

7 “One from her family line will arise to take her place. He will attack the forces of the king of the North(DX) and enter his fortress; he will fight against them and be victorious. 8 He will also seize their gods,(DY) their metal images and their valuable articles of silver and gold and carry them off to Egypt.(DZ) For some years he will leave the king of the North alone. 9 Then the king of the North will invade the realm of the king of the South but will retreat to his own country. 10 His sons will prepare for war and assemble a great army, which will sweep on like an irresistible flood(EA) and carry the battle as far as his fortress.

11 “Then the king of the South will march out in a rage and fight against the king of the North, who will raise a large army, but it will be defeated.(EB) 12 When the army is carried off, the king of the South will be filled with pride and will slaughter many thousands, yet he will not remain triumphant. 13 For the king of the North will muster another army, larger than the first; and after several years, he will advance with a huge army fully equipped.

14 “In those times many will rise against the king of the South. Those who are violent among your own people will rebel in fulfillment of the vision, but without success. 15 Then the king of the North will come and build up siege ramps(EC) and will capture a fortified city. The forces of the South will be powerless to resist; even their best troops will not have the strength to stand. 16 The invader will do as he pleases;(ED) no one will be able to stand against him.(EE) He will establish himself in the Beautiful Land and will have the power to destroy it.(EF) 17 He will determine to come with the might of his entire kingdom and will make an alliance with the king of the South. And he will give him a daughter in marriage in order to overthrow the kingdom, but his plans[q] will not succeed(EG) or help him. 18 Then he will turn his attention to the coastlands(EH) and will take many of them, but a commander will put an end to his insolence and will turn his insolence back on him.(EI) 19 After this, he will turn back toward the fortresses of his own country but will stumble and fall,(EJ) to be seen no more.(EK)

20 “His successor will send out a tax collector to maintain the royal splendor.(EL) In a few years, however, he will be destroyed, yet not in anger or in battle.

21 “He will be succeeded by a contemptible(EM) person who has not been given the honor of royalty.(EN) He will invade the kingdom when its people feel secure, and he will seize it through intrigue. 22 Then an overwhelming army will be swept away(EO) before him; both it and a prince of the covenant will be destroyed.(EP) 23 After coming to an agreement with him, he will act deceitfully,(EQ) and with only a few people he will rise to power. 24 When the richest provinces feel secure, he will invade them and will achieve what neither his fathers nor his forefathers did. He will distribute plunder, loot and wealth among his followers.(ER) He will plot the overthrow of fortresses—but only for a time.

25 “With a large army he will stir up his strength and courage against the king of the South. The king of the South will wage war with a large and very powerful army, but he will not be able to stand because of the plots devised against him. 26 Those who eat from the king’s provisions will try to destroy him; his army will be swept away, and many will fall in battle. 27 The two kings, with their hearts bent on evil,(ES) will sit at the same table and lie(ET) to each other, but to no avail, because an end will still come at the appointed time.(EU) 28 The king of the North will return to his own country with great wealth, but his heart will be set against the holy covenant. He will take action against it and then return to his own country.

29 “At the appointed time he will invade the South again, but this time the outcome will be different from what it was before. 30 Ships of the western coastlands(EV) will oppose him, and he will lose heart.(EW) Then he will turn back and vent his fury(EX) against the holy covenant. He will return and show favor to those who forsake the holy covenant.

31 “His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice.(EY) Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation.(EZ) 32 With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist(FA) him.

33 “Those who are wise will instruct(FB) many, though for a time they will fall by the sword or be burned or captured or plundered.(FC) 34 When they fall, they will receive a little help, and many who are not sincere(FD) will join them. 35 Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined,(FE) purified and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time.

The King Who Exalts Himself

36 “The king will do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify himself(FF) above every god and will say unheard-of things(FG) against the God of gods.(FH) He will be successful until the time of wrath(FI) is completed, for what has been determined must take place.(FJ) 37 He will show no regard for the gods of his ancestors or for the one desired by women, nor will he regard any god, but will exalt himself above them all. 38 Instead of them, he will honor a god of fortresses; a god unknown to his ancestors he will honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and costly gifts. 39 He will attack the mightiest fortresses with the help of a foreign god and will greatly honor those who acknowledge him. He will make them rulers over many people and will distribute the land at a price.[r]

40 “At the time of the end the king of the South(FK) will engage him in battle, and the king of the North will storm(FL) out against him with chariots and cavalry and a great fleet of ships. He will invade many countries and sweep through them like a flood.(FM) 41 He will also invade the Beautiful Land.(FN) Many countries will fall, but Edom,(FO) Moab(FP) and the leaders of Ammon will be delivered from his hand. 42 He will extend his power over many countries; Egypt will not escape. 43 He will gain control of the treasures of gold and silver and all the riches of Egypt,(FQ) with the Libyans(FR) and Cushites[s] in submission. 44 But reports from the east and the north will alarm him, and he will set out in a great rage to destroy and annihilate many. 45 He will pitch his royal tents between the seas at[t] the beautiful holy mountain.(FS) Yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him.

The End Times

12 “At that time Michael,(FT) the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress(FU) such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book(FV)—will be delivered.(FW) 2 Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake:(FX) some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.(FY) 3 Those who are wise[u](FZ) will shine(GA) like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness,(GB) like the stars for ever and ever.(GC) 4 But you, Daniel, roll up and seal(GD) the words of the scroll until the time of the end.(GE) Many will go here and there(GF) to increase knowledge.”

5 Then I, Daniel, looked, and there before me stood two others, one on this bank of the river and one on the opposite bank.(GG) 6 One of them said to the man clothed in linen,(GH) who was above the waters of the river, “How long will it be before these astonishing things are fulfilled?”(GI)

7 The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, lifted his right hand(GJ) and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by him who lives forever,(GK) saying, “It will be for a time, times and half a time.[v](GL) When the power of the holy people(GM) has been finally broken, all these things will be completed.(GN)”

8 I heard, but I did not understand. So I asked, “My lord, what will the outcome of all this be?”

9 He replied, “Go your way, Daniel, because the words are rolled up and sealed(GO) until the time of the end.(GP) 10 Many will be purified, made spotless and refined,(GQ) but the wicked will continue to be wicked.(GR) None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.(GS)

11 “From the time that the daily sacrifice(GT) is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation(GU) is set up, there will be 1,290 days.(GV) 12 Blessed is the one who waits(GW) for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days.(GX)

13 “As for you, go your way till the end.(GY) You will rest,(GZ) and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance.(HA)”

Footnotes

  1. Daniel 9:1 Hebrew Ahasuerus
  2. Daniel 9:1 Or Chaldean
  3. Daniel 9:24 Or ‘weeks’; also in verses 25 and 26
  4. Daniel 9:24 Or restrain
  5. Daniel 9:24 Or the most holy One
  6. Daniel 9:25 Or an anointed one; also in verse 26
  7. Daniel 9:26 Or death and will have no one; or death, but not for himself
  8. Daniel 9:27 Or ‘week’
  9. Daniel 9:27 Or ‘week’
  10. Daniel 9:27 Septuagint and Theodotion; Hebrew wing
  11. Daniel 9:27 Or it
  12. Daniel 9:27 Or And one who causes desolation will come upon the wing of the abominable temple, until the end that is decreed is poured out on the desolated city
  13. Daniel 10:1 Or true and burdensome
  14. Daniel 10:16 Most manuscripts of the Masoretic Text; one manuscript of the Masoretic Text, Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint Then something that looked like a human hand
  15. Daniel 11:6 Or offspring
  16. Daniel 11:6 Or child (see Vulgate and Syriac)
  17. Daniel 11:17 Or but she
  18. Daniel 11:39 Or land for a reward
  19. Daniel 11:43 That is, people from the upper Nile region
  20. Daniel 11:45 Or the sea and
  21. Daniel 12:3 Or who impart wisdom
  22. Daniel 12:7 Or a year, two years and half a year
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