[1] In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and
visions of his head on his bed: then he wrote the dream and told the sum of
the matters. [2] Daniel spoke and said, I saw in my vision by night, and,
behold, the four winds of the sky broke forth on the great sea. [3] Four
great animals came up from the sea, diverse one from another. [4] The first
was like a lion, and had eagle`s wings: I saw until the wings of it were
plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made to stand on two feet
as a man; and a man`s heart was given to it. [5] Behold, another animal, a
second, like a bear; and it was raised up on one side, and three ribs were
in its mouth between its teeth: and they said thus to it, Arise, devour
much flesh. [6] After this I saw, and, behold, another, like a leopard,
which had on its back four wings of a bird; the animal had also four heads;
and dominion was given to it. [7] After this I saw in the night-visions,
and, behold, a fourth animal, awesome and powerful, and strong exceedingly;
and it had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces, and stamped
the residue with its feet: and it was diverse from all the animals that
were before it; and it had ten horns. [8] I considered the horns, and,
behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which
three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this
horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things.
[9] I saw until thrones were placed, and one who was ancient of days sat:
his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool;
his throne was fiery flames, [and] the wheels of it burning fire. [10] A
fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousands of thousands
ministered to him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him:
the judgment was set, and the books were opened. [11] I saw at that time
because of the voice of the great words which the horn spoke; I saw even
until the animal was slain, and its body destroyed, and it was given to be
burned with fire. [12] As for the rest of the animals, their dominion was
taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time. [13] I
saw in the night-visions, and, behold, there came with the clouds of the
sky one like a son of man, and he came even to the ancient of days, and
they brought him near before him. [14] There was given him dominion, and
glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and languages should
serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass
away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. [15] As for me,
Daniel, my spirit was grieved in the midst of my body, and the visions of
my head troubled me. [16] I came near to one of those who stood by, and
asked him the truth concerning all this. So he told me, and made me know
the interpretation of the things. [17] These great animals, which are four,
are four kings, who shall arise out of the earth. [18] But the saints of
the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever,
even forever and ever. [19] Then I desired to know the truth concerning the
fourth animal, which was diverse from all of them, exceedingly terrible,
whose teeth were of iron, and its nails of brass; which devoured, broke in
pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet; [20] and concerning the ten
horns that were on its head, and the other [horn] which came up, and before
which three fell, even that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spoke
great things, whose look was more stout than its fellows. [21] I saw, and
the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; [22]
until the ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the
Most High, and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom. [23]
Thus he said, The fourth animal shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, which
shall be diverse from all the kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth,
and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. [24] As for the ten horns,
out of this kingdom shall ten kings arise: and another shall arise after
them; and he shall be diverse from the former, and he shall put down three
kings. [25] He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out
the saints of the Most High; and he shall think to change the times and the
law; and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and half
a time. [26] But the judgment shall be set, and they shall take away his
dominion, to consume and to destroy it to the end. [27] The kingdom and the
dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole the sky, shall
be given to the people of the saints of the Most High: his kingdom is an
everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him. [28] Here
is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts much troubled me,
and my face was changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart.
