[1] In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision appeared to
me, even to me, Daniel, after that which appeared to me at the first. [2] I
saw in the vision; now it was so, that when I saw, I was in Shushan the
palace, which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in the vision, and I
was by the river Ulai. [3] Then I lifted up my eyes, and saw, and, behold,
there stood before the river a ram which had two horns: and the two horns
were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last.
[4] I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; and no
animals could stand before him, neither was there any who could deliver out
of his hand; but he did according to his will, and magnified himself. [5]
As I was considering, behold, a male goat came from the west over the
surface of the whole earth, and didn`t touch the ground: and the goat had a
notable horn between his eyes. [6] He came to the ram that had the two
horns, which I saw standing before the river, and ran on him in the fury of
his power. [7] I saw him come close to the ram, and he was moved with anger
against him, and struck the ram, and broke his two horns; and there was no
power in the ram to stand before him; but he cast him down to the ground,
and trampled on him; and there was none who could deliver the ram out of
his hand. [8] The male goat magnified himself exceedingly: and when he was
strong, the great horn was broken; and instead of it there came up four
notable [horns] toward the four winds of the sky. [9] Out of one of them
came forth a little horn, which grew exceeding great, toward the south, and
toward the east, and toward the glorious [land]. [10] It grew great, even
to the host of the sky; and some of the host and of the stars it cast down
to the ground, and trampled on them. [11] Yes, it magnified itself, even to
the prince of the host; and it took away from him the continual [burnt
offering], and the place of his sanctuary was cast down. [12] The host was
given over [to it] together with the continual [burnt offering] through
disobedience; and it cast down truth to the ground, and it did [its
pleasure] and prospered. [13] Then I heard a holy one speaking; and another
holy one said to that certain one who spoke, How long shall be the vision
[concerning] the continual [burnt-offering], and the disobedience that
makes desolate, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under
foot? [14] He said to me, To two thousand and three hundred evenings [and]
mornings; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed. [15] It happened, when I,
even I Daniel, had seen the vision, that I sought to understand it; and,
behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man. [16] I heard a
man`s voice between [the banks of] the Ulai, which called, and said,
Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision. [17] So he came near where
I stood; and when he came, I was frightened, and fell on my face: but he
said to me, Understand, son of man; for the vision belongs to the time of
the end. [18] Now as he was speaking with me, I fell into a deep sleep with
my face toward the ground; but he touched me, and set me upright. [19] He
said, Behold, I will make you know what shall be in the latter time of the
indignation; for it belongs to the appointed time of the end. [20] The ram
which you saw, that had the two horns, they are the kings of Media and
Persia. [21] The rough male goat is the king of Greece: and the great horn
that is between his eyes is the first king. [22] As for that which was
broken, in the place whereof four stood up, four kingdoms shall stand up
out of the nation, but not with his power. [23] In the latter time of their
kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce
face, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. [24] His power
shall be mighty, but not by his own power; and he shall destroy
wonderfully, and shall prosper and do [his pleasure]; and he shall destroy
the mighty ones and the holy people. [25] Through his policy he shall cause
craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart,
and in [their] security shall he destroy many: he shall also stand up
against the prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand. [26]
The vision of the evenings and mornings which has been told is true: but
shut you up the vision; for it belongs to many days [to come]. [27] I,
Daniel, fainted, and was sick certain days; then I rose up, and did the
king`s business: and I wondered at the vision, but none understood it.
