Daniel 8 · דניאל

In the third year of the reign of king Belshażżar a vision appeared to me, even to me Daniyyel, after that which appeared to me at the first.

And I saw in a vision; and it came to pass, when I saw, that I was at Shushan the capital, which is in the province of ῾Elam; and I saw in a vision, and I was by the river of Ulay.

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.

I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beasts might stand before him, was not there any that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and magnified himself.

And as I was considering, behold, a he goat came from the west across the face of the whole earth, and did not touch the ground: and the goat had a conspicuous horn between its eyes.

And it came to the ram that had two horns, which I had seen standing before the river, and ran at him in the fury of his power.

And I saw it come close to the ram, and it was enraged against him, and smote the ram, and broke his two horns: and the ram had no power to stand before it, but he cast him down to the ground, and trampled upon him: and there was none that could deliver the ram out of his hand.

Therefore the he goat grew very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and instead of it came up four conspicuous ones towards the four winds of heaven.

And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which grew exceedingly great, towards the south, and towards the east, and towards the land of beauty.

And it grew great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and trampled upon them.

Yes, it magnified itself even to the prince of the host, and from him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.

And for an appointed time it was flagrantly set against the daily sacrifice, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered.

Then I heard one holy one speaking, and another holy one said to that certain one who spoke, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?

And he said to me, For two thousand and three hundred evenings and mornings; then shall the sanctuary be restored.

And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniyyel, had seen the vision, and sought for the meaning, then, behold, there stood before me what looked like a man.

And I heard a man’s voice between the banks of Ulay, who called, and said, Gavri᾽el, make this man understand the vision.

So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said to me, Understand, O son of man: for the vision is for the time of the end.

Now as he was speaking with me, I fell into a deep sleep on my face towards the ground: but he touched me, and set me upright.

And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the latter end of the indignation: for it is for the appointed time of the end.

The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Maday and Paras.

And the rough he goat is the king of Yavan: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king.

As for the horn which was broken, in place of which four others arose, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not with his power.

And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and one who understands riddles, shall arise.

And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy remarkably, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.

And through his cunning also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand, and shall magnify himself in his heart, and without difficulty he shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.

And the vision of the evenings and the mornings which was told is true: but seal up the vision; for it refers to many days hence.

And I Daniyyel fainted, and was sick certain days; afterwards I rose up, and did the king’s business; and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it.