DANI’ĔL 8

1 In the third year of the reign of Bĕlshatstsar the sovereign, a vision appeared to me, Dani’ĕl, after the one that appeared to me the first time.

2 And I looked in the vision, and it came to be while I was looking, that I was in the citadel of Shushan, which is in the province of Ĕylam. And I looked in the vision, and I was by the River Ulai.

3 And I lifted my eyes and looked and saw a ram standing beside the river, and it had two horns, and the two horns were high. And the one was higher than the other, and the higher one came up last.

4 I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward, so that no beast could stand before him, and there was no one to deliver from his hand, while he did as he pleased and became great.

5 And I was observing and saw a male goat came from the west, over the surface of all the earth, without touching the ground. And the goat had a conspicuous horn between his eyes.

6 And he came to the ram that had two horns, which I had seen standing beside the river, and ran at him in the rage of his power.

7 And I saw him come close to the ram, and he became embittered against him, and smote the ram, and broke his two horns. And there was no power in the ram to withstand him, but he threw him down to the ground and trampled on him. And there was no one to deliver the ram from his hand.

8 And the male goat became very great. But when he was strong, the large horn was broken, and in place of it four conspicuous ones came up toward the four winds of the shamayim.

9 And from one of them came a little horn which became exceedingly great toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the Splendid Land.

10 And it became great, up to the host of the shamayim. And it caused some of the host and some of the stars to fall to the earth, and trampled them down.

11 It even exalted itself as high as the Prince of the host. And it took that which is continual away from Him, and threw down the foundation of His Miqdash.

12 And because of transgression, an army was given over to oppose that which is continual. And it threw the truth down to the ground, and it acted and prospered.

13 Then I heard a certain qodeshi speaking. And another qodeshi said to that certain one who was speaking, “Till when is the vision, concerning that which is continual, and the transgression that lays waste, to make both the qodesh place and the host to be trampled under foot?”

14 And he said to me, “For two thousand three hundred evening – morning, then that which is qodesh shall be made right.”

15 And it came to be, when I, Dani’ĕl, had seen the vision, that I sought understanding, and see, before me stood one having the appearance of a mighty man.

16 And I heard a man’s voice between Ulai, who called, and said, “Gaḇri’ĕl, make this man understand the vision.”

17 He then came near where I stood. And when he came I feared and I fell on my face, but he said to me, “Understand, son of man, for the vision is for the time of the end.”

18 And, as he was speaking with me, I fell stunned upon my face to the ground, but he touched me, and stood me up straight,

19 and said, “Look, I am making known to you what shall take place in the latter time of the wrath, for at the appointed time shall be the end.

20 “The ram which you saw, having two horns, are the sovereigns of Maḏai and Paras.

21 “And the male goat is the sovereign of Yawan, and the large horn between its eyes is the first sovereign.

22 “And that it was broken and four stood up in its place: are four rulerships arising out of that nation, but not in its power.

23 “And in the latter time of their rule, when the transgressors have filled up their measure, a sovereign, fierce of face and skilled at intrigues, shall stand up.

24 “And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power, and he shall destroy incredibly, and shall prosper and thrive, and destroy mighty men, and the qodesh people.

25 “And through his skill he shall make deceit prosper in his hand, and hold himself to be great in his heart, and destroy many who are at ease, and even stand against the Prince of princes – yet without hand he shall be broken.

26 “And what was said in the vision of the evenings and mornings is truth. And hide the vision, for it is after many days.”

27 And I, Dani’ĕl, was stricken and became sick for days. Then I rose up and went about the sovereign’s work. And I was amazed at the vision, but there was no understanding.