Chapter 1

1 It was during the third year of the reign of JehoiAkim (the king of Judah) that NebuChadnezzar (the king of Babylon) came to Jerusalem and attacked it. 2 Then Jehovah gave JehoiAkim into his hands, as well as part of the things that were in the Temple of Jehovah. So, he carried it all back to the land of Shinar and put it into the treasury of the temple of his god.

3 Thereafter, the king told his Chief Eunuch AshPenaz to bring back some of the sons of Israel as captives who were descended from royalty and nobility, 4 and were young, perfectly formed, good looking, wise in all things, knowledgeable, intelligent, and bold enough to stand in the palace of the king. And he told him to school the young men in the writing and the language of the Chaldeans.

5 Then the king arranged for them to eat at the king’s table each day, to share in his banquet wine, and to have them taken special care of for three years. And after that, they were to be brought before the king.

6 Now, among these sons of Judah were DaniEl, HananiJah, AzariJah, and MishaEl. 7 However, the chief eunuch renamed DaniEl BelTeShazzar, HananiJah ShadRach, MishaEl MeShach, and AzariJah AbedNego.

8 But DaniEl decided in his heart that there’s no way he would pollute himself at the table of the king, nor would he drink any of his banquet wine. So, he petitioned the chief eunuch not to [force him] to pollute himself. 9 And God granted DaniEl the chief eunuch’s mercy and compassion. 10 However, the chief eunuch said to DaniEl, ‘I’m afraid of my lord the king who is selecting your food and the things you are to drink, because I don’t want him to see your faces looking sadder than the faces of the other boys who are your peers. If that would happen, the king would have my head.’

11 But DaniEl told MelZar (the one who the chief eunuch had put in charge of DaniEl, HananiJah, MishaEl, and AzariJah), 12 ‘Then test your servants for ten days. Give us just the seeds of the ground to eat and water to drink, 13 then compare us to the boys who eat at the king’s table, and whichever looks better is what you should choose for your servants.’

14 So, he did what they asked and tested them for ten days. 15 Then at the end of ten days, he examined them and the way they looked, and found that they were stronger and in better shape than the other boys who were eating at the table of the king. 16 As the result, MelZar did away with their suppers and the wine that they were to drink, and gave them seeds to eat. 17 Then God gave them understanding and intelligence in all their studies, as well as wisdom. And thereafter, DaniEl had an understanding of visions and dreams.

18 Well, the time finally came when they were to be brought before the king; so the chief eunuch led them before NebuChadnezzar. 19 Then the king questioned them and found that there were none others like these four boys, DaniEl, HananiJah, MishaEl, and AzariJah, so they were allowed to stand before the king. 20 And in every matter of wisdom and knowledge (whatever the king asked them about), he found them ten-times greater than all the dignitaries and sorcerers in his whole kingdom.

21 Now, DaniEl lived until the first year of the reign of King Cyrus.

Chapter 2

1 It was in the second year of the reign of NebuChadnezzar that he had a dream which disturbed him so deeply that he couldn’t sleep. 2 So, the king said to call [his] officials, priests, sorcerers, and Chaldeans, to have them interpret the dream.

Then they came and stood before the king, 3 and he said to them, ‘I had a dream that startled me so deeply that I have to know its [meaning].’

4 Well, the Chaldeans replied to the king in Syrian, saying, ‘O king, may you live through the age! Just tell your servants what you dreamed, and we will announce the interpretation!’

5 But the king told the Chaldeans, ‘I’ve forgotten what it was about; but if you can’t tell me the dream and give me the interpretation, I’ll have you destroyed and your homes torn down. 6 However, if you can tell me the dream and give me its interpretation, I will give you many gifts, do many favors for you free of charge, and I’ll honor you greatly… that is, if you can tell me the dream and provide its interpretation.’

7 Then they answered him a second time, and said, ‘May the king tell the dream to his servants, and then we will announce its interpretation!’

8 And the king said, ‘I know for a fact that you’re just buying time for yourselves, because you know that every word of the dream has left me. So, if you can’t tell me the dream, I know that you are corrupt and lying, and that you’ve agreed to keep speaking before me just to pass the time. 9 First tell me my dream, and then I’ll know that I can believe the interpretation you will announce to me.’

10 But the Chaldeans told the king, ‘There’s no man on dry land who can make known what the king is asking, for it’s something that no great king or ruler has ever asked of an official, a priest, or a Chaldean. 11 The thing that the king is asking is so difficult that no one can tell him such a thing… other than the gods who don’t live here in the flesh.’

12 And at that, the king flew into a rage! He was so angry that he said to destroy all the wise men of Babylon. 13 So, a decree was sent out saying that all the wise men were to be killed.

Well, when they were looking for DaniEl and his friends to do away with them, 14 DaniEl expressed his opinion to AriOch, the king’s head-of-the-guards (who had come to do away with all the wise men of Babylon). 15 He said to him, ‘O [servant] of the king, why was such a presumptuous decree put before the king?’

Then AriOch told DaniEl what was said.

16 Well, DaniEl went before the king and petitioned him to give him enough time to find the interpretation, so he could announce it to the king. 17 Then DaniEl returned to his house and [met with] his friends HananiJah, MishaEl, and AzariJah to ask them to help him interpret [the dream]. 18 And they looked to the compassions of the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that DaniEl and his friends wouldn’t be destroyed along with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.

19 Then DaniEl had a vision and the mystery was revealed that night. So, he praised the God of heaven, and said:

20 ‘May the Name of God be praised through the ages,
And into the ages of ages.
For to Him, wisdom and understanding belong,
21 And He changes the seasons and times.

‘He appoints the kings and removes them.
To the wise it’s He who gives wisdom,
And intelligence to those who understand.
22 Things deep and hidden He uncovers;

‘He knows all that happens in darkness,
For He is the source of all light.
23 So to You, O God of my fathers,
 I offer acknowledgement and praise

‘It was You who gave me the wisdom and power.
You’ve revealed what we’ve petitioned from You,
And this matter of the king,
To me You have made it known.’

24 Then DaniEl went to AriOch (the one who the king appointed to destroy all the wise men of Babylon) and said to him, ‘Don’t destroy the wise men of Babylon! I want you to take me before the king, and then I’ll announce the interpretation of the dream to him.’

25 So, AriOch quickly took DaniEl into the presence of the king and said to him, ‘I’ve found a man among the captured sons of Judea who will announce the interpretation of the dream to the king!’

26 And the king said to DaniEl (who he referred to as BelTeShazzar), ‘Are you able to tell me the dream that I saw and then give me the interpretation of it?’

27 And there in the presence of the king, DaniEl replied, ‘The mystery that the king has asked the wise men, sorcerers, officials, and astrologers to announce to him isn’t theirs to answer. 28 However, there is a God in heaven who uncovers mysteries, and He has made known to king NebuChadnezzar what’s going to happen in the last days.

‘Your dream that you saw in your head while you were in bed is this: 29 You, O king, and your thoughts in your bed, were elevated to see what will happen after this, and mysteries have been made known to you about what must take place. 30 Now, I’m no wiser than any other living person, but this mystery has been uncovered so that its interpretation may be known to the king, and so that you may know the thoughts that are in your heart.

31 ‘You looked, O king, and you saw a huge image. That image and its size was overwhelming, for it was standing right in front of your face, and it frightened you. 32 The image had a head of pure gold; its breast, arms, and hands were silver; its belly and thighs were brass; its legs were iron; and its feet were part iron and part baked clay.

33 ‘Then you stared at it until a rock was cut without hands from a mountain, and it hit the image on its feet of iron and baked clay, and completely shattered them. 34 Then everything else shattered all at once – the baked clay, the iron, the brass, the silver, and the gold. And it all became like the cloud of dust from a threshing floor during the harvest. 35 Then a wind came and blew it all away, and nothing was left. And then the stone that struck the image became a huge mountain that filled the whole earth.

36 ‘So, that was the dream; and now I’ll give the king its interpretation: 37 You, O king, are the king of kings to whom the God of heaven has given a strong, fortified, and honorable kingdom. 38 And everywhere that the sons of men live, and all the wild animals of the fields and flying creatures of the skies have been given into your hands by Him, and He has made you the lord over all. So, you are the head of gold.

39 ‘But after you, another kingdom will arise that’s inferior to yours, and then a third kingdom (the brass) will dominate the whole earth. [And that will be followed by] a fourth kingdom, which will be as strong as iron. 40 For, as iron crushes and tames all things, it will tame and crush everything.

41 ‘Then the feet and the toes that you saw, which was part iron and part baked clay, will be a divided kingdom. Some of the roots of the iron will be in it, and that’s why you saw the iron mixed with the baked clay. 42 And because the toes of the feet are part iron and part baked clay, part of the kingdom will be strong and part of it will be broken. 43 For, as you saw the iron mixed with the baked clay, [this kingdom] will be mixed with the seed of men… they won’t stick to each other, as iron won’t stick to baked clay.

44 ‘And in the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a Kingdom through the ages that will never be corrupted, and His Kingdom will not be passed on to others. It will crush and sift all kingdoms, and it will stand into the ages.

45 ‘So, now that you’ve seen the stone cut from a mountain without hands, and how it crushed the baked clay, iron, brass, silver, and gold, the great God has revealed to the king what’s going to happen after this. The dream is true, and you can believe its interpretation.’

46 Then King NebuChadnezzar fell to his face and bowed before DaniEl, and offered him a gift of a pleasant aromatic, and he [told his people] to give him something to drink.

47 Thereafter, the king said to DaniEl, ‘It’s a fact that your God is the God of gods, Lord of lords, and King of kings. For He uncovers mysteries, because you were able to uncover this mystery.’

48 Then the king honored DaniEl by giving him many great gifts, and he appointed him over all the [districts] of Babylon as the ruler over all the governors and wise men of Babylon. 49 And because he had asked the king [for this], he placed ShadRach, MeShach, and AbedNego over construction in the region of Babylon. So, DaniEl [thereafter served] in the courtyard of the king.

Chapter 3

1 During his sixteenth year, King NebuChadnezzar made an image of gold that stood a hundred-feet high and ten-feet wide, and he had it erected in the plains of Dura near Babylon. 2 Then he called for all his top officials, generals, lieutenants, governors, vassal kings, 3 and everyone else of authority in all his districts, and told them to come and [celebrate] a holiday of dedication for the image he had erected.

So, everyone came there and stood before the image that NebuChadnezzar had set up. 4 Then the [king’s] herald yelled at the top of his voice, ‘O nations, peoples, tribes, and languages; you’ve been told that 5 when you hear the sound of trumpets, woodwinds, harps, stringed instruments, and bagpipes playing the anthem, you must fall to your faces and bow before the gold image that King NebuChadnezzar set up. 6 And if anyone chooses not to bow before it, he will be immediately taken out and thrown into a blazing furnace.’

7 So, when the people heard the sound of trumpets, woodwinds, harps, stringed instruments, and bagpipes playing all types of music, all the peoples, tribes, and languages bowed low before the gold image that King NebuChadnezzar had set up.

8 Then certain Chaldeans went up and made an accusation against the Jews. 9 They went to King NebuChadnezzar and said, ‘O king; may you live through the ages! 10 However, the king gave an order that when we hear the sound of trumpets, woodwinds, harps, stringed instruments, and bagpipes playing all types of music, 11 any man that doesn’t fall and bow before the image of gold should be thrown into the fire of a furnace. 12 Now, there were three Jewish men who you’ve put over construction in Babylon – ShadRach, MeShach, and AbedNego – and they didn’t obey your decree, O king, for they’ve chosen not to serve your gods and the gold image that you erected to be bowed before.’

13 Then NebuChadnezzar flew into an angry rage and had them bring ShadRach, MeShach, and AbedNego before him. 14 And NebuChadnezzar asked them, ‘ShadRach, MeShach, and AbedNego; is it true that you won’t serve my gods, and that you won’t bow before the gold image I’ve erected?

15 ‘Now, when you hear the sound of trumpets, woodwinds, harps, stringed instruments, and bagpipes playing an anthem of all types of music, it would be good if you’d fall before the gold image that I made. For, if you don’t bow low before it, you will be immediately taken out and thrown into a blazing furnace… then we’ll see which God can rescue you from my hands.’

16 But ShadRach, MeShach, and AbedNego replied to King NebuChadnezzar, ‘We don’t really have to answer you about this matter, 17 for our God in heaven whom we serve can rescue us from the fire in the furnace, and He will rescue us from your hands, O king. 18 But if He doesn’t, then you should know, O king, that we won’t serve your gods or the gold image that you’ve set up for us to bow before!’

19 Well, NebuChadnezzar was furious, and the way that he viewed ShadRach, MeShach, and AbedNego changed. So, he gave instructions to heat the furnace seven-times hotter than usual, until they couldn’t get it any hotter. 20 Then he gave some powerful men instructions to shackle ShadRach, MeShach, and AbedNego, and throw them into the blazing furnace.

21 So the men were shackled, and then they were thrown into the midst of the blazing furnace fully clothed, [wearing their] underwear, pants, and crowns. 22 And following the instruction of the king, the furnace was seven-times hotter than usual.

23 Well, the three (ShadRach, MeShach, and AbedNego) fell into the middle of the blazing furnace with their shackles, but then they started walking around in the midst of the flames praising God and blessing Jehovah. 24 And when NebuChadnezzar heard their praising, he was shocked. So, he quickly got up and said to his mighty men, ‘Didn’t we throw three men wearing shackles into the midst of the fire?’

And they replied, ‘We did, O king.’

25 Then the king said, ‘Here I see four men that are loose and walking around in the midst of the fire, and none of them are being burned. And the vision that I have of the fourth one is like a son of God.’

26 So, NebuChadnezzar leaned forward toward the door of the blazing furnace and said, ‘ShadRach, MeShach, and AbedNego, you servants of the highest God, come here… come out of there!’

Then ShadRach, MeShach, and AbedNego came from the midst of the fire, 27 and all the governors, generals, lieutenants, and king’s officials were called over. And they saw the men, and that the fire hadn’t consumed their bodies. Why, even the hair on their heads hadn’t been singed, their [clothes] were still the same, and there was no smell of smoke on them.

28 Then, right there before them, the king bowed to Jehovah and said, ‘Praise the God of ShadRach, MeShach, and AbedNego, who sent His messenger and rescued His servants that trusted in Him. Why, they changed the word of the king and offered their bodies in fire, because they wouldn’t serve any god other than their God.

29 Thereafter, the king issued a decree that any people, tribe, or language that speaks blasphemously against the God of ShadRach, MeShach, and AbedNego should be destroyed and their houses pillaged, for there’s no other god who can rescue that way.

30 Then the king promoted ShadRach, MeShach, and AbedNego in the region of Babylon, paid them more, and asked them to be in charge of all the Jews in his kingdom.

Then he [wrote]:

Chapter 4

1 ‘NebuChadnezzar the king, to all peoples, tribes, languages, and all who live in the land; may you have an abundance of peace. 2 I’m pleased to announce to you that the highest God has performed signs and miracles to me, 3 and His signs are great, His wonders are mighty, His kingdom is through the ages, and His authority lasts through the generations.

4 ‘I (NebuChadnezzar) was prospering in my palace and my throne was thriving. 5 But then I had a vision in a dream that struck me with fear and left me disturbed in my bed, for the vision that I saw in my mind really bothered me. 6 So, I passed a decree to bring all the wise men of Babylon before me to have the interpretation of the dream made known to me. 7 Then all the sorcerers, priests, astrologers, and Chaldeans came, and I told them the dream, but they couldn’t tell me what it meant.

8 ‘Then DaniEl (who is called BelTeShazzar) came in the Name of my God, for he has the Breath of God, so I told him my dream. 9 [I said], ‘O BelTeShazzar, the leader of [my] wise men, who knows that the Breath of God is in him and who is never powerless when it comes to mysteries; listen to the vision that I saw in my dream and tell me what it means!’

10 ‘This is the vision that I saw in my mind there in my Bed: {Look!} There was a huge tree in the middle of the earth… it was very tall, 11 and the tree kept getting stronger and larger until it reached into the heavens and spread to the ends of the earth. 12 Its leaves were beautiful, and it was filled with enough fruit to feed all. So, the wild animals of the fields camped under it, the flying creatures of the skies lived in its branches, and all flesh was fed by it.

13 ‘Then in the vision that I had in my bed that night, I saw a messenger – a holy one from heaven – come down, 14 and he shouted and said, Cut down the tree, cut off its branches, shake off its leaves, and scatter its fruit! Then chase away all the wild animals that are under it and drive the flying creatures from its branches! 15 Leave nothing but its roots in the ground, then bind it [with a band] of iron and brass, so it will just lie there surrounded by shoots of grass and wild animals of the fields, and covered by the dew from the sky, like grass on the ground. 16 Then his heart will be changed from that of men, and the heart of a wild animal will be given to him. He will be changed for seven times.

17 ‘Then the messenger said: It is a [revelation] from the holy ones to show everyone alive that Jehovah is above all the kingdoms of men, and that He can give it to whoever He chooses, and appoint any that men view with contempt to be over it.

18 ‘This is what I saw in the dream (I, King NebuChadnezzar). So, I [said to] BelTeShazzar: Interpret it! Tell me the interpretation of it, for all the wise men of my kingdom weren’t able to explain it to me. But you are able, O DaniEl, because the Holy Breath of God is within you!

19 ‘Well, DaniEl was unable to say anything for an hour, for his thoughts bothered him. Then the king asked, BelTeShazzar, why are you taking so long interpreting the dream?’

‘And BelTeShazzar answered, O lord, leave the interpretation to those who hate you and to your enemies! 20 For the tree that you saw, which became strong, whose height reached into the heavens, which covered the whole earth, 21 which grew such great leaves and such an abundance of fruit that it fed all the wild animals that lived under it, as well as the flying creatures that lived in its branches, 22 is you, O king. For, your fame and greatness have been made to grow, and now it reaches into the heavens, and you rule to the ends of the earth.

23 ‘And whereas the king saw a messenger – a holy one – coming down from heaven, then he told you to [cut down] the tree and destroy it, but to leave its roots in the ground; then to band the tree with iron and brass and allow it to lie there among the shoots of grass and live under the dew from the skies with the wild animals, [and to be] changed [this way] for seven times; 24 this is the interpretation of it, O king. It is the highest form of interpretation, for it is what will come upon my lord the king.

25 ‘You will be banished from among men and live among the wild animals of the plains. Then they will feed you grass like an ox, and you will live amidst the dew of the sky. You will be changed for seven times, until you realize that Jehovah is higher than all the kingdoms of men, and He gives it to whomever He wishes.

26 ‘Now, they were told to leave the tree’s roots in the ground, so your kingdom will be yours until you understand the authority of heaven. 27 But because of this, O king (and may my council please you), ransom your sins with charity and pay for your errors by showing compassion to the needy. Then, perhaps God will be lenient with you for your mistakes.

28 ‘Well, all these things happened to me (King NebuChadnezzar). 29 Twelve months later, while I was walking in the temple of my kingdom in Babylon, 30 I said, Isn’t this Babylon the great that I’ve built as a royal home with my power, strength, honor, and glory?

31 ‘And as those words were still in my mouth, a voice came from heaven that said, To you it has been said, O King NebuChadnezzar, that your kingdom is gone from you. 32 For men will banish you, and you’ll live among the wild animals. They’ll feed you grass like an ox and you’ll be changed for seven times, until you realize that Jehovah is over the kingdoms of men, and He gives it to whoever He wishes.

33 ‘Well, it happened to me (NebuChadnezzar) in that very hour. I was banished from among men, I ate grass like an ox, and I was bathed by the dew from the sky. My hair became strong like that of a lion, and my fingernails grew long like bird’s claws.

34 ‘And when the days were finished, I NebuChadnezzar raised my eyes toward heaven and then my senses returned. So I praised the Highest [One] who lives through the ages. I praised and spoke gloriously of His authority that lasts through the ages, and of His kingship [that lasts] through generations of generations. 35 Those who live on the earth are as nothing to Him; He rules the armies of the heavens and those on the earth as He wishes. None can resist His hand, and none can ask why He does what He does.

36 ‘Then, after my senses returned, the honor of my kingdom was restored and my appearance returned to me. My rulers and great men looked up to me, I strengthened my kingdom, and greatness was added to me.

37 ‘Now, I NebuChadnezzar praise, honor, and glorify the King of heaven, because everything He does is righteous. His ways are fair, and He humbles all who are proud.’

Chapter 5

1 BelShazzar had prepared a feast for a thousand of his most important men, and they were each served wine. 2 And it was while BelShazzar was tasting and drinking the wine that he told [his servants] to bring in the items of gold and silver that his father NebuChadnezzar had taken from the Temple [of Jehovah] in Jerusalem, so that the king, his important men, and his concubines and mistresses could drink from them.

3 Then they brought in the items of gold and silver that had been taken from the Temple of God in Jerusalem, and the king, his important men, and his concubines and mistresses 4 drank wine from them as they praised their gods of gold, silver, brass, iron, wood, and stone.

5 Well, in that same hour, the fingers of a man’s hand appeared and wrote on the whitewashed wall near the lamp, there in the king’s palace. And when the king saw the knuckles doing the handwriting, 6 the king's appearance changed, he was deeply disturbed, he became incontinent, and his knees shook. Then the king screamed to bring in the priests, Chaldeans, and astrologers. 7 And he said to the wise men of Babylon, ‘Whoever reads this writing and can interpret it for me will be dressed in purple, a gold necklace will be placed around his neck, and he will be appointed as the third ruler in my kingdom.’

8 So, all the king’s wise men came, but they weren’t able to read the writing or interpret it for the king, 9 so King BelShazzar remained disturbed, his appearance was still changed, and his important guests were also disturbed.

10 Then the queen entered the banquet room and said, ‘O king, may you live through the age! Don’t allow this to bother your thoughts and change your appearance, 11 for there’s a man in your kingdom who is filled with the Breath of God. Why, back in your father’s day, he was found to be an insightful and understanding man. So your father, King NebuChadnezzar, put him in charge of all the advisors, Chaldeans, and astrologers. 12 For, there’s a greater measure of [God’s] Breath in him, and he’s more intelligent and understanding when it comes to interpreting dreams, reporting thing that are [forgotten], and untying knots. [This man] is DaniEl, who the king renamed BelTeShazzar. So, call him and he’ll interpret [these words] for you.’

13 Then DaniEl was brought before the king, and the king asked him, ‘Are you DaniEl, the one among those who my father the king brought as captives from Judea? 14 I’ve heard that the Breath of God is in you, and that you’re insightful, understanding, and exceedingly wise. 15 Now, my wise men, priests, and astrologers have come here and tried to read this writing and to interpret it for me, but they couldn’t explain it to me. 16 However, I’ve been told that you are able to interpret judgments; so if you can read this writing and interpret it for me, you’ll be dressed in purple, a gold necklace will be placed around your neck, and you will be appointed as the third ruler in my kingdom.’

17 Then DaniEl said to the king, ‘Your gifts can remain yours, and you can give the [power] of your house to someone else. But I will read the writing and interpret it for you, O king.

18 ‘O king, it was the highest God who gave the kingdom, greatness, honor, and glory to your father NebuChadnezzar. 19 And it was because of this greatness that He gave him all the peoples, tribes, and languages, which all trembled and were in fear before him. So, he could do away with anyone he wished, beat anyone he wished, promote anyone he wished, and humble anyone he wished.

20 ‘But when his heart became too haughty and his spirit became too proud, he was brought down from the throne of this kingdom, the honor was removed from him, 21 he was driven away from men, and his heart became like that of a wild animal. So, he lived among the zebras… he was fed grass like oxen, and his body was bathed and washed by the dew from the sky until he recognized that it is the highest God who dominates the kingdoms of men, and He can give it to whoever He chooses.

22 ‘Now you, O BelShazzar (his son), have not humbled your heart before God, which is what you knew to do. 23 And you’ve acted haughtily before Jehovah the God of heaven. For you’ve had the items from His Temple brought before you, then you, your important men, and your concubines and mistresses drank wine from them, as you praised gods of gold, silver, brass, iron, wood, and stone who can’t see, hear, or know anything. And you failed to glorify the God who holds your breath and everything you are in His hands. 24 So, because of this, the knuckles of a hand were sent from His presence, and it was He who provided this writing.

25 ‘This is what the writing says: Mene, Tekel, Peres. 26 And here is what it means: Mene means that God has measured your kingdom and finished it. 27 Tekel means that it has been weighed on a scale and found wanting. 28 Peres means that your kingdom has been divided between the Medes and Persians.’

29 Then BelShazzar gave the order, and they dressed DaniEl in purple, put a gold necklace around his neck, and proclaimed him the third ruler in the kingdom. 30 But that very night, BelShazzar the king of the Chaldeans was killed, 31 and Darius the Mede took the kingdom as his own at the age of sixty-two.

Chapter 6

1 Thereafter, Darius appointed a hundred and twenty governors to be in charge over his entire kingdom. 2 Then he appointed three ministers over them, who the governors had to report to, because the king didn’t want to be bothered… and DaniEl was one of these ministers. 3 Then, because he had an extra portion of [God’s] Breath, DaniEl was placed over the other two ministers, and was in charge of the whole kingdom.

4 Well, the other two ministers and the governors [weren’t pleased with this], so they kept looking to find some wrongdoing that they could use to accuse DaniEl. However, they couldn’t find any excuse, sin, or error against him, because he was faithful. 5 So, the two ministers said, ‘We’ve found nothing to use against DaniEl, other than the Laws of his God.’

6 So, then the ministers and the governors went before the king and said, ‘O King Darius, may you live through the ages! 7 We, the generals, governors, and supreme leaders who you’ve appointed over your kingdom, and those who you’ve appointed to royal positions have met together, and we would like you to enact [a law] to strengthen [your position]: Anyone who makes a request of any man or god other than you for the next thirty days, O king, must be thrown into the lion’s pit. 8 Please, O king, enact this law and write it for public display, because the decrees of the Medes and Persians can’t be changed.’

9 So, King Darius gave orders for the decree to be written.

10 Well, when DaniEl found out about the decree, he went home. And there in an upper room, before open windows that faced Jerusalem, he bent down on his knees to pray and praise his God three times that day, as he had always done, 11 and those men watched him closely. So, when they found DaniEl petitioning and begging before his God, 12 they went to the king and said, ‘O king, didn’t you enact an order that anyone who makes a request of a god or man other than you for thirty days should be thrown into the lion’s pit?’

And the king replied, ‘What you say is true, and the decrees of the Medes and Persians may not be changed.’

13 Then they said to the king, ‘Well, DaniEl (one of those who were brought as captives from Judea) hasn’t followed your decree, because he’s making requests of his God three times each day.’

14 At that, the king was very disturbed by what he heard, and he did what he could to save DaniEl. 15 But the men said to the king, ‘You must know, O king, that any decree of the Medes and Persians may not be altered once the king has enacted it, no matter what the circumstances or [a person’s] position!’

16 So, the king gave the order and they took DaniEl and threw him into the pit of lions. And the king asked DaniEl, ‘Will your God that you’ve served so faithfully rescue you?’

17 Then they took the stone slab, placed it over the top of the pit, and put a seal on it with the king’s ring and the rings of his top men, so that nothing could be changed in regard to DaniEl. 18 Thereafter, the king returned to his palace and went to bed without eating supper, and he had no food carried into him, but he couldn’t sleep.

19 Well, the king got up the next morning at daybreak and went to the lion’s pit. And as he was approaching it, he called out to DaniEl, shouting loudly, 20 ‘DaniEl… O servant of the living God… has your God that you’ve served so faithfully been able to rescue you from the mouths of the lions?’

21 And DaniEl replied, ‘O king, may you live through the ages! 22 My God sent His messenger and he blocked the mouths of the lions. So, they haven’t destroyed me, because He found me righteous… nor have I done anything against you, O king.’

23 Well, the king was overjoyed and he ordered DaniEl to be taken out of the pit. And when they lifted him out, they found that he hadn’t been harmed in any way, because he had trusted in his God.

24 Then the king gave orders and they took the men who had accused DaniEl, and threw them, their sons, and their wives into the lion’s pit. Well, they didn’t even reach the floor before the lions had them, and they crushed all their bones, leaving nothing but dust.

25 Thereafter, King Darius wrote a letter to all the peoples, tribes, and languages throughout the whole land that said, ‘May you have peace! 26 From my presence I’ve sent a decree to all the rulerships throughout my kingdom that everyone must fear and tremble before the face of the God of DaniEl, because He is the living God that lives through the ages and whose Kingdom will never be destroyed. It will last through the ages, because He rules until the end. 27 He grabs hold and rescues, and He brings signs and miracles in the heavens and on the earth; for He rescued DaniEl from the mouths of the lions.’

28 So, DaniEl prospered during the reign of Darius and on into the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

Chapter 7

1 It was during the first year of the reign of BelShazzar the king of the Chaldeans that DaniEl saw a vision in his head as he laid in his bed, and this is what he wrote about what he saw:

2 ‘In my vision during the night, I DaniEl saw four winds blowing hard and stirring up the Great Sea, 3 and four large animals came out of the sea that were different from each other. 4 The first looked like a female lion and she had the wings of an eagle. But as I watched, her wings were plucked out and she was lifted away from the earth; then she stood on the feet of men, and the heart of a man was given to her.

5 ‘Then {Look!} there was a second wild animal that looked like a bear. It was lying on one side, and there were three ribs in its mouth, between its teeth. Then she was told to get up and eat a lot of flesh.

6 ‘And after that, {Look!} I saw another wild animal that looked like a leopard, but she had four wings [like those of] of a bird on her back, and four heads, and she was given great power.

7 ‘After that, I looked and saw a fourth wild animal that was astonishing, frightening, and very large. It had teeth of iron that were strong for eating and crushing, and it trampled the others with its feet. It was very different from the wild animals that came before it, and it had ten horns. 8 Then, as I was watching its horns, another small horn came up in the middle of them, and the three other horns were pushed out in front of it. And {Look!} there were the eyes of a man in this horn, and it started saying great things.

9 ‘Then I kept watching as thrones appeared, and the Most Ancient One sat down. His clothes were as white as snow, the hair on His head was like pure wool, His throne was like flames of fire, and it had wheels that looked like blazing fires. 10 Also, a river of fire shot out from before Him and there was a million who were serving Him, and tens of millions stood before Him.

‘Then a judgment seat was set and scrolls were opened. 11 So, I watched as the voice from that horn spoke great words, but then the wild animal was condemned and destroyed, and its body was thrown into a blazing fire; 12 and the rulership was given back to the other wild animals, and their lives were extended for a time and a season.

13 ‘Then, as I watched the vision that night, {Look!} someone like the son of man was coming in the clouds of the sky, and he went before the Most Ancient One; 14 then he was given rulership, honor, and the Kingdom, and all the peoples, tribes, and languages will serve him, for his authority will last through the ages and never pass away or be destroyed.

15 ‘At that, the spirit within me (DaniEl) shuddered (as is prone to happen to me), because the visions that I saw in my head were so disturbing. 16 So, I went up to the one who was standing there, because I wanted to understand the meaning of all these things. And he spoke to me plainly and made the interpretation of the things that were said very clear. 17 [He said], These four large wild animals are four kingdoms that will arise on the earth, 18 but then they will be taken away. They will [each] take to themselves the kingdom of the holy ones of the Most High, and they will control it though the ages and into the ages of ages.

19 ‘Then I wanted to find out more about the fourth wild animal, because it was so different from the other wild animals, and so frightening with its iron teeth and brass claws that it used to eat, crush, and trample. 20 And I wanted to learn more about the ten horns on its head, and about the one that arose and shook off the other three [horns] that had eyes and a mouth that spoke great things, because the sight of it was greater than all the rest.

21 ‘Then I watched as that horn went to war with the holy ones and conquered them. 22 But then the time came when the Most Ancient One arrived and gave them His highest judgment, and the Holy Ones took control of the Kingdom.

23 ‘Then he said, The fourth wild animal is a fourth kingdom that will rule the earth, and it will be greater that all the other kingdoms, for it will devour the whole earth, trample it, and cut it to pieces. 24 And the ten horns are ten kings that will arise; and after them another will arise that will overwhelm the previous kings and humble three of them. 25 He will speak great words and mislead the Holy Ones of the Most High, and he will be allowed to change times and laws for a time, times, and a half a time. 26 But then the judgment seat will be set up and the rulership will be changed to remove it from view and destroy it until the end.

27 ‘Then the Kingdom, the authority, and the greatness of all the kings under the sky will be given to the Holy Ones of the Most High. His Kingdom will last through the ages, and all the countries will serve and obey Him.

28 ‘Well, that was the end of the matter. These were the thoughts that disturbed me and changed my appearance, so I (DaniEl) kept them in my heart and preserved them.’

Chapter 8

1 It was in the third year of the reign of King BelShazzar that I (DaniEl) had a vision that was like the previous one. 2 I was at the palace in Sushan (in the region of Elam) when I had the vision. For, as I was standing by the Ulai River, 3 I looked up and saw a ram standing in front of the river that had two long horns. One was taller that the other and it came up behind it. 4 Then I saw the ram butting toward the west, north, and south. None of the other wild animals could stand before him, and no one could save them from his hands. So, he did whatever he wished and he became powerful.

5 Well, as I watched {Look!} a male goat came across the earth from the southwest, but he wasn’t touching the ground. The male goat’s horn was very conspicuous, because it grew from between his eyes. 6 Then he rushed toward the ram that I saw (the one with the two horns), and butted him as hard as he could. 7 He was furious with him, so he ran as fast as he could and hit the ram, breaking off both of his horns, leaving him weak and unable to oppose him. Then [the male goat] threw the ram to the ground and trampled him, and no one came to save him.

8 Thereafter, the male goat became extremely famous for his strength. But then his large horn was broken and four horns grew up from beneath it that each pointed toward one of the four winds of the heavens. 9 And from one of them came an extremely powerful horn that grew rapidly toward the south and east 10 until it reached the powers of the heavens; and he threw them to the earth and trampled on the stars.

11 Then, when the commander-in-chief was captured and [his] blood was poured out, the rage of the age came upon his place, the sacrifices ended, and the Holy Place was destroyed. 12 For his sacrifice will be offered for sins, and justice will be thrown to the ground; but the righteous things that he does will be blest.

13 Then I heard the holy one speaking, and he asked, ‘How long will this vision stand when the sacrifices are taken away, the destruction over sins is allowed, and the Holy Place of the mighty ones is to be trampled on?’ 14 And he said to him: ‘After two-thousand, three-hundred evenings and mornings the Holy Place will be cleansed.’

15 Well, as I was watching the vision, I (DaniEl) wanted to understand it. Then, {Look!} standing before me was what looked like a man, 16 and I heard a man’s voice speaking from the midst of the Ulai. He called out and said, ‘GabriEl, let him understand the vision!’

17 So, he came over next to where I was standing. And as he was coming, I was very disturbed and fell upon my face. Then he said to me, ‘Pay attention, O son of man, because this is a vision of the time of the end!’

18 Well as he was speaking to me, I was there with my face to the ground, but then he touched me and stood me up on my feet. 19 And he said, ‘{Look!} I’m going to explain to you the things that will bring the end to [God’s] rage, for this is what will happen in the time of the end.

20 ‘The ram that you saw that has the horns is the kingdom of the Medes and Persians, 21 and the male goat is the king of the Greeks. The big horn between its eyes is their greatest king. 22 And when it’s broken, the four horns that come up from under it are the four kings that will arise from him, but none will be as strong as he was.

23 ‘Now, during the last days of their kingdom, they will be full of sins, and a king will arise who has a proud face and understands riddles. 24 He will be very powerful, but the strength won’t be his own. He will corrupt in a wondrous way and he will prosper, for he will take action and ruin mighty ones and a holy people. 25 The yoke that he puts on [others] will prosper, but treachery will be in his hands, and in his heart he’ll think of himself as extremely important. He will use his treachery to ruin many, and he’ll destroy many to establish himself… he’ll break them like eggs in his hands.

26 ‘As for the vision of the evenings and mornings, the thing that was said is true; but you must seal up this vision, because it won’t happen for a long time!’

27 Then I DaniEl went to bed and was sick for days. But I [finally] got up and did my work for the king, and I wondered about the vision, but no one else knew about it.

Chapter 9

1 Well, it was during the first year of the reign of Darius, the son of AhaSuerus from the seed of the Medes, who ruled over the kingdom of the Chaldeans, 2 that I DaniEl came to understand the number of the years from the words that Jehovah had given to the Prophet JeremJah, for there he prophesied that Jerusalem would lie desolate for seventy years.

3 So, I turned my face toward Jehovah God to ask Him about this through prayer, begging Him and fasting in sackcloth and ashes. 4 I prayed to my God Jehovah and acknowledged Him and said, ‘O Lord, the great and wonderful God who keeps His Sacred Agreements and who is merciful to those who love Him and keep His Commandments; 5 we’ve sinned, done wrong, and been impious; we’ve left and turned from Your Commandments and decisions, 6 and we haven’t listened to Your servants the Prophets… those who spoke in Your Name to our kings, rulers, ancestors, and to all the people. 7 For You, O Jehovah, are just; but for the men of Judah, Jerusalem, and all Israel there’s just shame today – both those who are near and those who are scattered throughout the whole earth (wherever You have scattered them) – because of their rebellion and annulling the Sacred Agreement with You, O Lord.

8 ‘The faces of our kings, rulers, and ancestors who sinned against You are ashamed. 9 But from Jehovah our God there’s compassion and the forgiveness of our sin of separating ourselves from You, O Lord. 10 Because, we haven’t listened to the voice of Jehovah our God or obeyed His Laws that He gave to us through the hands of His servants the Prophets. 11 All Israel has broken Your Law and turned aside from listening to Your voice, so the curse and the oath that was written in the Law of Moses (the servant of God) is upon us, because we’ve sinned against Him.

12 ‘As the result, His words that He spoke against us and against our judges (those who are judging us) have come true… to bring great evil upon us such as has never been seen under the sky in Jerusalem. 13 For it was written in the Law of Moses that these evils would come upon us if we didn’t search for the face of Jehovah our God, turn from our sins, and see all the things that are true. 14 For, our God Jehovah is very concerned about evil, so He has brought evil upon us. And our God Jehovah is right to do all these things that He’s done, because we haven’t listened to His voice.

15 ‘Now, O Jehovah; our God who led His people out of the land of Egypt with His mighty hand and made a name for Himself until this day; we have sinned, broken Your Laws, and erred. 16 But Lord, in all Your charity, turn Your rage and anger away from Your city Jerusalem (Your Holy Mountain). For, it is because we have followed in the sins of our ancestors that Jerusalem and Your people have become a subject of ridicule by all those who live around us.

17 ‘O Lord our God; listen to the prayer of Your servant and to the things he’s begging, and may Your Face appear in Your Holy Place to those who have been deserted… for the sake [of Your Name], O Jehovah. 18 O my God; lean Your ear and listen! Open Your eyes and see how we and the city where You’ve put Your Name have been destroyed!’

‘We can’t approach You and throw our compassions before You because we are righteousness, O Lord, although our compassions are great. 19 But listen, O Lord, and cover our sins! Act quickly for Your own sake, O my God Jehovah, because Your Name is called upon Your city and upon Your people.’

20 Well it was as I was speaking, praying, confessing my sins and the sins of my people Israel, and throwing my desire for mercy before my God Jehovah concerning His Holy Mountain, 21 that {Look!} the man GabriEl (who I saw flying in my first vision) touched me (it was about the time for the evening sacrifice) 22 and helped me to understand. He spoke to me and said, ‘O DaniEl; I’ve come here to teach you so you can understand. 23 I’ve been coming since you first started your prayer, to announce to you that you’re a very desirable man. So now, reflect on this matter that you see in this vision.

24 ‘Seventy weeks have been set for your people and the Holy City Zion, in order to finish off sins, to set a seal upon sins, to end Law breaking, to pay for sins, to bring justice through the ages, to put a seal upon the vision and the Prophet, and to anoint the Holy of Holies.

25 ‘So, know this and understand it: from the time when the answer is sent and the command is given to rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed Leader comes, there will be seven weeks plus sixty-two weeks. He will return and rebuild the square and the wall during difficult times. 26 Then after the sixty-two weeks are finished, the Anointed One will be destroyed and he will no longer be able to judge. And the leader who is coming will corrupt and cut off the city and the Holy Place in a downpour, until he orders the end of the wars and exterminations.

(Another version of the Septuagint reads: 24 ‘Seventy weeks will come in order to bring a rooting out upon your people; to bring a finishing off of sin and unrighteousness in the City of Zion, and the feeling of shame upon the unrighteous. Then the vision of righteousness of the ages will shine through, and at the end of the vision there will be rejoicing in the Holy of Holies, 25 knowledge will shine through, and [there will be] rejoicing, a turning from unrighteousness, and Jerusalem the City of Jehovah will be rebuilt. 26 But after seven plus sixty-two weeks have passed away, the Anointed One will no longer be, and the king of the nations will destroy the city in rage along with the Holy Place and the anointed, until he orders an end to the wars and exterminations.)

27 ‘Then he will strengthen a Sacred Agreement with many for a period of seven [days], but during the middle of the seven days the sacrifices and the drink offerings will be lifted away. And thereafter, the disgusting destroyer will come to the Temple, and it will lie desolate until the time is completed.’

Chapter 10

1 It was during the third year of the reign of Cyrus, the king of Persia, that these true words were uncovered to DaniEl (who was called BelTeShazzar), and great ability and understanding were given to him in the vision.

2 At the time, [I] DaniEl had been in mourning for three weeks. 3 I hadn’t eaten any meat or bread, and no wine had entered my mouth. And during the three weeks, I hadn’t rubbed myself with oil.

4 Well, it was on the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the banks of the great Tigris River, 5 that I raised my eyes and saw a man wearing linen clothes. His hips were wrapped in the gold of Ophir, 6 his body looked like stone, his face looked like lightning, his eyes looked like burning lamps, his arms and legs looked like shining brass, and when he spoke it sounded like the sound of a large crowd [of people].

7 I was the only one who saw this vision, for the men who were with me didn’t see anything. However, something came over them that frightened them and they all ran away, 8 leaving me alone.

Then I had this great vision that left me weak. It took all my glory and corrupted it, leaving me without any strength. 9 Then I heard his voice speaking words, and when I heard what he was saying, I was confused; so I fell with my face to the ground.

10 Next, {Look!} a hand touched me and lifted me up on my knees and onto the palms of my hands. 11 And he said to me, ‘DaniEl, you very desirable man, understand the words that I’m speaking to you and stand erect, because I’ve been sent to you!’

Well when he said that, I stood erect, but I was still shaking. 12 And he said to me, ‘Don’t be afraid DaniEl, because, from the first day that you opened your heart to understand and you started [fasting] before Your God Jehovah, your words were heard, and I’ve come to you because of what you said. 13 However, the king of the armies of the Persians stood and opposed me for twenty-one days, until MichaEl (who is the first from ancient times) came to help me. So, I left him there with the king of the armies of the Persians 14 and I’ve come to help you understand what will happen to your people in the last days, because this is a vision of the future.’

15 Well, as he was saying that, I fell with my face to the ground again, because I was so confused. 16 Then {Look!} someone who looked like one of the sons of men came and touched my lips, and I was able to open my mouth and speak.

So, I asked the one who was standing before me, ‘O lord; seeing the vision of you has twisted my insides and left me weak, 17 so how will your servant be able to speak to you after this, O lord? For I’m weak and unable to stand, and I can scarcely breathe.’

18 Then what looked like a man came and touched me, and gave me strength. 19 And he said, ‘Don’t be afraid, O desirable man. May you have peace! Now, act like a man and be strong!’

Well, as he was speaking to me, I became stronger, and I said, ‘Now speak, O my lord, because you’ve given me strength!’

20 Then he asked, ‘Do you know why I’ve come to you? I’m going back to fight a war against the king of the armies of the Persians, and then the Greek general will arrive. 21 But first I’m going to show you how to write the words of truth, because no one can oppose me in these matters other than the Messenger MichaEl.

Chapter 11

1 ‘Why, since the first year of the reign of Cyrus I’ve been standing by powerfully and mightily, 2 and now I’m going to tell you the truth. {Look!} Three kings will arise in Persia, and then the fourth will become much richer than the others will. And after he gains all his riches, he will attack all the kingdoms of Greece.

3 ‘Then a mighty king will arise and gain a vast kingdom, and he will do whatever he wishes. 4 But after his kingdom is established, it will be broken and divided to the four winds of the sky, and it won’t end up as strong as it was during his rule. For his kingdom will be plucked up and divided among outsiders.

5 ‘Then the king in the south will grow in strength over him, and he will use his authority to rule over a vast kingdom. 6 However, after his time they will all become allies; then the daughter of the Egyptian king will go to the king in the north to make treaties with him, but his arm won’t be strong and his seed will not stand. Then she will be handed over, along with those who brought her and [her] young women, and the one who made her strong in her time.

7 ‘Thereafter, someone will arise from the flower of her root, and when he’s ready, he will attack the army of the northern king and overrun his supporters… he will conquer them and win the battle. 8 Then he will take their molded gods and all their desirable things, including the silver and gold, and carry it back to Egypt, and he will dominate over the northern king.

9 ‘Then [the northern king] will enter the kingdom of the southern king, but he will [have to] retreat to his own land. 10 And then his sons will gather a large army and quickly win, overrun, and pass through. They will settle in and fight all the way to his stronghold. 11 This will make the southern king wild [with rage], and he will raise a large army to fight the northern king and take many captives. 12 Then his heart will become proud and he will cut thousands to the ground, but he won’t win the battle.

13 ‘Thereafter, the northern king will gather an even larger army, and toward the end of [his rule], he will attack and enter with great power and with many [items of war]. 14 And during that time, many will rebel against the southern king, and rabble from among your people will become stronger so that the vision can be proven, but then they will become weaker.

15 ‘Then the northern king will attack and build siege mounds and capture fortified cities, and the southern king’s chosen ones will stand up, but they won’t be strong enough. 16 So, the one who enters will do whatever he wishes, and no one will be able to oppose him. Then he will stand in the land of glory and finish it off with his own hands.

17 ‘Thereafter, he will set his face to march against that entire kingdom with all his righteous ones, and this is what he will do: he will take the daughter of men to corrupt her, but she won’t stay with him and she won’t be his. 18 So, he will turn his attention to the islands and capture many of them. And he will make their kings stop ridiculing him, but his ridicule will return.

19 ‘Then he will turn his attention back to strengthening his own land, but he will become weak, fall, and not be found again.

20 ‘After that, a plant will arise from the roots of the kingdom that he prepared and cast aside, which will tax the glory of the kingdom; but then he will be broken not by rebellion or by war. 21 Rather, one will stand in his place who has been treated with contempt and who was not given the glory of the kingdom. But he will [return] in prosperity and take the kingdom through treachery. 22 Then the arms of those he overruns will be washed away from before his face, including the one who is the leader of the Sacred Agreement.

23 ‘Then, because of the many treaties with him, he will be treacherous, but a small nation will beat him. 24 So, he will travel to prosperous places and do what his ancestors and their ancestors couldn’t do: plunder them and disperse the loot. And then he will spend time plotting against Egypt. 25 And when he’s strong enough, he will set his heart against the southern king and attack him with a great army. But the southern king will also gather a great army and beat him with new implements of war. 26 Then they will devour everything he needs, break him, destroy his army, and many will be killed.

27 ‘Well, both kings will have wicked hearts, so when they sit down at a table they will both lie and nothing will be straightened out until the end is reached. 28 And when he returns to his land, it will be with much plunder, and with his heart set against the Holy Sacred Agreement. Then he’ll return to [this] land, 29 but he’ll come back… however, not from the south, and this last time it won’t be the same as at first.

30 ‘Then [the ships] of Cyprus will attack him and humble him, but he will return and show his rage against the Holy Sacred Agreement. For he will attack those who he sees have left the Holy Sacred Agreement, 31 then he will raise his arms and profane the powerful Holy Place, end the daily sacrifices, and bring the disgusting destroyer 32 against those who break the Law and care little for the Sacred Agreement.

‘However, those who know their God will grow stronger and take action. 33 They will come to know many things, but they will be weakened with swords, fire, captivity, and ravaging over a long period. 34 Yet, when they are the weakest they will be given a little help; but many will be added to them who won’t show the same concern, 35 and they will drag those who understand down. However, they will be called, uncovered, and purified by fire until the time of the end, because there’s still a long time.

36 ‘Thereafter, the king will make himself more powerful and put himself over all gods, including the God of gods. 37 And he will speak pompous words and prosper until [God’s] wrath comes and reaches its climax. He won’t pay any attention to the gods of his ancestors or to the desires of women, because he will [think] himself so great that he won’t listen to any god. 38 Rather, he will worship his warring nation as a god, which is a god that his ancestors didn’t know. And he will glorify gold, silver, precious gems, and other desirable things. 39 Then in his fortresses where he hides, he will worship a strange god who he should recognize, where he will divide glory and give land as gifts to cause many to submit to him.

40 ‘In the time of the end, he will lock horns with the southern king, so he (the northern king) will gather many chariots, horsemen, and ships, and enter his (the southern king’s) land, conquer it, and pass through it. 41 Then he will enter the land of glory and cause many to become weak; but Edom, Moab, and the sovereignty of the sons of Ammon will be preserved. 42 He will stretch out his hand over the land, and the land of Egypt won’t be saved, 43 for he will dominate with his hidden reserves of gold, silver, and all the desirable things of Egypt, the Libyans, and the Ethiopians, and their fortresses.

44 ‘Then, out of the north and east he will hear things that will disturb him, so he will leave in a rage to destroy and obliterate many. 45 He will pitch his royal tent between the seas and the glorious Holy Mountain, until he comes to his end when no one will save him.

Chapter 12

1 ‘And in that hour, the Highest Messenger MichaEl (the one who watches over the sons of your people) will arise, and then a time of difficulty will begin such as has never happened before and will never happen again. [And thereafter], [God] will raise all those whose [names] were written in the book, 2 and many who died and were buried will be resurrected; some to life in the age, some to disgrace, and some will be scattered and shamed in that age. 3 Then those who understand my words will shine like the brightness of the sky and like the stars in the heavens for ages of ages.

4 ‘And you, O DaniEl; cover the words and seal the scroll until the time of the end when many will be taught and the earth will be filled with unrighteousness.’

5 Then I DaniEl looked and saw two others standing (one on this side of the river, and the other on the opposite bank), 6 and one of them asked the man in the linen clothes who was standing on the river water, ‘When will all these wonders that you spoke of end?’

7 And the man in the linen clothes who was standing on the river raised his right and left hands high toward the heavens, and he swore an oath to the God who lives through ages that the holy people will be scattered for a time, times, and a half a time, before all these things come to an end.

8 I heard it but I didn’t understand it, so I said, ‘O lord, when will your words happen and when will your judgment come?’

9 And he said, ‘Go DaniEl! Cover and seal up the words! 10 For many will be chosen, [dressed] in white, purified by fire, and become holy. But the sinners will continue to sin and they won’t chase after knowledge.

11 ‘From the time when the disgusting destroyer will come and the [daily] sacrifices will end is one-thousand, two-hundred and ninety days. 12 And the one who endures through one-thousand, three-hundred, and thirty-five days will be blest.

13 ‘Now, go and rest until the day and hour has been completed, because you will be resurrected and receive your inheritance after those days come to their end.’

Notes

Breath

The Greek word pneuma (as in pneumonia, a breathing illness) means breath or wind – the movement of air. In other Bibles, this word is often translated as spirit or ghost – as in Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost. However, spirit is just a shortened form of the Latin word spiritu, which (again) means breath. And ghost conveys another meaning altogether.

The most common use of the word pneuma in the Bible is to imply an unseen force (such as breath or wind). And the problem with translating it as spirit or ghost is that many people have started believing that the unseen force that is called [God’s] Holy Breath herein, is another God-like person and part of a Divine Trinity. This can’t be true, because the only scripture that can be used to support this theory (that is, where the Father, the Son, and the Holy Breath are supposed to be ‘one’) is found at Matthew 28:19, which simply says that baptism should be done ‘in the name of’ (or, in recognition of) these three, and there is good reason to believe that even these are spurious and added in the Third Century C.E. And all other scriptures that are used to prove the Trinity theory fail to mention the Holy Breath as part of that group. Notice that the King James wording of 1 John 5:7 (which was used for years to attempt to prove the Trinity) is definitely spurious (something that was added to the Bible).

So to prevent confusion, the Greek word pneuma is usually translated as breath here. The only exceptions would be in instances where the Bible refers to demons as ‘spirits,’ for translating pneuma as breath in these cases, although correct, might just be confusing. And there are also instances where we have used the word spirit to indicate a person’s inward inclinations or feelings.

Another important use of the word pneuma is in the phrase ‘Breath of Life.’ This means more than just breathing, it refers to the entire mechanics of life itself. It’s the unseen force of life that is shared by all living things… it’s the thing that makes each cell alive. However, nowhere does the Bible describe the ‘pneuma’ as immortal, nor is it the same as the soul (a breathing thing), so it can (figuratively) ‘return to God’ at death,’ because all hope of future life depends on God and His promise of a resurrection.

It is interesting that at Genesis 6:4 God says, ‘I won’t allow them to keep My Breath (which allows them to flesh) throughout the [rest of] the age.’ In Greek that reads, ‘Ou me katameine to pneuma mou en tois anthropois toutoiseis ton aiona, dia ai einai autous sarka.’

While the words Breath Mine (pneuma mou) here can refer to God’s Holy Breath, it seems more likely that He is referring to the breath of life that he gave Adam. So, it appears that what He was saying here is that the breath of life (of the people of that age) would be removed prematurely. However, since God referred to it as ‘My Breath,’ there may be a link implied between God’s Holy Breath and the breath of life.

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The Heavens or Sky, the Earth or the Land?

Throughout the Bible, we find the entire realm of creation divided into three entities, the heavens (or sky), the earth (the land or ground), and the seas (the waters). Now, in contemporary English we understand that there’s a difference between the heavens and the sky, the earth and the land (or ground), and the seas and waters. However, in both Hebrew and Greek these fine distinctions that we accept because of our modern technology, can’t be found. So, Genesis 1:1 could literally be translated as, ‘In an ancient time God created the sky and the ground.’

This is accurate, because it was the view of man from the earth. There was the land that he stood on, the sky above, and the water. There was no technical understanding of the earth as a planet, because men didn’t view the earth as we do today, as a ball in space… it just wasn’t necessary at the time. However, because of these distinctions that we understand so well today, translators must choose the proper words to provide the right nuances in English, so readers can grasp the proper meaning of each text.

This is why you’ll find the Greek word ourano translated as both heaven(s) and sky herein, depending on the context. You’ll also find the Greek word ges translated as earth, ground, or land, depending on the context. So, the symbolic words at Romans 3:5, for example, are translated herein as, ‘The ancient earth and sky weren’t covered by water. However, (obeying God’s instructions) they stood together between the water [that was above and below].’

Notice that the ‘earth and sky’ were located ‘between the water.’ So, although other Bibles translated this verse as speaking of the ‘heavens and earth,’ the reference is to that portion of the heavens that are close to the earth… the sky. Likewise, at Matthew 5:5, where Jesus spoke of the ‘gentle’ as inheriting the earth; since he was talking about people receiving an ‘allotment’ on the earth, we have chosen to translate ges as earth, not ground.

In the case of where EliJah was taken in a celestial chariot, most people think he was taken to (as their Bibles put it) ‘heaven,’ where he went to live with God. This isn’t true, because King JehoRam later received a letter from Elijah (see 2 Chronicles 21:12). So, God had apparently used the celestial chariot to take him to another place here on the earth. For more information on this, see the linked document, ‘The Hereafter.’

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Why the Name Changes?

You may have noticed that we have started putting some of the letters in Bible names in capital letters. For example, we’ve started spelling such names as Jonathan as JoNathan, Isaiah as IsaiJah, and Eliezer as EliEzer. Why? Well, partly to help with the correct pronunciations of the names, and partly to show some translating consistency.

We all know that the common English pronunciation of Jonathan (for example), is Jon-uh-thun. But did you know that the first part of the name (Io in Greek, Ieho in Hebrew) refers to the name Jehovah? For Jonathan means Jehovah has Given. So, the name was originally pronounced Yo-nuh-thahn. Then the second part of the Name (Nathan) means Gift.

In the case of names that end with an iah, as in Isaiah, the last part of the name includes the name of God. Isaiah, for example, means Salvation [of] Jehovah, and it was originally pronounced Ee-sai-Yah. So, why have we substituted a capital ‘J’ for the letters ‘ie’ in both of the above cases? Well, we recognize that there is an inconsistency here, because there was no letter ‘J’ in Hebrew or Greek alphabets. However, we have the choice of changing all names that start with ‘J’ (such as Jesus, John, Jonah, Joshua, Jeremiah, etc.) to start with the letters ‘Ie’, or for consistency, we can change all the ‘Ies’ into ‘Js’, which is what we have done.

Does this mean then that we are setting out a new rule for name spelling? Absolutely not, for centuries ago a Bible translator first established this rule when he spelled the name Eliou (Greek spelling, pronounced ay-lee-ou) and wrote it as EliJah, because this name is regarded as meaning ‘My God is Jehovah.’

Also notice that where a name ends with an iah, as in Jeremiah (Jehovah exalts), we have often spelled it iJah, because the i would typically be pronounced as a long e followed by a y in Hebrew, and writing it without the i (as in JeremJah) misses this nuance. So we have rendered it JeremiJah, which is similar to the way it is often pronounced by modern-day Hebrew-speaking Jews, YeremiYah.

Another important word in names that we usually capitalize is ‘El’ (from the Hebrew Elohe, or God). So EliEzer (which people commonly pronounce Ee-lee-ay-zer and means God [has] Helped) should actually be pronounced Ehlee-EhZer. The same is true for the letters Ai, especially in the names of cities, because Ai in Hebrew refers to the word city. So, AiLam probably meant the City of Lam.

Similar words, such as Bel (as in BelShazzar), Baal, and Beel, refer to ‘the Lord’ or ‘the God.’ Also, the letters ‘Ben’ and ‘Bar’ mean ‘the son of.’ ‘Beth’ means ‘the house of,’ ‘Beer’ refers to a ‘well,’ ‘Is’ or ‘Ish’ means ‘Man,’ etc.

Does this mean that we have put all the capitals in the right places, and where they should be? No, for we make no claim to Hebrew scholarship. All we are trying to do is provide a better understanding to how these names were pronounced by Greek-speaking Jews.

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Baal, Beel, and Bel

Throughout the Ancient Scriptures of Israel (OT), you will read of Gods, people, and places with names that start with Baal, Beel, and Bel. These terms mean the Lord, the Master, or the Owner, and usually refer to the god of a people. So, although many think of Baal or Beel as a particular god, the word was just the title of a god, and the God’s name (or the place that he/it represented) follows the title, such as Beel Phegor (as found at Numbers 25:3). And where people just referred to their god as just Baal (or Beel), they were referring to their particular lord or god. Also, where a person’s name includes one of these terms (such as BelShazzar), it usually means that they were named after a local god (in this case, Shazzar).

Of course, having the title Baal or Beel in a name doesn’t necessarily imply that a person is a worshiper of a pagan god, for several faithful worshipers of Jehovah also had that title as part of their names. For example, the faithful Judge Gideon came to be known as JeroBaal, meaning ‘May Baal Defend Himself,’ because of his cutting down an altar to Baal. Also, one of King Saul’s grandsons (through faithful JoNathan) was named MeriBaal (meaning ‘Opposer of Baal’), one of King David’s faithful warriors was named BaalJah (meaning ‘My Lord is Jehovah’), and David named one of his sons BaalJada (meaning ‘Lord Knows’).

By the way, Baal is pronounced Bah-ahl and Beel is pronounced beh-el, not Bayel or Beel.

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God’s Messengers

Most Bible translations render the Greek word aggelos (pronounced ahn gel ose – with a hard g) as angel wherever it is found. However, aggelos is just the Greek word for messenger. True, in many cases where the Bible speaks of angels, it is referring to spirit messengers from God. However, this isn’t the correct meaning in every instance, and always translating it as angel may distort what was said in certain instances.

For example, consider the words at Acts 12:15. In Greek, the latter part of this verse reads, ‘oi de elegon Ho aggelos estin autou,’ and is often translated as, ‘They began to say, It is his angel.’

This rendering doesn’t sound reasonable, for it would have been bizarre for Christians to assume that an angel from God (someone who looked like Peter) was standing and knocking at their door. Rather, the rendering we’ve used there makes more sense: ‘So they said, It’s his messenger.’

Another good example of why aggelos shouldn’t always be translated as angels can be found at Genesis 32:3, which reads in Greek, Apasteile de Iakob aggelous emprosthen autou pros Hesau ton adelphon autou, or, Sent of Jacob angels ahead of him toward Esau the brother of him. Here Jacob was obviously sending human messengers to his brother, not heavenly ones.

Also, translating aggelos as messenger (when it truly means an ‘angel’) helps to provide readers a better, deeper understanding of the actual role that such spiritual sons of God play in His dealings with mankind.

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House, Temple, or Palace?

Throughout the Bible, the Greek word that’s used in most places to describe the Temple of Jehovah is Oikos (pronounced Oy-koss), or House. That is also true when it comes to describing the building where the king lived. However, for clarification we have usually chosen to translate the word as Temple when speaking of the place of worship of Jehovah, and as palace when speaking of the king’s house. We’ve done this because neither of these buildings were just regular houses, and the words Temple and palace better describe their appearance and use in contemporary American English.

There is a Greek word that means Temple, which was occasionally used to describe that place of worship. It is naos (pronounced nah-oss). So, calling the building a Temple is in line with what it was actually referred to by God’s people.

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Eunuchs

When we hear the word eunuch, we usually think of a man that have been castrated, because that’s what the term has come to mean through the years. However, when someone is described as a eunuch in the Bible, it doesn’t necessarily mean that he was sexually mutilated. In fact, during the reigns of faithful kings of Israel, such mutilation would have been considered repulsive, for such a person by Law couldn’t serve as a Priest or worship at the Temple of Jehovah.

Does this mean then that God dislikes men whose testicles have been forcibly or accidentally removed? No, surely the reasons for this law involved His knowledge that some men, in their desire to better serve Him, may have considered castration to remove any carnal desires, and He clearly didn’t want that to happen. So, He provided a law to disallow any who were castrated from serving Him in these special ways.

Now, the Greek word eunuch doesn’t really carry the meaning of castration. Rather, it means bed keeper. However, most bed keepers (or harem watchers) for kings were in fact castrated to keep them from temptation. Yet, notice that eunuchs are frequently mentioned in the Bible as holding other offices (such as the Ethiopian Eunuch), which didn’t necessarily require castration. So, why were they then referred to as bed keepers? Because the term had come under common use to apply to all trusted servants of kings.

Was Daniel (who served under the chief Babylonian eunuch) a eunuch? As repulsive as this thought may be to some, his position as a special servant to the king would indicate that he held the title of eunuch. But is it possible that he had also been castrated? Well, as an early captive from Jerusalem, he was likely a member of the nobility or royalty, and notice the prophecy that God gave to King HezekJah at Isaiah 39:7, where we read, ‘They will take your children – those who you have fathered – and make make them eunuchs in the houses of the Babylonians.’

In the above case, the Greek word that we have translated as eunuch (which is also a Greek word) is castrati, or one who has been sexually mutilated. Now, God has used many men who would be otherwise disqualified for special assignments. And the fact that there is no mention of Daniel having a wife or children, and that none of his descendants are listed among those who returned to Jerusalem, makes this a possible conclusion.

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Who Does the Image of Daniel Chapter Two Represent?

In Daniel Chapter Two, King NebuChadnezzar saw a huge image in a dream that had a head of gold, hands, chest, and shoulders of silver, belly and thighs of brass, legs of iron, and feet of iron and baked clay (pottery). Then Daniel explained that King NebuChadnezzar (or the world empire of Babylon) was the head of gold, and that his kingdom (or empire) would be followed by a lesser king (the one of silver), which turned out to be the empire of Persia, with their allies and close neighbors, the Medes.

Daniel described the next empire (the one of brass) as one that would ‘dominate the whole earth,’ and that aptly describes the empire of Greece under Alexander the Great.

The next ‘king’ or empire (the legs of iron) was described by Daniel as being ‘as strong as iron. For, as iron crushes and tames all things, it will tame and crush everything.’ That aptly describes Rome under the Caesars.

But which empire (king) is represented by the feet of iron and baked clay? We know that it has to be a last empire, since it is replaced (crushed) by God’s Kingdom.

Now, there have been several world empires since the time of Roman domination, the Turks, the Huns, the Norse, the French, the Spanish, the Germans, the British, and the Americans. However, the Bible only speaks of one empire after Rome, so which would that be?

The first clue comes from the Greek words used in verse 41, where we read (in part), ‘kai apo tes rizes tes sideras estai en on,’ or, ‘and from the roots of/the iron is in it.’ So, we must conclude that this ‘king’ is rooted in the Roman Empire, and this could refer to Spain, France, or England, for they all had deep Roman roots… but which one?

The next clue comes from the words found in verses 42 and 43, which say, ‘And because the toes of the feet are part iron and part baked clay, part of the kingdom will be strong and part of it will be broken. For, as you saw the iron mixed with the baked clay, [this kingdom] will be mixed with the seed of men… they won’t stick to each other, as iron won’t stick to baked clay.’

Notice that the kingdom will be ‘mixed with the seed of men,’ or made up of many races. That well describes the vast British Empire and its many colonies, especially the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, etc. And since each of these former British colonies has claimed some form of independence, they haven’t stuck together and they don’t always agree.

The final clue is the fact that these governments (or loose empire) are the last. So, we would assume that God’s Kingdom will soon ‘hit the image on its feet of iron and baked clay, and completely shattered them.’

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The Wild Animals of Daniel Seven

Daniel Chapter Seven once again gives us a vision of those who would rule the world before the coming of God’s Kingdom, and it clarifies and enlarges on the descriptions of these kingdoms, and of what they would do. Why all great world powers since the time of Daniel aren’t included, is made clear in the words of Daniel 7:18, where we read, ‘They will [each] take to themselves the kingdom of the holy ones of the Most High, and they will control it though the ages, and into the ages of ages.’

So, each of the following world powers that dominated Israel (Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome) are what is pictured by the wild animals.

The one that was pictured by the female lion with wings, but lost her wings and was given the feet and heart of a man, was the empire of Babylon, whose ruler NebuChadnezzar was humbled by God.

The one that was pictured by the bear was the empire of the Medes and Persians, and the three ribs in its mouth likely pictures their conquests of Babylon, Asia Minor, and