II John

II John

GREETINGS

1 This letter is from John, the elder.*
  I am writing to the chosen lady and to her children,* whom I love in the truth—as does everyone else who knows the truth—2 because the truth lives in us and will be with us forever.

  3 Grace, mercy, and peace, which come from God the Father and from Jesus Christ—the Son of the Father—will continue to be with us who live in truth and love.

LIVE IN THE TRUTH

4 How happy I was to meet some of your children and find them living according to the truth, just as the Father commanded.

  5 I am writing to remind you, dear friends,* that we should love one another. This is not a new commandment, but one we have had from the beginning.6 Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning.

  7 I say this because many deceivers have gone out into the world. They deny that Jesus Christ came* in a real body. Such a person is a deceiver and an antichrist.8 Watch out that you do not lose what we* have worked so hard to achieve. Be diligent so that you receive your full reward.9 Anyone who wanders away from this teaching has no relationship with God. But anyone who remains in the teaching of Christ has a relationship with both the Father and the Son.

  10 If anyone comes to your meeting and does not teach the truth about Christ, don't invite that person into your home or give any kind of encouragement.11 Anyone who encourages such people becomes a partner in their evil work.

CONCLUSION

12 I have much more to say to you, but I don't want to do it with paper and ink. For I hope to visit you soon and talk with you face to face. Then our joy will be complete.

  13 Greetings from the children of your sister,* chosen by God.

Proverbs 27

Proverbs 27

1 Don't brag about tomorrow,
  since you don't know what the day will bring.

2 Let someone else praise you, not your own mouth—
  a stranger, not your own lips.

3 A stone is heavy and sand is weighty,
  but the resentment caused by a fool is even heavier.

4 Anger is cruel, and wrath is like a flood,
  but jealousy is even more dangerous.

5 An open rebuke
  is better than hidden love!

6 Wounds from a sincere friend
  are better than many kisses from an enemy.

7 A person who is full refuses honey,
  but even bitter food tastes sweet to the hungry.

8 A person who strays from home
  is like a bird that strays from its nest.

9 The heartfelt counsel of a friend
  is as sweet as perfume and incense.

10 Never abandon a friend—   either yours or your father's.
When disaster strikes, you won't have to ask your brother for assistance.
  It's better to go to a neighbor than to a brother who lives far away.

11 Be wise, my child,* and make my heart glad.
  Then I will be able to answer my critics.

12 A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions.
  The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.

13 Get security from someone who guarantees a stranger's debt.
  Get a deposit if he does it for foreigners.*

14 A loud and cheerful greeting early in the morning
  will be taken as a curse!

15 A quarrelsome wife is as annoying
  as constant dripping on a rainy day.
16 Stopping her complaints is like trying to stop the wind
  or trying to hold something with greased hands.

17 As iron sharpens iron,
  so a friend sharpens a friend.

18 As workers who tend a fig tree are allowed to eat the fruit,
  so workers who protect their employer's interests will be rewarded.

19 As a face is reflected in water,
  so the heart reflects the real person.

20 Just as Death and Destruction* are never satisfied,
  so human desire is never satisfied.

21 Fire tests the purity of silver and gold,
  but a person is tested by being praised.*

22 You cannot separate fools from their foolishness,
  even though you grind them like grain with mortar and pestle.

23 Know the state of your flocks,
and put your heart into caring for your herds,
24 for riches don't last forever,
and the crown might not be passed to the next generation.
25 After the hay is harvested and the new crop appears
 and the mountain grasses are gathered in,
26 your sheep will provide wool for clothing,
  and your goats will provide the price of a field.
27 And you will have enough goats' milk for yourself,
  your family, and your servant girls.

Proverbs 26

Proverbs 26

1 Honor is no more associated with fools
  than snow with summer or rain with harvest.

2 Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow,
  an undeserved curse will not land on its intended victim.

3 Guide a horse with a whip, a donkey with a bridle,
  and a fool with a rod to his back!

4 Don't answer the foolish arguments of fools,
  or you will become as foolish as they are.

5 Be sure to answer the foolish arguments of fools,
  or they will become wise in their own estimation.

6 Trusting a fool to convey a message
  is like cutting off one's feet or drinking poison!

7 A proverb in the mouth of a fool
  is as useless as a paralyzed leg.

8 Honoring a fool
  is as foolish as tying a stone to a slingshot.

9 A proverb in the mouth of a fool
  is like a thorny branch brandished by a drunk.

10 An employer who hires a fool or a bystander
  is like an archer who shoots at random.

11 As a dog returns to its vomit,
  so a fool repeats his foolishness.

12 There is more hope for fools
  than for people who think they are wise.

13 The lazy person claims, "There's a lion on the road!
  Yes, I'm sure there's a lion out there!"

14 As a door swings back and forth on its hinges,
  so the lazy person turns over in bed.

15 Lazy people take food in their hand
  but don't even lift it to their mouth.

16 Lazy people consider themselves smarter
  than seven wise counselors.

17 Interfering in someone else's argument
  is as foolish as yanking a dog's ears.

18 Just as damaging
  as a madman shooting a deadly weapon
19 is someone who lies to a friend
  and then says, "I was only joking."

20 Fire goes out without wood,
  and quarrels disappear when gossip stops.

21 A quarrelsome person starts fights
  as easily as hot embers light charcoal or fire lights wood.

22 Rumors are dainty morsels
  that sink deep into one's heart.

23 Smooth* words may hide a wicked heart,
  just as a pretty glaze covers a clay pot.

24 People may cover their hatred with pleasant words,
  but they're deceiving you.
25 They pretend to be kind, but don't believe them.
  Their hearts are full of many evils.*
26 While their hatred may be concealed by trickery,
  their wrongdoing will be exposed in public.

27 If you set a trap for others,
  you will get caught in it yourself.
If you roll a boulder down on others,
  it will crush you instead.

28 A lying tongue hates its victims,
  and flattering words cause ruin.

Proverbs 25

Proverbs 25

MORE PROVERBS OF SOLOMON

1 These are more proverbs of Solomon, collected by the advisers of King Hezekiah of Judah.

2 It is God's privilege to conceal things
  and the king's privilege to discover them.

3 No one can comprehend the height of heaven, the depth of the earth,
  or all that goes on in the king's mind!

4 Remove the impurities from silver,
  and the sterling will be ready for the silversmith.
5 Remove the wicked from the king's court,
  and his reign will be made secure by justice.

6 Don't demand an audience with the king
  or push for a place among the great.
7 It's better to wait for an invitation to the head table
  than to be sent away in public disgrace.

Just because you've seen something,
8   don't be in a hurry to go to court.
For what will you do in the end
  if your neighbor deals you a shameful defeat?

9 When arguing with your neighbor,
  don't betray another person's secret.
10 Others may accuse you of gossip,
  and you will never regain your good reputation.

11 Timely advice is lovely,
  like golden apples in a silver basket.

12 To one who listens, valid criticism
  is like a gold earring or other gold jewelry.

13 Trustworthy messengers refresh like snow in summer.
  They revive the spirit of their employer.

14 A person who promises a gift but doesn't give it
  is like clouds and wind that bring no rain.

15 Patience can persuade a prince,
  and soft speech can break bones.

16 Do you like honey?
  Don't eat too much, or it will make you sick!

17 Don't visit your neighbors too often,
  or you will wear out your welcome.

18 Telling lies about others
  is as harmful as hitting them with an ax,
wounding them with a sword,
  or shooting them with a sharp arrow.

19 Putting confidence in an unreliable person in times of trouble
  is like chewing with a broken tooth or walking on a lame foot.

20 Singing cheerful songs to a person with a heavy heart
  is like taking someone's coat in cold weather
  or pouring vinegar in a wound.*

21 If your enemies are hungry, give them food to eat.
  If they are thirsty, give them water to drink.
22 You will heap burning coals of shame on their heads,
  and the LORD will reward you.

23 As surely as a north wind brings rain,
  so a gossiping tongue causes anger!

24 It's better to live alone in the corner of an attic
  than with a quarrelsome wife in a lovely home.

25 Good news from far away
  is like cold water to the thirsty.

26 If the godly give in to the wicked,
  it's like polluting a fountain or muddying a spring.

27 It's not good to eat too much honey,
  and it's not good to seek honors for yourself.

28 A person without self-control
  is like a city with broken-down walls.

Proverbs 24

Proverbs 24

1 Don't envy evil people
  or desire their company.
2 For their hearts plot violence,
  and their words always stir up trouble.

3 A house is built by wisdom
  and becomes strong through good sense.
4 Through knowledge its rooms are filled
  with all sorts of precious riches and valuables.

5 The wise are mightier than the strong,*
  and those with knowledge grow stronger and stronger.
6 So don't go to war without wise guidance;
  victory depends on having many advisers.

7 Wisdom is too lofty for fools.
  Among leaders at the city gate, they have nothing to say.

8 A person who plans evil
  will get a reputation as a troublemaker.
9 The schemes of a fool are sinful;
  everyone detests a mocker.

10 If you fail under pressure,
  your strength is too small.

11 Rescue those who are unjustly sentenced to die;
  save them as they stagger to their death.
12 Don't excuse yourself by saying, "Look, we didn't know."
  For God understands all hearts, and he sees you.
He who guards your soul knows you knew.
  He will repay all people as their actions deserve.

13 My child,* eat honey, for it is good,
  and the honeycomb is sweet to the taste.
14 In the same way, wisdom is sweet to your soul.
  If you find it, you will have a bright future,
  and your hopes will not be cut short.

15 Don't wait in ambush at the home of the godly,
  and don't raid the house where the godly live.
16 The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again.
  But one disaster is enough to overthrow the wicked.

17 Don't rejoice when your enemies fall;
  don't be happy when they stumble.
18 For the LORD will be displeased with you
  and will turn his anger away from them.

19 Don't fret because of evildoers;
  don't envy the wicked.
20 For evil people have no future;
  the light of the wicked will be snuffed out.

21 My child, fear the LORD and the king.
Don't associate with rebels,
22   for disaster will hit them suddenly.
Who knows what punishment will come
  from the LORD and the king?

MORE SAYINGS OF THE WISE

23 Here are some further sayings of the wise:

It is wrong to show favoritism when passing judgment.
24 A judge who says to the wicked, "You are innocent,"
  will be cursed by many people and denounced by the nations.
25 But it will go well for those who convict the guilty;
  rich blessings will be showered on them.

26 An honest answer
  is like a kiss of friendship.

27 Do your planning and prepare your fields
  before building your house.

28 Don't testify against your neighbors without cause;
  don't lie about them.
29 And don't say, "Now I can pay them back for what they've done to me!
  I'll get even with them!"

30 I walked by the field of a lazy person,
  the vineyard of one with no common sense.
31 I saw that it was overgrown with nettles.
  It was covered with weeds,
  and its walls were broken down.
32 Then, as I looked and thought about it,
  I learned this lesson:
33 A little extra sleep, a little more slumber,
  a little folding of the hands to rest—
34 then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit;
  scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.

Daniel 12

Daniel 12

THE TIME OF THE END

1 "At that time Michael, the archangel* who stands guard over your nation, will arise. Then there will be a time of anguish greater than any since nations first came into existence. But at that time every one of your people whose name is written in the book will be rescued.2 Many of those whose bodies lie dead and buried will rise up, some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting disgrace.3 Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever.4 But you, Daniel, keep this prophecy a secret; seal up the book until the time of the end, when many will rush here and there, and knowledge will increase."

  5 Then I, Daniel, looked and saw two others standing on opposite banks of the river.6 One of them asked the man dressed in linen, who was now standing above the river, "How long will it be until these shocking events are over?"

  7 The man dressed in linen, who was standing above the river, raised both his hands toward heaven and took a solemn oath by the One who lives forever, saying, "It will go on for a time, times, and half a time. When the shattering of the holy people has finally come to an end, all these things will have happened."

  8 I heard what he said, but I did not understand what he meant. So I asked, "How will all this finally end, my lord?"

  9 But he said, "Go now, Daniel, for what I have said is kept secret and sealed until the time of the end.10 Many will be purified, cleansed, and refined by these trials. But the wicked will continue in their wickedness, and none of them will understand. Only those who are wise will know what it means.

  11 "From the time the daily sacrifice is stopped and the sacrilegious object that causes desecration* is set up to be worshiped, there will be 1,290 days.12 And blessed are those who wait and remain until the end of the 1,335 days!

  13 "As for you, go your way until the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days, you will rise again to receive the inheritance set aside for you."

Daniel 11

Daniel 11

KINGS OF THE SOUTH AND NORTH

2 "Now then, I will reveal the truth to you. Three more Persian kings will reign, to be succeeded by a fourth, far richer than the others. He will use his wealth to stir up everyone to fight against the kingdom of Greece.*

  3 "Then a mighty king will rise to power who will rule with great authority and accomplish everything he sets out to do.4 But at the height of his power, his kingdom will be broken apart and divided into four parts. It will not be ruled by the king's descendants, nor will the kingdom hold the authority it once had. For his empire will be uprooted and given to others.

  5 "The king of the south will increase in power, but one of his own officials will become more powerful than he and will rule his kingdom with great strength.

  6 "Some years later an alliance will be formed between the king of the north and the king of the south. The daughter of the king of the south will be given in marriage to the king of the north to secure the alliance, but she will lose her influence over him, and so will her father. She will be abandoned along with her supporters.7 But when one of her relatives* becomes king of the south, he will raise an army and enter the fortress of the king of the north and defeat him.8 When he returns to Egypt, he will carry back their idols with him, along with priceless articles of gold and silver. For some years afterward he will leave the king of the north alone.

  9 "Later the king of the north will invade the realm of the king of the south but will soon return to his own land.10 However, the sons of the king of the north will assemble a mighty army that will advance like a flood and carry the battle as far as the enemy's fortress.

  11 "Then, in a rage, the king of the south will rally against the vast forces assembled by the king of the north and will defeat them.12 After the enemy army is swept away, the king of the south will be filled with pride and will execute many thousands of his enemies. But his success will be short lived.

  13 "A few years later the king of the north will return with a fully equipped army far greater than before.14 At that time there will be a general uprising against the king of the south. Violent men among your own people will join them in fulfillment of this vision, but they will not succeed.15 Then the king of the north will come and lay siege to a fortified city and capture it. The best troops of the south will not be able to stand in the face of the onslaught.

  16 "The king of the north will march onward unopposed; none will be able to stop him. He will pause in the glorious land of Israel,* intent on destroying it.17 He will make plans to come with the might of his entire kingdom and will form an alliance with the king of the south. He will give him a daughter in marriage in order to overthrow the kingdom from within, but his plan will fail.

  18 "After this, he will turn his attention to the coastland and conquer many cities. But a commander from another land will put an end to his insolence and cause him to retreat in shame.19 He will take refuge in his own fortresses but will stumble and fall and be seen no more.

  20 "His successor will send out a tax collector to maintain the royal splendor. But after a very brief reign, he will die, though not from anger or in battle.

  21 "The next to come to power will be a despicable man who is not in line for royal succession. He will slip in when least expected and take over the kingdom by flattery and intrigue.22 Before him great armies will be swept away, including a covenant prince.23 With deceitful promises, he will make various alliances. He will become strong despite having only a handful of followers.24 Without warning he will enter the richest areas of the land. Then he will distribute among his followers the plunder and wealth of the rich—something his predecessors had never done. He will plot the overthrow of strongholds, but this will last for only a short while.

  25 "Then he will stir up his courage and raise a great army against the king of the south. The king of the south will go to battle with a mighty army, but to no avail, for there will be plots against him.26 His own household will cause his downfall. His army will be swept away, and many will be killed.27 Seeking nothing but each other's harm, these kings will plot against each other at the conference table, attempting to deceive each other. But it will make no difference, for the end will come at the appointed time.

  28 "The king of the north will then return home with great riches. On the way he will set himself against the people of the holy covenant, doing much damage before continuing his journey.

  29 "Then at the appointed time he will once again invade the south, but this time the result will be different.30 For warships from western coastlands* will scare him off, and he will withdraw and return home. But he will vent his anger against the people of the holy covenant and reward those who forsake the covenant.

  31 "His army will take over the Temple fortress, pollute the sanctuary, put a stop to the daily sacrifices, and set up the sacrilegious object that causes desecration.*32 He will flatter and win over those who have violated the covenant. But the people who know their God will be strong and will resist him.

  33 "Wise leaders will give instruction to many, but these teachers will die by fire and sword, or they will be jailed and robbed.34 During these persecutions, little help will arrive, and many who join them will not be sincere.35 And some of the wise will fall victim to persecution. In this way, they will be refined and cleansed and made pure until the time of the end, for the appointed time is still to come.

  36 "The king will do as he pleases, exalting himself and claiming to be greater than every god, even blaspheming the God of gods. He will succeed, but only until the time of wrath is completed. For what has been determined will surely take place.37 He will have no respect for the gods of his ancestors, or for the god loved by women, or for any other god, for he will boast that he is greater than them all.38 Instead of these, he will worship the god of fortresses—a god his ancestors never knew—and lavish on him gold, silver, precious stones, and expensive gifts.39 Claiming this foreign god's help, he will attack the strongest fortresses. He will honor those who submit to him, appointing them to positions of authority and dividing the land among them as their reward.*

  40 "Then at the time of the end, the king of the south will attack the king of the north. The king of the north will storm out with chariots, charioteers, and a vast navy. He will invade various lands and sweep through them like a flood.41 He will enter the glorious land of Israel,* and many nations will fall, but Moab, Edom, and the best part of Ammon will escape.42 He will conquer many countries, and even Egypt will not escape.43 He will gain control over the gold, silver, and treasures of Egypt, and the Libyans and Ethiopians* will be his servants.

  44 "But then news from the east and the north will alarm him, and he will set out in great anger to destroy and obliterate many.45 He will stop between the glorious holy mountain and the sea and will pitch his royal tents. But while he is there, his time will suddenly run out, and no one will help him.

Daniel 10

Daniel 10

DANIEL'S VISION OF A MESSENGER

1 In the third year of the reign of King Cyrus of Persia,* Daniel (also known as Belteshazzar) had another vision. He understood that the vision concerned events certain to happen in the future—times of war and great hardship.

  2 When this vision came to me, I, Daniel, had been in mourning for three whole weeks.3 All that time I had eaten no rich food. No meat or wine crossed my lips, and I used no fragrant lotions until those three weeks had passed.

  4 On April 23,* as I was standing on the bank of the great Tigris River,5 I looked up and saw a man dressed in linen clothing, with a belt of pure gold around his waist.6 His body looked like a precious gem. His face flashed like lightning, and his eyes flamed like torches. His arms and feet shone like polished bronze, and his voice roared like a vast multitude of people.

  7 Only I, Daniel, saw this vision. The men with me saw nothing, but they were suddenly terrified and ran away to hide.8 So I was left there all alone to see this amazing vision. My strength left me, my face grew deathly pale, and I felt very weak.9 Then I heard the man speak, and when I heard the sound of his voice, I fainted and lay there with my face to the ground.

  10 Just then a hand touched me and lifted me, still trembling, to my hands and knees.11 And the man said to me, "Daniel, you are very precious to God, so listen carefully to what I have to say to you. Stand up, for I have been sent to you." When he said this to me, I stood up, still trembling.

  12 Then he said, "Don't be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer.13 But for twenty-one days the spirit prince* of the kingdom of Persia blocked my way. Then Michael, one of the archangels,* came to help me, and I left him there with the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia.*14 Now I am here to explain what will happen to your people in the future, for this vision concerns a time yet to come."

  15 While he was speaking to me, I looked down at the ground, unable to say a word.16 Then the one who looked like a man* touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and began to speak. I said to the one standing in front of me, "I am filled with anguish because of the vision I have seen, my lord, and I am very weak.17 How can someone like me, your servant, talk to you, my lord? My strength is gone, and I can hardly breathe."

  18 Then the one who looked like a man touched me again, and I felt my strength returning.19 "Don't be afraid," he said, "for you are very precious to God. Peace! Be encouraged! Be strong!"
  As he spoke these words to me, I suddenly felt stronger and said to him, "Please speak to me, my lord, for you have strengthened me."

  20 He replied, "Do you know why I have come? Soon I must return to fight against the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia, and after that the spirit prince of the kingdom of Greece* will come.21 Meanwhile, I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth.


(No one helps me against these spirit princes except Michael, your spirit prince.*11:1 I have been standing beside Michael* to support and strengthen him since the first year of the reign of Darius the Mede.)

Daniel 9

Daniel 9

DANIEL'S PRAYER FOR HIS PEOPLE

1 It was the first year of the reign of Darius the Mede, the son of Ahasuerus, who became king of the Babylonians.*2 During the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, learned from reading the word of the LORD, as revealed to Jeremiah the prophet, that Jerusalem must lie desolate for seventy years.*3 So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and fasting. I also wore rough burlap and sprinkled myself with ashes.

  4 I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed:

"O Lord, you are a great and awesome God! You always fulfill your covenant and keep your promises of unfailing love to those who love you and obey your commands.5 But we have sinned and done wrong. We have rebelled against you and scorned your commands and regulations.6 We have refused to listen to your servants the prophets, who spoke on your authority to our kings and princes and ancestors and to all the people of the land.

  7 "Lord, you are in the right; but as you see, our faces are covered with shame. This is true of all of us, including the people of Judah and Jerusalem and all Israel, scattered near and far, wherever you have driven us because of our disloyalty to you.8 O LORD, we and our kings, princes, and ancestors are covered with shame because we have sinned against you.9 But the Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him.10 We have not obeyed the LORD our God, for we have not followed the instructions he gave us through his servants the prophets.11 All Israel has disobeyed your instruction and turned away, refusing to listen to your voice.

 "So now the solemn curses and judgments written in the Law of Moses, the servant of God, have been poured down on us because of our sin.12 You have kept your word and done to us and our rulers exactly as you warned. Never has there been such a disaster as happened in Jerusalem.13 Every curse written against us in the Law of Moses has come true. Yet we have refused to seek mercy from the LORD our God by turning from our sins and recognizing his truth.14 Therefore, the LORD has brought upon us the disaster he prepared. The LORD our God was right to do all of these things, for we did not obey him.

  15 "O Lord our God, you brought lasting honor to your name by rescuing your people from Egypt in a great display of power. But we have sinned and are full of wickedness.16 In view of all your faithful mercies, Lord, please turn your furious anger away from your city Jerusalem, your holy mountain. All the neighboring nations mock Jerusalem and your people because of our sins and the sins of our ancestors.

  17 "O our God, hear your servant's prayer! Listen as I plead. For your own sake, Lord, smile again on your desolate sanctuary.

  18 "O my God, lean down and listen to me. Open your eyes and see our despair. See how your city—the city that bears your name—lies in ruins. We make this plea, not because we deserve help, but because of your mercy.

  19 "O Lord, hear. O Lord, forgive. O Lord, listen and act! For your own sake, do not delay, O my God, for your people and your city bear your name."

GABRIEL'S MESSAGE ABOUT THE ANOINTED ONE

20 I went on praying and confessing my sin and the sin of my people, pleading with the LORD my God for Jerusalem, his holy mountain.21 As I was praying, Gabriel, whom I had seen in the earlier vision, came swiftly to me at the time of the evening sacrifice.22 He explained to me, "Daniel, I have come here to give you insight and understanding.23 The moment you began praying, a command was given. And now I am here to tell you what it was, for you are very precious to God. Listen carefully so that you can understand the meaning of your vision.

  24 "A period of seventy sets of seven* has been decreed for your people and your holy city to finish their rebellion, to put an end to their sin, to atone for their guilt, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to confirm the prophetic vision, and to anoint the Most Holy Place.*25 Now listen and understand! Seven sets of seven plus sixty-two sets of seven* will pass from the time the command is given to rebuild Jerusalem until a ruler—the Anointed One*—comes. Jerusalem will be rebuilt with streets and strong defenses,* despite the perilous times.

  26 "After this period of sixty-two sets of seven,* the Anointed One will be killed, appearing to have accomplished nothing, and a ruler will arise whose armies will destroy the city and the Temple. The end will come with a flood, and war and its miseries are decreed from that time to the very end.27 The ruler will make a treaty with the people for a period of one set of seven,* but after half this time, he will put an end to the sacrifices and offerings. And as a climax to all his terrible deeds,* he will set up a sacrilegious object that causes desecration,* until the fate decreed for this defiler is finally poured out on him."

Daniel 8

Daniel 8

DANIEL'S VISION OF A RAM AND GOAT

1 *During the third year of King Belshazzar's reign, I, Daniel, saw another vision, following the one that had already appeared to me.2 In this vision I was at the fortress of Susa, in the province of Elam, standing beside the Ulai River.*

  3 As I looked up, I saw a ram with two long horns standing beside the river.* One of the horns was longer than the other, even though it had grown later than the other one.4 The ram butted everything out of his way to the west, to the north, and to the south, and no one could stand against him or help his victims. He did as he pleased and became very great.

  5 While I was watching, suddenly a male goat appeared from the west, crossing the land so swiftly that he didn't even touch the ground. This goat, which had one very large horn between its eyes,6 headed toward the two-horned ram that I had seen standing beside the river, rushing at him in a rage.7 The goat charged furiously at the ram and struck him, breaking off both his horns. Now the ram was helpless, and the goat knocked him down and trampled him. No one could rescue the ram from the goat's power.

  8 The goat became very powerful. But at the height of his power, his large horn was broken off. In the large horn's place grew four prominent horns pointing in the four directions of the earth.9 Then from one of the prominent horns came a small horn whose power grew very great. It extended toward the south and the east and toward the glorious land of Israel.10 Its power reached to the heavens, where it attacked the heavenly army, throwing some of the heavenly beings and some of the stars to the ground and trampling them.11 It even challenged the Commander of heaven's army by canceling the daily sacrifices offered to him and by destroying his Temple.12 The army of heaven was restrained from responding to this rebellion. So the daily sacrifice was halted, and truth was overthrown. The horn succeeded in everything it did.*

  13 Then I heard two holy ones talking to each other. One of them asked, "How long will the events of this vision last? How long will the rebellion that causes desecration stop the daily sacrifices? How long will the Temple and heaven's army be trampled on?"

  14 The other replied, "It will take 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the Temple will be made right again."

GABRIEL EXPLAINS THE VISION

15 As I, Daniel, was trying to understand the meaning of this vision, someone who looked like a man stood in front of me.16 And I heard a human voice calling out from the Ulai River, "Gabriel, tell this man the meaning of his vision."

  17 As Gabriel approached the place where I was standing, I became so terrified that I fell with my face to the ground. "Son of man," he said, "you must understand that the events you have seen in your vision relate to the time of the end."

  18 While he was speaking, I fainted and lay there with my face to the ground. But Gabriel roused me with a touch and helped me to my feet.

  19 Then he said, "I am here to tell you what will happen later in the time of wrath. What you have seen pertains to the very end of time.20 The two-horned ram represents the kings of Media and Persia.21 The shaggy male goat represents the king of Greece,* and the large horn between his eyes represents the first king of the Greek Empire.22 The four prominent horns that replaced the one large horn show that the Greek Empire will break into four kingdoms, but none as great as the first.

  23 "At the end of their rule, when their sin is at its height, a fierce king, a master of intrigue, will rise to power.24 He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause a shocking amount of destruction and succeed in everything he does. He will destroy powerful leaders and devastate the holy people.25 He will be a master of deception and will become arrogant; he will destroy many without warning. He will even take on the Prince of princes in battle, but he will be broken, though not by human power.

  26 "This vision about the 2,300 evenings and mornings* is true. But none of these things will happen for a long time, so keep this vision a secret."

  27 Then I, Daniel, was overcome and lay sick for several days. Afterward I got up and performed my duties for the king, but I was greatly troubled by the vision and could not understand it.

Daniel 7

Daniel 7

DANIEL'S VISION OF FOUR BEASTS

1 Earlier, during the first year of King Belshazzar's reign in Babylon,* Daniel had a dream and saw visions as he lay in his bed. He wrote down the dream, and this is what he saw.

  2 In my vision that night, I, Daniel, saw a great storm churning the surface of a great sea, with strong winds blowing from every direction.3 Then four huge beasts came up out of the water, each different from the others.

  4 The first beast was like a lion with eagles' wings. As I watched, its wings were pulled off, and it was left standing with its two hind feet on the ground, like a human being. And it was given a human mind.

  5 Then I saw a second beast, and it looked like a bear. It was rearing up on one side, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. And I heard a voice saying to it, "Get up! Devour the flesh of many people!"

  6 Then the third of these strange beasts appeared, and it looked like a leopard. It had four bird's wings on its back, and it had four heads. Great authority was given to this beast.

  7 Then in my vision that night, I saw a fourth beast—terrifying, dreadful, and very strong. It devoured and crushed its victims with huge iron teeth and trampled their remains beneath its feet. It was different from any of the other beasts, and it had ten horns.

  8 As I was looking at the horns, suddenly another small horn appeared among them. Three of the first horns were torn out by the roots to make room for it. This little horn had eyes like human eyes and a mouth that was boasting arrogantly.

9 I watched as thrones were put in place
  and the Ancient One* sat down to judge.
His clothing was as white as snow,
  his hair like purest wool.
He sat on a fiery throne
  with wheels of blazing fire,
10 and a river of fire was pouring out,
  flowing from his presence.
Millions of angels ministered to him;
  many millions stood to attend him.
Then the court began its session,
  and the books were opened.

  11 I continued to watch because I could hear the little horn's boastful speech. I kept watching until the fourth beast was killed and its body was destroyed by fire.12 The other three beasts had their authority taken from them, but they were allowed to live a while longer.*

  13 As my vision continued that night, I saw someone like a son of man* coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient One and was led into his presence.14 He was given authority, honor, and sovereignty over all the nations of the world, so that people of every race and nation and language would obey him. His rule is eternal—it will never end. His kingdom will never be destroyed.

THE VISION IS EXPLAINED

15 I, Daniel, was troubled by all I had seen, and my visions terrified me.16 So I approached one of those standing beside the throne and asked him what it all meant. He explained it to me like this:17 "These four huge beasts represent four kingdoms that will arise from the earth.18 But in the end, the holy people of the Most High will be given the kingdom, and they will rule forever and ever."

  19 Then I wanted to know the true meaning of the fourth beast, the one so different from the others and so terrifying. It had devoured and crushed its victims with iron teeth and bronze claws, trampling their remains beneath its feet.20 I also asked about the ten horns on the fourth beast's head and the little horn that came up afterward and destroyed three of the other horns. This horn had seemed greater than the others, and it had human eyes and a mouth that was boasting arrogantly.21 As I watched, this horn was waging war against God's holy people and was defeating them,22 until the Ancient One—the Most High—came and judged in favor of his holy people. Then the time arrived for the holy people to take over the kingdom.

  23 Then he said to me, "This fourth beast is the fourth world power that will rule the earth. It will be different from all the others. It will devour the whole world, trampling and crushing everything in its path.24 Its ten horns are ten kings who will rule that empire. Then another king will arise, different from the other ten, who will subdue three of them.25 He will defy the Most High and oppress the holy people of the Most High. He will try to change their sacred festivals and laws, and they will be placed under his control for a time, times, and half a time.

  26 "But then the court will pass judgment, and all his power will be taken away and completely destroyed.27 Then the sovereignty, power, and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be given to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom will last forever, and all rulers will serve and obey him."

  28 That was the end of the vision. I, Daniel, was terrified by my thoughts and my face was pale with fear, but I kept these things to myself.