1 I n the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar a vision appeared to me, Daniel, after the one that appeared to me at the first.

In the third year that Belshazzar was king, I, Daniel, had another special dream.

2 A nd I saw in the vision and it seemed that I was at Shushan the palace or fortress, which is in the province of Elam, and I saw in the vision and I was by the river of Ulai.

In the dream I looked and saw that I was in the strong city of Susa, in the land of Elam. I saw that I was beside the Ulai River.

3 A nd I lifted up my eyes and saw, and behold, there stood before the river a ram which had two horns; and the two horns were high, but one was higher than the other, and the higher one came up last.

Then I looked up and saw a ram with two horns standing by the river. The two horns were long, but one was longer than the other. And the longer one came up last.

4 I looked and saw the ram pushing and charging westward and northward and southward; no beast could stand before him, neither could anyone rescue from his power, but he did according to his will and pleasure and magnified himself.

I saw the ram pushing to the west, to the north, and to the south. No other animals could stop him or be saved from his power. He did as he pleased and made himself great.

5 A s I was considering, behold, a he-goat came from the west across the face of the whole earth without touching the ground, and the goat had a conspicuous and remarkable horn between his eyes.

While I was watching, a male goat came from the west across the whole earth without touching the ground. And the goat had a horn between his eyes that was very easy to see.

6 A nd he came to the ram that had the two horns which I had seen standing on the bank of the river and ran at him in the heat of his power.

He came up to the ram with the two horns, which I had seen standing by the river, and rushed at him in his strong anger.

7 I saw him come close to the ram, and he was moved with anger against him and he struck the ram and broke his two horns; and there was no power in the ram to stand before him, but the goat threw him to the ground and trampled on him. And there was no one who could rescue the ram from his power.

I saw him come at the ram in his anger. He hit the ram and broke his two horns to pieces. The ram was not strong enough to fight against him. So the goat threw him to the ground and crushed him under foot. And there was no one to save the ram from his power.

8 A nd the he-goat magnified himself exceedingly, and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and instead of there came up four notable horns toward the four winds of the heavens.

Then the male goat became very great. But as soon as he was powerful, the large horn was broken. And four large horns came up in its place, toward the four winds of heaven.

9 O ut of littleness and small beginnings one of them came forth, a horn whose grew exceedingly great toward the south and toward the east and toward the ornament.

Out of them came a little horn which grew in power toward the south, toward the east, and toward the Beautiful Land.

10 A nd grew great, even against the host of heaven, and some of the host and of the stars it cast down to the ground and trampled on them,

It grew to be as great as the army of heaven and made some of them fall to the earth, and it crushed them into the ground.

11 Y es, magnified itself, even against the Prince of the host; and from Him the continual was taken away and the place of sanctuary was cast down and profaned.

It thought itself to be as great as the Ruler of the army of heaven. It took away the burnt gifts which were given to Him each day, and destroyed His holy place.

12 A nd the host was given together with the continual burnt offering because of the transgression. And righteousness and truth were cast down to the ground, and it accomplished this and prospered.

Because of sin, the army of heaven and the burnt gifts were given over to the horn. It did well in whatever it wanted to do, and truth was thrown to the ground.

13 T hen I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to the one that spoke, For how long is the vision concerning the continual offering, the transgression that makes desolate, and the giving over of both the sanctuary and the host to be trampled underfoot?

Then I heard a holy one speaking. And another holy one said to the one that spoke, “How long will it take for the things seen in the dream to happen? How long will the burnt gifts be taken, and sin allowed to destroy, so that the holy place and the army of heaven are crushed under foot?”

14 A nd he said to him and to me, For 2, 300 evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary shall be cleansed and restored.

He said to me, “For 2, 300 evenings and mornings. Then the holy place will be put to use again.” Gabriel Tells the Meaning of the Dream

15 W hen I, even I, Daniel, had seen the vision, I sought to understand it; then behold, there stood before me one with the appearance of a man.

When I, Daniel, had seen the special dream, I tried to understand it. Then I saw one standing in front of me who looked like a man.

16 A nd I heard a man’s voice between the banks of the Ulai which called and said, Gabriel, make this man understand the vision.

And I heard a man’s voice from the Ulai River. He called out and said, “Gabriel, help this man to understand the special dream.”

17 S o he came near where I stood, and when he came, I was frightened and fell on my face. But he said to me, Understand, O son of man, for the vision belongs to the time of the end.

When he came near the place where I was standing, I was afraid and fell on my face to the ground. But he said to me, “Son of man, understand that the special dream is about the time of the end.”

18 N ow as he was speaking with me, I fell stunned and in deep unconsciousness with my face to the ground; but he touched me and set me upright.

While he was talking to me, I fell into a deep sleep with my face to the ground. But he touched me and made me stand up.

19 A nd he said, Behold, I will make you know what will be in the latter time of the indignation, for it has to do with the time of the end.

He said, “I am going to let you know what the end of God’s anger will be. For the special dream is about the time of the end.

20 T he ram you saw having two horns, they are the kings of Media and Persia.

The ram you saw had two horns which are the kings of Media and Persia.

21 A nd the shaggy and rough he-goat is the king of Greece, and the great horn between his eyes is the first king.

The male goat is the king of Greece, and the large horn between his eyes is the first king.

22 A nd as for the horn which was shattered, in whose place four others arose, four kingdoms shall arise out of his nation but not having his power.

The broken horn and the four horns that grew in its place are the four nations which will come from his nation. But they will not be as powerful.

23 A nd at the latter end of their kingdom, when the transgressors have reached the fullness, a king of fierce countenance and understanding dark trickery and craftiness shall stand up.

In the later part of their rule, when they have become as sinful as they can be, a king will rise to power. This king will be very proud and will understand secret things.

24 A nd his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power; and he shall corrupt and destroy astonishingly and shall prosper and do his own pleasure, and he shall corrupt and destroy the mighty men and the holy people (the people of the saints).

He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will destroy much, and do well in whatever he wants done. He will destroy powerful men and the holy people.

25 A nd through his policy he shall cause trickery to prosper in his hand; he shall magnify himself in his heart and mind, and in their security he will corrupt and destroy many. He shall also stand up against the Prince of princes, but he shall be broken and that by no hand.

He will do well by using his false ways and lies, and will think of himself as great. He will destroy many who are taking it easy. He will even go against the Prince of princes. Yet he will be destroyed, but not by a human hand.

26 T he vision of the evenings and the mornings which has been told you is true. But seal up the vision, for it has to do with and belongs to the distant future.

The special dream of the evenings and mornings that has been given to you is true. But keep the dream secret, for it has to do with things far into the future.”

27 A nd I, Daniel, fainted and was sick days. Afterward I rose up and did the king’s business; and I wondered at the vision, but there was no one who understood it or could make it understood.

I, Daniel, was tired and sick for days. Then I got up again and did the work that the king had given me. But I was filled with wonder because of the special dream, and did not understand it.