1 I n the first year that Belshazzar was king of Babylon, Daniel had a special dream in his mind as he lay on his bed. And he wrote the dream down, telling what he saw.

In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions in his head as he was lying upon his bed. Then he wrote down the dream and told the gist of the matter.

2 D aniel said, “In my dream at night I looked and saw the four winds of heaven causing waves in the great sea.

Daniel said, I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of the heavens were stirring up the great sea.

3 A nd four large animals were coming up from the sea, different from one another.

And four great beasts came up out of the sea in succession, and different from one another.

4 T he first was like a lion and it had the wings of an eagle. I watched until its wings were pulled off, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man. A man’s heart was given to it also.

The first was like a lion and had eagle’s wings. I looked till the wings of it were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth and made to stand upon two feet as a man, and a man’s heart was given to it.

5 T hen I saw a second animal, which looked like a bear. It was raised up on one of its sides, and three ribs were in its mouth between its teeth. And it was told, ‘Get up, and eat much meat!’

And behold another beast, a second one, was like a bear, and it raised up itself on one side and three ribs were in its mouth between its teeth; and it was told, Arise, devour much flesh.

6 T hen I looked and saw another animal, which looked like a leopard. It had four wings of a bird on its back, and four heads. And it was given the power to rule.

After this I looked, and behold, another, like a leopard which had four wings of a bird on its back. The beast had also four heads, and dominion was given to it.

7 A fter this I looked in my dream in the night and saw a fourth animal. It filled me with a very great fear. It was very strong and it had large, iron teeth. It ate and crushed, and whatever was left, it crushed with its feet. It was different from all the animals that were before it, and it had ten horns.

After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast —terrible, powerful and dreadful, and exceedingly strong. And it had great iron teeth; it devoured and crushed and trampled what was left with its feet. And it was different from all the beasts that came before it, and it had ten horns.

8 W hile I was thinking about the horns, I saw another horn, a little one, come up among them. And three of the first horns were pulled out by the roots in front of it. This horn had eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth which spoke in pride. The Special Dream of the One Who Has Always Lived

I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots; and behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth speaking great things.

9 “ As I kept looking, thrones were set up and the One Who has lived forever took His seat. His clothing was as white as snow and the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne and its wheels were a burning fire.

I kept looking until thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took His seat, Whose garment was white as snow and the hair of His head like pure wool. His throne was like the fiery flame; its wheels were burning fire.

10 A river of fire was flowing and coming out from before Him. Many thousands were serving Him, and many millions were standing before Him. The Judge was seated, and The Books were opened.

A stream of fire came forth from before Him; a thousand thousands ministered to Him and ten thousand times ten thousand rose up and stood before Him; the Judge was seated and the books were opened.

11 I kept looking because of the sound of the proud words which the horn was speaking. I watched until the fourth animal was killed, and its body was destroyed and thrown into the burning fire.

I looked then because of the sound of the great words which the horn was speaking. I watched until the beast was slain and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire.

12 T he other three animals had their power taken away, but they were allowed to live for a time.

And as for the rest of the beasts, their power of dominion was taken away; yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.

13 “ I kept looking in the night dream and saw One like a Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven. He came to the One Who has lived forever, and was brought before Him.

I saw in the night visions, and behold, on the clouds of the heavens came One like a Son of man, and He came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before Him.

14 A nd He was given power and shining-greatness, and was made King, so that all the people of every nation and language would serve Him. His rule lasts forever. It will never pass away. And His nation will never be destroyed. Daniel Tells the Meaning of His Dream

And there was given Him dominion and glory and kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion which shall not pass away, and His kingdom is one which shall not be destroyed.

15 “ As for me, Daniel, my spirit was troubled within me. The things I saw in my dream made me afraid.

As for me, Daniel, my spirit was grieved and anxious within me, and the visions of my head alarmed and agitated me.

16 I went to one of those who were standing near and asked him the true meaning of all this. So he told me what these things meant.

I came near to one of those who stood there and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of the things.

17 ‘ These four large animals are four kings who will rise from the earth.

These four great beasts are four kings who shall arise out of the earth.

18 B ut the holy ones of the Most High will receive the nation and keep it forever and ever.’

But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.

19 T hen I wanted to know the true meaning of the fourth animal which was different from all the others. It filled me with fear, with its iron teeth and sharp nails of brass. It ate and crushed, and whatever was left it crushed with its feet.

Then I wished to know the truth about the fourth beast—which was different from all the others, exceedingly terrible and shocking, whose teeth were of iron and its nails of bronze, which devoured, broke and crushed, and trampled what was left with its feet—

20 I wanted to know about the ten horns on its head, and the other horn which came up. I wanted to know about the three horns that fell in front of this larger horn which had eyes and a mouth which spoke proud words.

And about the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up later and before which three of fell, the horn which had eyes and a mouth that spoke great things and which looked greater than the others.

21 A s I watched, this horn was fighting a war against the holy ones and winning the battle,

As I looked, this horn made war with the saints and prevailed over them

22 u ntil the One came Who has lived forever. This One judged in favor of the holy ones of the Most High. And the time came when the holy ones took the nation for their own.

Until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the Most High, and the time came when the saints possessed the kingdom.

23 “ He told me, ‘The fourth animal will be a fourth nation on the earth. It will be different from all the other nations. It will destroy the whole earth. And it will crush under foot whatever is left.

Thus said, The fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be different from all other kingdoms and shall devour the whole earth, tread it down, and break it in pieces and crush it.

24 T he ten horns are ten kings who will come from this nation. And another will come after them who will be different from the ones before. He will put three kings under his power.

And as for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings shall arise; and another shall arise after them, and he shall be different from the former ones, and he shall subdue and put down three kings.

25 H e will speak against the Most High and make it hard for His holy ones. And he will try to make changes in times and in law. The holy ones will be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time (three and a half years).

And he shall speak words against the Most High and shall wear out the saints of the Most High and think to change the time and the law; and the saints shall be given into his hand for a time, two times, and half a time.

26 B ut the Judge will decide against him. And his ruling power will be taken away and destroyed forever.

But the judgment shall be set, and they shall take away his dominion to consume it and to destroy it in the end.

27 T hen the ruling power and greatness of all the nations under the whole heaven will be given to the holy people of the Most High. His nation will last forever, and all rulers will serve and obey Him.’

And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heavens shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all the dominions shall serve and obey Him.

28 T his is the end of the special dream. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts filled me with fear and my face turned white. But I kept everything to myself.”

Here is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts troubled and alarmed me much and my cheerfulness of countenance was changed in me; but I kept the matter in my heart and mind.