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.

No primeiro ano de Belsazar, rei da Babilônia, Daniel teve um sonho, e certas visões passaram por sua mente, estando ele deitado em sua cama. Ele escreveu o seguinte resumo do seu sonho.

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

“Em minha visão à noite, eu vi os quatro ventos do céu agitando o grande mar.

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

Quatro grandes animais, diferentes uns dos outros, subiram do mar.

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.

“O primeiro parecia um leão, e tinha asas de águia. Eu o observei e, em certo momento, as suas asas foram arrancadas, e ele foi erguido do chão, firmou-se sobre dois pés como um homem e recebeu coração de homem.

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!’

“A seguir, vi um segundo animal, que tinha a aparência de um urso. Ele foi erguido por um dos seus lados, e na boca, entre os dentes, tinha três costelas. Foi-lhe dito: ‘Levante-se e coma quanta carne puder!’

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.

“Depois disso, vi um outro animal, que se parecia com um leopardo. Nas costas tinha quatro asas, como as de uma ave. Esse animal tinha quatro cabeças, e recebeu autoridade para governar.

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.

“Em minha visão à noite, vi ainda um quarto animal, aterrorizante, assustador e muito poderoso. Tinha grandes dentes de ferro, com os quais despedaçava e devorava suas vítimas, e pisoteava tudo o que sobrava. Era diferente de todos os animais anteriores e tinha dez chifres.

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

“Enquanto eu considerava os chifres, vi outro chifre, pequeno, que surgiu entre eles; e três dos primeiros chifres foram arrancados para dar lugar a ele. Esse chifre possuía olhos como os olhos de um homem e uma boca que falava com arrogância.

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.

“Enquanto eu olhava, “tronos foram colocados, e um ancião se assentou. Sua veste era branca como a neve; o cabelo era branco como a lã. Seu trono era envolto em fogo, e as rodas do trono estavam em chamas.

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.

De diante dele, saía um rio de fogo. Milhares de milhares o serviam; milhões e milhões estavam diante dele. O tribunal iniciou o julgamento, e os livros foram abertos.

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.

“Continuei a observar por causa das palavras arrogantes que o chifre falava. Fiquei olhando até que o animal foi morto, e o seu corpo foi destruído e atirado no fogo.

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

Dos outros animais foi retirada a autoridade, mas eles tiveram permissão para viver por um período de tempo.

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.

“Em minha visão à noite, vi alguém semelhante a um filho de homem, vindo com as nuvens dos céus. Ele se aproximou do ancião e foi conduzido à sua presença.

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

Ele recebeu autoridade, glória e o reino; todos os povos, nações e homens de todas as línguas o adoraram. Seu domínio é um domínio eterno que não acabará, e seu reino jamais será destruído. A Interpretação do Sonho

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

“Eu, Daniel, fiquei agitado em meu espírito, e as visões que passaram pela minha mente me aterrorizaram.

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.

Então me aproximei de um dos que ali estavam e lhe perguntei o significado de tudo o que eu tinha visto. “Ele me respondeu, dando-me esta interpretação:

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

‘Os quatro grandes animais são quatro reinos que se levantarão na terra.

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

Mas os santos do Altíssimo receberão o reino e o possuirão para sempre; sim, para todo o sempre’.

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.

“Então eu quis saber o significado do quarto animal, diferente de todos os outros e o mais aterrorizante, com seus dentes de ferro e garras de bronze, o animal que despedaçava e devorava suas vítimas, e pisoteava tudo o que sobrava.

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.

Também quis saber sobre os dez chifres da sua cabeça e sobre o outro chifre que surgiu para ocupar o lugar dos três chifres que caíram, o chifre que tinha olhos e uma boca que falava com arrogância.

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

Enquanto eu observava, esse chifre guerreava contra os santos e os derrotava,

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.

até que o ancião veio e pronunciou a sentença a favor dos santos do Altíssimo; chegou a hora de eles tomarem posse do reino.

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.

“Ele me deu a seguinte explicação: ‘O quarto animal é um quarto reino que aparecerá na terra. Será diferente de todos os outros reinos e devorará a terra inteira, despedaçando-a e pisoteando-a.

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.

Os dez chifres são dez reis que sairão desse reino. Depois deles um outro rei se levantará, e será diferente dos primeiros reis.

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).

Ele falará contra o Altíssimo, oprimirá os seus santos e tentará mudar os tempos e as leis. Os santos serão entregues nas mãos dele por um tempo, tempos e meio tempo.

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

“‘Mas o tribunal o julgará, e o seu poder lhe será tirado e totalmente destruído, para sempre.

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.’

Então a soberania, o poder e a grandeza dos reinos que há debaixo de todo o céu serão entregues nas mãos dos santos, o povo do Altíssimo. O reino dele será um reino eterno, e todos os governantes o adorarão e lhe obedecerão’.

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.”

“Esse é o fim da visão. Eu, Daniel, fiquei aterrorizado por causa dos meus pensamentos e meu rosto empalideceu, mas guardei essas coisas comigo”.