Daniel (GOD'S WORD)









































Daniel  1:8-16  (GOD'S WORD)

     8Daniel made up his mind not to harm himself by eating the king's rich food and drinking the king's wine. So he asked the chief-of-staff for permission not to harm himself in this way.
    9God made the chief-of-staff kind and compassionate toward Daniel. 10The chief-of-staff told Daniel, "I'm afraid of my master, the king. The king determined what you should eat and drink. If he sees that you look worse than the other young men your age, he would have my head cut off."
    11The chief-of-staff put a supervisor in charge of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Daniel said to the supervisor,  12"Please test us for ten days. Give us only vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13Then compare us to the young men who are eating the king's  rich food. Decide how to treat us on the basis of how we look."
    14The supervisor listened to them about this matter and tested them for ten days. 15After ten days they looked healthier and stronger than the young men who had been eating the king's rich food. 16So the supervisor took away the king's rich food and wine and gave them vegetables.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 























 

Daniel  2 (GOD'S WORD)

     1 During the second year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, he had some dreams. He was troubled, but he stayed asleep. 2The king sent for the magicians, psychics, sorcerers, and astrologers so that they could tell him what he had dreamed. So they came to the king.
    3The king said to them, “I had a dream, and I’m troubled by it. I want to know what the dream was.”
    4The astrologers spoke to the king in Aramaic, “Your Majesty, may you live forever! Tell us the dream, and we’ll interpret it for you.”
    5The king answered the astrologers, “I meant what I said! If you don’t tell me the dream and its meaning, you will be torn limb from limb, and your
houses will be turned into piles of rubble. 6But if you tell me the dream and its meaning, I will give you gifts, awards, and high honors. Now tell me the
dream and its meaning.”
    7Once more they said, “Your Majesty, tell us the dream, and we’ll tell you its meaning.”
    8The king replied, “I’m sure you’re trying to buy some time because you know that I meant what I said. 9If you don’t tell me the dream, you’ll all receive the same punishment. You have agreed among yourselves to make up a phony explanation to give me, hoping that things will change. So tell me the dream. Then I’ll know that you can explain its meaning to me.”
    10The astrologers answered the king, “No one on earth can tell the king what he asks. No other king, no matter how great and powerful, has ever
asked such a thing of any magician, psychic, or astrologer. 11What you ask is difficult, Your Majesty. No one can tell what you dreamed except the gods, and they don’t live with humans.”
    12This made the king so angry and furious that he gave an order to destroy all the wise advisers in Babylon. 13So a decree was issued that the wise advisers were to be killed, and some men were sent to find Daniel and his friends and kill them.
    14While Arioch, the captain of the royal guard, was leaving to kill the wise advisers in Babylon, Daniel spoke to him using shrewd judgment. 15He asked Arioch, the royal official, “Why is the king’s decree so harsh?” So Arioch explained everything to Daniel.
    16Daniel went and asked the king to give him some time so that he could explain the dream’s meaning. 17Then Daniel went home and told his friends
Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah about this matter. 18He told them to ask the God of heaven to be merciful and to explain this secret to them so that they would not be destroyed with the rest of the wise advisers in Babylon.
    19The secret was revealed to Daniel in a vision during the night. So Daniel praised the God of heaven. 20He said,

            “Praise God’s name from everlasting to everlasting
                because he is wise and powerful.
    21     He changes times and periods of history.
            He removes kings and establishes them.
            He gives wisdom to those who are wise
                and knowledge to those who have insight.
    22     He reveals deeply hidden things.
            He knows what is in the dark,
                and light lives with him.
    23     God of my ancestors, I thank and praise you.
                You gave me wisdom and power.
                You told me the answer to our question.
                You told us what the king wants to know.”

    24Then Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy Babylon’s wise advisers. Daniel told him, “Don’t destroy Babylon’s wise  advisers. Take me to the king, and I’ll explain the dream’s meaning to him.”
    25Arioch immediately took Daniel to the king. He told the king, “I’ve found one of the captives from Judah who can explain the dream’s meaning to you, Your Majesty.”
    26The king asked Daniel (who had been renamed Belteshazzar), “Can you tell me the dream I had and its meaning?”
    27Daniel answered the king, “No wise adviser, psychic, magician, or fortuneteller can tell the king this secret. 28But there is a God in heaven who
reveals secrets. He will tell King Nebuchadnezzar what is going to happen in the days to come. This is your dream, the vision you had while you were
asleep: 29Your Majesty, while you were lying in bed, thoughts about what would happen in the future came to you. The one who reveals secrets told you what is going to happen. 30This secret wasn’t revealed to me because I’m wiser than anyone else. It was revealed so that you could be told the meaning and so that you would know your innermost thoughts.
    31“Your Majesty, you had a vision. You saw a large statue. This statue was very bright. It stood in front of you, and it looked terrifying. 32The head of this statue was made of fine gold. Its chest and arms were made of silver. Its stomach and hips were made of bronze. 33Its legs were made of iron. Its feet were made partly of iron and partly of clay. 34While you were watching, a stone was cut out, but not by humans. It struck the statue’s iron-and-clay feet and smashed them. 35Then all at once, the iron, clay, bronze, silver, and gold were smashed. They became like husks on a threshing floora in summer. The wind carried them away, and not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that struck the statue became a large mountain which filled the whole world. 36This is the dream. Now we’ll tell you its meaning.
    37“Your Majesty, you are the greatest king. The God of heaven has given you a kingdom. He has given you power, strength, and honor. 38He has given you control over people, wild animals, and birds, wherever they live. He has made you ruler of them all. You are the head of gold. 39Another kingdom, inferior to yours, will rise to power after you. Then there will be a third kingdom, a kingdom of bronze, that will rule the whole world. 40There will also be a fourth kingdom. It will be as strong as iron. (Iron smashes and shatters everything.) As iron crushes things, this fourth kingdom will smash and crush all the other kingdoms. 41You also saw the feet and toes. They were partly potters’ clay and partly iron. This means that there will be a divided kingdom which has some of the firmness of iron. As you saw, iron was mixed with clay. 42The toes were partly iron and partly clay. Part of the kingdom will be strong, and part will be brittle. 43As you saw, iron was mixed with clay. So the two parts of the kingdom will mix by intermarrying, but they will not hold together any more than iron can mix with clay.
    44“At the time of those kings, the God of heaven will establish a kingdom that will never be destroyed. No other people will be permitted to rule it. It
will smash all the other kingdoms and put an end to them. But it will be established forever. 45This is the stone that you saw cut out from a mountain,
but not by humans. It smashed the iron, bronze, clay, silver, and gold. The great God has told you what will happen in the future, Your Majesty. The
dream is true, and you can trust that this is its meaning.”
    46King Nebuchadnezzar immediately bowed down on the ground in front of Daniel. He ordered that gifts and offerings be given to Daniel. 47The king
said to Daniel, “Your God is truly the greatest of gods, the Lord over kings. He can reveal secrets because you were able to reveal this secret.”
    48Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many wonderful gifts. Nebuchadnezzar made Daniel governor of the whole province of Babylon and
head of all Babylon’s wise advisers. 49With the king’s permission, Daniel appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to govern the province of Babylon. But Daniel stayed at the king’s court.

Daniel 3 (GOD'S WORD)

    1King Nebuchadnezzar made a gold statue 90 feet high and 9 feet wide. He set it up in a recessed area in the walla in the province of Babylon.
    2King Nebuchadnezzar sent messengers to assemble the satraps, governors, mayors, military advisers, treasurers, judges, officers, and all the other provincial officials to dedicate the statue he had set up. 3Then the satraps, governors, mayors, military advisers, treasurers, judges, officers, and all the other provincial officials assembled to dedicate the statue King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. They stood in front of the statue.
    4The herald called out loudly, “People of every province, nation, and language! 5When you hear the sound of rams’ horns, flutes, lyres, harps, and
three-stringed harps playing at the same time with all other kinds of instruments, bow down and worship the gold statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has
set up. 6Whoever doesn’t bow down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.” 7As soon as they heard the sound of rams’ horns,
flutes, lyres, harps, and three-stringed harps with all other kinds of instruments, all the people from every province, nation, and language bowed down
and worshiped the gold statue King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
    8After that happened, some astrologers came forward and brought charges against the Jews. 9They addressed King Nebuchadnezzar, “Your Majesty, may you live forever! 10Your Majesty, you gave an order that everyone who hears the sound of rams’ horns, flutes, lyres, harps, and three-stringed harps playing at the same time with all other kinds of instruments should bow down and worship the gold statue. 11 Your order said that whoever doesn’t bow down and worship will be thrown into a blazing furnace. 12There are certain Jews whom you appointed to govern the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men didn’t obey your order, Your Majesty. They don’t honor your gods or worship the statue that you set up.”
    13Then, in a fit of rage and anger, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Immediately, they were brought to the king.
    14Nebuchadnezzar asked them, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, is it true that you don’t honor my gods or worship the gold statue that I set up? 15When you hear the sound of the rams’ horns, flutes, lyres, harps, and three-stringed harps playing at the same time with all other kinds of instruments, will you bow down and worship the gold statue I made? If you don’t worship it, you will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace. What god can save you from my power then?”
    16Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered King Nebuchadnezzar, “We don’t need to answer your last question. 17If our God, whom we honor, casave us from a blazing furnace and from your power, he will, Your Majesty.
    18But if he doesn’t, you should know, Your Majesty, we’ll never honor your gods or worship the gold statue that you set up.”
    19Nebuchadnezzar was so filled with anger toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that his face turned red. He ordered that the furnace should be heated seven times hotter than normal. 20He told some soldiers from his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego so that they could be thrown into the blazing furnace. 21Then the three men were thrown into the blazing furnace. They were wearing their clothes, hats, and other clothing. 22The king’s order was so urgent and the furnace was so extremely hot that the men who carried Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were killed by the flames from the fire. 23So these three men—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—fell into the blazing furnace. They were still tied up.
    24Then Nebuchadnezzar was startled. He sprang to his feet. He asked his advisers, “Didn’t we throw three men into the fire?”
“That’s true, Your Majesty,” they answered.
    25The king replied, “But look, I see four men. They’re untied, walking in the middle of the fire, and unharmed. The fourth one looks like a son of the gods.”
    26Then Nebuchadnezzar went to the door of the blazing furnace and said, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—servants of the Most High God—come out here.” Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of the fire. 27The king’s satraps, governors, mayors, and advisers gathered around the three men. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies. The hair on their heads wasn’t singed, their clothes weren’t burned, and they didn’t smell of smoke.
    28Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He sent his angel and saved his servants, who trusted him. They
disobeyed the king and risked their lives so that they would not have to honor or worship any god except their own God. 29So I order that people from every province, nation, or language who say anything slanderous about the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego will be torn limb from limb. Their houses will be turned into piles of rubble. No other god can rescue like this.”
    30Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to higher positions in the province of Babylon.

Daniel 4:4-33 (GOD'S WORD)

    4 I, Nebuchadnezzar, was living comfortably at home. I was prosperous while living in my palace. 5I had a dream that terrified me. The visions I had
while I was asleep frightened me. 6So I ordered all the wise advisers in Babylon to be brought to me to tell me the dream’s meaning. 7The magicians, psychics, astrologers, and fortunetellers came to me. I told them the dream, but they couldn’t tell me its meaning. 8Finally, Daniel came to me. (He had been renamed Belteshazzar after my god {Bel} .) The spirit of the holy gods is in him.
    I told him the dream: 9“Belteshazzar, head of the magicians, I know the spirit of the holy gods is in you. No secret is too hard for you bto uncovern. Tell me the meaning of the visions I had in my dream. 10These are the visions I had while I was asleep: I was looking, and I saw an oak tree in the middle of the earth. It was very tall. 11The tree grew, and it became strong enough and tall enough to reach the sky. It could be seen everywhere on earth. 12It had beautiful leaves and plenty of fruit, enough to feed everyone. Wild animals found shade under it. Birds came to live in its branches. It fed every living creature.
    13“I was seeing these visions as I was asleep. I saw a guardian, a holy being, come down from heaven. 14He shouted loudly, ‘Cut down the oak tree! Cut off its branches! Strip off its leaves! Scatter its fruit! Make the animals under it run away, and make the birds fly from its branches. 15But leave the stump and its roots in the ground. Secure it with an iron and bronze chain in the grass in the field. Let it get wet with the dew from the sky. And let it get its share of the plants on the ground with the animals. 16Let its human mind be changed, and give it the mind of an animal. Let it remain like this for seven time periods. 17The guardians have announced this decision. The holy ones have announced this so that every living creature will know that the Most High has power over human kingdoms. He gives them to whomever he wishes. He can place the lowest of people in charge of them.’ ”
    18 {I said,} “This is the dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. Now you, Belteshazzar, tell me its meaning because the wise advisers in my kingdom can’t tell it to me. However, you can, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.”
    19Then Daniel (who had been renamed Belteshazzar) was momentarily stunned. What he was thinking frightened him. I told him, “Belteshazzar, don’t let the dream and its meaning frighten you.”
    Belteshazzar answered, “Sir, I wish that the dream were about those who hate you and its meaning were about your enemies. 20You saw an oak tree grow and become strong enough and tall enough to reach the sky. It could be seen everywhere on earth. 21It had beautiful leaves and plenty of fruit, enough to feed everyone. Wild animals lived under it, and birds made their homes in its branches. 22You are that tree, Your Majesty. You grew and became strong and mighty until you reached the sky. Your power reaches the most distant part of the world. 23You saw a guardian, a holy being, come down from heaven. He said, ‘Cut down the oak tree! Destroy it! But leave the stump and its roots in the ground. Secure it with an iron and bronze chain in the grass in the field. Let it get wet with the dew from the sky. Let it get its share of the plants on the ground with the wild animals for seven time periods.’
    24“This is the meaning, Your Majesty. The Most High has decided to apply it to you, Your Majesty. 25You will be forced away from people and live with the wild animals. You will eat grass like cattle. The dew from the sky will make you wet. And seven time periods will pass until you realize that the Most High has power over human kingdoms and that he gives them to whomever he wishes. 26Since I said that the stump and the tree’s roots were to be left, your kingdom will be restored to you as soon as you realize that heaven rules.
    27“That is why, Your Majesty, my best advice is that you stop sinning, and do what is right. Stop committing the same errors, and have pity on the poor. Maybe you can prolong your prosperity."28All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. 29Twelve months later, he was walking around the royal palace in Babylon. 30The king thought, “Look how great Babylon is! I built the royal palace by my
own impressive power and for my glorious honor.” 31Before the words came out of his mouth, a voice said from heaven, “King Nebuchadnezzar, listen to this: The kingdom has been taken from you.         32You will be forced away from people and live with the wild animals. You will eat grass like cattle. And seven time periods will pass until you realize that the Most High has power over human kingdoms and that he gives them to whomever he wishes.” 33Just then the prediction about Nebuchadnezzar came true. He was forced away from people and ate grass like cattle. Dew from the sky made his body wet until his hair grew as long as eagles’ feathers and his nails grew as long as birds’ claws.

Daniel 5:5-31 (GOD'S WORD)

    5Suddenly, the fingers of a person’s hand appeared and wrote on the plaster wall opposite the lamp stand of the royal palace. The king watched as the hand wrote. 6Then the king turned pale, and his thoughts frightened him. His hip joints became loose, and his knees knocked against each other.
    7The king screamed for the psychics, astrologers, and fortunetellers to be brought to him. He told these wise advisers of Babylon, “Whoever reads this writing and tells me its meaning will be dressed in purple, wear a gold chain on his neck, and become the third-highest ruler in the kingdom.” 8All the king’s wise advisers came, but they couldn’t read the writing or tell the king its
meaning. 9King Belshazzar was terrified, and his face turned pale. His nobles didn’t know what to do.10The discussion between the king and his nobles brought the queen herself into the banquet hall. The queen said, “Your Majesty, may you live forever! Don’t let your thoughts frighten you, and don’t turn pale. 11There’s a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods. In the days of your grand father, he was found to have insight, good judgment, and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods. Your grandfather, King Nebuchadnezzar, made him head of the magicians, psychics, astrologers, and fortunetellers. 12This Daniel (who had been renamed Belteshazzar) was found to have knowledge, judgment, and an extraordinary spirit. He has the ability to interpret dreams, solve riddles,
and untangle problems. Now, call Daniel, and he will tell byoun what it means.”
    13So Daniel was taken to the king. The king asked him, “Are you Daniel, one of the captives that my grandfather brought from Judah? 14I’ve heard that you have the spirit of the gods and that you have insight, good judgment, and extraordinary wisdom. 15The wise advisers and the psychics were brought to me to read this writing and tell me its meaning. But they couldn’t tell me its
meaning. 16I have heard that you can interpret such things and untangle problems. If you can read the writing and tell bmen its meaning, you will be dressed in purple, wear a gold chain on your neck, and become the third-highest ruler in the kingdom.”
    17Daniel told the king, “Keep your gifts. Give your gifts and awards to someone else. I’ll still read the writing for you and tell you its meaning.
    18“Your Majesty, the Most High God gave your grandfather Nebuchadnezzar a kingdom, might, honor, and glory. 19People from every province, nation, and language trembled and were terrified by him, because God gave him power. Nebuchadnezzar killed whomever he wanted to kill, and he kept alive whomever he wanted to keep alive. He promoted whomever he wanted to promote,
and he demoted whomever he wanted to demote. 20But when he became so arrogant and conceited that he became overconfident, he was removed from the royal throne. His honor was taken away from him. 21He was chased away from people, and his mind was changed into an animal’s mind. He lived with wild donkeys, ate grass like cattle, and his body became wet with dew from
the sky. This happened until he realized that the Most High God has power over human kingdoms. God puts whomever he wishes in charge of them. 22“Belshazzar, you are one of Nebuchadnezzar’s successors. You didn’t remain humble, even though you knew all this. 23But you made yourself greater than the Lord of Heaven. You had the utensils from his temple brought to you.
You, your nobles, wives, and concubines drank wine from them. You praised your gods made of silver, gold, bronze, iron, wood, or stone. These gods can’t see, hear, or know anything. You didn’t honor God, who has power over your life and everything you do. 24So he sent the hand to write this inscription.
    25This is what has been written: Numbered, Numbered, Weighed, and Divided.
    26This is its meaning: Numbered—God has numbered the days of your kingdom and will bring it to an end. 27Weighed—you have been weighed on a scale and found to be too light. 28Divided—your kingdom will be divided and given to the Medes and Persians."
    29Then Belshazzar ordered that Daniel be dressed in purple and wear a gold
chain on his neck. He made Daniel the third-highest ruler in the kingdom.
    30That night King Belshazzar of Babylon was killed. 31Darius the Mede took over the kingdom. He was 62 years old.

Daniel 7:1-11 (GOD'S WORD)

    1In Belshazzar’s first year as king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream. He saw a vision while he was asleep. He wrote down the main parts of the dream. 2In my visions at night I, Daniel, saw the four winds of heaven stirring up the Mediterranean Sea. 3Four large animals, each one different from the others, came out of the sea.
    4The first animal was like a lion, but it had wings like an eagle. I watched until its wings were plucked off and it was lifted off the ground. It was made to stand on two feet like a human and was given a human mind.
    5I saw a second animal. It looked like a bear. It was raised on one side and had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told, “Get up, and eat as much meat as you want.”
    6After this, I saw another animal. It looked like a leopard. On its back it had four wings, like the wings of a bird. The animal also had four heads. It was given power to rule.
    7After this, I saw a fourth animal in my vision during the night. It was terrifying, dreadful, extraordinarily strong, and had large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed its victims and trampled whatever was left. It acted differently from all the other animals that I had seen before. It had ten horns. 8While I was thinking about the horns, another horn, a little horn, came up among them. It uprooted three of the other horns. This horn had eyes like human eyes and a mouth that spoke impressive things.9 I watched until thrones were set up and the Ancient One, who has lived for endless years, sat down.
His clothes were as white as snow and the hair on his head was like pure wool. His throne was fiery flames, and its wheels were burning fire.
    10 A river of fire flowed. It came from him. Thousands and thousands served him. Ten thousand times ten thousand were stationed in front of  him. The court convened, and the books were opened.
    11I continued to watch because of the impressive words that the horn was speaking. I watched until the animal was killed. Its body was destroyed and put into a raging fire.
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Daniel 7:9-14 (GOD'S WORD)

    9   I watched until thrones were set up
              and the Ancient One, who has lived for endless years, sat down.
               His clothes were as white as snow
                  and the hair on his head was like pure wool.
                His throne was fiery flames,
                   and its wheels were burning fire.
    10        A river of fire flowed.
                 It came from him.
             Thousands and thousands served him.
            Ten thousand times ten thousand were stationed in front of him.
          The court convened,
             and the books were opened.

   11I continued to watch because of the impressive words that the horn was speaking. I watched until the animal was killed. Its body was destroyed and put into a raging fire.12The power of the rest of the animals was taken away, but they were allowed to live for a period of time.
   13In my visions during the night, I saw among the clouds in heaven someone like the Son of Man. He came to the Ancient One, who has lived for endless years, and was presented to him. 14He was given power, honor, and a kingdom. People from every province, nation, and language were to serve him. His power is an eternal power that will not be taken away. His kingdom will never be destroyed.







































Daniel 7:15-22 (GOD'S WORD)

   15I, Daniel, was deeply troubled, and my visions frightened me. 16 I went to someone who was standing there and asked him to tell me the truth about all this. So he told me what all this meant. 17 He said, "These four large animals are four kingdoms that will rise to power on the earth. 18 But the holy people of the Most High will take possession of the kingdom and keep it forever and ever."
    19Then I wanted to know the truth about the fourth animal, which was so different from all the others. It was very terrifying and had iron teeth and bronze claws. It devoured and crushed its victims, and trampled whatever was left. 20I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head and about the other horn that had come up and made three of the horns fall out. That horn had eyes and a mouth that spoke impressive things. It appeared to be bigger than the others. 21I saw that horn making war against the holy people and defeating them. 22It did this until the Ancient One, who has lived for endless years, came and judged in favor of the holy people of the Most High. The time came when the holy people took possession of the kingdom.













































Daniel 7:23-28 (GOD'S WORD)

   23 He said, “The fourth animal will be the fourth of these kingdoms on earth. It will be different from all other kingdoms. It will devour, trample, and crush the whole world. 24The ten horns are ten kings that will rise to power from that kingdom. Another king will rise to power after them. He will be different from the kings who came before him, and he will humble three kings. 25He will speak against the Most High God, oppress the holy people of the Most High, and plan to change the appointed times and laws. The holy people will be handed over to him for a time, times, and half of a time. 26But judgment will be handed down, his power will be taken away, and he will be completely and permanently destroyed. 27The kingdom, along with the power and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven, will be given to the holy people of the Most High. Their kingdom is eternal. All other powers will serve and obey them.”
    28Here is the end of the matter. I, Daniel, was terrified by my thoughts, and I turned pale. I kept this to myself.















































Daniel 8:8-14 (GOD'S WORD)

   8 The male goat became very important. But when the goat became powerful, his large horn broke off. In its place grew four horns. They corresponded to the four winds of heaven. 9Out of one of the horns came a small horn. It gained power over the south, the east, and the beautiful land. 10It continued to gain power until it reached the army of heaven. It threw some of the army of heaven, the stars, down on the ground and trampled them. 11Then it attacked the commander of the army so that it took the daily burnt offering from him and wrecked his holy place. 12In its rebelliousness it was given an army to put a stop to the daily burnt offering. It threw truth on the ground. The horn was successful in everything it did.
    13Then I heard a holy one speaking. Another holy one said to the one who was speaking, “How long will the things in this vision—the daily burnt offering, the destructive rebellion, the surrender of the holy place, and the trampling of the army—take place?”
    14He told me, “For 2,300 evenings and mornings. Then the holy place will be made acceptable to God.”
















































Daniel 8:15-26 (GOD'S WORD)

   15 Now as I, Daniel, watched the vision and tried to understand it, I saw someone who looked like a man standing in front of me. 16I heard a man in Ulai [Gate] call loudly, “Gabriel, explain the vision to this man.”
    17Gabriel came up beside me, and when he came, I was terrified and immediately knelt down.
    He said to me, “Son of man, understand that the vision is about the end times.” 18As he spoke to me, I fainted facedown on the ground, but he touched me and made me stand up. 19He said, “I will tell you what will happen in the last days, [the time of God’s] anger, because the end time has been determined.
    20“The two-horned ram that you saw represents the kingdoms of Media and Persia. 21The hairy male goat is the kingdom of Greece, and the large horn between its eyes is its first king. 22The horn broke off, and four horns replaced it. Four kingdoms will come out of that nation, but they won’t be as strong as the first king was.
    23“In the last days of those kingdoms, when rebellions are finished, a sternlooking king who understands mysterious things will rise to power. 24He will become very strong, but not by his own strength. He will cause astounding destruction and will be successful in everything he does. He will destroy those who are powerful along with some holy people. 25He will cleverly use his power to deceive others successfully. He will consider himself to be great and destroy many people when they don’t expect it. He will oppose the Commander of Commanders, but he will be defeated, though not by any human power. 26The vision about the [2,300] evenings and mornings that was explained to you is true. Seal the vision, because it is about things that will happen in the distant future.”










































Daniel 9:20-23 (GOD'S WORD)

   20 I continued to pray, confessing my sins and the sins of my people Israel. I humbly placed my request about my God’s holy mountain in front of the LORD my God. 21While I was praying, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the first vision, came to me about the time of the evening sacrifice. He was exhausted. 22He informed me, “Daniel, this time I have come to give you insight. 23As soon as you began to make your request, a reply was sent. I have come to give you the reply because you are highly respected. So study the message, and understand the vision.








































Daniel 9:24-27 (GOD'S WORD)

   24Seventy sets of seven time periods have been assigned for your people and your holy city. These time periods will serve to bring an end to rebellion, to stop sin, to forgive wrongs, to usher in everlasting righteousness, to put a seal on a prophet's vision, and to anoint the Most Holy One. 25Learn, then, and understand that from the time the command is given to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the anointed prince comes, seven sets of seven time periods and sixty-two sets of seven time periods will pass. Jerusalem will be restored and rebuilt with a city square and a moat during the troubles of those times. 26But after the sixty-two sets of seven time periods, the Anointed one will be cut off and have nothing. The city and the holy place will be destroyed with the prince who is to come. His end will come with a flood until the end of the destructive war that has been determined. 27He will confirm his promise with many for one set of seven time periods. In the middle of the seven time periods, he will stop the sacrifices and food offerings. This will happen along with disgusting things that cause destruction until [those time periods] come to an end. It has been determined that this will happen to those who destroy [the city]."














































Daniel 10:2-9 (GOD'S WORD)

   1In Cyrus’ third year as king of Persia, a message was revealed to Daniel (who had been renamed Belteshazzar). The message was true.
It was about a great war. Daniel understood the message because he was given insight during the vision2.During those days I, Daniel, mourned for three whole weeks. 3I didn't eat any good-tasting food. No meat or wine entered my mouth. I didn't wash myself until the entire three weeks were over.
   4On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, I was by the great Tigris River. 5When I looked up, I saw a man dressed in linen, and he had a belt make of gold from Uphaz around his waist. 6His body was like beryl. His face looked like lightning. His eyes were like flaming torches. His arms and legs looked like polished bronze. When he spoke, his voice sounded like the roar of a crowd. 7I, Daniel, was the only one who saw the vision. The men with me didn't see the vision. Yet, they started to tremble violently, and they quickly hid themselves. 8So I was left alone to see this grand vision. I had no strength left in me. My face turned deathly pale, and I was helpless. 9I heard the man speak, and as listened to his words, I fainted facedown on the ground.














































Daniel 10:10-17, 20-21 (GOD'S WORD)

   10Then a hand touched me and made my hands and knees shake. 11The man said to me, "Daniel, you are highly respected. Pay attention to my words. Stand up, because I've been sent to you." When he said this to me, I stood up, trembling. 12He told me, "Don't be afraid, Daniel. God has heard everything that you said ever since the first day you decided to humble yourself in front of your God so that you could learn to understand things. I have come in response to your prayer. 13The commander of the Persian kingdom opposed me for 21 days. But then Michael, one of the chief commanders, came to help me because I was left alone with the kings of Persia. 14I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the last days, because the vision is about the times still to come."  15When he said this to me, I bowed down with my face touching the ground and was silent.
     16Then someone who looked like a human touched my lips. I opened my mouth and I began to talk. I said to the person standing in front of me, "Sir, because of this vision, pain has overwhelmed me, and I'm helpless. 17How can I talk to you, Sir? I have no strength left, and the wind has been knocked out of me."

   20He asked, "Do you know why I have come to you? Now I will return to fight the commander of Persia. When I go, the commander of Greece will come. 21However, I will tell you what is inscribed in the true writings. No one will support me when I fight these commanders except your commander, Michael.














































Daniel 11:21-28 (GOD'S WORD)

   21“A contemptible person will take his place. He will not be given royal splendor. He will invade when people are feeling secure, and he will seize the kingdom using false promises. 22He will overwhelm large forces and defeat them, including the prince of the promise.c 23After an alliance has been made with him, he will act deceitfully and rise to power with only a few people.
    24When people feel secure, he will invade the richest parts of the provinces and do something that none of his predecessors ever did. He will distribute loot and wealth to his followers. He will invent new ways of attacking fortifications. But this will last only for a little while.
    25“With a large army he will summon his power and courage against the southern king, who will prepare for war with a large, strong army. But the
southern king won’t be able to withstand him because of the schemes devised against him. 26People who eat the king’s rich food will ruin him. His army will be overwhelmed, and many will die in battle. 27The two kings will both plan to do evil. They will sit at the same table and tell lies. But they will not succeed, because the end must wait until the appointed time. 28The northern king will return to his country with a lot of wealth. He will be determined to fight against the holy promise. He will take action and return to his own country.








































Daniel 11:29-45 (GOD'S WORD)

   29"At the appointed time he will again invade the south, but this time will be different from the first. 30Ships will come from the west to attack him, and he will be discouraged and turn back. Angry at the holy promise, he will return, take action, and favor those who abandon the holy promise. 31His forces will dishonor the holy place (the fortress), take away the daily burnt offering, and set up the disgusting thing that causes destruction. 32With flattery he will corrupt those who abandon the promise. But the people who know their God will be strong and take action.
    33"People who are wise will help many to understand. But for some time they will be defeated by swords and flames. They will be captured and looted. 34As they are being defeated, they will get a little help, but many who are not sincere will join them. 35Some of the wise people will be defeated in order to refine, purify, and make them white until the end times. But the appointed time is still to come.
    36"The king will do as he pleases. He will highly honor himself above every god. He will say amazing things against the God of gods. He will succeed until God's anger is over, because what has been decided must be done. 37He will have no interest in the gods of his ancestors or desire for women. He will have no interest in any god, because he will make himself greater than anyone else. 38Instead, he will honor the god of fortresses. With gold, silver, precious stones, and other expensive things he will honor a god his ancestors never heard of. 39With the help of a foreign god, he will deal with strong fortresses. He will give high honors to those who acknowledge him, make them rulers over many people, and distribute land for a price.
   40 “In the end times the southern king will attack him. The northern king will rush at him like a storm with chariots, horses, and many ships. He will invade countries, overwhelm them, and pass through their land. 41He will invade the beautiful land, and tens of thousands will be defeated. But Edom, Moab, and the leaders of the Ammonites will escape from his power. 42He will use his power against many countries. Even Egypt will not escape. 43He will control gold and silver treasures and all Egypt’s treasuries. Libya and Sudan will surrender to him. 44But news from the east and the north will frighten him. He will leave very angry to destroy and exterminate many. 45He will pitch his royal tents between the seas at a beautiful holy mountain. When he comes to his end, there will be no one to help him.”

Daniel 12:1-4 (GOD'S WORD)

   1{The person who looked like a human continued,} "At that time Michael, the great commander, will stand up on behalf of the descendants of your people. It will be a time of trouble unlike any that has existed from the time there have been nations until that time. But at that time your people, everyone written in the book, will be rescued. 2Many sleeping in the ground will wake up. Some will wake up to live forever, but others will wake up to be ashamed and disgraced forever. 3Those who are wise will shine like the brightness on the horizon. Those who lead many people to righteousness will shine like the stars forever and ever.4“But you, Daniel, keep these words secret, and seal the book until the end times.
Many will travel everywhere, and knowledge will grow.”

Daniel 12:4-13 (GOD'S WORD)

    4 “But you, Daniel, keep these words secret, and seal the book until the end times. Many will travel everywhere, and knowledge will grow.”

THE WORDS ARE SEALED UP

    5 When I, Daniel, looked up, I saw two men standing there. One man stood on one side of the river, and the other one stood on the other side. 6One of them asked the man dressed in linen clothes who was above the river, “How long will it be until these miracles are over?” 7I heard the man dressed in linen clothes who was above the river. He raised his right hand and left hand to heaven and swore an oath by the one who lives forever. He said, “It will be for a time, times, and half of a time. When the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, then all these things will be finished.”
    8 I heard him, but I did not understand. So I asked him, “Sir, how will these things end?”
    9 He replied, “Go, Daniel. These words are to be kept secret and sealed until the end times. 10Many will be purified, made white, and refined. But wicked people will do wicked things, and none of them will understand. Only wise people will understand. 11From the time the daily burnt offering is taken away and the disgusting thing that causes destruction is set up, there will be 1,290 days. 12Blessed are those who wait until they reach 1,335 days. 13But go on until the end. You will rest, and you will rise for your inheritance at the end of time.”