Daniel 7

In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters.

In the initial reign of King Belshazzar of Babylon, Daniel experienced a profound dream. It filled his mind as he lay in bed. Overwhelmed by its significance, he penned it down and shared the essence of his vision.

Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea.

Daniel shared, "In my dream, I saw the four heavenly winds clashing over the vast ocean."

And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.

Four mighty creatures, each unique, emerged from the ocean's depths.

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

The first creature was a majestic lion with the wings of an eagle. I watched as its wings were torn off. Then, it was raised from the ground, standing upright like a man. It was then given the heart of a human.

And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.

Suddenly, a second creature appeared, resembling a bear. It stood on one side, with three ribs clenched between its teeth. A voice commanded it, "Rise and consume abundantly."

After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.

Then I saw it, a creature like a leopard, but with four bird-like wings on its back and four heads. It was given power and control.

After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.

In my dream, I saw a terrifying, powerful beast unlike any before it. Its teeth were like iron, crushing and devouring all in its path, trampling what was left underfoot. It had ten fearsome horns.

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

I observed the horns, and suddenly, a smaller one emerged among them. It uprooted three of the original horns. This new horn had human-like eyes and a mouth that spoke boastful, arrogant words.

I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.

I watched as thrones were set in place, and the Eternal One took His seat. His clothes were as white as snow, and His hair as pure as wool. His throne blazed like fire, and its wheels were aflame.

A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.

A blazing river flowed from his presence, with countless beings serving him and millions standing before him. The time for judgment had come, and the records of life were unveiled.

I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame.

I watched, shaken by the harsh words spoken by the horn. I watched until the beast was finally defeated, its body destroyed and consumed by the fiery flames.

As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time.

Though the other creatures lost their power, they were allowed to live a little longer.

I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.

In my nighttime dreams, I saw a figure resembling a human, arriving amidst the heavenly clouds. This figure approached the Eternal One, and they ushered him closer.

And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

He was granted power, honor, and a kingdom. Everyone, from every nation and language, was to serve him. His reign, eternal and unending, would never fade away. His kingdom, indestructible, would stand forever.

I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me.

I, Daniel, felt deep sorrow within my soul and body, and the images in my mind disturbed me greatly.

I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things.

I approached one of them nearby, seeking the truth about everything. He explained it to me, helping me understand the meaning of it all.

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

Four mighty beasts will emerge, symbolizing four powerful rulers, rising from the very heart of the earth.

But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.

The devoted followers of the Almighty will inherit His kingdom, owning it eternally, forevermore.

Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet;

Then I wanted to know the truth about the fourth creature, so different and more horrifying than the rest. Its teeth were as hard as iron, its claws like brass, ruthlessly destroying and trampling everything in its path.

And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.

Among the ten horns on his head, one rose above the rest, causing three to fall. This horn had eyes and a mouth that spoke grandly, its presence more imposing than the others.

I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;

I watched in dismay as the powerful force waged war against the faithful, tragically overpowering them.

Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.

Until the timeless One arrived, and justice was granted to the devoted followers of the Almighty. The moment arrived when these faithful ones inherited the kingdom.

Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.

He warned, the fourth creature will represent a unique, powerful kingdom on earth. It will consume and crush the world, leaving it shattered and broken.

And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.

From this realm, ten rulers will emerge. Following them, a unique one will rise, different from the rest. He will overpower three of these kings.

And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

He will arrogantly defy God, wear down His faithful followers, and aim to alter the set times and laws. They will fall under his control for a time, two times, and half a time.

But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.

The court will convene, stripping him of his power, gradually eradicating it until nothing remains.

And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.

The kingdom, the power, and the greatness of all the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to God's holy people. Their reign will be eternal, and all other powers will humbly serve and follow them.

Hitherto is the end of the matter. As for me Daniel, my cogitations much troubled me, and my countenance changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart.

This marks the end of the matter. I, Daniel, was deeply disturbed and my face showed my distress. Yet, I kept these troubling thoughts to myself.