Bible Reading Plan

Chapter 8

Daniel's Vision of a Ram and a Goat

¹ In the third year of King Belshazzar's^(a) reign, I, Daniel, had a vision,^(b) after the one that had already appeared to me. ² In my vision I saw myself in the citadel of Susa^(c) in the province of Elam;^(d) in the vision I was beside the Ulai Canal. ³ I looked up,^(e) and there before me was a ram^(f) with two horns, standing beside the canal, and the horns were long. One of the horns was longer than the other but grew up later. ⁴ I watched the ram as it charged toward the west and the north and the south. No animal could stand against it, and none could rescue from its power.^(g) It did as it pleased^(h) and became great.

⁵ As I was thinking about this, suddenly a goat with a prominent horn between its eyes came from the west, crossing the whole earth without touching the ground. ⁶ It came toward the two-horned ram I had seen standing beside the canal and charged at it in great rage. ⁷ I saw it attack the ram furiously, striking the ram and shattering its two horns. The ram was powerless to stand against it; the goat knocked it to the ground and trampled on it,⁽ⁱ⁾ and none could rescue the ram from its power.^{(j) 8} The goat became very great, but at the height of its power the large horn was broken off,^(k) and in its place four prominent horns grew up toward the four winds of heaven.^(l)

⁹ Out of one of them came another horn, which started small^(m) but grew in power to the south and to the east and toward the Beautiful Land.^{(n) 10} It grew until it reached^(o) the host of the heavens, and it threw some of the starry host down to the earth^(p) and trampled^(q) on them. ¹¹ It set itself up to be as great as the commander^(r) of the army of the Lord ;^(s) it took away the daily sacrifice^(t) from the Lord , and his sanctuary was thrown down.^{(u) 12} Because of rebellion, the Lord 's people^[a] and the daily sacrifice were given over to it. It prospered in everything it did, and truth was thrown to the ground.^(v)

¹³ Then I heard a holy one^(w) speaking, and another holy one said to him, "How long will it take for the vision to be fulfilled^(x)—the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, the rebellion that causes desolation, the surrender of the sanctuary and the trampling underfoot^(y) of the Lord 's people?"

¹⁴ He said to me, "It will take 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary will be reconsecrated."^(z)

The Interpretation of the Vision

¹⁵ While I, Daniel, was watching the vision^(aa) and trying to understand it, there before me stood one who looked like a man.^{(ab) 16} And I heard a man's voice from the Ulai^(ac) calling, "Gabriel,^(ad) tell this man the meaning of the vision."^(ae)

¹⁷ As he came near the place where I was standing, I was terrified and fell prostrate.^(af) "Son of man,"^[b] he said to me, "understand that the vision concerns the time of the end."^(ag)

¹⁸ While he was speaking to me, I was in a deep sleep, with my face to the ground.^(ah) Then he touched me and raised me to my feet.^(ai)

¹⁹ He said: "I am going to tell you what will happen later in the time of wrath,^(aj) because the vision concerns the appointed time^(ak) of the end.^{[c](al) 20} The two-horned ram that you saw represents the kings of Media and Persia.^{(am) 21} The shaggy goat is the king of Greece,^(an) and the large horn between its eyes is the first king.^{(ao) 22} The four horns that replaced the one that was broken off represent four kingdoms that will emerge from his nation but will not have the same power.

²³ "In the latter part of their reign, when rebels have become completely wicked, a fierce-looking king, a master of intrigue, will arise. ²⁴ He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause astounding devastation and will succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy those who are mighty, the holy people.^{(ap) 25} He will cause deceit^(aq) to prosper, and he will consider himself superior. When they feel secure, he will destroy many and take his stand against the Prince of princes.^(ar) Yet he will be destroyed, but not by human power.^(as)

²⁶ "The vision of the evenings and mornings that has been given you is true,^(at) but seal^(au) up the vision, for it concerns the distant future."^(av)

²⁷ I, Daniel, was worn out. I lay exhausted^(aw) for several days. Then I got up and went about the king's business.^(ax) I was appalled^(ay) by the vision; it was beyond understanding.

Chapter 9

Daniel's Prayer

¹ In the first year of Darius^(a) son of Xerxes^[a](b) (a Mede by descent), who was made ruler over the Babylonian^[b] kingdom— ² in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the word of the Lord given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy^(c) years. ³ So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting,^(d) and in sackcloth and ashes.^(e)

⁴ I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed:^(f)

The Seventy "Sevens"

²⁰ While I was speaking and praying, confessing^(bc) my sin and the sin of my people Israel and making my request to the Lord my God for his holy hill^(bd)— ²¹ while I was still in prayer, Gabriel,^(be) the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice.^{(bf) 22} He instructed me and said to me, "Daniel, I have now come to give you insight and understanding.^{(bg) 23} As soon as you began to pray,^(bh) a word went out, which I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed.^(bi) Therefore, consider the word and understand the vision:^(bj)

²⁴ "Seventy ‘sevens'^[c] are decreed for your people and your holy city^(bk) to finish^[d] transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone^(bl) for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness,^(bm) to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the Most Holy Place.^[e]

²⁵ "Know and understand this: From the time the word goes out to restore and rebuild^(bn) Jerusalem until the Anointed One,^[f](bo) the ruler,^(bp) comes, there will be seven ‘sevens,' and sixty-two ‘sevens.' It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble.^{(bq) 26} After the sixty-two ‘sevens,' the Anointed One will be put to death^(br) and will have nothing.^[g] The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood:^(bs) War will continue until the end, and desolations^(bt) have been decreed.^{(bu) 27} He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.'^[h] In the middle of the ‘seven'^[i] he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple^[j] he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed^(bv) is poured out on him.^[k]"^[l]

Chapter 10

Daniel's Vision of a Man

¹ In the third year of Cyrus^(a) king of Persia, a revelation was given to Daniel (who was called Belteshazzar).^(b) Its message was true^(c) and it concerned a great war.^[a] The understanding of the message came to him in a vision.

² At that time I, Daniel, mourned^(d) for three weeks. ³ I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips;^(e) and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over.

⁴ On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank^(f) of the great river, the Tigris,^{(g) 5} I looked up^(h) and there before me was a man dressed in linen,⁽ⁱ⁾ with a belt of fine gold^(j) from Uphaz around his waist. ⁶ His body was like topaz,^(k) his face like lightning,^(l) his eyes like flaming torches,^(m) his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze,⁽ⁿ⁾ and his voice^(o) like the sound of a multitude.

⁷ I, Daniel, was the only one who saw the vision; those who were with me did not see it,^(p) but such terror overwhelmed them that they fled and hid themselves. ⁸ So I was left alone,^(q) gazing at this great vision; I had no strength left,^(r) my face turned deathly pale^(s) and I was helpless.^{(t) 9} Then I heard him speaking, and as I listened to him, I fell into a deep sleep, my face to the ground.^(u)

¹⁰ A hand touched me^(v) and set me trembling on my hands and knees.^{(w) 11} He said, "Daniel, you who are highly esteemed,^(x) consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you, and stand up,^(y) for I have now been sent to you." And when he said this to me, I stood up trembling.

¹² Then he continued, "Do not be afraid,^(z) Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble^(aa) yourself before your God, your words^(ab) were heard, and I have come in response to them.^{(ac) 13} But the prince^(ad) of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael,^(ae) one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. ¹⁴ Now I have come to explain^(af) to you what will happen to your people in the future,^(ag) for the vision concerns a time yet to come.^(ah)"

¹⁵ While he was saying this to me, I bowed with my face toward the ground and was speechless.^{(ai) 16} Then one who looked like a man^[b] touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and began to speak.^(aj) I said to the one standing before me, "I am overcome with anguish^(ak) because of the vision, my lord, and I feel very weak. ¹⁷ How can I, your servant, talk with you, my lord? My strength is gone and I can hardly breathe."^(al)

¹⁸ Again the one who looked like a man touched^(am) me and gave me strength.^{(an) 19} "Do not be afraid, you who are highly esteemed,"^(ao) he said. "Peace!^(ap) Be strong now; be strong."^(aq)

When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, "Speak, my lord, since you have given me strength."^(ar)

²⁰ So he said, "Do you know why I have come to you? Soon I will return to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I go, the prince of Greece^(as) will come; ²¹ but first I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth.^(at) (No one supports me against them except Michael,^(au) your prince.

Chapter 11

^1 1 And in the first year of Darius^(a) the Mede, I took my stand to support and protect him.)

The Kings of the South and the North

² "Now then, I tell you the truth:^(b) Three more kings will arise in Persia, and then a fourth, who will be far richer than all the others. When he has gained power by his wealth, he will stir up everyone against the kingdom of Greece.^{(c) 3} Then a mighty king will arise, who will rule with great power and do as he pleases.^{(d) 4} After he has arisen, his empire will be broken up and parceled out toward the four winds of heaven.^(e) It will not go to his descendants, nor will it have the power he exercised, because his empire will be uprooted^(f) and given to others.

⁵ "The king of the South will become strong, but one of his commanders will become even stronger than he and will rule his own kingdom with great power. ⁶ After some years, they will become allies. The daughter of the king of the South will go to the king of the North to make an alliance, but she will not retain her power, and he and his power^[a] will not last. In those days she will be betrayed, together with her royal escort and her father^[b] and the one who supported her.

⁷ "One from her family line will arise to take her place. He will attack the forces of the king of the North^(g) and enter his fortress; he will fight against them and be victorious. ⁸ He will also seize their gods,^(h) their metal images and their valuable articles of silver and gold and carry them off to Egypt.⁽ⁱ⁾ For some years he will leave the king of the North alone. ⁹ Then the king of the North will invade the realm of the king of the South but will retreat to his own country. ¹⁰ His sons will prepare for war and assemble a great army, which will sweep on like an irresistible flood^(j) and carry the battle as far as his fortress.

¹¹ "Then the king of the South will march out in a rage and fight against the king of the North, who will raise a large army, but it will be defeated.^{(k) 12} When the army is carried off, the king of the South will be filled with pride and will slaughter many thousands, yet he will not remain triumphant. ¹³ For the king of the North will muster another army, larger than the first; and after several years, he will advance with a huge army fully equipped.