Study Desk

So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

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

I saw in the vision, and it so happened while I was looking, that I was in Shushan, the citadel, which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in the vision that I was by the River Ulai.

I saw the ram pushing westward, northward, and southward, so that no animal could withstand him; nor was there any that could deliver from his hand, but he did according to his will and became great.

So he came near where I stood, and when he came I was afraid and fell on my face; but he said to me, "Understand, son of man, that the vision refers to the time of the end."

Yes, all Israel has transgressed Your law, and has departed so as not to obey Your voice; therefore the curse and the oath written in the Law of Moses the servant of God have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against Him.

And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see the vision; but a great terror fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves.

And he said, "O man greatly beloved, fear not! Peace be to you; be strong, yes, be strong!" So when he spoke to me I was strengthened, and said, "Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me."

So the king of the North shall come and build a siege mound, and take a fortified city; and the forces [fn] of the South shall not withstand him. Even his choice troops shall have no strength to resist.

While returning to his land with great riches, his heart shall be moved against the holy covenant; so he shall do damage and return to his own land.

For ships from Cyprus [fn] shall come against him; therefore he shall be grieved, and return in rage against the holy covenant, and do damage. So he shall return and show regard for those who forsake the holy covenant.

So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son.

"Therefore, behold, I will hedge up your way with thorns, And wall her in, So that she cannot find her paths.

"And I will destroy her vines and her fig trees, Of which she has said, "These are my wages that my lovers have given me.' So I will make them a forest, And the beasts of the field shall eat them.

So I bought her for myself for fifteen shekels of silver, and one and one-half homers of barley.

And I said to her, "You shall stay with me many days; you shall not play the harlot, nor shall you have a man--so, too, will I be toward you."

And it shall be: like people, like priest. So I will punish them for their ways, And reward them for their deeds.

As bands of robbers lie in wait for a man, So the company of priests murder on the way to Shechem; Surely they commit lewdness.

Just as I saw Ephraim like Tyre, planted in a pleasant place, So Ephraim will bring out his children to the murderer."

As they called them, [fn] So they went from them; [fn] They sacrificed to the Baals,And burned incense to carved images.