Chapter 8

In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision appeared⁸ unto me, [even unto] me Daniel, after that which appeared⁸ unto me at the first.

And I saw⁴ in a vision; and it came to pass, when I saw,² that I [was] at Shushan [in] the palace, which [is] in the province of Elam; and I saw⁴ in a vision, and I was by the river of Ulai.

Then I lifted up⁴ mine eyes, and saw,⁴ and, behold, there stood⁶ before the river a ram which had [two] horns: and the [two] horns [were] high; but one [was] higher than the other, and the higher came up⁶ last.

I saw¹ the ram pushing¹⁸ westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beasts might stand⁴ before him, neither [was there any] that could deliver⁵⁶ out of his hand; but he did¹ according to his will, and became great.⁵²

And as I was considering,⁵⁶ behold, an he goat ⁶⁸⁴² came⁶ from the west on the face of the whole earth, and touched⁶ not the ground: and the goat [had] a notable horn between his eyes.

And he came⁴ to the ram that had [two] horns, which I had seen¹ standing⁶ before the river, and ran⁴ unto him in the fury of his power.

And I saw¹ him come⁵⁶ close unto the ram, and he was moved with choler¹¹⁸ against him, and smote⁵⁵ the ram, and brake¹⁷ his two horns: and there was no power in the ram to stand² before him, but he cast him down⁵⁵ to the ground, and stamped⁴ upon him: and there was none that could deliver⁵⁶ the ram out of his hand.

Therefore the he goat waxed very great:⁵² and when he was strong,² the great horn was broken;⁸ and for it came up⁴ four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven.

And out of one of them came forth¹ a little horn, which waxed exceeding great,⁴ toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant [land].

And it waxed great,⁴ [even] to the host of heaven; and it cast down⁵⁵ [some] of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped⁴ upon them.

Yea, he magnified⁵² [himself] even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily [sacrifice] was taken away,^{90 7311 52} and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.⁹⁰

And an host was given¹¹ [him] against the daily [sacrifice] by reason of transgression, and it cast down⁵⁵ the truth to the ground; and it practised,¹ and prospered.⁵²

Then I heard⁴ one saint speaking,¹⁸ and another saint said⁴ unto that certain [saint] which spake,¹⁸ How long [shall be] the vision [concerning] the daily [sacrifice], and the transgression of desolation,⁶ to give² both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?

And he said⁴ unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; ¹²⁴² then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.⁸

And it came to pass, when I, [even] I Daniel, had seen² the vision, and sought¹⁷ for the meaning, then, behold, there stood⁶ before me as the appearance of a man.

And I heard⁴ a man's voice between [the banks of] Ulai, which called,⁴ and said,⁴ Gabriel, make this [man] to understand⁵⁴ the vision.

So he came⁴ near where I stood: and when he came,² I was afraid,⁸ and fell⁴ upon my face: but he said⁴ unto me, Understand,⁵⁴ O son of man: for at the time of the end [shall be] the vision.

Now as he was speaking¹⁵ with me, I was in a deep sleep⁸ on my face toward the ground: but he touched⁴ me, and set⁵⁵ me upright.

And he said,⁴ Behold, I will make thee know⁵⁶ what shall be in the last end of the indignation: for at the time appointed the end [shall be].

The ram which thou sawest¹ having [two] horns [are] the kings of Media and Persia.

And the rough goat [is] the king of Grecia: and the great horn that [is] between his eyes [is] the first king.

Now that being broken,¹² whereas four stood up⁴ for it, four kingdoms shall stand up⁴ out of the nation, but not in his power.

And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors⁶ are come to the full,⁵³ a king of fierce countenance, and understanding⁵⁶ dark sentences, shall stand up.⁴

And his power shall be mighty,¹ but not by his own power: and he shall destroy⁵⁵ wonderfully,¹² and shall prosper,⁵² and practise,¹ and shall destroy⁵² the mighty and the holy people.

And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper⁵² in his hand; and he shall magnify⁵⁵ [himself] in his heart, and by peace shall destroy⁵⁵ many: he shall also stand up⁴ against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken¹¹ without hand.

And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told⁸ [is] true: wherefore shut thou up³ the vision; for it [shall be] for many days.

And I Daniel fainted,⁸ and was sick⁸ [certain] days; afterward I rose up,⁴ and did⁴ the king's business; and I was astonished¹¹³ at the vision, but none understood⁵⁶ [it].