1In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel saw a dream and visions of his head upon his bed. Then he wrote down the dream, telling the sum of the matters.
2Daniel spoke and said: I was watching in my vision in the night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were bursting forth upon the Great Sea.
3And four great beasts came up out of the sea, each different from the other.
4The first was like a lion, and it had eagle’s wings. I watched until its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the earth and made to stand on two feet like a man, and a man’s heart was given to it.
5And behold, another beast, a second one, resembling a bear. It was raised up on one side, and three ribs were in its mouth between its teeth; and thus they said to it: “Arise, devour much flesh.”
6After this I watched, and behold, another, like a leopard. It had four wings of a bird on its back, and the beast had four heads, and dominion was given to it.
7After this I watched in the visions of the night, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrifying and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth; it devoured and crushed, and trampled the rest with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns.
8I was considering the horns, and behold, another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. And behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things.
9I watched until thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His garment was white like snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool. His throne was flames of fire, its wheels a burning fire.
10A river of fire streamed and issued from before him. A thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court sat, and the books were opened.
11I watched then, because of the sound of the great words that the horn was speaking. I watched until the beast was slain, and its body destroyed and given over to the burning fire.
12As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but a prolonging of life was given to them for a season and a time.
13I watched in the visions of the night, and behold, with the clouds of heaven one like a son of man was coming, and he came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought him near before him.
14And to him was given dominion and honor and kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom one that will not be destroyed.
15As for me, Daniel, my spirit was distressed within its sheath, and the visions of my head alarmed me.
16I approached one of those who were standing there and asked him the truth concerning all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of the matters:
17These great beasts, which are four, are four kings who will arise from the earth.
18But the holy ones of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever.
19Then I desired to know the truth concerning the fourth beast, which was different from all the others—exceedingly dreadful, its teeth of iron and its claws of bronze, that devoured, crushed, and trampled the rest with its feet;
20and concerning the ten horns that were on its head, and the other that came up and before which three fell—the horn that had eyes and a mouth speaking great things, and whose appearance was greater than its companions.
21I watched, and that horn made war with the holy ones and prevailed over them,
22until the Ancient of Days came and judgment was given for the holy ones of the Most High, and the time arrived when the holy ones took possession of the kingdom.
23Thus he said: The fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom on the earth, which will be different from all the kingdoms; it will devour the whole earth and trample it down and crush it.
24And the ten horns—from that kingdom ten kings will arise; and another will arise after them, and he will be different from the former ones, and he will bring low three kings.
25He will speak words against the Most High and wear out the holy ones of the Most High, and he will intend to change times and law. And they will be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time.
26But the court will sit, and they will take away his dominion, to be consumed and destroyed to the end.
27And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under all the heavens will be given to the people of the holy ones of the Most High; his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions will serve and obey him.
28Here is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly alarmed me, and my countenance changed upon me; but I kept the matter in my heart.
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