Daniel

13Then was Daniel brought in before the king. And the king spake and said unto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel, which art of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Jewry?

So Daniel was brought in to the king. The king said to him, "Are you Daniel? Are you one of the people my father the king brought here as prisoners from Judah?

14I have even heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee.

I have heard that the spirit of the gods is in you. People say you see clearly, understand much, and are very wise.

15And now the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing, and make known unto me the interpretation thereof: but they could not shew the interpretation of the thing:

The wise men and star watchers were brought in to read this writing for me. They could not tell me what it means.

16And I have heard of thee, that thou canst make interpretations, and dissolve doubts: now if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom.

But I have heard that you can explain things and solve hard problems. So read this writing and tell me what it means. Then you will get a royal purple robe and a gold chain for your neck. You will be the third most powerful ruler in my kingdom."

17Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation.

Daniel answered the king, "Keep your gifts for yourself. Give your rewards to someone else. Even so, I will read the writing for you. I will tell you what it means.

18O thou king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honour:

O king, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar a kingdom. God gave him greatness, glory, and honor.

19And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down.

Because God made him so great, people of every nation and language shook with fear before him. He killed anyone he wanted to kill. He let anyone live that he wanted to live. He lifted some people up and pushed others down.

20But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him:

But his heart grew proud, and his mind became hard with pride. So he was taken off his royal throne. His glory was taken away from him.

21And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it whomsoever he will.

He was driven away from other people. His mind became like the mind of an animal. He lived with the wild donkeys and ate grass like an ox. His body was wet with dew each morning. This went on until he knew that the Most High God rules over the kingdoms of people. God gives a kingdom to anyone he chooses.

22And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this;

You are his son, Belshazzar. You knew all of this. But you have not made your heart humble.

23But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified:

Instead, you set yourself against the Lord of heaven. You had the cups from his temple brought to you. You drank wine from them with your officials, your wives, and the other women. You praised gods made of silver, gold, bronze, iron, wood, and stone. Those gods cannot see or hear or know anything. But you did not honor the God who holds your very breath in his hand. Everything you do is in his hands too.

24Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written.

So God sent the hand that wrote these words on the wall.

25And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.

This is what was written: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.

26This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it.

Here is what it means. MENE means God has counted the days of your kingdom. He has brought it to an end.

27TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.

TEKEL means you have been weighed on a scale. You were too light. You did not measure up.

28PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.

PERES means your kingdom has been split apart. It has been given to the Medes and the Persians."

29Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with scarlet, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.

Then Belshazzar gave the order. They put a royal purple robe on Daniel and a gold chain around his neck. They told everyone that Daniel was now the third most powerful ruler in the kingdom.

30In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain.

That very night Belshazzar, the king of the Chaldeans, was killed.

31And Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old.

Then Darius the Mede took over the kingdom. He was about sixty-two years old.

1It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom;

King Darius chose 120 rulers. Each one took care of a part of his kingdom.

2And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage.

Over those rulers he put three leaders. Daniel was one of them. The rulers had to report to the three leaders. That way the king would not lose anything.

3Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.

Daniel did better work than all the other leaders and rulers. He was wise and careful. So the king planned to put him in charge of the whole kingdom.

4Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.

The other leaders and rulers looked for something Daniel had done wrong in his work. They could not find anything. He was honest, and he made no mistakes.

5Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.

So these men said, "We will never find anything wrong with Daniel. Our only chance is something about the law of his God."

6Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever.

So the leaders and rulers went to the king together. They said, "King Darius, may you live forever!

7All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.

All the leaders of the kingdom have talked and agreed. Please make a new law that cannot be changed. For thirty days, no one may ask anything from any god or any person, except you, O king. Anyone who does will be thrown into the lions' den.

8Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.

Now, O king, make this law and sign the paper. Then it cannot be changed. That is how the law of the Medes and Persians works. It never changes."

9Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.

So King Darius signed the paper with the new law on it.

10Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.

Daniel heard that the paper was signed. He went into his house. In his upstairs room the windows faced Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees. He prayed and thanked his God, just as he always had.

11Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.

Then these men came together and found Daniel. He was praying and asking his God for help.

12Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king’s decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.

So they went to the king and asked about his new law. "Did you not sign a law, O king? For thirty days, anyone who asks anything from any god or person, except you, will be thrown into the lions' den." The king said, "Yes, that is right. It is the law of the Medes and Persians, and it cannot be changed."

13Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.

Then they told the king, "Daniel is one of the people brought here from Judah. He pays no attention to you or to the law you signed. He still prays three times a day."

14Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him.

When the king heard this, he was very upset. He tried hard to find a way to save Daniel. He worked at it until the sun went down.

15Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed.

Then the men came to the king together. They said, "Remember, O king, the law of the Medes and Persians. No law the king makes can be changed."

16Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.

So the king gave the order. They brought Daniel and threw him into the lions' den. The king said to Daniel, "May your God save you. You serve him all the time."

17And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.

A big stone was brought and laid over the opening of the den. The king pressed his ring into it to mark it, and so did his important men. Now nothing about Daniel could be changed.

18Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him.

Then the king went to his palace. He ate nothing all night. No music was played for him. He could not sleep.

19Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.

As soon as it began to get light, the king got up. He hurried to the lions' den.

20And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?

When he came to the den, he called out in a sad, worried voice. "Daniel, servant of the living God! You serve your God all the time. Was he able to save you from the lions?"

21Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.

Then Daniel answered the king, "O king, may you live forever!

22My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.

My God sent his angel and shut the lions' mouths. They have not hurt me. God saw that I had done nothing wrong. And I have done nothing wrong to you, O king."

23Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.

The king was very happy. He told his men to lift Daniel out of the den. They lifted him out, and he had no hurt on him at all. He had trusted his God.

24And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.

Then the king gave an order. The men who had accused Daniel were brought in. They were thrown into the lions' den, along with their wives and children. Before they reached the bottom, the lions caught them and broke all their bones.

25Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.

Then King Darius wrote to people everywhere, of every nation and language. He said, "May you have much peace!

26I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.

I make this law. Everywhere in my kingdom, people are to shake with fear before the God of Daniel. He is the living God. He lasts forever. His kingdom will never be broken. His rule will never end.

27He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.

He saves and rescues. He does signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He saved Daniel from the power of the lions."

28So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

So things went well for Daniel while Darius was king, and while Cyrus the Persian was king.

1In 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.

Belshazzar was king of Babylon. In his first year, Daniel had a dream. He saw pictures in his mind while he lay in bed. He wrote the dream down. Then he told the main parts of it.

2Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea.

Daniel said: "At night I looked, and I saw something. Winds blew from all four directions. They stirred up the great sea."

3And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.

Four huge animals came up out of the sea. Each one was different from the others.

4The 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 looked like a lion with eagle wings. I watched until its wings were pulled off. Then it was lifted off the ground. It stood up on two feet, like a man. And it was given the mind of a man.

5And 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.

Then I saw a second animal. It looked like a bear. It was raised up on one side. It held three ribs in its teeth. Someone said to it, "Get up! Eat lots of meat!"

6After 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.

After that I saw another animal. It looked like a leopard. It had four bird wings on its back. It also had four heads. It was given the power to rule.

7After 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.

Then, still dreaming at night, I saw a fourth animal. It was frightening and very, very strong. It had big iron teeth. It ate things up and crushed them. It stomped on whatever was left. It was not like the animals before it. And it had ten horns.

8I 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 was looking closely at the horns. Then a little horn grew up among them. Three of the first horns were pulled out to make room for it. This little horn had eyes like a man's eyes. It had a mouth that bragged and boasted.

9I 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 kept watching. Thrones were put in place. Then the Ancient of Days sat down. That name means God, who has always been alive. His clothes were white as snow. His hair was like clean white wool. His throne was like burning flames. Its wheels were blazing fire.

10A 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 river of fire flowed out from in front of him. Thousands and thousands of helpers served him. A huge crowd stood in front of him. The judging began, and the books were opened.

11I 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 kept watching, because the horn was saying proud words. I watched until the fourth animal was killed. Its body was destroyed and thrown into the burning fire.

12As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time.

The other animals had their power taken away. But they were allowed to live for a while longer.

13I 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.

Still dreaming at night, I kept watching. I saw someone like a son of man. He came with the clouds of the sky. He came to the Ancient of Days. He was brought close to him.

14And 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 given power, honor, and a kingdom. People of every nation and language would serve him. His power will last forever and will never end. His kingdom will never be destroyed.

15I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me.

I, Daniel, felt sad and upset deep inside me. The pictures I saw in my mind scared me.

16I 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 went up to one of the ones standing there. I asked him what all of this meant. So he told me. He explained the meaning of the things I saw.

17These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.

He said, "These four big animals are four kings. They will rise up on the earth."

18But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.

"But the holy people who belong to God Most High will get the kingdom. They will keep it forever and ever."

19Then 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 more about the fourth animal. It was different from all the others. It was very frightening. It had iron teeth and claws of bronze. It ate things up, crushed them, and stomped on what was left.

20And 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.

I also asked about the ten horns on its head. And about the new horn that grew up later. Three horns fell to make room for it. That horn had eyes and a mouth that boasted. It looked bigger and stronger than the other horns.

21I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;

I watched, and that horn fought against God's holy people. It was winning against them.

22Until 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.

This went on until the Ancient of Days came. He judged in favor of the holy people of God Most High. Then the time came for them to take the kingdom.

23Thus 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.

This is what he said: "The fourth animal is a fourth kingdom on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms. It will eat up the whole earth. It will stomp the earth down and break it in pieces."

24And 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.

"The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them, another king will rise up. He will be different from the ones before him. He will defeat three of those kings."

25And 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 speak proud words against God Most High. He will be cruel to God's holy people and wear them out. He will try to change set times and laws. God's holy people will be under his power for a time, times, and half a time."

26But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.

"But the judging will begin, and his power will be taken away. It will be ended and destroyed for good."

27And 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.

"Then the ruling power and greatness of the kingdoms under the whole sky will be given away. It will go to the holy people of God Most High. Their kingdom will last forever. All rulers will serve and obey him."

28Hitherto 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.

"That is the end of the matter." I, Daniel, was very troubled by my thoughts. My face turned pale. But I kept the whole thing to myself.

1In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision appeared unto me, even unto me Daniel, after that which appeared unto me at the first.

It was the third year that Belshazzar was king. God showed me, Daniel, a picture in my mind. That kind of picture is called a vision. I had already seen one like it before.

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

In the vision I was in the strong city of Shushan. That city is in the land called Elam. I was standing beside the river Ulai.

3Then I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood 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 up last.

I looked up and saw a ram standing beside the river. He had two long horns. One horn was longer than the other, and it grew up later.

4I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beasts might stand before him, neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and became great.

The ram pushed west, and north, and south. No animal could stand against him. No one could get away from his power. He did whatever he wanted, and he became great.

5And as I was considering, behold, an he goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes.

While I was thinking about this, a male goat came from the west. He crossed the whole earth without touching the ground. He had one big horn between his eyes.

6And he came to the ram that had two horns, which I had seen standing before the river, and ran unto him in the fury of his power.

The goat came toward the ram with the two horns. That was the ram I saw by the river. He ran at him with all his angry strength.

7And I saw him come close unto the ram, and he was moved with choler against him, and smote the ram, and brake his two horns: and there was no power in the ram to stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground, and stamped upon him: and there was none that could deliver the ram out of his hand.

I saw the goat come close to the ram. He was full of anger. He hit the ram and broke both his horns. The ram had no strength left to stand. The goat threw him down and stepped on him. No one could save the ram.

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

So the goat became very great. But when he was strongest, his big horn broke off. Four large horns grew up in its place. They pointed out toward the four winds, one in each direction.

9And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land.

Out of one of those horns grew a little horn. It grew very big toward the south and toward the east. It also grew toward the beautiful land.

10And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them.

It grew as high as the army of heaven, the stars. It threw some of that army and some stars down to the ground. Then it stepped on them.

11Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.

It even made itself as big as the leader of that army. It stopped the gift that was given to God every day. It knocked down the place of God's holy house.

12And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered.

People turned against God, so the army and the daily gift were handed over to the horn. It threw the truth down on the ground. Everything it did went well for it.

13Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?

Then I heard a holy one speaking. Another holy one asked him a question. 'How long will this vision last? How long will the daily gift be stopped? How long will people turn against God and leave the holy place empty? How long will the holy house and God's people be stepped on?'

14And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.

He said to me, 'It will last 2,300 evenings and mornings. Then the holy house will be made clean and right again.'

15And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, and sought for the meaning, then, behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man.

I, Daniel, had seen this vision. I was trying to understand what it meant. Then someone who looked like a man stood in front of me.

16And I heard a man’s voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.

I heard a man's voice come from between the banks of the Ulai. The voice called out, 'Gabriel, help this man understand the vision.'

17So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision.

So he came close to where I was standing. I was afraid and fell down with my face to the ground. He called me 'son of man,' which means a human being. He said, 'Understand this. The vision is about the time of the end.'

18Now as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground: but he touched me, and set me upright.

While he was talking to me, I fell into a deep sleep. My face was down on the ground. Then he touched me and stood me up on my feet.

19And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation: for at the time appointed the end shall be.

He said, 'Listen. I will show you what happens at the end of God's anger. The end will come at the time God has chosen.'

20The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia.

'The ram with two horns that you saw means the kings of Media and Persia.'

21And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king.

'The shaggy goat means the king of Greece. The big horn between his eyes is the first king.'

22Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power.

'That horn broke, and four horns grew up in its place. They mean four kingdoms will rise up from that nation. But they will not be as strong as the first king.'

23And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.

'Near the end of those kingdoms, wrongdoing will be at its worst. Then a bold, hard-faced king will rise up. He will be very good at tricks and secrets.'

24And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.

'He will be very strong, but the power will not be his own. He will destroy in a terrible way. Whatever he does will go well for him. He will destroy strong men and God's holy people.'

25And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.

'He is clever, and his lies will work well for him. Inside himself he will think he is very great. He will destroy many people while they feel safe. He will even stand up against the Prince of princes, the greatest ruler. But he will be broken, and no human hand will do it.'

26And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days.

'What you were told about the evenings and mornings is true. Now close up the vision and keep it safe. It is about a time far away.'

27And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days; afterward I rose up, and did the king’s business; and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it.

I, Daniel, was worn out, and I was sick for several days. Then I got up and did the king's work. The vision left me shaken. No one could explain what it meant.

1In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, which was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans;

It was the first year that Darius was king. He was the son of Ahasuerus, and he came from the Medes. He was made king over the land of the Chaldeans, which is Babylon.

2In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.

In that first year, I, Daniel, was reading the holy books. I learned what the LORD had told the prophet Jeremiah. A prophet is someone who told people what God said. Jerusalem would lie empty and broken for seventy years.

3And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:

So I turned to the Lord God to look for him. I prayed and begged for help. I went without food, wore rough cloth, and sat in ashes.

4And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments;

I prayed to the LORD my God and told him the wrong we had done. I said, "Lord, you are great, and people stand in awe of you. You keep your promise. You show love to people who love you and obey you."

5We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments:

"We have sinned and done wrong. We acted badly, and we would not obey. We turned away from your rules and your teachings."

6Neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, which spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.

"We did not listen to the prophets who served you. They spoke your words to our kings, our leaders, our fathers, and all the people of the land."

7O LORD, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries whither thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee.

"Lord, you always do what is right. But today we are covered with shame. That is true of the men of Judah and the people of Jerusalem. It is true of all Israel, both near and far away. It is true in every land where you sent us. This happened because we were not faithful to you."

8O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee.

"Lord, we are covered with shame. So are our kings, our leaders, and our fathers. It is because we sinned against you."

9To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him;

"But you, Lord our God, are kind, and you forgive. You are kind even though we would not obey you."

10Neither have we obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets.

"We did not listen to the voice of the LORD our God. We did not live by his laws. He gave those laws to us through the prophets who served him."

11Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him.

"All Israel broke your law and turned away. We refused to obey your voice. So the curse written in the law of Moses has poured down on us. Moses was God's servant, and God's warning came true. This happened because we sinned against God."

12And he hath confirmed his words, which he spake against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem.

"You did just what you said you would do to us and to our judges. You brought terrible trouble on us. Nothing like this has ever happened anywhere in the world. Nothing has been done like what was done to Jerusalem."

13As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the LORD our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand thy truth.

"All this trouble came just as the law of Moses said it would. Even then, we did not ask the LORD our God for help. We did not turn away from our wrong. We did not pay attention to your truth."

14Therefore hath the LORD watched upon the evil, and brought it upon us: for the LORD our God is righteous in all his works which he doeth: for we obeyed not his voice.

"So the LORD kept this trouble ready and brought it on us. The LORD our God is right in everything he does. But we did not obey his voice."

15And now, O Lord our God, that hast brought thy people forth out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and hast gotten thee renown, as at this day; we have sinned, we have done wickedly.

"Now, Lord our God, you brought your people out of Egypt with your strong hand. People have known your name ever since that day. We have sinned. We have done wrong."

16O LORD, according to all thy righteousness, I beseech thee, let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from thy city Jerusalem, thy holy mountain: because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people are become a reproach to all that are about us.

"Lord, you always do what is right. So please stop being angry with Jerusalem, your city and your holy hill. Our sins and our fathers' sins caused this. Now everyone around us makes fun of Jerusalem and your people."

17Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord’s sake.

"So now, our God, listen to the prayers of your servant. Your holy house lies empty and broken. Please be kind to it, Lord, for your own sake."

18O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies.

"My God, turn your ear and listen. Open your eyes and see our ruined city. It is the city that carries your name. We are not asking because we are good. We are asking because you are so kind."

19O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name.

"Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear us and act! Please do not wait, my God, for your own sake. Your city and your people carry your name."