Daniel

13So 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?

Then 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?

NoteJudah was the land far away where Daniel was born. Babylon's army beat Judah and marched many people back to Babylon. Daniel was one of those prisoners, brought there when he was young.

14I have heard that the spirit of the gods is in you. People say you see clearly, understand much, and are very wise.

I 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.

15The wise men and star watchers were brought in to read this writing for me. They could not tell me what it means.

And 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:

16But 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."

And 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.

17Daniel 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.

Then 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.

18O king, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar a kingdom. God gave him greatness, glory, and honor.

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

NoteMost High God means the God who is above everything and everyone. It was how Daniel spoke about the God of his people.

19Because 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.

And 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.

20But 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.

But 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:

21He 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 the dew of heaven. 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.

And 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.

NoteThis tells about something that happened to Nebuchadnezzar earlier in this book. He lost his mind and lived outdoors like an animal. Dew is the water that settles on the grass at night.

22You are his son, Belshazzar. You knew all of this. But you have not made your heart humble.

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

23Instead, 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.

But 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:

NoteSaying God holds your breath in his hand is a word picture. It means every breath you take comes from him.

24So God sent the hand that wrote these words on the wall.

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

25This is what was written: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.

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

NoteThese four words are in Aramaic, the language people spoke in Babylon. They are also the names of weights used for weighing money. So the words looked like nonsense to the wise men. Daniel knew what they were really saying.

26Here is what it means. MENE means God has counted the days of your kingdom. He has brought it to an end.

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

NoteMENE means counted or numbered, like counting out coins.

27TEKEL means you have been weighed on a scale. You were too light. You did not measure up.

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

NoteTEKEL means weighed. People weighed things on a balance scale, with two pans hanging from a bar. If your side was too light, you did not have enough.

28PERES means your kingdom has been split apart. It has been given to the Medes and the Persians."

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

NotePERES means split apart. It is the same word as UPHARSIN in verse 25, just said a different way. It also sounds like the word Persia. The Medes and the Persians were people from lands east of Babylon, and their armies were coming.

29Then 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.

Then 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.

30That very night Belshazzar, the king of the Chaldeans, was killed.

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

NoteChaldeans was another name for the people of Babylon.

31Then Darius the Mede took over the kingdom. He was about sixty-two years old.

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

NoteThe Medes lived in the land next to Persia. The King James Version says he was "threescore and two" years old. A score means twenty, so three scores and two more is sixty-two.

1King Darius chose 120 rulers. Each one took care of a part of his kingdom.

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

NoteThe King James calls these men "princes." They were not the king's sons. They were men he chose to rule parts of his land.

2Over 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.

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

Note"Presidents" here is an old word for the top three helpers. It does not mean a president of a country today. Their job was to make sure no money went missing.

3Daniel did better work than all the other leaders and rulers. He had a very good spirit in him. So the king planned to put him in charge of the whole kingdom.

Then 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.

NoteThe King James says Daniel had "an excellent spirit." That means he was wise, and very good at his work.

4The 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.

Then 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.

5So these men said, "We will never find anything wrong with Daniel. Our only chance is something about the law of his God."

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

NoteThe law of Daniel's God was the set of rules God gave his people long ago. One rule was to pray to God alone.

6So the leaders and rulers went to the king together. They said, "King Darius, may you live forever!

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

Note"O king, live for ever" was a polite way to say hello to a king. It was like saying, "Hello, your majesty."

7All 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.

All 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.

NoteA den was a deep pit dug in the ground. Kings kept lions in it. People were dropped in through a hole on top.

8Now, 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."

Now, 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.

NoteThe Medes and Persians were two peoples who ruled together in one big kingdom. They had a rule that a king's written law could never be taken back. Even the king could not undo it.

9So King Darius signed the paper with the new law on it.

Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.

10Daniel 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.

Now 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.

NoteJerusalem was the city far away where Daniel's family came from. God's temple had been there. Daniel faced that way when he prayed, to remember home. Praying three times a day was his normal habit, not something new.

11Then these men came together and found Daniel. He was praying and asking his God for help.

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

12So 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."

Then 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.

13Then 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."

Then 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.

NoteDaniel came from Judah, the land of God's people. Soldiers had taken him away from there as a boy. That is why the King James calls him one of "the children of the captivity."

14When 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.

Then 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.

NoteThe King James says the king was "sore displeased with himself." That means he was upset and angry at his own mistake. He had signed the law without thinking.

15Then 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."

Then 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.

16So 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."

Then 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.

17A 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.

And 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.

NoteA signet was a ring with a picture cut into it. The king pressed it into soft clay to leave his mark. If someone broke the clay, everyone would know the stone had been moved.

18Then the king went to his palace. He ate nothing all night. No music was played for him. He could not sleep.

Then 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.

NoteFasting means choosing to eat no food. Kings usually had music played while they ate. The king was too sad for food or music.

19As soon as it began to get light, the king got up. He hurried to the lions' den.

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

20When 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?"

And 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?

NoteThe King James says the king used a "lamentable" voice. That means a sad, crying voice. Many people then prayed to statues of stone. Calling God "living" meant he was real and alive.

21Then Daniel answered the king, "O king, may you live forever!

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

22My 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."

My 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.

NoteAn angel is a messenger God sends to do his work.

23The 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.

Then 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.

24Then 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.

And 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.

NoteIn those days, a whole family was often punished with the person who broke the law. That is why the wives and children were taken too.

25Then King Darius wrote to people everywhere, of every nation and language. He said, "May you have much peace!

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

Note"Peace be multiplied unto you" was how letters began back then. It means, "I hope things go very well for you."

26I 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.

I 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.

NoteIn the King James, to "fear" God often means to show him deep respect. It is like how you feel around someone very great.

27He saves and rescues. He does signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He saved Daniel from the power of the lions."

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

28So things went well for Daniel while Darius was king, and while Cyrus the Persian was king.

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

NoteCyrus was the next king after Darius. He was the king who later let God's people go back home to Judah.

1Belshazzar 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.

In 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.

NoteBabylon was a large, powerful kingdom far from Daniel's home. Daniel was one of God's people, taken there to live. Belshazzar was the king ruling Babylon at that time.

2Daniel said: "At night I looked, and I saw something. Winds blew from all four directions. They stirred up the great sea."

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

NoteThe King James says the winds "strove" upon the sea. Strove means they pushed and fought hard. Four winds means wind blowing from every direction at once.

3Four huge animals came up out of the sea. Each one was different from the others.

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

NoteThe King James word "beasts" means big wild animals, not tame ones.

4The 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.

The 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.

NoteKings long ago used animals as pictures of their power. Huge stone lions with wings stood at the gates of Babylon. A lion meant strong. An eagle meant fast.

5Then 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!"

And 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.

NoteRibs are bones from an animal's chest. The bear had been eating something. Holding the ribs in its teeth showed it wanted more.

6After 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.

After 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.

NoteA leopard is a big spotted cat. It can run very fast.

7Then, 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.

After 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.

NoteIron is a very hard, strong metal. People made swords and tools from it. Also, animals fight with their horns, so a horn was a picture of power. Each horn here stands for a king.

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

I 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.

NotePulled up by the roots is what you do to a weed. Here it means three kings lost their power completely.

9I kept watching. Thrones were put in place. Then the Ancient of Days sat down. His clothes were white as snow. His hair was like clean white wool. His throne was like burning flames. Its wheels were blazing fire.

I 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.

NoteA throne is the special chair a king or a judge sits on. "Ancient of days" is an old way of saying very, very old. It is a name for God, who has always been alive. In Bible times white hair meant a person was old and wise.

10A 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.

A 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.

NoteThis is like a court, where a judge decides what is right. Long ago people kept records in books. Opening the books means the record of what everyone did was read out.

11I 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.

I 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.

12The other animals had their power taken away. But they were allowed to live for a while longer.

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

13Still 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.

I 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.

Note"Son of man" was an old way of saying "a human being." So Daniel saw someone who looked like a person. In the Bible, coming on clouds shows someone arriving from heaven.

14He 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.

And 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.

15I, Daniel, felt sad and upset deep inside me. The pictures I saw in my mind scared me.

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

16I 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.

I 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.

NoteIn the dream, helpers stood near God's throne. Daniel walked up to one of them and asked what it meant.

17He said, "These four big animals are four kings. They will rise up on the earth."

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

NoteA king here also means his whole kingdom. That is all the land and people he rules.

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

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

NoteThe King James word "saints" means holy people who belong to God. "Most High" is a name for God. It means higher than anyone else.

19Then 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.

Then 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;

NoteThe King James says "nails of brass." Nails here means claws. Brass means bronze, a hard, shiny metal.

20I also asked about the ten horns on its head. And about the new horn that grew up later. Three horns fell in front of it. That horn had eyes and a mouth that boasted. It looked bigger and stronger than the other horns.

And 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.

NoteThe King James says this horn looked "more stout" than his fellows. Stout means bigger and stronger. Fellows means the other horns.

21I watched, and that horn fought against God's holy people. It was winning against them.

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

22This 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.

Until 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.

23This 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."

Thus 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.

24"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."

And 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.

25"He will speak proud words against God Most High. He will wear out God's holy people. 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."

And 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.

Note"Times" means the special days people set apart to worship God. This king wanted to change them. "A time, times, and half a time" is an old way of naming a length of time. Many people think a time means a year, so this would be about three and a half years. The main idea is that the hard time will not last forever.

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

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

27"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."

And 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.

28"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.

Hitherto 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.

NoteThe King James word "countenance" means face. Pale means the color went out of it. That can happen when someone is worried or afraid.

1It was the third year that Belshazzar was king. I, Daniel, saw a picture in my mind. That kind of picture is called a vision. I had already seen one like it before.

In 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.

NoteBelshazzar was a king in Babylon, a country far from Israel. Daniel was taken there from his own home when he was young.

2In 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.

And 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.

NoteShushan was a big, strong city far to the east. In the vision Daniel felt like he was there, but his body stayed in Babylon.

3I 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.

Then 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.

NoteA ram is a grown male sheep with big curved horns. He fights by pushing with them. In this vision the animals stand for kings and their countries.

4The 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.

I 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.

5While 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.

And 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.

NoteAn animal's horns are how it fights, so horns here mean strength. One big horn means one strong king.

6The 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.

And 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.

7I 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.

And 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.

8So 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.

Therefore 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.

NoteThe four winds means the four directions: north, south, east, and west.

9Out 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.

And 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.

NoteThe beautiful land means the land of Israel, where God's people lived.

10It 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.

And 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.

NoteThe army of heaven means the stars. Long ago people looked up and saw the stars as a huge army in the sky.

11It 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.

Yea, 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.

NoteThe daily gift was an animal burned for God every morning and evening. God's holy house means the temple in Jerusalem, the special building where people came to worship God.

12Because of wrongdoing, 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.

And 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.

13Then 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?'

Then 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?

NoteA holy one here means an angel. Angels are God's helpers and messengers.

14He said to me, 'It will last 2,300 evenings and mornings. Then the holy house will be made clean and right again.'

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

NoteIn the Bible a new day starts in the evening. So evenings and mornings is a way of counting whole days. Made clean means the temple would be washed and set right for worship again.

15I, 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.

And 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.

16I heard a man's voice come from between the banks of the Ulai. The voice called out, 'Gabriel, help this man understand the vision.'

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

NoteGabriel is an angel. He carries messages from God to people.

17So 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.'

So 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.

NoteFalling down with your face on the ground showed great respect. People did this when they met someone very great.

18While 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.

Now 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.

19He 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.'

And 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.

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

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

NoteMedia and Persia were two countries east of Israel. They joined together into one big kingdom.

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

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

NoteGreece was a country far to the west, across the sea. Shaggy means the goat had long, rough hair.

22'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.'

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

23'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.'

And 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.

NoteA hard face means he looks bold and mean. He shows no kindness to anyone.

24'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.'

And 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.

NoteGod's holy people means the people of Israel. They belonged to God in a special way.

25'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.'

And 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.

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

And 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.

NoteBooks back then were long scrolls, rolled up like a paper towel roll. Closing one up meant tying it and sealing it shut so no one could read it yet.

27I, 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.

And 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.

NoteThe king's work was Daniel's job. He helped the king take care of the country.

1It 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.

In 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;

NoteDarius was a new king who ruled Babylon. The Medes were a people from a land east of Babylon. The Chaldeans were the people who had ruled Babylon before. Daniel's people had been carried to Babylon as prisoners.

2In 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.

In 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.

NoteJeremiah was a prophet who lived before Daniel's time. His words were saved on scrolls, long rolls of writing. Jeremiah wrote that Jerusalem would sit empty for seventy years. Jerusalem was the home city Daniel's people had lost.

3So 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.

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

NoteGoing without food while you pray is called fasting. Rough cloth was scratchy and plain, not nice to wear. Sitting in ashes showed everyone that you were very sad. People did these things to show they were truly sorry.

4I 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."

And 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;

NoteThis promise had a special name: a covenant. A covenant is an agreement between God and his people. Both sides said what they would do.

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

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

6"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."

Neither 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.

Note"Our fathers" means the family who lived long before them. It means grandparents and great-grandparents, going far back.

7"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."

O 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.

NoteJudah was the part of the land where Jerusalem stood. Israel was the name for all of God's people together. Being "covered with shame" means feeling sorry and embarrassed. Their enemies had taken them away to live in other lands.

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

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

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

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

10"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."

Neither 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.

11"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."

Yea, 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.

NoteMoses led God's people out of Egypt long, long ago. God gave Moses laws for the people to live by. Those laws also warned what would happen if the people quit obeying.

12"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."

And 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.

NoteJudges were leaders who decided what was right and fair. They also led the people when trouble came.

13"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."

As 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.

14"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."

Therefore 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.

15"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."

And 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.

NoteLong ago God's people were slaves in Egypt. God set them free and led them out. They told that story for hundreds of years.

16"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."

O 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.

NoteThe holy hill is the hill in the middle of Jerusalem. God's special house, called the temple, was built on top of it.

17"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."

Now 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.

NoteThe holy house is the temple in Jerusalem. People came there to worship God and bring him gifts. Enemies had burned it down, so it sat empty and broken.

18"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."

O 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.

19"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."

O 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.