Daniel

20I kept on speaking and praying. I told God the wrong I had done and the wrong my people Israel had done. I begged the LORD my God to help his holy hill.

And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God;

21While I was still praying, Gabriel came to me. He is the man I had seen in my earlier vision. He came flying fast and touched me. It was the time of the evening offering.

Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation.

NoteGabriel is an angel, a messenger sent from God. The evening offering was a gift given to God at the temple. It was given late in the afternoon, every day.

22He taught me and talked with me. He said, "Daniel, I have come to help you know and understand."

And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding.

23"As soon as you began to pray, God sent an answer. I have come to tell it to you, because God loves you very much. So listen closely and understand the vision."

At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision.

24"Seventy weeks are set aside for your people and your holy city. In that time, wrongdoing will be stopped and sin will be ended. Sin will be paid for. Right living that lasts forever will come. The vision and the words of the prophets will be sealed up. And the most holy place will be set apart with special oil."

Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.

NoteIn Daniel's language, a "week" means a group of seven. Many people think these are groups of seven years. "Sealed up" means finished and closed, the way a letter is sealed. The most holy place was the special inside room of the temple. Pouring oil on something showed it was chosen for God.

25"So know this and understand it. A command will be given to rebuild Jerusalem. From that time until a leader chosen with oil comes will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks. The city will be built again, with streets and a deep ditch. But it will be built in hard times."

Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.

Note"Messiah" means someone who had oil poured on his head. Kings and priests were chosen that way, so it means a chosen leader. A deep ditch was dug around a city to keep enemies out. The word here for a leader chosen with oil is often written as Messiah.

26"After the sixty-two weeks, a Messiah, someone chosen with oil, will be cut off and will have nothing. Then the people of a ruler who is coming will destroy the city and the holy house. The end will come like a rushing flood. War will go on, and ruin has been decided."

And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

Note"Cut off" is an old way of saying someone's life was ended.

27"He will make a firm agreement with many people for one week. In the middle of that week, he will stop the sacrifices and offerings. Hated things will spread, and he will make it empty and broken. This will last until the end that God has decided is poured out on him."

And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

NoteA firm agreement like this was called a covenant. Sacrifices and offerings were gifts people brought to God at the temple. They brought animals and grain. A "hated thing" means something very wrong put in God's holy place. It would make people stay away, so the temple would sit empty. The old words say the hated things come on a wing, which means an edge or corner, and many readers take this to be the temple.

1It was the third year that Cyrus was king of Persia. God showed a message to Daniel, who was also called Belteshazzar. The message was true, and it was about a great war. Daniel saw a vision, a picture from God, and he understood the message.

In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a thing was revealed unto Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar; and the thing was true, but the time appointed was long: and he understood the thing, and had understanding of the vision.

NoteCyrus was the king of Persia, a large country far from Daniel's home. Daniel was a Jewish man who had been taken there as a boy. Belteshazzar was the new name the people there gave him. A vision is a picture God shows someone while they are awake.

2Daniel says: In those days I was sad and mourning for three whole weeks.

In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks.

NoteMourning means being very sad for a long time. People showed it by not eating nice food.

3I ate no fine food. I had no meat and no wine. I put no oil on my skin. I waited until the three weeks were done.

I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.

NoteBack then people rubbed oil on their skin the way we use lotion. Going without it showed that Daniel was sad.

4It was the twenty-fourth day of the first month. I was standing by the great river Hiddekel, the river we now call the Tigris.

And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel;

NoteThe first month came in the spring, when Daniel's people had their year start. Hiddekel is the old name for the river we call the Tigris. It is a very big river in the land where Daniel now lived.

5I looked up, and I saw a man standing there. He wore clothes of linen. Around his waist was a belt of fine gold from Uphaz.

Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz:

NoteLinen is soft cloth made from a plant. Uphaz was a faraway place known for very good gold.

6His body shone like a smooth, shiny stone. His face flashed like lightning. His eyes were like burning torches. His arms and legs shone like polished metal. His voice sounded like a huge crowd of people.

His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.

NoteThe King James Bible says his body was like "the beryl." Beryl is a smooth stone that shines like green glass. It also says his arms and feet were like "polished brass," which is shiny metal.

7Only I, Daniel, saw this. The men with me did not see it. But they were very afraid, and they ran away to hide.

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

8So I was left alone, looking at this great sight. All my strength went away. My face turned white, and I was too weak to move.

Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength.

9Then I heard him speak. As I listened, I fell into a deep sleep with my face on the ground.

Yet heard I the voice of his words: and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground.

10Then a hand touched me. It lifted me up so I was shaking on my hands and knees.

And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands.

11He said to me, "Daniel, God loves you very much. Listen carefully to what I say to you. Stand up now, for I have been sent to you." So I stood up, still shaking.

And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling.

NoteBeing sent means someone else told him to go. God sent this messenger to Daniel.

12Then he said, "Do not be afraid, Daniel. From the very first day you tried to understand, you made yourself humble before your God. God heard your words that day. I have come because of your words.

Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.

NoteHumble means you do not act big or proud. Daniel prayed and went without food to show this.

13But the prince of the kingdom of Persia stood against me for twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the leading princes, came to help me. I had been left there with the kings of Persia.

But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.

NoteA prince here is not a human boy in a palace. It means a strong spirit who fights over what happens to a country. Michael is an angel who watches over God's people. The twenty-one days are the same three weeks Daniel was waiting.

14Now I have come to help you understand what will happen to your people. It will happen in days far ahead. The vision is about that time to come."

Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.

NoteDays far ahead means a long, long time later, not next week.

15While he was saying this to me, I looked down at the ground. I could not speak at all.

And when he had spoken such words unto me, I set my face toward the ground, and I became dumb.

NoteThe King James Bible says Daniel "became dumb." Here dumb means he could not speak. It does not mean he was silly.

16Then someone who looked like a man touched my lips. So I opened my mouth and spoke. I said to the one standing there, "My lord, this vision fills me with pain. I have no strength left.

And, behold, one like the similitude of the sons of men touched my lips: then I opened my mouth, and spake, and said unto him that stood before me, O my lord, by the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I have retained no strength.

NoteCalling someone "my lord" was a polite way to speak to someone greater than you.

17How can I, your servant, even talk with you, my lord? My strength is gone, and no breath is left in me."

For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord? for as for me, straightway there remained no strength in me, neither is there breath left in me.

18Then the one who looked like a man touched me again. He made me strong.

Then there came again and touched me one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me,

19He said, "God loves you very much. Do not be afraid. Peace to you. Be strong now. Be very strong." When he spoke, I felt strong again. I said, "Speak, my lord, for you have made me strong."

And said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me.

20Then he said, "Do you know why I have come to you? Now I must go back and fight the prince of Persia. When I go, the prince of Greece will come.

Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia shall come.

NoteGreece was a country across the sea. Later it grew strong and beat Persia in war.

21But first I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. No one helps me in this fight except Michael, your prince."

But I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince.

NoteThe Book of Truth is a way of saying God already knows the whole story. It is like a plan written down before it happens.

1At that time Michael will stand up. Michael is a great prince who watches over your people. There will be a time of terrible trouble. Nothing that bad has happened since nations began. But at that time your people will be saved. Everyone whose name is written in the book will be saved.

And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

NoteA prince here means a leader. Michael is an angel who guards Daniel's people. The book is like a list of names that God keeps safe.

2Many people who are asleep in the dust of the ground will wake up. Some will wake to life that never ends. Others will wake to shame that never ends.

And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

NoteAsleep in the dust means people who have died and been buried. Waking up means being alive again.

3Wise people will shine like the bright sky. Those who help many people live right will shine like the stars, forever and ever.

And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

NoteThe King James says "firmament," which is an old word for the sky.

4But you, Daniel, close up these words. Seal the book shut until the time of the end. Many people will hurry here and there. What people know will grow.

But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

NoteBooks then were rolls of paper. You closed one with a blob of soft wax. Then nobody could open it without everyone knowing. These words were being saved for later.

5Then I, Daniel, looked. I saw two others standing there. One stood on this side of the river. The other stood on the far side.

Then I Daniel looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank of the river.

NoteThis is the Tigris River, a big river near where Daniel lived.

6One of them spoke to the man dressed in linen cloth. That man was above the water of the river. He asked, "How long until these wonders are finished?"

And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?

NoteLinen is a smooth cloth made from a plant. Wonders means amazing things that God does.

7The man dressed in linen raised his right hand and his left hand toward the sky. He made a promise by God, who lives forever. I heard him say it would last a time, times, and half a time. When the strength of God's holy people is fully broken, all this will be done.

And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.

NoteLifting both hands toward the sky was how people made a serious promise. It meant "I really mean this." A time, times, and half a time was a way of saying three and a half years.

8I heard him, but I did not understand. So I asked, "My lord, how will all this end?"

And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?

Note"My lord" was a polite way to speak to someone important.

9He said, "Go on your way, Daniel. These words are shut and sealed until the time of the end."

And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.

10Many people will be made clean and pure, and they will be tested. But bad people will keep doing bad things. None of them will understand. But the wise will understand.

Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.

NoteTested here means checked, the way gold is checked in a fire. The fire burns away the dirt and leaves the gold clean.

11The daily gift given to God will be taken away. Then the hated thing that leaves everything empty will be set up. From that time there will be 1,290 days.

And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.

NoteThe daily gift was an animal given to God every day at the temple. The temple was God's special house in Jerusalem. The hated thing was something set up there that did not belong. It made people stop coming to worship.

12Happy is the one who waits and reaches the end of the 1,335 days.

Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.

NoteBlessed means happy, and looked after by God.

13But you, Daniel, go on your way until the end comes. You will rest. Then at the end of the days you will rise and receive your share.

But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.

NoteThe King James says Daniel will "stand in thy lot." A lot was the share of land a family was given. Daniel is promised his own share at the end.