 1 In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision appeared to me, to me, Daniel, after what appeared to me at the first. 2 In a vision I looked. When I looked, I was at Shushan the palace that is in the province of Elam. And in a vision I looked, and I was by the Ulai Canal. 3 Then I lifted up my eyes, and looked. And behold, a ram with two horns stood before the Canal having two horns, and the two horns were high, but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last. 4 I saw the ram pushing westward and northward and southward. So that no beasts could stand before him, nor any that could deliver out of his hand. But he did according to his will, and became great. 5 As I was watching, behold, a he goat came from the west, over the face of the all earth, and did not touch the ground. And the he goat had an outstanding horn between his eyes. 6 He came to the ram that had two horns that I had seen standing before the river, and ran to him in the fury of his power. 7 I saw him come close beside the ram, and he was moved with anger against him, and struck the ram and shattered his two horns. And there was no power in the ram to stand before him. But he threw him down to the ground and stamped on him. And none could deliver the ram out of his hand. 8 Then the he goat became very great. And when he was strong, the great horn was broken. And in its place came up four outstanding ones towards the four winds of the heavens. 9 Out of one of them came forth a little horn that became very great, toward the south and toward the east and toward the bountiful land. 10 It became great, even to the host of heaven. And it made fall some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and trampled them. 11 Yes, he magnified himself, even to the ruler of the host, and the daily sacrifice was taken away by him, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down. 12 An army was given to him against the daily sacrifice because of transgression, and it cast the truth to the ground. And it worked and succeeded. 13 Then I heard a certain holy one speaking, and another holy one said to that one who spoke, Until when will the vision last, concerning the daily sacrifice and the transgression that astounds, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trampled? 14 He said to me, For 2,300 evenings and mornings. Then the sanctuary will be vindicated. 15 When I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, and sought for the meaning, then, behold, there stood before me the form of a man. 16 I heard a man's voice between the banks of Ulai that called and said, Gabriel, make this one understand the vision. 17 So he came near beside my place and when he came, I was afraid and fell on my face. But he said to me, Understand, O son of man, for the vision is for the time of the end. 18 As he was speaking with me, I was stunned, on my face toward the ground. But he touched me and set me upright. 19 He said, Behold, I will make you know what will happen in the last end of the indignation. For it is for the time appointed for the end. 20 The ram that you saw having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia. 21 The shaggy goat is the king of Greece. And the great horn between his eyes is the first king. 22 As for that being broken, and four stood up in its place. Four kingdoms will stand up out of the nation, but not in its power. 23 In the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors have come to the full, a king, fierce of face, and skilled at intrigues, will stand up. 24 His power will be mighty, but not by his own power. And he will destroy marvelously, and will prosper and work, and destroy the mighty and the holy people. 25 Also through his understanding, he will cause deceit to succeed in his hand. And he will magnify himself in his heart, and by peace will destroy many. He also will stand up against the Ruler of rulers. But he will be broken without a hand. 26 The vision of the evening and the morning that was told is true. But you will shut up the vision. For it will be for many days. 27 I Daniel fainted and was sick for days. Afterward I rose and did the king's business. I was amazed at the vision but there was no understanding.
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