Daniel 7 - Contemporary English Version (CEV)

Daniel's Vision of the Four Beasts

7 1-2 Daniel wrote:

In the first year of King Belshazzar[a] of Babylonia, I had some dreams and visions while I was asleep one night, and I wrote them down.

The four winds were stirring up the mighty sea, 3 (A) when suddenly four powerful beasts came out of the sea. Each beast was different. 4 (B) The first was like a lion with the wings of an eagle. As I watched, its wings were pulled off. Then it was lifted to an upright position and made to stand on two feet, just like a human, and it was given a human mind.

5 The second beast looked like a bear standing on its hind legs.[b] It held three ribs in its teeth, and it was told, “Attack! Eat all the flesh you want.”

6 The third beast was like a leopard—except that it had four wings and four heads. It was given authority to rule.

7 (C) The fourth beast was stronger and more terrifying than the others. Its huge teeth were made of iron, and what it didn't grind with its teeth, it smashed with its feet. It was different from the others, and it had horns on its head—ten of them. 8 (D) Just as I was thinking about these horns, a smaller horn appeared, and three of the other horns were pulled up by the roots to make room for it. This horn had the eyes of a human and a mouth that spoke with great arrogance.

Judgment

Daniel wrote:

9 (E) Thrones were set up
while I was watching,
and the Eternal God[c]
took his place.
His clothing and his hair
were white as snow.
His throne was a blazing fire
with fiery wheels,
10 (F) and flames were dashing out
from all around him.
Countless thousands
were standing there
to serve him.
The time of judgment began,
and the books[d] were opened.

11 I watched closely to see what would happen to this smaller horn because of the arrogant things it was saying. Then before my very eyes, the fourth beast was killed and its body destroyed by fire. 12 The other three beasts had their authority taken from them, but they were allowed to live a while longer.[e] 13 (G) As I continued to watch the vision that night,

I saw what looked like
a son of man[f]
coming with the clouds of heaven,
and he was presented
to the Eternal God.[g]
14 (H) He was crowned king
and given power and glory,
so that all people
of every nation and race
would serve him.
He will rule forever,
and his kingdom is eternal,
never to be destroyed.

The Meaning of Daniel's Vision

15 Daniel wrote:

I was terrified by these visions, and I didn't know what to think. 16 So I asked one of those standing there,[h] and he explained, 17 “The four beasts are four earthly kingdoms. 18 (I) But God Most High will give his kingdom to his chosen ones, and it will be theirs forever and ever.”

19 I wanted to know more about the fourth beast,[i] because it was so different and much more terrifying than the others. What was the meaning of its iron teeth and bronze claws and of its feet that smashed what the teeth and claws had not ground and crushed? 20 I also wanted to know more about all ten of those horns on its head. I especially wanted to know more about the one that took the place of three of the others—the horn that had eyes and spoke with arrogance and seemed greater than the others. 21 (J) While I was looking, this horn attacked God's chosen ones and was winning the battle. 22 (K) Then God Most High, the Eternal God,[j] came and judged in favor of his chosen ones, because the time had arrived for them to be given the kingdom.

23 Then I was told
by the one standing there:
“The fourth beast
will be a fourth kingdom
to appear on earth.
It will be different
from all the others—
it will trample the earth
and crush it to pieces.
24 (L) All ten of those horns are kings
who will come from this kingdom,
and one more will follow.
This horn will be different
from the others,
and it will conquer
three other kings.

25 (M) “This king will speak evil
of God Most High,
and he will be cruel
to God's chosen ones.
He will try to change God's Law
and the sacred seasons.
And he will be able to do this
for a time, two times,
and half a time.[k]
26 But he will finally be judged,
and his kingdom
completely destroyed.

27 (N) “Then the greatest kingdom of all
will be given to the chosen ones
of God Most High.
His kingdom will be eternal,
and all others will serve
and obey him.”

28 That was what I saw and heard. I turned pale with fear and kept it all to myself.

Footnotes

  1. 7.1,2 first year of King Belshazzar: 554 b.c.
  2. 7.5 standing on its hind legs: Or “higher on one side than the other” or “with a paw lifted up.”
  3. 7.9 Eternal God: Aramaic “Ancient of Days.”
  4. 7.10 books: Containing the record of the good and evil that each person has done.
  5. 7.12 a while longer: Aramaic “for a time and a season.”
  6. 7.13 son of man: Or “human.” In Aramaic “son of man” may mean a human or even “oneself” (“I” or “me”). Jesus often used the phrase “the Son of Man” when referring to himself.
  7. 7.13 Eternal God: See the note at 7.9.
  8. 7.16 one of those standing there: Possibly an angel sent to interpret the visions or one of those thousands mentioned in verse 10.
  9. 7.19 fourth beast: See verses 7,8.
  10. 7.22 Eternal God: See the note at 7.9.
  11. 7.25 for … time: Or “for a year, two years, and half a year.”

Cross references

  1. 7.3 : Rev 13.1; 17.8.
  2. 7.4-6 : Rev 13.2.
  3. 7.7 : Rev 12.3; 13.1.
  4. 7.8 : Rev 13.5,6.
  5. 7.9 a : Rev 20.4; b Rev 1.14.
  6. 7.10 a : Rev 5.11; b Rev 20.12.
  7. 7.13 : Mt 24.30; 26.64; Mk 13.26; 14.62; Lk 21.27; Rev 1.7,13; 14.14.
  8. 7.14 : Rev 11.15.
  9. 7.18 : Rev 22.5.
  10. 7.21 : Rev 13.7.
  11. 7.22 : Rev 20.4.
  12. 7.24 : Rev 17.12.
  13. 7.25 : Rev 12.14; 13.5,6.
  14. 7.27 a : Rev 20.4; b Rev 22.5.

You Might Also Like:

Daniel 7 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

7 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel hath seen a dream, and the visions of his head on his bed, then the dream he hath written, the chief of the things he hath said. 2 Answered hath Daniel and said, `I was seeing in my vision by night, and lo, the four winds of the heavens are c...
Read More

Daniel 7 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

7 In the first year of Belshazzar, king of Babylon, Daniel saw a sweven, either a dream. Forsooth he wrote the vision of his head in his bed, and the dream, and comprehended in short word; (In the first year of Belshazzar, the king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream. And he wrote down the vision in his ...
Read More

Daniel 7 - World English Bible (WEB)

7 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream and visions of his head on his bed. Then he wrote the dream and told the sum of the matters. 2 Daniel spoke and said, “I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the sky broke out on the great sea. 3 Four great a...
Read More

Daniel 7 - The Voice (VOICE)

7 In the first year of Belshazzar’s reign over Babylon, Daniel had a dream and saw visions as he slept in his bed. When he got up, he remembered the dream and wrote it down. This is the beginning of his record: These events most likely take place in 554 b.c. They are a flashback to before the feast ...
Read More

Daniel 7 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Daniel’s Vision of Four Beasts7 In the first year of King Belshazzar of Babylon, Daniel had a dream, and visions passed through his mind as he was on his bed. He wrote down a summary of the dream. 2 Daniel said: “I was looking in my vision at night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were churnin...
Read More

Daniel 7 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

Visions of the Four Beasts7 In the first year of Belshaz′zar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream and visions of his head as he lay in his bed. Then he wrote down the dream, and told the sum of the matter. 2 Daniel said, “I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirrin...
Read More

Daniel 7 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Visions of the Four Beasts7 In the first year of Belshaz′zar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream and visions of his head as he lay in his bed. Then he wrote down the dream, and told the sum of the matter. 2 Daniel said, “I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirrin...
Read More

Daniel 7 - Orthodox Jewish Bible (OJB)

7 In the first year of Belshatzar melech Babylon, Daniel saw a dream and visions of his head upon his bed; then he wrote down the dream, and the sum of the matters he related. 2 Daniel answered and said, I saw in my vision that came by night, and, hinei, the arbah ruchot (four winds) of Shomayim bur...
Read More

Daniel 7 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Visions of the Four Beasts7 In the first year of King Belshazzar of Babylon, Daniel had a dream and visions of his head as he lay in bed. Then he wrote down the dream:[a] 2 I,[b] Daniel, saw in my vision by night the four winds of heaven stirring up the great sea, 3 and four great beasts came up o...
Read More

Daniel 7 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Visions of the Four Beasts7 In the first year of King Belshazzar of Babylon, Daniel had a dream and visions of his head as he lay in bed. Then he wrote down the dream:[a](A)2 I,[b] Daniel, saw in my vision by night the four winds of heaven stirring up the great sea, 3 and four great beasts came up o...
Read More

Daniel 7 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Daniel’s Vision of Four Beasts7 Earlier, during the first year of King Belshazzar’s reign in Babylon,[a] Daniel had a dream and saw visions as he lay in his bed. He wrote down the dream, and this is what he saw. 2 In my vision that night, I, Daniel, saw a great storm churning the surface of a great ...
Read More

Daniel 7 - New Life Version (NLV)

Daniel’s Special Dream of the Four Animals7 In the first year that Belshazzar was king of Babylon, Daniel had a special dream in his mind as he lay on his bed. And he wrote the dream down, telling what he saw. 2 Daniel said, “In my dream at night I looked and saw the four winds of heaven causing wa...
Read More

Daniel 7 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Vision of the Four Beasts7 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, (A)Daniel [a]had a dream and (B)visions of his head while on his bed. Then he wrote down the dream, telling [b]the main facts. 2 Daniel spoke, saying, “I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were s...
Read More

Daniel 7 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Daniel’s dream of four beasts7 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream, and visions passed through his mind as he was lying in bed. He wrote down the substance of his dream. 2 Daniel said: ‘In my vision at night I looked, and there before me were the four winds of heaven ...
Read More

Daniel 7 - New International Version (NIV)

Daniel’s Dream of Four Beasts7 In the first year of Belshazzar(A) king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream, and visions(B) passed through his mind(C) as he was lying in bed.(D) He wrote(E) down the substance of his dream. 2 Daniel said: “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me were the four w...
Read More

Daniel 7 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

Daniel Has a Dream About Four Animals7 It was the first year that Belshazzar was king of Babylon. Daniel had a dream. He was lying in bed. In his dream, visions passed through his mind. He wrote down what he saw. 2 Daniel said, “I had a vision at night. I looked up and saw the four winds of heaven. ...
Read More