The Vision of the Ram and Goat

1In the third year of the reign of Belshazzar the king, a vision appeared to me, [†]Daniel, after the one which appeared to me [†]previously. 2And I looked in the vision. And it happened that while I was looking, I was in the citadel of Susa, which is in the province of Elam; and I looked in the vision, and I myself was beside the Ulai [†]Canal. 3Then I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, a ram which had two horns was standing in front of the [†]canal. Now the two horns were [†]long, but one was [†]longer than the other, with the [†]longer one coming up last. 4I saw the ram butting westward, northward, and southward, and no other beasts could stand before it, nor was there anyone to deliver from its [†]power, but it did as it pleased and magnified itself.

5And while I was considering, behold, a male goat was coming from the west over the surface of the whole earth without touching the ground; and the [†]goat had a conspicuous horn between its eyes. 6Then it came up to the ram that had the two horns, which I had seen standing in front of the [†]canal, and ran at it in his strong wrath. 7And I saw it reach the side of the ram, and it was enraged at it; and it struck the ram and broke its two horns in pieces, and the ram had no strength to stand in [†]opposition to it. So it threw it down to the ground and trampled on it, and there was none to deliver the ram from its [†]power. 8Then the male goat magnified itself exceedingly. But as soon as it was mighty, the large horn was broken; and in its place there came up four conspicuous horns toward the four winds of [†]heaven.

The Small Horn

9And out of one of them came forth a rather small horn. And it grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the [†]Beautiful Land. 10Then it grew up to the host of heaven and caused some of the host and some of the stars to fall to the earth, and it trampled them down. 11And it even magnified itself [†]to be equal with the [†]Commander of the host; and it removed the regular sacrifice from Him, and the place of His sanctuary was thrown down. 12And on account of transgression the host will be given over to the horn along with the regular sacrifice; and it will throw truth down to the ground and do its will and succeed. 13Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to that particular one who was speaking, “How long will the vision about the regular sacrifice apply, [†]while the transgression causes desolation, so as to allow both the holy place and the host [†]to be trampled?” 14He said to me, “For 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the holy place will be [†]made righteous.”

Daniel Seeks to Understand the Vision

15Now it happened when I, Daniel, had seen the vision, that I sought [†]to understand it; and behold, standing before me was one [†]who had the appearance of a man. 16And I heard the voice of a man between the banks of Ulai, and he called out and said, “Gabriel, give this man an understanding of what has appeared.” 17So he came near to where I was standing, and when he came I was terrified and fell on my face; but he said to me, “Son of man, understand that the vision pertains to the time of the end.”

18Now while he was talking with me, I sank into a deep sleep with my face to the ground; but he touched me and made me stand [†]upright. 19Then he said, “Behold, I am going to let you know what will happen at the final period of the indignation, for it pertains to the appointed time of the end. 20The ram which you saw with the two horns is the kings of Media and Persia. 21Now the shaggy [†]goat is the [†]king of Greece, and the large horn that is between his eyes is the first king. 22And the broken horn and the four horns that stood in its place are four kingdoms which will take their stand from his nation, although not with his power.

23In the latter period of their [†]reign,

When the transgressors have [†]run their course,

A king will stand,

[†]Insolent and skilled in [†]intrigue.

24His power will be mighty, but not by his own power,

And he will [†]destroy to an [†]astonishing degree

And succeed and do his will;

He will [†]destroy mighty men and [†]the holy people.

25And through his insight

He will cause deceit to succeed by his hand;

And he will magnify himself in his heart,

And he will [†]destroy many while they are [†]at ease.

He will even stand against the Prince of princes,

But he will be broken without hands.

26And what had appeared about the evenings and mornings

Which has been told is true;

But as for you, conceal the vision,

For it pertains to many days in the future.”

27Then I, Daniel, was [†]exhausted and sick for days. Then I rose up again and did the king’s work; but I was appalled at what had appeared, and there was none to make me understand it.