Daniel 8

Vision of the Ram and Goat

1In the third year of the reign of Belshazzar the king a vision appeared to me, 1Daniel, subsequent to the one which appeared to me 2previously. 2I 3looked in the vision, and while I was looking I was in the citadel of 4Susa, which is in the province of 5Elam; and I looked in the vision and I myself was beside the Ulai 6Canal. 3Then I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, a 7ram which had two horns was standing in front of the 8canal. Now the two horns were 9long, but one was 10longer than the other, with the 11longer one coming up last. 4I saw the ram 12butting westward, northward, and southward, and no other beasts could stand before him nor was there anyone to rescue from his 13power, but 14he did as he pleased and magnified himself.

5While I was observing, behold, a male goat was coming from the west over the surface of the whole earth without touching the ground; and the 15goat had a 16conspicuous horn between his eyes. 6He came up to the ram that had the two horns, which I had seen standing in front of the 17canal, and rushed at him in his mighty wrath. 7I saw him come beside the ram, and he was enraged at him; and he struck the ram and shattered his two horns, and the ram had no strength to withstand him. So he hurled him to the ground and trampled on him, and there was none to rescue the ram from his 18power. 8Then the male goat magnified himself exceedingly. But as soon as 19he was mighty, the 20large horn was broken; and in its place there came up four conspicuous horns toward the 21four winds of heaven.

The Little Horn

9Out of one of them came forth a rather 22small horn which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the 2324Beautiful Land. 10It grew up to the host of heaven and caused some of the host and some of the 25stars to fall to the earth, and it 26trampled them down. 11It even 27magnified itself 28to be equal with the 29Commander of the host; and it removed the 30regular 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 31fling truth to the ground and perform its will and prosper. 13Then I heard a 32holy one speaking, and another holy one said to that particular one who was speaking, “33How long will the vision about the regular sacrifice apply, 34while the transgression causes horror, so as to allow both the holy place and the host 35to be 36trampled?” 14He said to me, “For 372,300 evenings and mornings; then the holy place will be 38properly restored.”

Interpretation of the Vision

15When 39I, Daniel, had seen the vision, I sought 40to understand it; and behold, standing before me was one 41who looked like a 42man. 16And I heard the voice of a man between the banks of Ulai, and he called out and said, “43Gabriel, give this man an understanding of the vision.” 17So he came near to where I was standing, and when he came I was frightened and 44fell on my face; but he said to me, “Son of man, understand that the vision pertains to the 45time of the end.”

18Now while he was talking with me, I 46sank into a deep sleep with my face to the ground; but he 47touched me and made me stand 48upright. 19He said, “Behold, I am going to 49let you know what will occur at the final period of the indignation, for it pertains to the appointed time of the end.

The Ram’s Identity

20The 50ram which you saw with the two horns represents the kings of Media and Persia.

The Goat

21The shaggy 51goat represents the 52kingdom of Greece, and the large horn that is between his eyes is the first king. 22The 53broken horn and the four horns that arose in its place represent four kingdoms which will arise from his nation, although not with his power.23In the latter period of their 54rule, When the transgressors have 55run their course, A king will arise, 56Insolent and skilled in 57intrigue.24His power will be mighty, but not by his own power, And he will 5859destroy to an extraordinary degree And prosper and perform his will; He will 60destroy mighty men and 61the holy people.25And through his shrewdness He will cause deceit to succeed by his 62influence; And he will magnify himself in his heart, And he will 63destroy many while they are 64at ease. He will even 6566oppose the Prince of princes, But he will be broken 67without 68human agency.26The vision of the evenings and mornings Which has been told is 69true; But 70keep the vision secret, For it pertains to many 71days in the future.”

27Then I, Daniel, was 7273exhausted and sick for days. Then I got up again and 74carried on the king’s business; but I was astounded at the vision, and there was none to 75explain it.