Nebuchadnezzar came to Jerusalem in the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah.

The Lord gave Nebuchadnezzar victory over Jehoiakim.

The king told Ashpenaz to bring to Babylon some of the people of Israel, both of the royal family and of the nobility.

The king wanted young men without blemish, attractive in appearance, skillful in all wisdom, filled with knowledge and understanding, qualified to serve in the king’s palace.

Each day the king assigned them a portion of his own food and of the wine he drank, and he arranged for them to be trained for three years.

Daniel was called Belteshazzar; Hananiah was called Shadrach; Mishael was called Meshach, and Azariah was called Abednego.

Daniel decided in his heart that he would not defile himself by eating the king’s food or drinking his wine.

God caused the chief official to show favor and compassion to Daniel.

The chief official told Daniel that he feared the king, who had assigned Daniel’s food and drink, and that the king might behead him if he saw Daniel looking worse than the other young men of his age.

Daniel asked the steward to test them for ten days by giving them only vegetables to eat and water to drink, and then to compare their appearance with that of the young men who ate the king’s food, and then decide what to do based on what he saw.

The steward observed that Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah looked healthier and better fed than all the young men who ate the king’s food.

The steward continued to take away their portion of the king’s food and wine and gave them vegetables instead.

God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel understood all visions and dreams.

The chief of the eunuchs brought them before Nebuchadnezzar.

The king found that none of them could compare with Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. In every matter of wisdom and understanding that the king asked them about, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.

He was there until the first year of King Cyrus.

This occurred in the second year of his reign.

The king wanted these men to tell him about his dreams.

The king told them that he had dreamed a dream and that he wanted to know what it meant.

The Chaldeans asked the king to tell them the dream so they could tell him what it meant.

The king wanted the wise men to reveal the dream to him and also to interpret the meaning of the dream for the king.

The king said that if they failed, their bodies would be cut into pieces and their houses would be turned into piles of rubbish.

The king said he would give that person or persons gifts, a reward, and great honor.

They said again that the king should tell them the dream, and they would tell him what it meant.

The king said that the advisors were trying to get more time because they knew he would carry out what he had said.

The king said they had agreed to tell him a false explanation until the situation changed.

The Chaldeans said that there was not a man on earth who could meet the king’s demand, only the gods could do that.

The king became extremely angry, and he commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be executed.

The king decreed that all those known for their wisdom were to be put to death.

Daniel replied with prudence and discretion to Arioch. He asked Arioch why the king’s decree was so urgent.

He was the captain of the king’s guard, the one who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon.

Daniel went in and asked the king to give him time so that he could tell the king what his dream meant.

Daniel told his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah what had happened.

Daniel asked them to seek mercy from the God of heaven about the mystery, so that he and his friends would not be killed with the other wise men of Babylon.

Daniel praised the God of heaven.

Daniel said that wisdom and power belong to God, and that God’s name should be blessed forever.

Daniel said that God removes kings and sets up kings, and that God gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who understand.

Daniel said God reveals deep and hidden things, and that God knows what is in the darkness because the light is with him.

Daniel thanked the God of his ancestors for the wisdom and power the God of his ancestors had given him.

Daniel went in to see Arioch.

Daniel told Arioch not to kill the wise men in Babylon. Daniel told Arioch to escort him before the king so Daniel could tell the king the dream’s meaning.

Arioch told the king that he had found a man from the captives of Judah who could tell the king the interpretation of his dream.

The king asked Daniel whether he was able to tell him the dream that he had seen and its interpretation.

Daniel said that they were not able to show the king the mystery that he had asked about.

Daniel said there is a God who lives in the heavens, who reveals secrets.

Daniel said the dream was about what would happen in the days to come.

Daniel said the king had been thinking about what will happen in the future, and that God had revealed to him what that will be.

The dream was revealed to Daniel so that the king might understand the meaning and know the thoughts deep within himself.

The statue was large and had a head of gold, a chest and arms of silver, its middle and thighs were bronze, its legs of iron and its feet part iron and part clay.

The feet of the statue were made partly of iron and partly of clay.

The king saw a stone cut, but not by human hands. The stone struck the statue’s feet and the whole statue shattered into pieces which the wind carried away.

The stone that struck the statue became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.

Daniel said they would tell the king the interpretation of the dream.

Daniel said God had given the king the kingdom, the power, the strength, and the glory.

King Nebuchadnezzar was the head of gold.

Daniel said another kingdom would arise after his, and then a third kingdom of bronze would rule over all the earth.

Daniel said the fourth kingdom would be strong like iron, and it would crush and break all the other kingdoms.

They meant that the kingdom would be divided, partly strong like iron and partly weak, because the king saw iron mixed with clay.

They represented that part of the kingdom would be strong and part of it would be brittle.

Daniel said the kingdoms would not stay united with each other, just as iron does not mix with clay.

In those days the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed or conquered by another people.

Daniel said the dream was certain and its interpretation was confirmed.

The king commanded an offering to be made and incense be offered up to Daniel.

Nebuchadnezzar said Daniel’s God is the God of gods, the Lord of kings and the one who reveals secrets.

The king made Daniel great, gave him many gifts, and made him ruler over the province of Babylon and chief over all the wise men of Babylon.

The king appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to be administrators over the province of Babylon.

The statue was sixty cubits tall and six cubits wide.

He sent messengers to assemble the satraps, the prefects, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the other officials of the provinces.

The provincial governors, regional governors, and local governors, together with the counselors, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the high officials of the provinces came to the dedication.

He wanted those in attendance to fall down and worship the golden statue when they heard the sound of the horns, flutes, lyres, zithers, harps, and bagpipes, and all kinds of music.

The king said that those who would not fall down and worship, at that very moment, would be thrown into a blazing furnace.

They fell down and worshiped the golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

Certain Chaldeans came and brought accusations against them.

They wished the king a long life before making their accusation.

They reminded him that he had decreed that everyone who heard the music must fall down and worship the golden statue.

They said that person would be thrown into a blazing furnace.

Certain Jews, their names being Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, would not fall down and worship the statue.

He angrily commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought before him, and they were brought before the king.

He asked them if it was true that they did not serve his gods or worship the golden statue he had set up.

He told them they would immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace, and no god would be able to rescue them from his power.

They told him that they did not need to answer him about this matter.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego responded that their God could and would keep them safe and rescue them from the blazing furnace. But even if not, they would not worship Nebuchadnezzar’s gods or prostrate themselves to the statue.

Nebuchadnezzar ordered the furnace to be heated seven times hotter than normal, and for Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to be tied up and thrown into the furnace.

They were bound in their cloaks, tunics, turbans, and other garments when they were thrown into the blazing furnace.

The men who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were killed by the very hot flames from the furnace and Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego fell into the furnace.

He asked them if they had not thrown three men, bound, into the fire, and they answered that it was true.

Nebuchadnezzar was amazed because he saw four men, not tied up, walking around in the fire and they were not hurt and the brilliance of the fourth man was like a son of the gods.

He called for the servants of the Most High God to come out, and they came out of the fire.

Those present observed that the fire had not hurt their bodies; the hair on their heads was not singed; their robes were not harmed; and there was no smell of fire on them.

He said that God was blessed because he sent his angel and rescued his servants, who were willing to give up their bodies rather than serve or worship any other god.

Nebuchadnezzar decreed that anyone from any people, nation, or language who spoke against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego would be cut into pieces and their house destroyed, because no other god is able to save like this one.

Nebuchadnezzar, the king, promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.

Nebuchadnezzar sent the decree to all peoples, nations, and languages who lived on the earth.

Nebuchadnezzar sent the decree to tell everyone about the signs and wonders the Most High had done for him.

Nebuchadnezzar said that the Most High’s signs are great and his wonders are mighty, that his kingdom lasts forever, and that he rules over every generation.

Nebuchadnezzar was living securely in his house and prospering in his palace.

A dream that Nebuchadnezzar saw frightened him, and the thoughts and visions in his mind alarmed him.

Nebuchadnezzar wanted the wise men of Babylon to come and interpret his dream for him.

They were not able to tell Nebuchadnezzar what the dream meant.

Daniel’s Babylonian name was Belteshazzar and he held the position of “chief of the magicians.”

Nebuchadnezzar believed Daniel could interpret his dream for him, for Nebuchadnezzar said of Daniel, “the spirit of the holy gods is in you, so no mystery is too hard for you to explain.”

Nebuchadnezzar saw a great, strong, beautiful tree that reached to the heavens. It provided shade for animals and an abode for the birds. It had abundant fruit that fed all living creatures.

The holy messenger said to chop down the tree, cut off its branches, strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit.

The stump was to be left in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze. Let it be wet with dew. Let it live with the animals. Let his mind be that of an animal and not of a man for seven years.

The purpose was to show Nebuchadnezzar that those who are alive would know that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of peoples and gives them to anyone he wishes to place over them.

Nebuchadnezzar said that none of his other wise men were able to tell him the interpretation of the dream, but Belteshazzar was able because the spirit of the holy gods was in him.

Daniel was appalled for a moment, and his thoughts alarmed him.

Daniel said the tree had become great and strong, reached to the heavens, and could be seen from all the earth; it had beautiful leaves and much fruit, and animals and birds lived in it.

Daniel said the tree was Nebuchadnezzar.

Daniel said the holy messenger told Nebuchadnezzar to cut down the tree but leave its stump bound with iron and bronze in the field, wet with dew, until seven times passed over him.

Daniel said it was the decree of the Most High that was coming upon King Nebuchadnezzar.

Nebuchadnezzar was to be driven from among men. He would live in the fields with the wild animals and eat grass like an ox and be wet with the dew from the heavens.

Seven years were to pass until Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of people and he gives them to anyone he wishes.

Leaving the stump represented that Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom would remain for him once he acknowledged that heaven rules.

Daniel advised Nebuchadnezzar to stop sinning and to do what was right. He also told Nebuchadnezzar to turn away from his sins by showing mercy to the poor.

All these things began to happen twelve months after his dream.

Nebuchadnezzar said that he had built Babylon by his own power and for the glory of his majesty.

A voice from heaven said that the kingdom had passed from Nebuchadnezzar.

The voice said Nebuchadnezzar would be driven away from people to live with the wild animals and eat grass like an ox until he acknowledged that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of people.

Nebuchadnezzar was driven away from people, ate grass like oxen, and his hair grew long like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws.

Nebuchadnezzar’s sanity was restored to him.

Nebuchadnezzar praised and honored the Most High who rules forever.

Nebuchadnezzar said that the Most High regards all the people of earth as nothing and does as he wishes among the army of heaven and the people of earth, and no one can stop him or question what he does.

The kingdom was given back to him.

Nebuchadnezzar said, “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and honor the King of heaven, for all his deeds are right and his ways are just. He is able to humble anyone who is proud.”

He made a great feast for a thousand of his nobles.

He was the grandson of Nebuchadnezzar.

They used the gold containers that had been taken out of the temple, the house of God, in Jerusalem.

They praised their idols made of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.

The fingers of a human hand appeared in front of the lamp stand and wrote on the plaster wall in the king’s palace.

His face turned pale, his thoughts terrified him, and his legs became so weak that his knees were shaking.

The king promised that the one who explained the writing and its meaning would be clothed in purple and would have a gold chain put around his neck and that he would have the authority of the third highest ruler in the kingdom.

They were not able to read the writing or tell the king what it meant.

The king became even more afraid and his face grew pale, and his nobles were confused and did not know what to do.

The queen came in and told the king not to be afraid and not to let his face turn pale.

Nebuchadnezzar made him chief over the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and diviners.

She told him to call for Daniel, because Daniel would show the king the interpretation of the writing.

The king said he had heard that the spirit of the gods was in Daniel, and that Daniel had light, understanding, and excellent wisdom.

The king said his wise men had been brought in to read the writing, but they were not able to explain its interpretation.

The king promised that Daniel would wear purple, have a gold chain around his neck, and rule as the third ruler in the kingdom.

Daniel told the king, “Let your gifts be for yourself, and give your rewards to another person. Nevertheless, I will read the writing to you, king, and will tell you the meaning.”

The Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar the kingdom, greatness, honor, and majesty.

He could kill or let live anyone he wished, and he could lift up or humble anyone he wished.

Nebuchadnezzar lost his majesty and his throne because his heart became arrogant and his spirit was hardened so that he acted presumptuously.

He lived among the wild donkeys and ate grass like oxen until he knew that the Most High God rules over human kingdoms.

Daniel said Belshazzar had not humbled his heart, he had lifted himself up against the Lord of the heavens, and he had not honored the God who held his breath in his hand and who knew all his ways.

The palm of a hand was sent from God, and it wrote the message on the wall.

The words were Mene, Mene, Tekel, and Parsin.

The meaning was as follows: God has numbered Belshazzar’s kingdom and brought it to an end. Belshazzar is weighed in the scales and found deficient. Belshazzar’s kingdom is divided and is given to the Medes and Persians.

Belshazzar had Daniel clothed with purple and a gold chain around his neck, and proclaimed him the third ruler in the kingdom.

That night Belshazzar, the king of the Chaldeans, was killed, and Darius the Mede received the kingdom.

Darius the Mede was sixty-two years old when he received the kingdom.

He appointed 120 satraps, with three sareks over them.

Daniel was one of the three sareks.

They were appointed to supervise the satraps, so that the king would not suffer any loss.

The king planned to put Daniel over the whole kingdom.

They could find nothing against him because Daniel was reliable and trustworthy.

They thought they might find something against Daniel regarding the law of his God.

The sareks and satraps went together to speak with King Darius.

They advised Darius to issue a decree that whoever made a petition to any god or man except King Darius for thirty days would be thrown into a den of lions.

They asked him to set up the decree and sign it, so that no one could change it, according to the law of the Medes and Persians.

King Darius signed the decree.

Daniel went into his house, got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to God as he had done many times before.

They found Daniel praying and asking for help from his God.

The king said that the decree was certain, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be changed.

Those men went to the king and told him that Daniel paid no attention to the king or his decree and that Daniel prayed to God three times a day.

The king became very distressed, and he tried hard to find a way to save Daniel.

They reminded him that any decree or law the king makes cannot be changed.

The king said, ‘May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you.’

The king sealed the entrance to the den with his own signet ring. He then went to the palace and fasted through the night and did not sleep.

The king got up at dawn and went quickly to the den of lions.

The king asked Daniel if the God whom Daniel served continually had been able to save him from the lions.

Daniel said to the king, “King, live forever! My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found innocent before him, and I have also done no wrong to you, O king.”

The king rejoiced and commanded his servants to bring Daniel up out of the den.

The king commanded that the men who had accused Daniel, along with their wives and children, be thrown into the den of lions.

He wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages living in all the earth.

Darius said that the God of Daniel is the living God who will endure forever and whose kingdom will never be destroyed. God rescues and saves people and does signs and wonders in heaven and on earth; he rescued Daniel from the lions.

Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and during the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

Daniel had a dream and visions while lying on his bed during the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon.

The four winds of the heavens were stirring up the Great Sea.

Four large beasts, each different from the others, came up out of the sea.

The mind of a man was given to it.

It was told to get up and eat as much meat as it wanted.

It was given authority to rule.

The fourth beast devoured, crushed, and trampled what was left with its feet.

Daniel saw another little horn grow up among the other ten horns. Three of the first horns were torn out. Daniel saw that the little horn had eyes like a man and a mouth that boasted about great things.

The Ancient of Days sat upon one of the thrones.

The court was in session and the books were opened.

The beast with the horn that spoke boastful words was killed, its body destroyed, and it was given over to be burned up. The other three beasts had their authority to rule taken away, but their lives were allowed to continue for a time.

One who came with the clouds of heaven like a son of man was presented to the Ancient of Days.

Everlasting authority to rule, glory, and a kingdom that will never be destroyed were given to this one who was “like a son of man.”

Daniel felt very troubled and alarmed because of what he saw.

Daniel went to one of those standing there and asked him what it all meant, and that one explained the interpretation to him.

Daniel was told that the four beasts were four kings that would arise from the earth.

The saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom and possess it forever and ever.

Daniel wanted to know more about the fourth beast, which was different from all the others, very terrifying, with iron teeth and bronze claws, and which devoured, crushed, and trampled with its feet.

Daniel wanted to know about the ten horns and about the little horn that came up and caused three horns to fall, the horn that had eyes and a boastful mouth and looked greater than the others.

Daniel saw the horn making war against the saints and defeating them.

The Ancient of Days came, judgment was given in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom.

That one said the fourth beast was a fourth kingdom and that it would devour the whole earth, trample it down, and crush it.

That one standing there said that ten kings would arise out of the fourth kingdom.

He will oppress the holy people of the Most High. He will try to change the festivals and the law. He will have power over the saints for a time, times, and half a time, but his authority will be taken away and completely destroyed at the end.

It will be given to the people who belong to the Most High.

Daniel was greatly alarmed and his face changed in appearance, but he kept the vision to himself.

Daniel had his second vision in the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar.

Daniel was in the fortified city of Susa in the province of Elam beside the Ulai Canal.

Daniel saw a ram and a male goat in this vision.

One of the ram’s horns was longer than the other, but the horn that grew later eventually became the longer one.

No animal could stand before the ram. None could be rescued from the ram’s hand. It did whatever it wanted, and it became great.

The goat had only one large horn between its eyes.

The goat ran at the ram in great anger.

The goat struck the ram, broke off its two horns, knocked it down to the ground, and trampled on it.

Four other large horns, pointing north, south, east, and west, grew up in place of the one that was broken off.

Out of one of the horns grew another horn, small at first, but it became very large toward the south, the east, and the beautiful land of Israel.

It grew strong enough to attack heaven’s army, throwing some of the army and some of the stars down to the earth and trampling on them.

It stopped the daily sacrifices to Yahweh, the commander of heaven’s army, and it ruined his sanctuary.

This will happen because of rebellion.

He heard one ask how long the vision about the sacrifices being stopped, the sin, and the trampling of the sanctuary and the army would last.

It will last for 2,300 evenings and mornings.

He tried to understand it, and then someone who looked like a man appeared in front of him.

Gabriel was told to help Daniel understand the vision.

Daniel was frightened and fell facedown on the ground. But the angel told him to understand that the vision was about the time of the end.

Daniel fell into a deep sleep with his face to the ground, but the angel touched him and made him stand up again.

The vision was for the time of wrath. It concerned the fixed time for the end.

The ram with the two horns represents the kings of Media and Persia. The male goat is the king of Greece.

The four horns represent four kingdoms that will arise from the nation represented by the horn that was broken off.

A fierce king will arise who defeats his enemies in battle and who is very deceitful.

He will cause widespread destruction and succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy powerful people, people who are holy. He will make deceit prosper under his hand. He will rise up against God, who rules over all earthly kings.

He will be broken, but not by human power.

He told Daniel that the vision was true, but that Daniel should keep it secret because it would not happen for a long time.

Daniel was overcome and lay weak for several days, and he was appalled by the vision.

Darius, the son of Ahasuerus, who was a Mede, was made king over the kingdom of the Chaldeans.

He observed that Jerusalem would be desolate for seventy years.

Daniel sought the Lord God with prayer and requests, with fasting, wearing sackcloth, and sitting in ashes.

Daniel confessed the sins of the Israelites.

Daniel said they had sinned, done wrong, acted wickedly, rebelled, and turned away from the Lord’s commandments and judgments.

The prophets spoke to the kings, the leaders, the ancestors, and to all the people of the land.

Daniel said the people of Judah, the people of Jerusalem, and all of Israel, both near and far, were in a shameful condition because they had sinned against the Lord.

They were in a shameful condition because they had sinned against Yahweh.

Daniel asked the Lord to give compassion and forgiveness.

Daniel said the Israelites had not listened to Yahweh’s voice or obeyed his laws.

The curse and oath that are written in the law of Moses, the servant of God, had been poured out on them.

Yahweh confirmed his words by bringing on Israel and their rulers a great disaster.

Daniel said they had not turned away from their sins and had not paid attention to Yahweh’s truth.

Daniel said Yahweh watched over the trouble and brought it upon the Israelites, because Yahweh is righteous in all his deeds.

The Lord brought his people out of Egypt with a mighty hand.

Daniel asked the Lord to stop being angry with Jerusalem, because of the Lord’s righteous deeds in the past.

Daniel asked God to listen to his prayer and to regard his ruined sanctuary favorably again, for the Lord’s own sake.

Daniel said he was asking God for help because of God’s great mercies, not because of their own righteous deeds.

Daniel asked the Lord to hear, forgive, pay attention, and act without delay.

Daniel was speaking, praying, and confessing his sin and the sin of his people Israel.

Gabriel came to Daniel at the time of the evening sacrifice while Daniel was praying.

Gabriel came to give Daniel insight and understanding.

The word came forth at the beginning of Daniel’s supplications, because God loves Daniel very much.

The seventy sevens of years were decreed to end transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring everlasting righteousness, to carry out the vision and the prophecy, and to consecrate the most holy place.

Seven sevens and sixty-two sevens will elapse between the two events.

He will die after the sixty-two sevens of years.

He will confirm a covenant with many for one seven. In the middle of the seven he will put an end to the sacrifice and the offering.

Yahweh has determined that he will finally punish the ruler who made the temple unclean.

The message was about a great war.

Daniel understood the message because he had insight from a vision.

Daniel was mourning for three weeks.

He did not eat any fine food or meat, drink wine, or put oil on himself.

He was beside the great river, the Tigris.

He saw a man dressed in linen with a fine gold belt around his waist.

The man’s body was like beryl, his face was like lightning, his eyes were like flaming torches, his arms and feet were like polished bronze, and the sound of his words was like the sound of a multitude.

They did not see the vision, but they were terrified and ran away to hide themselves.

Daniel’s face turned pale, and no strength remained in him. He fell into a deep sleep with his face to the ground.

It made him get up, trembling, onto his hands and knees.

He told Daniel to understand the words he was about to speak and to stand up, because he had been sent to him.

The angel was sent on the first day Daniel set his mind to understand and humble himself before God.

The angel was detained by the prince of the kingdom of Persia who resisted him.

The vision was about the last days, the days yet to come.

Daniel looked down at the ground and said nothing.

Daniel said the vision had greatly upset him, and that he had no strength left and could hardly breathe.

The one who looked like a human being touched Daniel to strengthen him.

He told Daniel not to be afraid, wished him peace, and told him to be strong.

He said he was returning to fight against the prince of Persia.

He said he was going to tell Daniel what was written in the book of truth.

The messenger helped and protected Michael that year.

He will gain power through his riches.

He will stir up everyone against the kingdom of Javan.

He will rule with great dominion and do whatever he wants.

That kingdom will not be given to the king’s own descendants.

The king of the south and one of his commanders who will become a king of the north will make an alliance.

The daughter of the king of the south will come to the king of the north to confirm the agreement.

He will attack the army and enter the fortress of the king of the north and conquer them.

He will take the idols, metal images, and silver and gold treasures of the north to Egypt.

He will have to retreat back to his own land.

They will wage war and assemble a great army. They will overflow like a flood, pass through, and repeat the assault all the way to the fortress of the king of the south.

The king of the south will win that battle.

The king of the south will march out in a rage and fight against the king of the north.

He will raise another great army supplied with much equipment and will surely come.

In those times many will rise against the king of the south, including the most violent among Daniel’s people.

The king of the south will not be able to stand against him. The king of the north will do whatever he wants against the king of the south.

The king of the north will do this in order to destroy the kingdom of the south.

A commander will defeat him and shame him, instead of being shamed himself. Then he will retreat to the fortresses of his own land, but he will stumble and die, and no one will find him.

He will force taxes to be paid to provide for the splendor of the kingdom.

After only a few days that one will be destroyed, but not in anger or in battle.

He will come to power quietly, when people are not expecting it, and will take over the kingdom by making secret plots.

He will also remove God’s high priest, the leader of the covenant.

From the time an alliance is made with him, he will act deceitfully.

He will give the plunder, spoil, and wealth to his troops and supporters.

The king of the south will not be able to stand against the deceitful king because of all the plots devised against him.

Some of his own royal officials will help destroy him, and many of his soldiers will be killed.

They will lie to each other because their hearts are set on evil against each other.

His heart will be set against the holy covenant.

He will invade again, but this time it will not go as it did before.

He will show his rage by favoring those who abandon the holy covenant.

They will make the sanctuary unclean, stop the regular sacrifice, and set up the abomination that makes it desolate.

They will be strong and take action against him.

For a time, the wise will fall by the sword and by flame, be taken as prisoners, and be robbed of their possessions. When they stumble, they will receive a little help.

At that time, the wise will give understanding to many.

Some of them will stumble so that they may be refined, cleansed, and made pure until the time of the end.

He will exalt and magnify himself above every god, including the God of gods, the gods of his ancestors, and the god desired by women.

He will honor a god of fortresses that his ancestors did not know, honoring it with gold, silver, precious stones, and other valuable things.

He will give honor to those who acknowledge him. He will make them rulers over many people.

He will attack with chariots, horsemen, and many ships, invading many countries.

Many people in that land will stumble and fall.

Edom, Moab, and most of the people of Ammon will escape from his hand.

This king of the north will extend his power over Egypt, the Libyans, and the Cushites.

He will go out with great rage to destroy and to devote many to destruction.

He will set up the tents of his palace between the seas, at the mountain of the beauty of holiness.

The king of the north will come to his end, and there will be no one to help him.

Michael, the great prince, guards Daniel’s people.

It will be a time of trouble such as never was since the beginning of any nation until that time.

At that time Daniel’s people will be saved, everyone whose name is found written in the book.

Some of those who sleep in the dust of the earth will rise up to everlasting life, and some will rise up to shame and everlasting contempt.

Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the sky above, and those who turn many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever and ever.

He was told to keep the book sealed until the time of the end.

Daniel saw two other men, one standing on each side of the river.

He asked how long it would be until the end of these wonders.

The man clothed in linen said it would be for a time, times, and a half. When the shattering of the power of the holy people comes to an end, all these things will be completed.

Daniel asked what would be the end of these things.

The man clothed in linen said to Daniel, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end.”

None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.

There will be 1,290 days between those two events.

The man clothed in linen said, “Blessed is the one who waits until the end of the 1,335 days.”

He said that Daniel would rest and that he would rise for his reward at the end of days.