1In the first year of Belshazzar, king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream and visions appear in his mind while he was in bed. Then he wrote down the dream and recorded the main points.
2Daniel said, "I saw in my night vision that the four winds of the sky stirred up the great sea.
3Four large animals, each different from the others, came up from the sea.
4The first animal was like a lion but had eagle’s wings. I watched until its wings were pulled off, and it was lifted from the ground. It stood on two feet like a man, and it was given a human mind.
5Then I saw another animal, a second one, which looked like a bear. It was raised up on one side, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. And they told it, “Get up and eat a lot of meat!”
6After this, I looked again and saw another animal, like a leopard, with four bird-like wings on its back. This animal also had four heads, and it was given authority to rule.
7After this, in my vision at night, I saw a fourth animal. It was terrifying, powerful, and extremely strong. It had large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed everything, and then trampled what was left under its feet. It was different from all the animals I had seen before it, and it had ten horns.
8As I was looking at the horns, I saw another, smaller horn grow up among them. Three of the first horns were pulled out by the roots to make room for it. This new horn had eyes like human eyes and a mouth that spoke boasts.
9I watched as thrones were set up, and an ancient being sat down. His clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head was like pure wool. His throne was made of fiery flames, and its wheels were burning fire.
10A river of fire flowed out from him. Thousands upon thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was in session, and the books were opened.
11At that time, I kept watching because of the boasts the horn was speaking. I watched until the animal was killed, its body destroyed and thrown into the burning fire.
12The other animals had their power taken away, but they were allowed to live for a set period of time.
13In my vision at night, I saw someone like a son of man coming with the clouds of the sky. He came to the Ancient of Days and was brought into his presence.
14He was given authority, glory, and a kingdom, so that people of all nations and languages would serve him. His authority is everlasting and will never end, and his kingdom will never be destroyed.
15As for me, Daniel, my spirit was deeply troubled within me, and the visions in my head disturbed me.
16I went up to one of those standing nearby and asked him the true meaning of all this. So he told me and explained the interpretation of the events.
17He said, "These four great animals are four kings who will rise from the earth."
18"But the holy people of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever, yes, forever and ever."
19Then I wanted to know the true meaning of the fourth animal, which was different from all the others, extremely terrifying, with iron teeth and bronze claws, that devoured, crushed, and trampled the remains with its feet;
20and about the ten horns on its head, and the other horn that grew up, causing three of the others to fall—the horn that had eyes and a mouth that spoke boasts and looked more powerful than the others.
21As I watched, that same horn made war with the holy people and defeated them,
22until the Ancient of Days came and passed judgment in favor of the holy people of the Most High, and the time came for them to take possession of the kingdom.
23He explained: "The fourth animal will be a fourth kingdom on earth, different from all other kingdoms. It will devour the whole earth, trample it down, and crush it."
24"The ten horns represent ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them, another king will arise, different from the previous ones, and he will conquer three kings."
25"He will speak against the Most High and oppress the holy people of the Most High. He will try to change religious festivals and laws. The holy people will be handed over to him for a time, times, and half a time."
26"But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever."
27"Then the kingdom, authority, and greatness of all the kingdoms under the heavens will be given to the holy people of the Most High. Their kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all authorities will serve and obey them."
28That was the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly troubled me, and I turned pale: but I kept the matter to myself.