meta: {"file": "/data/tomer/Sefaria-Export/txt/Tanakh/Writings/Daniel/English/The Koren Jerusalem Bible.txt"}
text: Daniel
  דניאל
  The Koren Jerusalem Bible
  
  
  Daniel
  
  
  
  
  
  In the third year of the reign of Yehoyaqim king of Yehuda, Nevukhadneżżar king of Bavel came to Yerushalayim, and besieged it.
  And the Lord gave Yehoyaqim king of Yehuda into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shin῾ar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.
  And the king spoke to Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring some of the children of Yisra᾽el and of the king’s seed, and of the nobles;
  youths in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and discerning in knowledge, and perceptive in understanding, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Kasdim.
  And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king’s food and of the wine which he drank; that they should be thus reared for three years, and at the end of that time, they might stand before the king.
  Now among these were of the children of Yehuda: Daniyyel, Ĥananya, Misha᾽el, and ῾Azarya:
  to whom the chief of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave to Daniyyel the name of Belteshażżar; and to Ĥananya, of Shadrakh; and to Misha᾽el, of Meshakh; and to ῾Azarya, of ῾Aved-nego.
  But Daniyyel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s food, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
  Now God had brought Daniyyel into grace and compassion with the chief of the eunuchs.
  And the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniyyel, I fear my lord the king, who has appointed your food and your drink: for why should he see you looking more woebegone than other youths of your age? for then you should endanger my head to the king.
  Then Daniyyel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs has set over Daniyyel, Ĥananya, Misha᾽el, and ῾Azarya,
  Put thy servants to the proof I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us vegetables to eat, and water to drink.
  Then let our appearances, and the appearances of the youths that eat of the king’s food be observed by you; and as thou seest, so deal with thy servants.
  So he consented to them in this matter, and put them to the proof for ten days.
  And at the end of ten days they appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the youths who did eat the portion of the king’s fare.
  So the steward took away the food and the wine that they should have drunk; and gave them vegetables.
  As for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniyyel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
  Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nevukhadneżżar.
  And the king spoke with them; and among them all was found none like Daniyyel, Ĥananya, Misha᾽el, and ῾Azarya: therefore they stood before the king.
  And in all matters of wisdom and understanding that the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and conjurers who were in all his realm.
  And Daniyyel continued to the first year of Koresh the king.
  
  
  
  And in the second year of the reign of Nevukhadneżżar, Nevukhadneżżar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep was gone from him.
  Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the conjurers, and the sorcerers, and the Kasdians, to tell the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king.
  And the king said to them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream.
  Then the Kasdians spoke to the king in the language of Aram, O king, live for ever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will declare the interpretation.
  The king answered and said to the Kasdians, The thing is gone from me: if you will not make known to me the dream, with its interpretation, you shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill.
  But if you declare the dream, and its meaning, you shall receive of me gifts and rewards and great honour: therefore declare to me the dream, and its meaning.
  They answered again and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will declare its meaning.
  The king answered and said, I know for a certainty that you wish to gain time, because you see the thing is determined by me.
  But if you will not make known to me the dream, there is but one law for you: for you have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that you can declare its interpretation to me.
  The Kasdians answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth who can declare the king’s matter: for no king, lord, nor ruler, has asked such things of any magician, or conjurer, or Kasdian.
  And it is a hard thing that the king demands, and there is none other that can declare it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.
  For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Bavel.
  And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniyyel and his companions to be slain.
  Then Daniyyel answered with counsel and discretion to Aryokh the captain of the king’s guard, who had gone forth to slay the wise men of Bavel:
  he answered and said to Aryokh the king’s captain, Why is the decree from the king so severe? Then Aryokh made the thing known to Daniyyel.
  Then Daniyyel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, so that he might show the king the interpretation.
  Then Daniyyel went to his house, and made the thing known to Ĥananya, Misha᾽el, and ῾Azarya, his companions:
  that they would beg mercy from the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniyyel and his companions should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Bavel.
  Then was the secret revealed to Daniyyel in a night vision. So Daniyyel blessed the God of heaven.
  Daniyyel spoke and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:
  and he changes the times and the seasons: he removes kings, and sets up kings: he gives wisdom to the wise, and knowledge to those who have understanding:
  he reveals the deep and secret things: he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him.
  I thank Thee, O Thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known to me now what we desired of Thee: for Thou hast now made known to us the king’s matter.
  Therefore Daniyyel went in to Aryokh, whom the king had ordained to destroy the wise men of Bavel: he went and said thus to him; Do not destroy the wise men of Bavel: bring me in before the king, and I will show the king the interpretation.
  Then Aryokh brought in Daniyyel before the king in haste, and said thus to him, I have found a man of the exiles of Yehuda, who will make known to the king the interpretation.
  The king answered and said to Daniyyel, whose name was Belteshażżar, Art thou able to make known unto me the dream which I have seen, and its meaning?
  Daniyyel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king has demanded is one that the wise men, the conjurers, the magicians, and the astrologers cannot declare to the king;
  but there is a God in heaven who reveals secret things, and makes known to the king Nevukhadneżżar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these;
  As for thee, O king, thy thoughts came to thee upon thy bed, as to what should come to pass hereafter: and he who reveals secret things makes known to thee what shall come to pass.
  But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but in order that the interpretation shall be made known to the king, and that thou mightest know the thoughts of thy heart.
  Thou, O king, didst see, and behold a great image. This image, which was mighty, and whose brightness was surpassing stood before thee; and its form was terrible.
  This image’s head was of fine gold, its breast and its arms of silver, its belly and its thighs of brass,
  its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay.
  As thou didst look, a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon its feet which were of iron and clay, and broke them to pieces.
  Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken in pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, so that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.
  This is the dream; and we will state its meaning before the king.
  Thou, O king, king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, the strength, and the glory;
  and wherever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the birds of the sky, he has given them into thy hand, and has made thee ruler over them all; thou art this head of gold.
  And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth.
  And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: because iron breaks to pieces and subdues all things: and like iron that shatters, so shall it shatter and crush all these other.
  And whereas thou didst see the feet and toes, partly of potters’ clay, and partly of iron, so it shall be a divided kingdom; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, just as thou didst see the iron mixed with miry clay.
  And as the toes of the feet were partly of iron, and partly of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly brittle.
  And whereas thou didst see iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, just as iron does not mix with clay.
  And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to another people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever:
  just as thou didst see that a stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold. The great God has made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the meaning of it sure.
  Then the king Nevukhadneżżar fell upon his face, and bowed down to Daniyyel, and commanded that they should offer an offering and sweet odours to him.
  The king spoke to Daniyyel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is the God of gods, and the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldst reveal this secret.
  Then the king made Daniyyel great, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Bavel, and the chief prefect over all the wise men of Bavel.
  Then Daniyyel requested of the king, and he set Shadrakh, Meshakh, and ῾Aved-nego over the affairs of the province of Bavel: but Daniyyel remained in the gate of the king.
  
  
  
  Nevukhadneżżar the king made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits, and the breadth of which was six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Bavel.
  Then Nevukhadneżżar the king sent to gather together the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counsellors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nevukhadneżżar the king had set up.
  Then the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counsellors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together to the dedication of the image that Nevukhadneżżar the king had set up and they stood before the image that Nevukhadneżżar had set up.
  Then a herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O peoples, nations, and tongues,
  that when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and all kinds of music, you fall down and worship the golden image that Nevukhadneżżar the king has set up:
  and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast in that same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
  Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, and all kinds of music, all the peoples, nations, and tongues, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nevukhadneżżar the king had set up.
  Therefore at that time certain Kasdians came near, and accused the Jews.
  They spoke and said to the king Nevukhadneżżar, O king, live for ever.
  Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, and bagpipe, and all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image:
  and whoever does not fall down and worship, he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
  There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Bavel, Shadrakh, Meshakh, and ῾Aved-nego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they do not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
  Then Nevukhadneżżar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrakh, Meshakh, and ῾Aved-nego. Then they brought these men before the king.
  Nevukhadneżżar spoke and said to them, Is it true, O Shadrakh, Meshakh, and ῾Aved-nego, that you do not serve my god, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?
  Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and all kinds of music, to fall down and worship the image which I have made; well and good: but if you do not worship, you shall be cast in that same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is the god who shall deliver you out of my hands?
  Shadrakh, Meshakh, and ῾Aved-nego, answered and said to the king, O Nevukhadneżżar, we have no need to answer thee in this matter.
  Behold, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us; he can deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and out of thy hand, O king.
  But if he does not, be it known to thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
  Then was Nevukhadneżżar full of fury, and the expression of his visage was changed against Shadrakh, Meshakh, and ῾Aved-nego: therefore he spoke, and commanded that they should heat the furnace seven times more than it was wont to be heated.
  And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrakh, Meshakh, and ῾Aved-nego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.
  Then these men were bound in their mantles, their tunics, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
  Therefore because the king’s commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire slew those men who had seized upon Shadrakh, Meshakh, and ῾Aved-nego.
  And these three men, Shadrakh, Meshakh, and ῾Aved-nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
  Then Nevukhadneżżar the king was astonished, and rose up in haste, and spoke, and said to his counsellors, Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said to the king, True, O king.
  He answered and said, Lo, I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like an angel.
  Then Nevukhadneżżar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spoke, and said, Shadrakh, Meshakh, and ῾Aved-nego, servants of the most high God, come out, and come here. Then Shadrakh, Meshakh, and ῾Aved-nego, came out of the midst of the fire.
  And the satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king’s counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was a hair of their head singed, nor were their mantles damaged, nor had the smell of fire passed over them.
  Then Nevukhadneżżar spoke, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrakh, Meshakh, and ῾Aved-nego, who has sent his angel, and delivered his servants who trusted in him, setting aside the king’s word, and yielding their bodies, that they might not serve or bow down to any god, except their own God.
  Therefore I made a decree, That every people, nation, and tongue, that speaks anything amiss against the God of Shadrakh, Meshakh, and ῾Aved-nego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.
  Then the king promoted Shad­rakh, Meshakh, and ῾Aved-nego, in the province of Bavel.
  Nevukhadneżżar the king, to all the peoples, nations, and tongues, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied to you.
  I thought it good to report the signs and wonders that high God has wrought towards me.
  How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation.
  
  
  
  I Nevukhadneżżar was at rest in my house, and flourishing in my palace:
  I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.
  Therefore I made a decree to bring in all the wise men of Bavel before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream.
  Then came in the magicians, the conjurers, the Kasdians and the astrologers, and I told the dream before them; but they could not make known to me its interpretation.
  But at the last Daniyyel came in before me, whose name was Belteshażżar, according to the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods: and before him I told the dream, saying,
  O Belteshażżar chief of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret is too difficult for thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and its meaning.
  Thus were the visions of my head as I lay on my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and its height was great.
  The tree grew, and was strong, and its top reached to the sky, and it was visible to the end of all the earth:
  its leaves were fair, and its fruit abundant, and on it was food for all: the beasts of the field had shade under it, and the birds of the sky dwelt in its boughs, and all flesh was fed from it.
  I saw in the visions of my head as I lay upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and a holy one came down from heaven;
  he cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off its branches, shake off its leaves, and scatter its fruit: let the beasts flee from under it, and the birds from its branches:
  but leave the stump of its roots in the earth, in a band of iron and brass, amid the tender grass of the field. Let him be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth:
  let his heart be changed from man’s, and let a beast’s heart be given to him; and let seven seasons pass over him.
  This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the sentence by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever he will, and sets up over it the basest of men.
  This dream I, king Nevukhadneżżar, have seen. Now thou, O Belteshażżar, declare its interpretation, seeing that all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation: but thou art able; for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee.
  Then Daniyyel, whose name was Belteshażżar, was appalled for one hour, and his thoughts terrified him. The king spoke, and said, Belteshażżar, let not the dream, or its interpretation terrify thee. Belteshażżar answered and said, My lord, the dream be for those who hate thee, and its interpretation for thy enemies.
  The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose top reached to the sky, and which was visible to all the earth;
  the leaves of which were fair, and the fruit of which abundant, and on it was food for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon the branches of which the birds of the sky had their habitation:
  it is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong: for thy greatness is grown, and reaches to heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth.
  And whereas the king saw a watcher and a holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew down the tree, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of its roots in the earth, in a band of iron and brass, amid the tender grass of the field; and let him be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven seasons pass over him;
  this is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the Most High, which is come upon my lord the king:
  That thou shalt be driven from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and thou shalt be made to eat grass like oxen, and thou shalt be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven seasons shall pass over thee, in order that thou mayest know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever he pleases.
  And whereas it was commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree; thy kingdom shall be sure for thee, after thou shalt come to know that the heavens do rule.
  Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to thee, and break off thy sins by charity, and thy iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; that there may be an extension of thy tranquillity.
  All this came upon the king Nevukhadneżżar.
  At the end of twelve months he was walking in the palace of the kingdom of Bavel.
  The king spoke, and said, Is not this great Bavel, that I have built by the might of my power as a royal residence, and for the honour of my majesty?
  While the word was in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nevukhadneżżar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.
  And thou shalt be driven from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: thou shalt be made to eat grass like oxen, and seven seasons shall pass over thee, in order that thou mayest know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever he will.
  The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nevukhadneżżar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hair was grown like eagles’ feathers, and his nails like birds’ claws.
  And at the end of the days I Nevukhadneżżar lifted up my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and I praised and honoured him who lives for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:
  and all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he does according to his will in the host of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say to him, What doest Thou?
  At the same time my reason returned to me; and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendour returned to me; and my counsellors and my lords sought to me; and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me.
  Now I Nevukhadneżżar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways justice: and he is able to abase those who walk in pride.
  
  
  
  Belshażżar the king made a great feast for a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand.
  Belshażżar, while he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nevukhadneżżar had taken out of the temple which was in Yerushalayim; that the king, and his lords, his wives, and his concubines, might drink from them.
  Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Yerushalayim; and the king, and his lords, his wives, and his concubines, drank from them.
  They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.
  In the same hour the fingers of a man’s hand appeared, and wrote over against the lampstand upon the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.
  Then the king’s colour changed, and his thoughts terrified him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against the other.
  The king cried aloud to bring in the conjurers, the Kasdians, and the astrologers. And the king spoke, and said to the wise men of Bavel, Whoever shall read this writing, and declare to me the meaning of it, shall be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall rule as the third in the kingdom.
  Then all the king’s wise men came in, but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the meaning of it.
  Then king Belshażżar was greatly alarmed, and his colour changed, and his lords were perplexed.
  Now the queen, by reason of the words of the king and his lords, came into the banquet house: the queen spoke and said, O king, live for ever: let not thy thoughts affright thee, nor let thy colour change:
  there is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father, light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom the king Nevukhadneżżar thy father, the king, I say, thy father, made chief of the magicians, conjurers, Kasdians, and astrologers;
  seeing that an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve problems, were found in the same Daniyyel, whom the king named Belteshażżar: now let Daniyyel be called, and he will declare the interpretation.
  Then was Daniyyel brought in before the king. The king spoke and said to Daniyyel. Art thou that Daniyyel who art of the children of the exiles of Yehuda, whom the king my father brought out of Yehuda?
  I have heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee.
  And now the wise men, the conjurers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing, and make known to me its meaning: but they could not declare the interpretation of the thing:
  and I have heard of thee, that thou canst give interpretations, and solve problems: now if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation of it, thou shalt be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt rule as third in the kingdom.
  Then Daniyyel answered and laid before the king. Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; yet I will read the writing to the king, and make known to him the interpretation.
  O thou king, the most high God gave Nevukhadneżżar thy father a kingdom, and greatness, and glory, and majesty:
  and because of the majesty that he gave him, all peoples, nations, and tongues, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down.
  But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and his glory was taken from him:
  and he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses: he was fed with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; until he came to know that the most high God rules in the kingdom of men, and that he appoints over it whomever he pleases.
  And thou His son, O Belshażżar, hast not humbled thy heart, though thou knewest all this:
  but hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see, hear, or know: and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, thou hast not glorified:
  then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written.
  And this is the writing that was written, Mene Mene Teqel Ufarsin.
  This is the interpretation of the thing: Mene; God has numbered thy kingdom, and brought it to an end.
  Teqel; Thou are weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.
  Peres; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to Maday and Paras.
  Then commanded Belshażżar, and they clothed Daniyyel in scarlet, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him, that he should rule as the third in the kingdom.
  In that night Belshażżar the king of the Kasdians was slain.
  
  
  
  And Daryavesh the Madian received the kingdom, being about sixty two years old.
  It pleased Daryavesh to set over the kingdom a hundred and twenty satraps, who should be over the whole kingdom;
  and over these were three presidents; of whom Daniyyel was one: that these satraps might give account to them, so that the king should have no loss.
  Then this Daniyyel became distinguished above the presidents and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.
  Then the presidents and satraps sought to find a pretext against Daniyyel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no pretext or fault; seeing that he was faithful, nor was any error or fault to be found in him.
  Then said these men, We shall not find any pretext against this Daniyyel, unless we find it against him in connection with the law of his God.
  Then these presidents and satraps came hurriedly to the king, and said thus to him, king Daryavesh, live for ever.
  All the presidents of the kingdom, the prefects, and the satraps, the counsellors, and the governors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whoever makes petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the lion’s den.
  Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of Maday and Paras, which is unalterable.
  Wherefore king Daryavesh signed the writing and the decree.
  Now when Daniyyel came to know that the writing was signed, he went into his house; (now he had windows open in his chamber towards Yerushelem, and he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.)
  Then these men came hurriedly, and found Daniyyel praying and making supplication before his God.
  Then they came near, and spoke before the king concerning the king’s decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall make petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the lions’ den? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of Maday and Paras, which is unalterable.
  Then they answered and said before the king, That Daniyyel who is of the children of the exiles of Yehuda, does not regard thee, O king, or the decree that thou hast signed, but makes his petition three times a day.
  Then the king, when he heard these words, was much distressed, and set his heart on Daniyyel to rescue him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to rescue him.
  Then these men came hurriedly to the king, and said to the king, Know, O king, that it is the law of Maday and Paras that no decree or statute which the king establishes may be changed.
  Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniyyel, and cast him into the lions’ den. Now the king spoke and said to Daniyyel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will rescue thee.
  And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that nothing might be changed concerning Daniyyel.
  Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: nor were entertainments brought before him: and his sleep fled from him.
  Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste to the lions’ den.
  And when he came to the den, he cried out in a tone of anguish to Daniyyel: and the king spoke and said to Daniyyel, O Daniyyel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to rescue thee from the lions?
  Then Daniyyel said to the king, O king, live for ever.
  My God has sent his angel, and has shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: seeing that I was found innocent before him; and also before thee, O king, have I done no wrong.
  Then the king was exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniyyel up out of the den. So Daniyyel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he had trusted in his God.
  And the king commanded, and they brought those men who had accused Daniyyel, and they cast them into the lions’ den, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and broke all their bones in pieces before they reached the bottom of the den.
  Then king Daryavesh wrote to all the peoples, nations, and tongues, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied to you.
  I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniyyel: for he is the living God, and steadfast forever, and his kingdom is one which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even to the end.
  He delivers and rescues, and he works signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who has delivered Daniyyel from the power of the lions.
  So this Daniyyel prospered in the reign of Daryavesh, and in the reign of Koresh the Parsian.
  
  
  
  In the first year of Belshażżar king of Bavel, Daniyyel had a dream and visions of his head as he lay upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matter.
  Daniyyel spoke and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven stirred up the great sea.
  And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse from one another.
  The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings: I beheld till its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made to stand upon two feet like a man, and a man’s heart was given to it.
  And behold, another beast, a second one, like a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth: and thus it was said to it, Arise, devour much flesh.
  After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a bird; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.
  After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and broke in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet: and it was different from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.
  I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another little horn, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.
  As I looked, thrones were placed, and an ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of whose head was like the pure wool: his throne was fiery flames, its wheels being burning fire.
  A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: they sat in judgment, and the books were opened.
  I looked then because of the sound of the great words which the horn spoke: and as I looked the beast was slain, and its body destroyed, and given to the burning flame.
  And as for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.
  I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like a son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.
  And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and tongues, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.
  As for me Daniyyel, my spirit was grieved in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head affrighted me.
  I came near to one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made known to me the meaning of the things.
  These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, who shall arise out of the earth.
  But the holy ones of the Most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.
  Then I wished to know the truth of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others, exceedingly dreadful, the teeth of which were of iron, and its nails of brass; which devoured, broke in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet;
  and of the ten horns that were on its head, and of the other horn which came up, and before which three fell; that horn which had eyes, and a mouth that spoke very great things, and which appeared greater than its fellows.
  I beheld, and the same horn made war with the holy ones, and prevailed against them;
  until the ancient of days came, and judgment was given for the holy ones of the Most High; and the time came that the holy ones possessed the kingdom.
  Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be different from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.
  And the ten horns are ten kings that shall arise out of this kingdom: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be different from the former ones, and he shall subdue three kings.
  And he shall speak great words against the Most High, and shall wear out the holy ones of the Most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand for a season and seasons and half a season.
  But they shall sit in judgment, and his dominion shall be taken away, to be consumed and destroyed to the end.
  And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the holy ones of the Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.
  Here is the end of the matter. As for me Daniyyel, my cogitations much affrighted me, and my colour changed: but I kept the matter in my heart.
  
  
  
  In the third year of the reign of king Belshażżar a vision appeared to me, even to me Daniyyel, after that which appeared to me at the first.
  And I saw in a vision; and it came to pass, when I saw, that I was at Shushan the capital, which is in the province of ῾Elam; and I saw in a vision, and I was by the river of Ulay.
  Then I lifted up my eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood before the river a ram which had two horns: and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last.
  I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beasts might stand before him, was not there any that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and magnified himself.
  And as I was considering, behold, a he goat came from the west across the face of the whole earth, and did not touch the ground: and the goat had a conspicuous horn between its eyes.
  And it came to the ram that had two horns, which I had seen standing before the river, and ran at him in the fury of his power.
  And I saw it come close to the ram, and it was enraged against him, and smote the ram, and broke his two horns: and the ram had no power to stand before it, but he cast him down to the ground, and trampled upon him: and there was none that could deliver the ram out of his hand.
  Therefore the he goat grew very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and instead of it came up four conspicuous ones towards the four winds of heaven.
  And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which grew exceedingly great, towards the south, and towards the east, and towards the land of beauty.
  And it grew great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and trampled upon them.
  Yes, it magnified itself even to the prince of the host, and from him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.
  And for an appointed time it was flagrantly set against the daily sacrifice, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered.
  Then I heard one holy one speaking, and another holy one said to that certain one who spoke, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?
  And he said to me, For two thousand and three hundred evenings and mornings; then shall the sanctuary be restored.
  And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniyyel, had seen the vision, and sought for the meaning, then, behold, there stood before me what looked like a man.
  And I heard a man’s voice between the banks of Ulay, who called, and said, Gavri᾽el, make this man understand the vision.
  So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said to me, Understand, O son of man: for the vision is for the time of the end.
  Now as he was speaking with me, I fell into a deep sleep on my face towards the ground: but he touched me, and set me upright.
  And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the latter end of the indignation: for it is for the appointed time of the end.
  The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Maday and Paras.
  And the rough he goat is the king of Yavan: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king.
  As for the horn which was broken, in place of which four others arose, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not with his power.
  And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and one who understands riddles, shall arise.
  And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy remarkably, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.
  And through his cunning also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand, and shall magnify himself in his heart, and without difficulty he shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.
  And the vision of the evenings and the mornings which was told is true: but seal up the vision; for it refers to many days hence.
  And I Daniyyel fainted, and was sick certain days; afterwards I rose up, and did the king’s business; and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it.
  
  
  
  In the first year of Daryavesh the son of Aĥashverosh, of the seed of Maday, who was made king over the realm of the Kasdians;
  in the first year of his reign I Daniyyel considered in the books the number of the years, whereof the word of the Lord came to Yirmeya the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Yerushalayim.
  And I set my face to the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:
  and I prayed to the Lord my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping covenant and troth to those who love him, and to those who keep his commandments;
  we have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, and have turned aside from Thy precepts and from Thy judgments:
  for we have not hearkened to Thy servants the prophets, who spoke in Thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.
  O Lord, righteousness belongs to Thee, but to us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of Yehuda, and to the inhabitants of Yerushalayim, and to all Yisra᾽el, who are near, and who are far off, through all the countries whither Thou hast driven them, because of their trespass which they have trespassed against Thee.
  O Lord, to us belongs confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against Thee.
  To the Lord our God belongs mercies and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him;
  for we have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God, to follow his Torot, which he set before us by his servants the prophets.
  Yea, all Yisra᾽el have transgressed Thy Tora, and have turned aside, so as not to obey Thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the Tora of Moshe the servant of God, because we have sinned against him.
  And he has confirmed his word, which he spoke against us, and against our judges who judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole heaven there has not been done the like of what has been done against Yerushalayim,
  as it is written in the Tora of Moshe, all this evil is come upon us: yet we did not offer our prayer before the Lord our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand Thy truth.
  Therefore the Lord has watched over the evil, and brought it upon us: for the Lord our God is righteous in all his works which he has done: for we did not obey his voice.
  And now, O Lord our God, who hast brought Thy people out of the land of Miżrayim with a mighty hand, and hast gotten Thee renown, as at this day; we have sinned, we have done wickedly.
  O Lord, according to all Thy righteousness, I pray Thee, let Thy anger and Thy fury be turned away from Thy city of Yerushalayim Thy holy mountain: because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Yerushalayim and Thy people are become a reproach to all that are about us.
  Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of Thy servant, and his supplications, and cause Thy face to shine upon Thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord’s sake.
  O my God, incline Thy ear, and hear; open Thy eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by Thy name: for we do not present our supplications before Thee because of our righteousnesses, but because of Thy great mercies.
  O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and act; delay not, for Thy own sake, O my God: for Thy city and Thy people are called by Thy name.
  And whilst I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Yisra᾽el, and presenting my supplication before the Lord my God for the holy mountain of my God;
  whilst I was still speaking in prayer, the man Gavri᾽el, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, approached close to me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice.
  And he made me understand, and talked with me, and said, O Daniyyel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding.
  At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment went out, and I am come to declare it; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore look into the word, and consider the vision.
  Seventy weeks are decreed concerning thy people and concerning thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end to sins, and to atone for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up vision and prophet, and to anoint the most holy place.
  Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Yerushalayim until an anointed prince, shall be seven weeks: then for sixty two weeks it shall be built again, with squares and moat, but in a troubled time.
  And after sixty two weeks shall an anointed one be cut off, and none will be left to him: and the people of a prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and his end shall be with a flood, and to the end of the war desolations are decreed.
  And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week: and during half of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the offering to cease; and upon the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed destruction is poured out on the desolator.
  
  
  
  In the third year of Koresh king of Paras a thing was revealed to Daniyyel, whose name was called Belteshażżar; and the word was true, and for a long period ahead; and he understood the thing, and had understanding of the vision.
  In those days I Daniyyel was mourning three full weeks.
  I ate no pleasant bread, nor did meat or wine come into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.
  And on the twenty fourth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Ĥiddeqel;
  I lifted up my eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Ufaz:
  his body also was like the beryl, and his face like the appearance of lightning, and his eyes like torches of fire, and his arms and his feet in colour like burnished brass, and the sound of his words like the voice of a multitude.
  And I Daniyyel alone saw the vision: for the men who were with me did not see the vision; but a great trembling fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves.
  So I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comely appearance was horribly changed, and I retained no strength.
  Yet I heard the sound of his words: and when I heard the voice of his words, I was in a deep sleep on my face, and my face towards the ground.
  And, behold, a hand touched me, which set me trembling on my knees and on the palms of my hands.
  And he said to me, O Daniyyel, thou man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to thee, and stand upright: for to thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood trembling.
  Then said he to me, Fear not, Daniyyel: for from the first day that thou didst set thy heart to understand and to humble thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come because of thy words.
  But the guardian angel of the kingdom of Paras withstood me twenty one days: but, lo, Mikha᾽el, one of the chief angels, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Paras.
  Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for the vision is for days yet to come.
  And when he had spoken such words to me, I set my face towards the ground, and I became dumb.
  And, behold, one in the likeness of the sons of men touched my lips: then I opened my mouth, and spoke, and said to him that stood before me, O my lord, by reason of the vision my pains have come upon me, and I retain no strength.
  For how can the servant of my lord talk with this my lord? for as for me, there remains now no strength in me, nor is there breath left in me.
  Then again came one in the likeness of a man, and touched me and strengthened me,
  and said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, and be resolute. And when he had spoken to me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me.
  Then he said to me, Dost thou know why I have come to thee? But now I will return to fight with the guardian angel of Paras: and when I depart from him, lo, the guardian angel of Yavan shall come.
  But I will tell thee that which is inscribed in the true record: and none stands fast with me against these, except your guardian angel, Mikha᾽el.
  
  
  
  As for me, in the first year of Daryavesh the Madian, I stood up to confirm and to strengthen him.
  And now will I tell thee the truth. Behold, there shall stand up yet three kings in Paras: and the fourth shall be far richer than all of them: and when he has grown strong through his riches, he shall stir up all against the kingdom of Yavan.
  And a mighty king shall stand up, who shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will.
  And when he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken, and shall be divided towards the four winds of heaven; and not to his posterity, nor according to his dominion with which he ruled: for his kingdom shall be plucked up, and go to others besides those.
  And the king of the south shall be strong, but one of his princes shall be stronger than he, and have dominion; his dominion shall be a great dominion.
  And at the end of years they shall join themselves together; for the king’s daughter of the south shall come to the king of the north to make an agreement: but she shall not retain the power of her arm; nor shall he stand, nor his arm: but she shall be given up, and they who brought her, and he who begot her, and he who strengthened her in those times.
  But from a branch of her roots shall one stand up in his place: he shall come with an army, and shall enter into the fortress of the king of the north, and shall deal against them, and shall prevail:
  and he shall also carry captives into Miżrayim their gods, with their princes, and with their precious vessels of silver and of gold; and he shall abstain for some years from attacking the king of the north.
  But he shall come into the kingdom of the king of the south, and shall return to his own land.
  But his sons shall be stirred up, and shall assemble a multitude of great forces: and one shall certainly come, and overflow, and pass through: then shall he return, and be stirred up, even to his fortress.
  And the king of the south shall be moved with anger, and shall come out and fight with him, with the king of the north: and he shall set forth a great multitude; but the multitude shall be given into his hand.
  And when he has taken away the multitude, his heart shall be lifted up; and he shall cast down tens of thousands: but he shall not prevail.
  For the king of the north shall again set forth a multitude greater than the former, and shall certainly come after certain years with a great army and with abundant supplies.
  And in those times there shall many stand up against the king of the south: also the renegades of thy people shall exalt themselves to fulfil the vision; but they shall stumble.
  So the king of the north shall come, and cast up a mound, and seize a well fortified city and the arms of the south shall not withstand, nor his chosen people, for they shall have no strength to withstand.
  But he who comes against him shall do according to his own will, and none shall stand before him: and he shall stand in the land of beauty, and in his hand shall be destruction.
  He shall also set his face to enter with the strength of his whole kingdom, but he shall make peace with him: and he shall give him the daughter of women, to destroy it: but she shall not stand or remain his.
  After this he shall turn his face to the isles, and shall take many: but a commander shall put an end to his insult; indeed, he shall cause his insult to return upon him.
  Then he shall turn his face towards the strongholds of his own land: but he shall stumble and fall, and not be found.
  Then there shall stand up in his place one who shall send an exactor of taxes throughout glory of the kingdom, but within a few days he shall be destroyed, but not in anger, or in battle.
  And in his place shall stand up a vile person, to whom the honour of the kingdom has not been given: but he shall come in without difficulty, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries.
  And the force of the flood shall be swept away before him, and shall be broken; even the prince of the covenant.
  And after the league made with him he shall work deceitfully: for he shall come up, and shall become strong with a small people.
  He shall enter without difficulty even upon the fattest places of the province; and he shall do that which his fathers have not done, or his fathers’ fathers; he shall scatter among them prey, and spoil, and riches: and he shall devise schemes against the strongholds, but only for a time.
  And he shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the south with a great army; and the king of the south shall be stirred up to battle with a very great and mighty army; but he shall not stand: for they shall devise schemes against him.
  For those who eat his food shall destroy him, and his army shall overflow: and many shall fall down slain.
  And both these kings’ hearts shall be to do mischief, and they shall speak lies at one table; but it shall not prosper: for the end is yet to come at the time appointed.
  Then shall he return into his land with great riches; and his heart shall be set against the holy covenant; and he shall work his will, and return to his own land.
  At the time appointed he shall return, and come towards the south; but it shall not be at the latter time as it was at the former.
  For ships of Kittim shall come against him: therefore he shall lose heart and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant, and do his will; he shall even return, and have an understanding with those who forsake the holy covenant.
  And arms shall stand up on his part, and they shall profane sanctuary and fortress, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall set up the abomination that makes desolate.
  And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he seduce by flatteries: but the people who know their God shall be strong, and prevail.
  And they who understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, some days.
  Now when they shall fall, they shall receive a little help: but many shall join themselves to them with flatteries.
  And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to refine, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for the time appointed.
  And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak astonishing things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that which is determined shall be done.
  Nor shall he regard the gods of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all.
  But in his place he shall honour the god of strongholds, and a god whom his fathers did not know shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and costly things.
  And he shall deal with the strongest fortresses with the help of a foreign god; those whom he acknowledges, he will magnify with honour: and he shall make them rulers over many, and shall divide the land for a price.
  And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a storm, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over.
  He shall enter also into the land of beauty, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand – Edom, and Mo᾽av, and the chief of the children of ῾Ammon.
  He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Miżrayim shall not escape.
  But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Miżrayim: and the Lubbians and the Kushites shall follow in his train.
  But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall affright him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to do away with many.
  And he shall plant the tents of his palace between the seas and the holy mountain of beauty; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.
  
  
  
  And at that time shall Mikha᾽el stand up, the great chief angel, who stands for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation till that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one who shall be found written in the book.
  And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
  And they who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament; and they who turn many to righteousness like the stars for ever and ever.
  But thou, O Daniyyel, shut up the words, and seal the book, until the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
  Then I Daniyyel looked, and, behold, there stood two others, the one on this side of the bank of the River, and the other on that side of the bank of the River.
  And one said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the River, How long shall it be to the end of the wonders?
  And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the River, when he lifted up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by the One who lives for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and a half; and when the crushing of the power of the holy people shall have been completed, all these things shall be finished.
  And I heard, but I did not understand: then I said, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?
  And he said, Go thy way, Daniyyel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.
  Many shall purify themselves, and make themselves white, and be tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.
  And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that makes desolate be set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.
  Happy is he who waits, and reaches a thousand three hundred and thirty five days.
  But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand up for thy allotted portion at the end of the days.