Daniel 7

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	NEW JERUSALEM
1 In the first year of King Belshazzar of Babylon, Daniel had a dream as he lay in bed, and was terrified by the visions of his mind. Then he wrote down the dream; the account began:	1 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream and visions that passed through hishead as he lay in bed. He wrote the dream down, and this is how the narrative began:
2 In the vision I saw during the night, suddenly the four winds of heaven stirred up the great sea,	2 Daniel said, 'I have been seeing visions in the night. I saw that the four winds of heaven were stirring upthe Great Sea;
3 from which emerged four immense beasts, each different from the others.	3 four great beasts emerged from the sea, each different from the others.
4 The first was like a lion, but with eagle's wings. While I watched, the wings were plucked; it was raised from the ground to stand on two feet like a man, and given a human mind.	4 The first was like a lion with eagle's wings and, as I looked, its wings were torn off, and it was lifted offthe ground and set standing on its feet like a human; and it was given a human heart.
5 The second was like a bear; it was raised up on one side, and among the teeth in its mouth were three tusks. It was given the order, "Up, devour much flesh."	5 And there before me was a second beast, like a bear, rearing up on one side, with three ribs in itsmouth, between its teeth. "Up!" came the command. "Eat quantities of flesh!"
6 After this I looked and saw another beast, like a leopard; on its back were four wings like those of a bird, and it had four heads. To this beast dominion was given.	6 After this I looked; and there before me was another beast, like a leopard, and with four bird's wings onits flanks; it had four heads and was granted authority.
7 After this, in the visions of the night I saw the fourth beast, different from all the others, terrifying, horrible, and of extraordinary strength; it had great iron teeth with which it devoured and crushed, and what was left it trampled with its feet.	7 Next, in the visions of the night, I saw another vision: there before me was a fourth beast, fearful,terrifying, very strong; it had great iron teeth, and it ate its victims, crushed them, and trampled their remainsunderfoot. It was different from the previous beasts and had ten horns.
8 I was considering the ten horns it had, when suddenly another, a little horn, sprang out of their midst, and three of the previous horns were torn away to make room for it. This horn had eyes like a man, and a mouth that spoke arrogantly.	8 'While I was looking at these horns, I saw another horn sprouting among them, a little one; three of theoriginal horns were pul ed out by the roots to make way for it; and in this horn I saw eyes like human eyes, and amouth ful of boasting.
9 As I watched, Thrones were set up and the Ancient One took his throne. His clothing was snow bright, and the hair on his head as white as wool; His throne was flames of fire, with wheels of burning fire.	9 While I was watching, thrones were set in place and one most venerable took his seat. His robe waswhite as snow, the hair of his head as pure as wool. His throne was a blaze of flames, its wheels were a burningfire.
10 A surging stream of fire flowed out from where he sat; Thousands upon thousands were ministering to him, and myriads upon myriads attended him. The court was convened, and the books were opened.	10 A stream of fire poured out, issuing from his presence. A thousand thousand waited on him, tenthousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was in session and the books lay open.
11 I watched, then, from the first of the arrogant words which the horn spoke, until the beast was slain and its body thrown into the fire to be burnt up.	11 'I went on watching: then, because of the noise made by the boastings of the horn, as I watched, thebeast was put to death, and its body destroyed and committed to the flames.
12 The other beasts, which also lost their dominion, were granted a prolongation of life for a time and a season.	12 The other beasts were deprived of their empire, but received a lease of life for a season and a time.
13 As the visions during the night continued, I saw One like a son of man coming, on the clouds of heaven; When he reached the Ancient One and was presented before him,	13 I was gazing into the visions of the night, when I saw, coming on the clouds of heaven, as it were ason of man. He came to the One most venerable and was led into his presence.
14 He received dominion, glory, and kingship; nations and peoples of every language serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not be taken away, his kingship shall not be destroyed.	14 On him was conferred rule, honour and kingship, and all peoples, nations and languages became hisservants. His rule is an everlasting rule which wil never pass away, and his kingship wil never come to an end.
15 I, Daniel, found my spirit anguished within its sheath of flesh, and I was terrified by the visions of my mind.	15 'I, Daniel, was deeply disturbed and the visions that passed through my head alarmed me.
16 I approached one of those present and asked him what all this meant in truth; in answer, he made known to me the meaning of the things:	16 So I approached one of those who were standing by and asked him about al this. And in reply herevealed to me what these things meant.
17 "These four great beasts stand for four kingdoms which shall arise on the earth.	17 "These four great beasts are four kings who will rise up from the earth.
18 But the holy ones of the Most High shall receive the kingship, to possess it forever and ever."	18 Those who receive royal power are the holy ones of the Most High, and kingship will be theirs for ever,for ever and ever."
19 But I wished to make certain about the fourth beast, so very terrible and different from the others, devouring and crushing with its iron teeth and bronze claws, and trampling with its feet what was left;	19 Then I asked about the fourth beast, different from al the rest, very terrifying, with iron teeth andbronze claws; it ate its victims, crushed them, and trampled their remains underfoot;
20 about the ten horns on its head, and the other one that sprang up, before which three horns fell; about the horn with the eyes and the mouth that spoke arrogantly, which appeared greater than its fellows.	20 and about the ten horns on its head -- and why the other horn sprouted and the three original hornsfel , and why this horn had eyes and a mouth ful of boasting, and why it looked more impressive than its fel ows.
21 For, as I watched, that horn made war against the holy ones and was victorious	21 This was the horn I had watched making war on the holy ones and proving the stronger,
22 until the Ancient One arrived; judgment was pronounced in favor of the holy ones of the Most High, and the time came when the holy ones possessed the kingdom.	22 until the coming of the One most venerable who gave judgement in favour of the holy ones of the MostHigh, when the time came for the holy ones to assume kingship.
23 He answered me thus: "The fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, different from all the others; It shall devour the whole earth, beat it down, and crush it.	23 This is what he said: "The fourth beast is to be a fourth kingdom on earth, different from al otherkingdoms. It will devour the whole world, trample it underfoot and crush it.
24 The ten horns shall be ten kings rising out of that kingdom; another shall rise up after them, Different from those before him, who shall lay low three kings.	24 As for the ten horns: from this kingdom will rise ten kings, and another after them; this one will bedifferent from the previous ones and wil bring down three kings;
25 He shall speak against the Most High and oppress the holy ones of the Most High, thinking to change the feast days and the law. They shall be handed over to him for a year, two years, and a half-year.	25 he wil insult the Most High, and torment the holy ones of the Most High. He will plan to alter theseasons and the Law, and the Saints wil be handed over to him for a time, two times, and half a time.
26 But when the court is convened, and his power is taken away by final and absolute destruction,	26 But the court will sit, and he wil be stripped of his royal authority which wil be final y destroyed andreduced to nothing.
27 Then the kingship and dominion and majesty of all the kingdoms under the heavens shall be given to the holy people of the Most High, Whose kingdom shall be everlasting: all dominions shall serve and obey him."	27 And kingship and rule and the splendours of all the kingdoms under heaven will be given to the peopleof the holy ones of the Most High, whose royal power is an eternal power, whom every empire wil serve andobey."
28 The report concluded: I, Daniel, was greatly terrified by my thoughts, and my face blanched, but I kept the matter to myself.	28 'Here the narrative ends. 'I, Daniel, was greatly disturbed in mind, and I grew pale; but I kept thesethings to myself.'