Daniel’s Dream of Four Beasts
1In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream, and visions passed through his mind as he was lying in bed. He wrote down the substance of his dream.
2Daniel said: “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me were the four winds of heaven churning up the great sea. 3Four great beasts, each different from the others, came up out of the sea.
4“The first was like a lion, and it had the wings of an eagle. I watched until its wings were torn off and it was lifted from the ground so that it stood on two feet like a human being, and the mind of a human was given to it.
5“And there before me was a second beast, which looked like a bear. It was raised up on one of its sides, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told, ‘Get up and eat your fill of flesh!’
6“After that, I looked, and there before me was another beast, one that looked like a leopard. And on its back it had four wings like those of a bird. This beast had four heads, and it was given authority to rule.
7“After that, in my vision at night I looked, and there before me was a fourth beast—terrifying and frightening and very powerful. It had large iron teeth; it crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. It was different from all the former beasts, and it had ten horns.
8“While I was thinking about the horns, there before me was another horn, a little one, which came up among them; and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. This horn had eyes like the eyes of a human being and a mouth that spoke boastfully.
9“As I looked,
“thrones were set in place,
and the Ancient of Days took his seat.
His clothing was as white as snow;
the hair of his head was white like wool.
His throne was flaming with fire,
and its wheels were all ablaze.
10A river of fire was flowing,
coming out from before him.
Thousands upon thousands attended him;
ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.
The court was seated,
and the books were opened.
11“Then I continued to watch because of the boastful words the horn was speaking. I kept looking until the beast was slain and its body destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire. 12(The other beasts had been stripped of their authority, but were allowed to live for a period of time.)
13“In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man,7:13 The Aramaic phrase bar enash means human being. The phrase son of man is retained here because of its use in the New Testament as a title of Jesus, probably based largely on this verse. coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.
The Interpretation of the Dream
15“I, Daniel, was troubled in spirit, and the visions that passed through my mind disturbed me. 16I approached one of those standing there and asked him the meaning of all this.
“So he told me and gave me the interpretation of these things: 17‘The four great beasts are four kings that will rise from the earth. 18But the holy people of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever—yes, for ever and ever.’
19“Then I wanted to know the meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others and most terrifying, with its iron teeth and bronze claws—the beast that crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. 20I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head and about the other horn that came up, before which three of them fell—the horn that looked more imposing than the others and that had eyes and a mouth that spoke boastfully. 21As I watched, this horn was waging war against the holy people and defeating them, 22until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the holy people of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom.
23“He gave me this explanation: ‘The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it. 24The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings. 25He will speak against the Most High and oppress his holy people and try to change the set times and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time.7:25 Or for a year, two years and half a year
26“ ‘But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever. 27Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be handed over to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him.’
28“This is the end of the matter. I, Daniel, was deeply troubled by my thoughts, and my face turned pale, but I kept the matter to myself.”
Daniẹli lá àlá ẹranko mẹ́rin
1Ní ọdún àkọ́kọ́ Belṣassari ọba Babeli, Daniẹli lá àlá kan, ìran náà sì wá sí ọkàn an rẹ̀ bí ó ṣe sùn sórí ibùsùn un rẹ̀, ó sì kọ àlá náà sílẹ̀.
2Daniẹli sọ pé, “Nínú ìran mi lóru mo wò ó, mo sì rí afẹ́fẹ́ ọ̀run mẹ́rin tí ó ń ru omi Òkun ńlá sókè. 37.3: If 13.1.7.3,7,21: If 11.7.Ẹranko ńlá mẹ́rin tí ó yàtọ̀ sí ara wọn, jáde láti inú Òkun náà.
47.4-6: If 13.2.“Ẹranko kìn-ín-ní dàbí i kìnnìún, ó sì ní ìyẹ́ apá a idì: mo sì wò títí a fi fa ìyẹ́ apá rẹ̀ náà tu, a sì gbé e sókè kúrò ní ilẹ̀, a mú kí ó fi ẹsẹ̀ dúró bí ènìyàn, a sì fi àyà ènìyàn fún un.
5“Mo sì tún rí ẹranko kejì, ó rí bí irú ẹranko ńlá beari kan tí ó ń gbé ilẹ̀ òtútù; o gbé ara sókè ní apá kan, ó sì ní egungun ìhà mẹ́ta láàrín ẹ̀yìn in rẹ̀, wọ́n sì sọ fún un pé, ‘Dìde kí o sì jẹ ẹran tó pọ̀!’
6“Lẹ́yìn ìgbà náà, mo tún rí ẹranko kẹta ó rí bí àmọ̀tẹ́kùn. Ẹranko náà ní ìyẹ́ bí i ti ẹyẹ ní ẹ̀yìn, ó sì ní orí mẹ́rin, a sì fún un ní agbára láti ṣe ìjọba.
77.7: If 12.3; 13.1; 17.3.“Lẹ́yìn èyí, nínú ìran mi ní òru mo tún rí ẹranko kẹrin, ó dẹ́rùbà ni, ó dáyà fo ni, ó sì lágbára gidigidi. Ó ní eyín irin ńlá; ó ń jẹ, ó sì ń fọ́ túútúú, ó sì fi ẹsẹ̀ tẹ èyí tókù mọ́lẹ̀. Ó yàtọ̀ sí gbogbo àwọn ẹranko ti ìṣáájú, ó sì ní ìwo mẹ́wàá.
87.8,11: If 13.5.“Bí mo ṣe ń ronú nípa ìwo náà, nígbà náà ni mo rí ìwo mìíràn, tí ó kéré tí ó jáde wá ní àárín wọn; mẹ́ta lára àwọn ìwo ti àkọ́kọ́ sì fàtu níwájú u rẹ̀. Ìwo yìí ní ojú bí i ojú ènìyàn àti ẹnu tí ń sọ̀rọ̀ ìgbéraga.
Ìdájọ́ níwájú ẹni ìgbàanì
97.9: If 1.14; 20.4,11.“Bí mo ṣe ń wò,
“a gbé ìtẹ́ ọba kan kalẹ̀,
ẹni ìgbàanì jókòó sórí ìtẹ́ rẹ̀,
Aṣọ rẹ̀ funfun bí ẹ̀gbọ̀n òwú;
irun orí rẹ̀ funfun bí òwú,
ìtẹ́ ọba rẹ̀ rí bí ọwọ́ iná.
Àwọn kẹ̀kẹ́ rẹ ń jó bí i iná.
107.10: If 5.11; 20.12.Odò iná ń sàn,
ó ń jáde ní iwájú rẹ̀ wá,
Àwọn ẹgbẹ̀rún lọ́nà ẹgbẹ̀rún ń ṣe ìránṣẹ́ fún un;
Ọ̀nà ẹgbẹẹgbàárùn-ún nígbà ẹgbàárùn-ún dúró níwájú rẹ̀.
Àwọn onídàájọ́ jókòó,
a sì ṣí ìwé wọ̀n-ọn-nì sílẹ̀.
11“Nígbà náà ni mo bẹ̀rẹ̀ sí ní wò, nítorí àwọn ọ̀rọ̀ ìgbéraga tí ìwo náà ń sọ, mo wò títí a fi pa ẹranko náà, a sì pa á run, a sì jù ú sínú iná tí ń jó. 12A sì gba ìjọba lọ́wọ́ àwọn ẹranko yòókù, ṣùgbọ́n a fún wọn láààyè láti wà fún ìgbà díẹ̀.
137.13-14: Mt 24.30; 26.64; Mk 13.26; 14.62; Lk 21.27; 22.69; If 1.7,13; 14.14.“Nínú ìran mi ní òru mo wò, mo rí ẹnìkan tí ó dúró sí iwájú u mi, ó rí bí Ọmọ ènìyàn, ó ń bọ̀ wá nínú àwọsánmọ̀ ọ̀run, ó ń bọ̀ wá sí ọ̀dọ̀ ẹni ìgbàanì, a sì mú u wá sí iwájú rẹ̀. 147.14,18,22,27: If 11.15.A sì fi ìjọba, ògo àti agbára ilẹ̀ ọba fún un; gbogbo ènìyàn, orílẹ̀-èdè àti èdè gbogbo wọn wólẹ̀ fún un. Ìjọba rẹ̀, ìjọba ayérayé ni, èyí tí kò le è kọjá, ìjọba rẹ̀ kò sì le è díbàjẹ́ láéláé.
15“Ọkàn èmi Daniẹli, dàrú, ìran tí ó wá sọ́kàn mi dẹ́rùbà mí. 16Mo lọ bá ọ̀kan nínú àwọn tí ó dúró níbẹ̀, mo sì bi í léèrè òtítọ́ ìtumọ̀ nǹkan wọ̀nyí.
“Ó sọ fún mi, ó sì túmọ̀ àwọn nǹkan wọ̀nyí fún mi: 17‘Àwọn ẹranko ńlá mẹ́rin yìí, ni ìjọba mẹ́rin tí yóò dìde ní ayé. 18Ṣùgbọ́n, ẹni mímọ́ ti Ọ̀gá-ògo ni yóò gba ìjọba náà, yóò sì jogún un rẹ títí láé àti títí láéláé.’
19“Nígbà náà, ni mo fẹ́ mọ ìtumọ̀ òtítọ́ ẹranko kẹrin, tí ó yàtọ̀ sí àwọn yòókù, èyí tí ó dẹ́rùba ni gidigidi, tí ó ní eyín irin àti èékánná idẹ, ẹranko tí ó ń run tí ó sì ń pajẹ, tí ó sì ń fi ẹsẹ̀ tẹ èyí tókù mọ́lẹ̀. 207.20,24: If 17.12.Bẹ́ẹ̀ ni mo sì fẹ́ mọ̀ nípa ìwo mẹ́wàá orí rẹ̀ àti nípa ìwo yòókù tí ó jáde, nínú èyí tí mẹ́ta lára wọn ṣubú, ìwo tí ó ní ojú, tí ẹnu rẹ̀ ń sọ̀rọ̀ ìgbéraga. 217.21: If 13.7.Bí mo ṣe ń wò, ìwo yìí ń bá àwọn ènìyàn mímọ́ jagun, ó sì borí i wọn, 22títí ẹni ìgbàanì fi dé, ó sì ṣe ìdájọ́ ìdáláre fún àwọn ẹni mímọ́ Ọ̀gá-ògo, àsìkò náà sì dé nígbà tí àwọn ẹni mímọ́ náà jogún ìjọba.
23“Ó ṣe àlàyé yìí fún mi pé: ‘Ẹranko kẹrin ni ìjọba kẹrin tí yóò wà ní ayé. Yóò yàtọ̀ sí gbogbo àwọn ìjọba yòókù yóò sì pa gbogbo ayé run, yóò tẹ̀ ẹ́ mọ́lẹ̀, yóò sì fọ́ ọ́ sí wẹ́wẹ́. 24Ìwo mẹ́wàá ni ọba mẹ́wàá tí yóò wá láti inú ìjọba yìí. Lẹ́yìn tí wọn ní ọba mìíràn yóò dìde, ti yóò yàtọ̀ sí tí àwọn ti ìṣáájú, yóò sì borí ọba mẹ́ta. 257.25: If 12.14.Yóò sọ̀rọ̀ odi sí Ọ̀gá-ògo, yóò sì pọ́n ẹni mímọ́ lójú, yóò sì gbèrò láti yí ìgbà àti òfin padà. A ó fi àwọn ẹni mímọ́ lé e lọ́wọ́ fún ìgbà díẹ̀, ní ọdún méjì àti ààbọ̀.
26“ ‘Ṣùgbọ́n àwọn onídàájọ́ yóò jókòó, nígbà náà ni a ó gba agbára rẹ̀, a ó sì pa á rùn pátápátá títí ayé. 27Nígbà náà, ni a ó gba ìjọba, agbára àti títóbi ìjọba rẹ̀ ní abẹ́ gbogbo ọ̀run, a ó sì fi fún àwọn ẹni mímọ́, àwọn ènìyàn Ọ̀gá-ògo. Ìjọba rẹ̀ yóò jẹ́ ìjọba títí ayé, gbogbo aláṣẹ ni yóò máa ṣe ìgbọ́ràn sí i, wọn yóò sì máa sìn ín.’
28“Báyìí ni àlá náà ṣe parí, ọkàn èmi Daniẹli sì dàrú gidigidi, nítorí èrò ọkàn mi yìí, ojú mi sì yípadà ṣùgbọ́n mo pa ọ̀ràn náà mọ́ ní ọkàn mi.”
