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.”
Ndoto Ya Danieli Ya Wanyama Wanne
17:1 Yer 36:4; Dan 1:17; Eze 40:2; Za 4:4; Dan 4:13Katika mwaka wa kwanza wa utawala wa Belshaza mfalme wa Babeli, Danieli aliota ndoto, nayo maono yakapita mawazoni yake alipokuwa amelala kitandani mwake. Akayaandika mambo aliyoyaona katika ndoto yake.
27:2 Eze 37:9; Dan 11:4; 8:8; Ufu 7:1Danieli akasema: “Katika maono yangu usiku nilitazama, na hapo mbele yangu kulikuwepo na upepo kutoka pande nne za mbingu, ukivuruga bahari kuu. 37:3 Ufu 13:1; Zek 6:1-4Wanyama wanne wakubwa, kila mmoja tofauti na mwenzake, wakajitokeza kutoka bahari.
47:4 Zek 7:2; Eze 17:3; Ufu 13:2; Yer 4:2; 2Fal 24:1; Yer 4:7“Mnyama wa kwanza alifanana na simba, naye alikuwa na mabawa kama ya tai. Nikatazama mpaka mabawa yake yalipongʼolewa, naye akainuliwa katika nchi, akasimama kwa miguu miwili kama mwanadamu, naye akapewa moyo wa binadamu.
57:5 Dan 2:39“Hapo mbele yangu kulikuwa na mnyama wa pili, ambaye alionekana kama dubu. Upande wake mmoja ulikuwa umeinuka, na alikuwa na mbavu tatu katika kinywa chake kati ya meno yake. Akaambiwa, ‘Amka, ule nyama mpaka ushibe!’
67:6 Ufu 13:2“Baada ya huyo, nilitazama, na mbele yangu kulikuwa na mnyama mwingine, aliyefanana na chui. Juu ya mgongo wake alikuwa na mabawa manne kama ya ndege. Mnyama huyu alikuwa na vichwa vinne, naye akapewa mamlaka ya kutawala.
7“Baada ya huyo, katika maono yangu usiku nilitazama, na mbele yangu kulikuwa na mnyama wa nne, mwenye kutisha na kuogofya, tena mwenye nguvu nyingi. Alikuwa na meno makubwa ya chuma; akapondaponda na kuangamiza wahanga wake, na kukanyaga chini ya nyayo zake chochote kilichosalia. Alikuwa tofauti na wanyama wote waliotangulia, naye alikuwa na pembe kumi.
87:8 Dan 8:9; Ufu 9:7; Za 12:3; Ufu 13:5-6“Wakati nilipokuwa ninafikiri kuhusu pembe hizo, mbele yangu kulikuwa na pembe nyingine, ambayo ni ndogo, iliyojitokeza miongoni mwa zile kumi; pembe tatu za mwanzoni zilingʼolewa ili kuipa nafasi hiyo ndogo. Pembe hii ilikuwa na macho kama ya mwanadamu, na mdomo ulionena kwa majivuno.
97:9 Ufu 1:14; Eze 1:15; 10:6; 1Fal 22:19; 2Nya 18:18; Mt 19:28“Nilipoendelea kutazama,
“viti vya enzi vikawekwa,
naye Mzee wa Siku akaketi.
Mavazi yake yalikuwa meupe kama theluji;
nywele za kichwa chake zilikuwa nyeupe kama sufu.
Kiti chake cha enzi kilikuwa kinawaka kwa miali ya moto,
nayo magurudumu yake yote yalikuwa yanawaka moto.
107:10 Za 50:3; Isa 30:27; Kum 33:2; Yud 14; Ufu 5:11; Kut 32:32; Ufu 20:11-15Mto wa moto ulikuwa unatiririka,
ukipita mbele yake.
Maelfu elfu wakamhudumia;
kumi elfu mara kumi elfu wakasimama mbele zake.
Mahakama ikakaa kuhukumu,
na vitabu vikafunguliwa.
117:11 Ufu 19:20; 13:5-6“Kisha nikaendelea kutazama kwa sababu ya yale maneno ya majivuno yaliyosemwa na ile pembe. Nikaendelea kuangalia mpaka yule mnyama alipouawa, na mwili wake ukaharibiwa na kutupwa katika ule moto uliowaka. 12(Wanyama wengine walikuwa wamevuliwa mamlaka yao, lakini waliruhusiwa kuishi kwa muda fulani.)
137:13 Eze 1:26; Mt 8:20; 24:30; Kum 33:26; Ufu 1:13; 14:14; Isa 13:6“Katika maono yangu ya usiku nilitazama, na mbele yangu nikamwona anayefanana na mwanadamu, akija pamoja na mawingu ya mbinguni. Akamkaribia huyo Mzee wa Siku, na akaongozwa mbele zake. 147:14 Yn 3:35; Ebr 12:28; Dan 2:44; Mt 28:18; Efe 1:22; Za 72:11; Isa 16:5Akapewa mamlaka, utukufu na ufalme wenye nguvu; nao watu wa kabila zote, mataifa, na watu wa kila lugha wakamwabudu. Utawala wake ni utawala wa milele ambao hautapita, nao ufalme wake ni ule ambao kamwe hautaangamizwa.
Tafsiri Ya Ndoto
157:15 Ay 4:15; Dan 4:19“Mimi, Danieli, nilipata mahangaiko rohoni, nayo maono yale yaliyopita ndani ya mawazo yangu yalinisumbua. 167:16 Dan 9:22; Zek 1:9; Dan 8:16Nikamkaribia mmoja wa wale waliosimama pale na kumuuliza maana halisi ya haya yote.
“Basi akaniambia na kunipa tafsiri ya vitu hivi: 17‘Hao wanyama wanne wakubwa ni falme nne zitakazoinuka duniani. 187:18 Isa 60:12-14; Lk 12:32; Za 16; 3; 49:14; Ebr 12:28Lakini watakatifu wa Yeye Aliye Juu Sana watapokea ufalme na kuumiliki milele: naam, milele na milele.’
19“Kisha nilitaka kufahamu maana ya kweli ya mnyama yule wa nne, ambaye alikuwa tofauti na wale wengine wote, tena wa kutisha sana, na meno yake ya chuma na makucha ya shaba: mnyama ambaye alipondaponda na kuangamiza wahanga wake, na kukanyaga chochote kilichosalia. 207:20 Ufu 17:12; 13:5-6Pia mimi nilitaka kujua kuhusu zile pembe kumi juu ya kichwa chake, na pia kuhusu ile pembe nyingine iliyojitokeza, ambayo mbele yake zile tatu za mwanzoni zilianguka, ile pembe ambayo ilionekana kuvutia macho zaidi kuliko zile nyingine, na ambayo ilikuwa na macho na kinywa kilichonena kwa majivuno. 217:21 Ufu 13:7; 11:7Nilipoendelea kutazama, pembe hii ilikuwa inapigana vita dhidi ya watakatifu na kuwashinda, 227:22 Mk 8:35mpaka huyo Mzee wa Siku alipokuja na kutamka hukumu kwa kuwapa ushindi watakatifu wa Yeye Aliye Juu Sana, na wakati ukawadia walipoumiliki ufalme.
237:23 Dan 2:40“Alinipa maelezo haya: ‘Mnyama wa nne ni ufalme wa nne ambao utatokea duniani. Utakuwa tofauti na falme nyingine zote, nao utaharibu dunia nzima, ukiikanyaga chini na kuipondaponda. 247:24 Ufu 17:12Zile pembe kumi ni wafalme kumi watakaotokana na ufalme huu. Baada yao mfalme mwingine atainuka, ambaye atakuwa tofauti na wale waliotangulia, naye atawaangusha wafalme watatu. 257:25 Isa 37:23; Dan 11:36; 2:21; 12:7-13; Ufu 16:6; Lk 21:8; Mdo 1:6-7; Ufu 11:2Atanena maneno kinyume cha Yeye Aliye Juu Sana na kuwaonea watakatifu wake, huku akijaribu kubadili majira na sheria. Watakatifu watatiwa chini ya mamlaka yake kwa wakati, nyakati mbili, na nusu wakati.7:25 Wakati, nyakati mbili, na nusu wakati maana yake ni mwaka mmoja, miaka miwili, na nusu mwaka, yaani miaka mitatu na nusu.
267:26 Ufu 19:20“ ‘Lakini mahakama itakaa kuhukumu, nayo mamlaka yake yataondolewa na kuangamizwa kabisa milele. 277:27 2Sam 7:13; Lk 1:33; Za 22:27; 72:11; Isa 14:2; 1Kor 6:2; Mwa 14:18Ndipo ufalme, mamlaka na ukuu wa falme chini ya mbingu yote utakabidhiwa kwa watakatifu, watu wa Yeye Aliye Juu Sana. Ufalme wake utakuwa ufalme wa milele, nao watawala wote watamwabudu na kumtii yeye.’
287:28 Isa 21:3; Dan 4:19; Lk 2:19; Za 13:2; Ay 4:15“Huu ndio mwisho wa jambo lile. Mimi Danieli nilitaabika sana katika mawazo yangu, nao uso wangu ukabadilika, lakini nililiweka jambo hilo moyoni mwangu.”
