1 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream and visions in his head on his bed; then he wrote the dream and told the sum of the matter. 2 Daniel spoke and said, “I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of the sky broke forth on the great sea. 3 Four great animals came up from the sea, different one from another. 4 The first was like a lion and had eagle’s wings; I watched as its wings were plucked and it was lifted up from the earth and made to stand on two feet like a man; and a man’s heart was given to it. 5 Behold, another animal, a second, like a bear; and it was raised up on one side, and three ribs were in its mouth between its teeth; and they said this to it, ‘Arise, devour much flesh!’ 6 After this I saw, and behold, another, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird; the animal had also four heads; and dominion was given to it. 7 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth animal, awesome and powerful and exceedingly strong; 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 animals that were before it; and it had ten horns. 8 I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots; and behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth speaking great things. 9 I watched as thrones were placed, and one who was ancient of days sat; his clothing was white as snow and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames and its wheels burning fire. 10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him; thousands of thousands ministered to him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The judgment was set and the books were opened. 11 I saw, at that time, what became of the voice of the great words which the horn spoke; I watched even as the animal was slain and its body destroyed and it was given to be burned with fire. 12 As for the rest of the animals, their dominion was taken away, yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.

13 “I saw in the night visions, and behold, there came with the clouds of the sky one like a son of man, and he came even to the ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. 14 He was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, so that all the peoples, nations, and languages would serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom is that which shall not be destroyed. 15 As for me, Daniel, my spirit was grieved in the midst of my body and the visions of my head troubled me. 16 I came near to one of those who stood by and asked him the truth concerning all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of these things.

17 “‘These great animals, which are four, are four kings, who shall arise out of the earth. 18 But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.’ 19 Then I desired to know the truth concerning the fourth animal, which was different from all of them and exceedingly terrible, whose teeth were of iron and its nails of brass; which devoured, broke in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet; 20 and concerning the ten horns which were on its head, and the other horn which came up, and before which three fell, and even that horn which had eyes and a mouth which spoke great things, whose appearance was more powerful than its peers. 21 I watched as the same horn made war with the saints and prevailed against them; 22 until the ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom. 23 Thus he said, ‘The fourth animal shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be different from all the kingdoms and shall devour the whole earth and shall tread it down and break it in pieces. 24 As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings shall arise; and another shall arise after them; and he shall be different from the former, and he shall put down three kings. 25 He shall speak words against the Most High and shall wear out the saints of the Most High; and he shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and half a time. 26 But the judgment shall be set; and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it to the end. 27 The kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole sky shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom and all dominions shall serve and obey him.’

28 Here is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts troubled me greatly and my face was changed in me; but I kept the matter in my heart.”