Vision of the Ram and Goat
1 In the third year of the reign of Belshazzar the king a vision appeared to me, Daniel, subsequent to the one which appeared to me previously.
2 I looked in the vision, and while I was looking I was in the citadel of Susa, which is in the province of Elam; and I looked in the vision and I myself was beside the Ulai Canal.
3 Then I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, a ram which had two horns was standing in front of the canal. Now the two hornswerelong, but onewaslonger than the other, with the longer one coming up last.
4 I saw the ram butting westward, northward, and southward, and nootherbeasts could stand before him nor was there anyone to rescue from his power, but he did as he pleased and magnifiedhimself.
5 While I was observing, behold, a male goat was coming from the west over the surface of the whole earth without touching the ground; and the goathada conspicuous horn between his eyes.
6 He came up to the ram that had the two horns, which I had seen standing in front of the canal, and rushed at him in his mighty wrath.
7 I saw him come beside the ram, and he was enraged at him; and he struck the ram and shattered his two horns, and the ram had no strength to withstand him. So he hurled him to the ground and trampled on him, and there was none to rescue the ram from his power.
8 Then the male goat magnifiedhimselfexceedingly. But as soon as he was mighty, the large horn was broken; and in its place there came up four conspicuoushornstoward the four winds of heaven.
The Little Horn
9 Out of one of them came forth a rather small horn which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward theBeautifulLand.
10 It grew up to the host of heaven and caused some of the host and some of the stars to fall to the earth, and it trampled them down.
11 It even magnifieditselfto be equal with the Commander of the host; and it removed the regular sacrifice from Him, and the place of His sanctuary was thrown down.
12 And on account of transgression the host will be given overto the hornalong with the regular sacrifice; and it will fling truth to the ground and performits willand prosper.
13 Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to that particular one who was speaking, “How long will the visionaboutthe regular sacrifice apply, while the transgression causes horror, so as to allow both the holy place and the host to be trampled?”
14 He said to me, “For 2,300 eveningsandmornings; then the holy place will be properly restored.”
Interpretation of the Vision
15 When I, Daniel, had seen the vision, I sought to understand it; and behold, standing before me was one who looked like a man.
16 And I heard the voice of a man betweenthe banks ofUlai, and he called out and said, “Gabriel, give thismanan understanding of the vision.”
17 So he came near to where I was standing, and when he came I was frightened and fell on my face; but he said to me, “Son of man, understand that the vision pertains to the time of the end.”
18 Now while he was talking with me, I sank into a deep sleep with my face to the ground; but he touched me and made me stand upright.
19 He said, “Behold, I am going to let you know what will occur at the final period of the indignation, foritpertains to the appointed time of the end.
The Ram’s Identity
20 The ram which you saw with the two horns represents the kings of Media and Persia.
The Goat
21 The shaggy goatrepresentsthe kingdom of Greece, and the large horn that is between his eyes is the first king.
22 The brokenhornand the fourhorns thatarose in its placerepresentfour kingdomswhichwill arise fromhisnation, although not with his power.
23 “In the latter period of their rule,
When the transgressors have runtheir course,
A king will arise,
Insolent and skilled in intrigue.
24 “His power will be mighty, but not by hisownpower,
And he will destroy to an extraordinary degree
And prosper and performhis will;
He will destroy mighty men and the holy people.
25 “And through his shrewdness
He will cause deceit to succeed by his influence;
And he will magnifyhimselfin his heart,
And he will destroy many whilethey areat ease.
He will even oppose the Prince of princes,
But he will be broken without human agency.
26 “The vision of the evenings and mornings
Which has been told is true;
But keep the vision secret,
Foritpertains to many daysin the future.”
27 Then I, Daniel, was exhausted and sick for days. Then I got upagainand carried on the king’s business; but I was astounded at the vision, and there was none to explainit.
—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/80/32k/DAN/8-27f537157d1fc22af4772797070d920c.mp3?version_id=100—