Daniel Chapter 7
Showing all 28 verses for Daniel Chapter 7.
The People's Bible is written by people, for the people. Each verse below shows:
"In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters. "
"In the first year of King Belshazzar's reign, Daniel had a dream and visions while lying in bed; he wrote down the dream, giving a summary of what it contained."
Some of life's biggest truths don't arrive as plain instructions but as impressions and pictures that take time and reflection to understand. Be patient with the parts of your own life, or your own faith, that don't make immediate sense - clarity often comes later.
"Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea. "
"Daniel said: "In my vision at night, I saw the four winds of heaven churning up the great sea.""
The state of the world can feel chaotic and out of control, tossed by forces you can't manage. I want you to know that even out of real chaos, meaning and order can still emerge - it's not chaos forever.
"And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another. "
""Then four huge beasts came up out of the sea, each different from the others.""
Worldly power and empire can look terrifying and larger than life. Don't let that scale fool you into thinking it's the most important or lasting thing in the story.
"The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man’s heart was given to it. "
""The first was like a lion, but it had eagle's wings. As I watched, its wings were torn off, and it was lifted up off the ground and made to stand on two feet like a human, and it was given a human mind.""
Even the mightiest power can be brought low and given a change of heart. I never give up on anyone becoming more humbly, thoughtfully human, however far they've fallen into pride.
"And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh. "
""Then I saw a second beast, which looked like a bear. It was raised up on one side, and had three ribs in its mouth, between its teeth. It was told, 'Get up and eat as much flesh as you want.'""
Ambition for more - more land, more control, more consumption - is an old, recognisable pattern. Ask yourself honestly whether your own appetite for "more" is actually serving your life, or just consuming it.
"After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it. "
""After that, I looked, and there was another beast, like a leopard. It had four wings of a bird on its back, and it had four heads, and it was given authority to rule.""
Fast success can be exhilarating, but it often doesn't hold together on its own once the driving force behind it is gone. Build things - relationships, character, purpose - that can outlast a single burst of momentum.
"After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns. "
""After this, in my night visions I saw a fourth beast - terrifying, dreadful, and incredibly strong. It had large iron teeth; it crushed and devoured its victims and trampled whatever was left underfoot. It was different from all the beasts before it, and it had ten horns.""
Some systems of power become so consuming that no ordinary comparison fits how much damage they do. Stay alert to any system - political, corporate, even personal - that demands total control over people's lives.
"I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things. "
""I was studying the horns closely, and then another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the earlier horns were uprooted to make room for it. This little horn had eyes like human eyes, and a mouth that boasted arrogantly.""
Watch out for the kind of leader, or the kind of voice in your own head, that combines clever calculation with arrogant self-promotion. That combination is often where real harm to others begins.
"I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. "
""As I watched, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was white as snow, his hair like pure wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were blazing.""
However chaotic and unjust earthly power looks, there's a higher court where the final verdict on it is delivered fairly. Let that give you patience and hope rather than despair when injustice seems to be winning.
"A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened. "
""A river of fire flowed out from before him. Thousands upon thousands attended him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court sat down, and the books were opened.""
You don't need to keep score yourself or seek revenge when you're wronged. Everything is seen and remembered accurately in the end, which frees you to let go of bitterness now.
"I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame. "
""I kept watching because of the arrogant words the horn was speaking. I watched until the beast was slain, its body destroyed, and thrown into the blazing fire.""
Whatever feels overwhelming or unbeatable in your life or your world right now is not actually permanent. Hold on to that hope, especially in seasons when injustice seems to have the upper hand.
"As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time. "
""As for the rest of the beasts, their authority was taken away, though they were allowed to go on living for a set period of time.""
Endings in life are rarely as sudden or absolute as they feel in the moment. Something of what came before often continues quietly, even after its main season of influence has passed.
"I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. "
""In my vision that night, I saw one like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence.""
True greatness doesn't look like domination or monstrous power - it looks like humility, arriving gently rather than crashing in. I chose this very title for myself because it points to a kingdom built on love and service, not conquest.
"And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. "
""He was given authority, glory and sovereign power, so that all peoples, nations and languages would serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will never pass away, and his kingdom will never be destroyed.""
Whatever kingdom, career or achievement you're building your identity around will eventually pass, however solid it looks now. I offer you something to build your life on instead that genuinely doesn't run out.
"I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me. "
""I, Daniel, was deeply troubled in spirit, and the visions in my mind disturbed me.""
It's completely fine to feel unsettled by the big, hard questions of life and faith. I don't ask you to pretend to have it all figured out - honest unease is often the beginning of real understanding.
"I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things. "
""I approached one of those standing there and asked him what all this really meant. So he explained it to me and interpreted the vision.""
When something confuses or troubles you, don't just sit with the confusion - ask, seek, keep pressing for understanding. I want you to find real answers, not stay stuck in anxious uncertainty.
"These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth. "
""He said, 'These four huge beasts represent four kings who will arise from the earth.'""
Sometimes you need someone else's perspective to help you make sense of confusing events in your own life. Don't be too proud to ask for that kind of outside clarity.
"But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever. "
""'But the holy people of the Most High will receive the kingdom and possess it forever - yes, forever and ever.'""
You don't need power, wealth or conquest to end up on the right side of history. Quiet faithfulness now is what actually lasts, whatever the loud and frightening things around you seem to promise.
"Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet; "
""Then I wanted to know the truth about the fourth beast, which was different from all the others - incredibly terrifying, with iron teeth and bronze claws, devouring and crushing its victims and trampling whatever was left.""
Don't skip past the parts of a hard situation that scare you most. Real understanding, and real peace, usually comes from facing the difficult details honestly rather than looking away.
"And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows. "
""I also wanted to understand the ten horns on its head, and the other horn that came up, before which three of the horns fell - the horn that had eyes and a boastful mouth, and that looked more imposing than the others.""
When something or someone in your life is genuinely troubling you, name it specifically rather than staying vague about your worries. Clarity about the real problem is the first step to peace about it.
"I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; "
""As I watched, this horn was waging war against the holy people and defeating them,""
Following what's right doesn't guarantee you'll never lose or suffer for it. But temporary defeat isn't the end of your story - stay faithful through the setback rather than giving up because of it.
"Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom. "
""until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgement in favour of the holy people of the Most High, and the time arrived for them to possess the kingdom.""
You don't have to win every fight yourself. Sometimes the most faithful thing is to keep showing up with integrity and trust that real justice, even if delayed, is still coming.
"Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. "
""This is what he said: 'The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth, different from all the other kingdoms. It will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it.'""
The scale of a problem or a system of harm doesn't make it unbeatable. However far-reaching something destructive looks, it still has an expiry date, as the rest of the vision makes clear.
"And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. "
""'The ten horns are ten kings who will arise from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones, and he will subdue three kings.'""
Watch for the pattern of someone consolidating power by undermining others around them, in politics, at work, even in a friendship group. Naming that pattern early protects the people it would otherwise harm.
"And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. "
""'He will speak out against the Most High and oppress his holy people, trying to change set times and laws. The holy people will be given into his power for a time, times, and half a time.'""
Even the hardest seasons of oppression or hardship in your life have a limit, even if you can't see the end from where you're standing. Hold on - it is not forever.
"But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end. "
""'But the court will sit in judgement, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever.'""
Don't measure what's true and lasting by what currently looks powerful. I promise you a final, fair reckoning for every abuse of power, even the ones that seem untouchable right now.
"And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him. "
""'Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be given to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will serve and obey him.'""
However insignificant your own quiet faithfulness feels next to the loud power struggles of the world, you're on the side of the story that actually lasts. Stay patient, stay kind, stay honest - it matters more than it looks like it does right now.
"Hitherto is the end of the matter. As for me Daniel, my cogitations much troubled me, and my countenance changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart. "
""This is the end of the account. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts deeply troubled me, and my face grew pale, but I kept the matter to myself.""
You don't have to have every big question fully resolved or explained to move forward with your life. It's alright to carry some things quietly, thinking them over, rather than needing immediate answers or an audience.