Daniel's Vision of the Four Beasts
1-2 Daniel wrote:
In the first year of King Belshazzar of Babylonia, I had some dreams and visions while I was asleep one night, and I wrote them down.
The four winds were stirring up the mighty sea, 3 when suddenly four powerful beasts came out of the sea. Each beast was different. 4 The first was like a lion with the wings of an eagle. As I watched, its wings were pulled off. Then it was lifted to an upright position and made to stand on two feet, just like a human, and it was given a human mind.
5 The second beast looked like a bear standing on its hind legs. It held three ribs in its teeth, and it was told, “Attack! Eat all the flesh you want.”
6 The third beast was like a leopard—except that it had four wings and four heads. It was given authority to rule.
7 The fourth beast was stronger and more terrifying than the others. Its huge teeth were made of iron, and what it didn't grind with its teeth, it smashed with its feet. It was different from the others, and it had horns on its head—ten of them. 8 Just as I was thinking about these horns, a smaller horn appeared, and three of the other horns were pulled up by the roots to make room for it. This horn had the eyes of a human and a mouth that spoke with great arrogance.
Judgment
Daniel wrote:
9 Thrones were set up
while I was watching,
and the Eternal God
took his place.
His clothing and his hair
were white as snow.
His throne was a blazing fire
with fiery wheels,
10 and flames were dashing out
from all around him.
Countless thousands
were standing there
to serve him.
The time of judgment began,
and the books were opened.
11 I watched closely to see what would happen to this smaller horn because of the arrogant things it was saying. Then before my very eyes, the fourth beast was killed and its body destroyed by fire. 12 The other three beasts had their authority taken from them, but they were allowed to live a while longer. 13 As I continued to watch the vision that night,
I saw what looked like
a son of man
coming with the clouds of heaven,
and he was presented
to the Eternal God.
14 He was crowned king
and given power and glory,
so that all people
of every nation and race
would serve him.
He will rule forever,
and his kingdom is eternal,
never to be destroyed.
The Meaning of Daniel's Vision
15 Daniel wrote:
I was terrified by these visions, and I didn't know what to think. 16 So I asked one of those standing there, and he explained, 17 “The four beasts are four earthly kingdoms. 18 But God Most High will give his kingdom to his chosen ones, and it will be theirs forever and ever.”
19 I wanted to know more about the fourth beast, because it was so different and much more terrifying than the others. What was the meaning of its iron teeth and bronze claws and of its feet that smashed what the teeth and claws had not ground and crushed? 20 I also wanted to know more about all ten of those horns on its head. I especially wanted to know more about the one that took the place of three of the others—the horn that had eyes and spoke with arrogance and seemed greater than the others. 21 While I was looking, this horn attacked God's chosen ones and was winning the battle. 22 Then God Most High, the Eternal God, came and judged in favor of his chosen ones, because the time had arrived for them to be given the kingdom.
23 Then I was told
by the one standing there:
“The fourth beast
will be a fourth kingdom
to appear on earth.
It will be different
from all the others—
it will trample the earth
and crush it to pieces.
24 All ten of those horns are kings
who will come from this kingdom,
and one more will follow.
This horn will be different
from the others,
and it will conquer
three other kings.
25 “This king will speak evil
of God Most High,
and he will be cruel
to God's chosen ones.
He will try to change God's Law
and the sacred seasons.
And he will be able to do this
for a time, two times,
and half a time.
26 But he will finally be judged,
and his kingdom
completely destroyed.
27 “Then the greatest kingdom of all
will be given to the chosen ones
of God Most High.
His kingdom will be eternal,
and all others will serve
and obey him.”
28 That was what I saw and heard. I turned pale with fear and kept it all to myself.
Daniēla sapnis par četriem zvēriem
1 Bābeles ķēniņa Bēlšacara pirmajā valdīšanas gadā Daniēls redzēja sapni. Guļot gultā, viņš redzēja parādību. Pēc tam viņš pierakstīja visu, kas sapnī svarīgs. 2 Daniēls teica: “Nakts parādībā es redzēju – lūk, četri debesu vēji sabango lielu jūru, 3 un no jūras ārā nāk četri lieli zvēri, kas viens otram nav līdzīgi. 4 Pirmais bija kā lauva ar ērgļa spārniem. Es redzēju, ka tam izrāva spārnus un tas kā cilvēks piecēlās uz divām kājām, un tam tika dots cilvēka prāts. 5 Otrs zvērs bija kā lācis. Tas bija pa pusei paslējies, un mutē starp zobiem tam bija trīs ribas. Viņam teica: “Celies, ēd daudz gaļas!” 6 Pēc tam es redzēju vēl vienu, tas bija kā leopards, kam uz muguras četri putna spārni. Zvēram bija četras galvas, un viņam tika dota vara! 7 Pēc tam nakts parādībā es redzēju – lūk, ceturtais zvērs – baiss, šaušalīgs un varen stiprs! Tam bija milzīgi dzelzs ilkņi, tas dragāja, rija un mīdīja kājām pārējos. Tas bija citāds nekā pārējie zvēri, tam bija desmit ragi. 8 Es aplūkoju ragus – un redzi, starp tiem aug vēl viens mazs radziņš! Trīs no iepriekšējiem ragiem tika izrauti, bet šim radziņam bija tādas acis kā cilvēkam un mute kā lielībniekam.
Tiesa sirmgalvja priekšā
9 Es raugos –
troņus noliek,
sirmgalvis apsēžas,
tērpies balts kā sniegs,
mati tam kā tīra vilna!
Viņa tronis ir uguns liesma,
riteņi tam kā uguns kvēle!
10 Uguns straume plūst no tā,
tūkstošu tūkstoši viņam kalpo,
desmiti tūkstoši stāv viņa priekšā –
viņš sāk tiesāt, un grāmatas tiek atvērtas!
11 Es raugos – rags sāk lielīgi runāt. Es raugos – zvēru nokauj, tā miesu izdeldē un iemet degošā ugunī. 12 Arī pārējiem zvēriem atņēma varu, bet viņu dzīvi pagarināja uz noteiktu laiku.
13 Nakts parādība:
es raugos,
un redzi – debesu mākoņos
nāk itin kā cilvēka dēls!
Viņš pienāca pie sirmgalvja
un nostājās tā priekšā.
14 Viņam deva varu, valstību un godu!
Visi ļaudis, ciltis un tautas slavēja viņu!
Viņa vara ir mūžīga, tā nebeigsies,
viņa valstība nav iznīdējama!
Sapņa izskaidrojums
15 Es, Daniēls, visai uztraucos, un mans redzējums mani izbiedēja. 16 Es piegāju pie viena, kas tur stāvēja, un lūdzu, lai viņš man visu izskaidro. Un viņš man izskaidroja un pavēstīja: 17 “Četri lielie zvēri ir četras valstis, kas radīsies uz zemes, 18 bet Visuaugstā svētie saņems savu valsti, un tā būs viņu īpašumā no mūžības līdz mūžībai – uz visiem laikiem!”
19 Tad es gribēju uzzināt par ceturto zvēru, kas bija citāds nekā pārējie – varen baiss, dzelzs ilkņiem un vara nagiem, kas dragā, rij un samīda kājām pārējos, 20 un par desmit ragiem, kas tam uz galvas, un par vienu, kas izauga triju izlauzto ragu vietā, – par ragu, kam bija acis un mute, kas lielīgi runā. Tas izskatījās dižāks par pārējiem. 21 Es raugos – šis rags karo ar svētajiem un tos uzveic, 22 līdz sirmgalvis nāk un piešķir tiesu Visuaugstā svētajiem! Nu laiks ir klāt, tagad svētajiem pieder valsts!
23 Par ceturto zvēru viņš teica:
“Ceturtā valsts celsies virs zemes,
tā nebūs līdzīga citām –
tā aprīs visas zemes,
rīs, mīdīs un satrieks tās.
24 Desmit ragi nozīmē:
no šīs valsts celsies desmit valstis
un vēl viena pēc tam! –
tā būs citāda nekā pirmās,
un tā gāzīs tās trīs.
25 Tā runās pret Visuaugsto
un deldēs Visuaugstā svētos,
tā grasīsies mainīt gan laikus, gan likumus,
un tie viņai tiks nodoti uz laiku,
uz diviem laikiem un vēl uz puslaiku!
26 Bet tad būs tiesa!
Tai vara tiks atņemta,
tā tiks izpostīta,
pavisam iznīdēta!
27 Tad valstību un varu,
un visu to valstu diženumu,
kas apakš debesīm,
nodos Visuaugstā svētajai tautai!
Šī valsts pastāvēs mūžīgi!
Visas varas tai kalpos un klausīs!”
28 Tā beidzās šis notikums. Es, Daniēls, tik ļoti uztraucos, ka kļuvu gluži bāls, bet šo notikumu paturēju prātā.
