¶ In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision appeared unto me, even unto me Daniel², after that which appeared unto me at the first.

And I saw in³ a vision; and it came to pass, when I saw, that I was at Shushan⁴ in the palace, which is in the province⁵ of Elam; and I saw in a vision, and I was by the river of Ulai⁶.

Then I lifted⁷ up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood before the river a ram⁸ which had two horns: and the two horns were high; but one⁹ was higher than the other¹⁰, and the higher came up last.

I saw the ram pushing¹¹ westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beasts might stand before him, neither¹² was there any that could deliver out of his hand; but¹³ he did according to his will, and became great.

And as I was considering, behold, an he goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground¹⁵: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes.

And he came to the¹⁶ ram that had two horns, which I had seen standing before the river, and ran unto him in the fury of his power.

And I saw him come close unto the ram, and he was moved¹⁷ with choler against him, and smote the ram, and brake his two horns: and there was no¹⁸ power in the ram to stand before him, but¹⁹ he cast him down to the ground, and stamped upon him: and there was none²⁰ that could deliver the ram out of his hand.

Therefore the he goat waxed²¹ very great: and when²² he was strong, the great²³ horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward²⁴ the four winds of heaven.

And out of one of them came²⁵ forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant²⁶ land.

¶ And it waxed great, even to the host²⁷ of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped²⁸ upon them.

Yea, he magnified²⁹ himself even to³⁰ the prince of the host, and by him³¹ the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place³² of his sanctuary was cast down.

And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice³³ by reason of transgression, and it cast³⁴ down the truth to the ground; and it practised³⁵, and prospered.

Then I heard one saint³⁶ speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint³⁷ which spake, How³⁸ long shall be the vision³⁹ concerning the daily sacrifice, and the⁴⁰ transgression of desolation⁴¹, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?

And he said unto⁴² me, Unto two thousand⁴³ and three hundred days⁴⁴; then⁴⁵ shall the sanctuary be cleansed⁴⁶.

¶ And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel⁴⁷, had seen the vision, and sought⁴⁸ for the meaning, then, behold, there stood before me as⁴⁹ the appearance of a man.

And I heard⁵⁰ a man's voice between⁵¹ the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel⁵², make⁵³ this man to understand the vision.

So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was⁵⁴ afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand⁵⁵, O son⁵⁶ of man: for at⁵⁷ the time of the end shall be the vision.

Now as he was speaking with me, I was⁵⁸ in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground: but he touched⁵⁹ me, and set me upright⁶⁰.

And he said, Behold, I will⁶¹ make thee know what shall be in the last⁶² end of the indignation: for at the time appointed the end shall be.

¶⁶³The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia.

And the rough⁶⁴ goat is the king of Grecia: and the great⁶⁵ horn that is between his eyes is the first king.

Now that being broken⁶⁶, whereas⁶⁷ four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power.

And in the⁶⁸ latter time of their kingdom, when⁶⁹ the transgressors are come⁷⁰ to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding⁷¹ dark sentences, shall stand⁷² up.

And his power shall be mighty, but⁷³ not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper⁷⁴, and practise, and shall destroy⁷⁵ the mighty and the holy people⁷⁶.

And through⁷⁷ his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify⁷⁸ himself in his heart, and by peace⁷⁹ shall destroy many: he shall also stand⁸⁰ up against the Prince of princes; but⁸¹ he shall be broken without hand.

And the vision of⁸² the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore⁸³ shut thou up the vision; for⁸⁴ it shall be for many days.

And I Daniel fainted⁸⁵, and was sick certain days; afterward I rose up, and did⁸⁶ the king's business; and I was astonished at the vision, but⁸⁷ none understood it.