< Daniel 7 >

1 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylonia, Daniel had a dream and visions in his mind while lying on his bed. Then he wrote down what he had seen in the dream. He wrote down the most important events:
Anno primo Baltassar regis Babylonis, Daniel somnium vidit: visio autem capitis eius in cubili suo: et somnium scribens, brevi sermone comprehendit: summatimque perstringens, ait:
2 Daniel explained, “In my vision at night I saw that the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea.
Videbam in visione mea nocte, et ecce quattuor venti cæli pugnabant in mari magno.
3 Four large animals, each one different from the other, came up out of the sea.
Et quattuor bestiæ grandes ascendebant de mari diversæ inter se.
4 The first was like a lion but had eagle's wings. As I was looking, its wings were torn off and it was lifted from the ground and made to stand on two feet, like a man. The mind of a man was given to it.
Prima quasi leæna, et alas habebat aquilæ: aspiciebam donec evulsæ sunt alæ eius, et sublata est de terra, et super pedes quasi homo stetit, et cor hominis datum est ei.
5 Then there was a second animal, like a bear, and it was bending over; it had three ribs between its teeth in its mouth. It was told, 'Get up and devour many people.'
Et ecce bestia alia similis urso in parte stetit: et tres ordines erant in ore eius, et in dentibus eius, et sic dicebant ei: Surge, comede carnes plurimas.
6 After this I looked again. There was another animal, one that looked like a leopard. On its back it had four wings like bird wings, and it had four heads. It was given authority to rule.
Post hæc aspiciebam, et ecce alia quasi pardus, et alas habebat quasi avis, quattuor super se, et quattuor capita erant in bestia, et potestas data est ei.
7 After this I saw in the visions of the night a fourth animal, terrifying, frightening, and very strong. It had large iron teeth; it devoured, broke in pieces, and trampled underfoot what was left. It was different from the other animals, and it had ten horns.
Post hæc aspiciebam in visione noctis, et ecce bestia quarta terribilis, atque mirabilis, et fortis nimis, dentes ferreos habebat magnos, comedens atque comminuens, et reliqua pedibus suis conculcans: dissimilis autem erat ceteris bestiis, quas videram ante eam, et habebat cornua decem.
8 While I was considering the horns, I looked and saw another horn grow up among them, a little horn. Three of the first horns were wrenched out by the roots. I saw in this horn eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth that was boasting about great things.
Considerabam cornua, et ecce cornu aliud parvulum ortum est de medio eorum: et tria de cornibus primis evulsa sunt a facie eius: et ecce oculi, quasi oculi hominis erant in cornu isto, et os loquens ingentia.
9 As I looked, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow, and the hair of his head was like pure wool. His throne was flames of fire, and its wheels were burning fire.
Aspiciebam donec throni positi sunt, et antiquus dierum sedit: vestimentum eius candidum quasi nix, et capilli capitis eius quasi lana munda: thronus eius flammæ ignis: rotæ eius ignis accensus.
10 A river of fire flowed out from before him; millions served him, and one hundred million were standing before him. The court was in session, and the books were opened.
Fluvius igneus, rapidusque egrediebatur a facie eius. millia millium ministrabant ei, et decies millies centena millia assistebant ei: iudicium sedit, et libri aperti sunt.
11 I continued to look because of the boastful words spoken by the horn. I watched while the animal was killed, and its body was destroyed, and it was given over to be burned up.
Aspiciebam propter vocem sermonum grandium, quos cornu illud loquebatur: et vidi quoniam interfecta esset bestia, et perisset corpus eius, et traditum esset ad comburendum igni:
12 As for the rest of the four animals, their authority to rule was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a period of time.
aliarum quoque bestiarum ablata esset potestas, et tempora vitæ constituta essent eis usque ad tempus, et tempus.
13 In my visions that night, I saw one coming with the clouds of heaven like a son of man; he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him.
Aspiciebam ergo in visione noctis, et ecce cum nubibus cæli quasi filius hominis veniebat, et usque ad antiquum dierum pervenit: et in conspectu eius obtulerunt eum.
14 Authority to rule and glory and royal power were given to him so that all the peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. His authority to rule is an everlasting authority that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.
Et dedit ei potestatem, et honorem, et regnum: et omnes populi, tribus, et linguæ ipsi servient: potestas eius, potestas æterna, quæ non auferetur: et regnum eius, quod non corrumpetur.
15 As for me, Daniel, my spirit was grieved inside of me, and the visions I saw in my mind troubled me.
Horruit spiritus meus, ego Daniel territus sum in his, et visiones capitis mei conturbaverunt me.
16 I approached one of them standing there and asked him to show me the meaning of these things.
Accessi ad unum de assistentibus, et veritatem quærebam ab eo de omnibus his. Qui dixit mihi interpretationem sermonum, et docuit me:
17 'These large animals, four in number, are four kings that will arise from the earth.
Hæ quattuor bestiæ magnæ: quattuor sunt regna, quæ consurgent de terra.
18 But the holy people of the Most High will receive the kingdom, and they will possess it forever and ever.'
Suscipient autem regnum sancti Dei altissimi: et obtinebunt regnum usque in sæculum, et sæculum sæculorum.
19 Then I wanted to know more about the fourth animal—it was so different from the others and very horrifying with its iron teeth and bronze claws; it devoured, broke into pieces, and trampled on what was left with its feet.
Post hoc volui diligenter discere de bestia quarta, quæ erat dissimilis valde ab omnibus, et terribilis nimis: dentes et ungues eius ferrei: comedebat, et comminuebat, et reliqua pedibus suis conculcabat:
20 I wanted to know about the ten horns on its head, and about the other horn that grew up, and before which the three horns fell down. I wanted to know about the horn that had eyes and about the mouth that boasted about great things and that seemed greater than its companions.
et de cornibus decem, quæ habebat in capite: et de alio, quod ortum fuerat, ante quod ceciderant tria cornua: et de cornu illo, quod habebat oculos, et os loquens grandia, et maius erat ceteris.
21 As I looked, this horn waged war against the holy people and was defeating them
Aspiciebam, et ecce cornu illud faciebat bellum adversus sanctos, et prævalebat eis,
22 until the Ancient of Days came, and justice was given to the holy people of the Most High. Then the time came when the holy people received the kingdom.
donec venit antiquus dierum, et iudicium dedit sanctis Excelsi, et tempus advenit, et regnum obtinuerunt sancti.
23 This is what that person said, 'As for the fourth animal, it will be a fourth kingdom on earth that will be different from all the other kingdoms. It will devour the whole earth, and it will trample it down and break it into pieces.
Et sic ait: Bestia quarta, regnum quartum erit in terra, quod maius erit omnibus regnis, et devorabit universam terram, et conculcabit, et comminuet eam.
24 As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings will arise, and another will arise after them. He will be different from the previous ones, and he will conquer the three kings.
Porro cornua decem ipsius regni, decem reges erunt: et alius consurget post eos, et ipse potentior erit prioribus, et tres reges humiliabit.
25 He will speak words against the Most High and will oppress the holy people of the Most High God. He will try to change the festivals and the law. These things will be given into his hand for one year, two years, and half a year.
Et sermones contra Excelsum loquetur, et sanctos Altissimi conteret: et putabit quod possit mutare tempora, et leges, et tradentur in manu eius usque ad tempus, et tempora, et dimidium temporis.
26 But the court will be in session, and they will take his royal power away to be consumed and destroyed at the end.
Et iudicium sedebit ut auferatur potentia, et conteratur, et dispereat usque in finem.
27 The kingdom and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, will be given to the people who belong to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all other kingdoms will serve and obey him.'
Regnum autem, et potestas, et magnitudo regni, quæ est subter omne cælum, detur populo sanctorum Altissimi: cuius regnum, regnum sempiternum est, et omnes reges servient ei, et obedient.
28 Here is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly alarmed me and my face changed in appearance. But I kept these things to myself.”
Hucusque finis verbi. Ego Daniel multum cogitationibus meis conturbabar, et facies mea mutata est in me: verbum autem in corde meo conservavi.

< Daniel 7 >