Daniel's Vision of the Ram and the Goat

81 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 horns were long , but one was longer than the other , with the longer one coming up last . 4 I saw the ram butting westward , northward , and southward , and no other beasts could stand before him nor was there anyone to rescue from his power , but he did as he pleased and magnified himself. 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 goat had a 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 magnified himself exceedingly e . But as soon as he was mighty , the large horn was broken ; and in its place there came up four conspicuous horns toward the four winds of heaven . 9 Out of one of them came forth a rather small horn which grew exceedingly great toward the south , toward the east , and toward the Beautiful Land. 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 magnified itself to 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 over to the horn along with the regular sacrifice ; and it will fling truth to the ground and perform its will and prosper . 13 Then I heard a holy one speaking , and another holy one said to that particular one who was speaking , " How long e will the vision about the 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 e e evenings and mornings ; then the holy place will be properly restored ."

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 between the banks of Ulai , and he called out and said , " Gabriel , give this man an 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 e . 19 He said , "Behold , I am going to let you know what will occur at the final period of the indignation , for it pertains to the appointed time of the end . 20 "The ram which you saw with the two horns represents the kings of Media and Persia . 21 "The shaggy goat represents the kingdom of Greece , and the large horn that is between his eyes is the first king . 22 "The broken horn and the four horns that arose in its place represent four kingdoms which will arise from his nation , although not with his power . 23 "In the latter period of their rule , When the transgressors have run their course, A king will arise , Insolent e and skilled in intrigue . 24 "His power will be mighty , but not by his own power , And he will destroy to an extraordinary degree And prosper and perform his 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 magnify himself in his heart , And he will destroy many while they are at 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 , For it pertains to many days in the future." 27 Then I, Daniel , was exhausted and sick for days . Then I got up again and carried on the king's business ; but I was astounded at the vision , and there was none to explain it.

Daniel's Prayer for His People

91 In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus , of Median descent , who was made king over the kingdom of the Chaldeans - 2 in the first year of his reign , I, Daniel , observed in the books the number of the years which was revealed as the word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet for the completion of the desolations of Jerusalem , namely, seventy years . 3 So I gave my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and supplications , with fasting , sackcloth and ashes .

4 I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed and said , "Alas , O Lord , the great and awesome God , who keeps His covenant and lovingkindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments , 5 we have sinned , committed iniquity , acted wickedly and rebelled , even turning aside from Your commandments and ordinances . 6 "Moreover, we have not listened to Your servants the prophets , who spoke in Your name to our kings , our princes , our fathers and all the people of the land . 7 " Righteousness belongs to You, O Lord , but to us open shame , as it is this day -to the men of Judah , the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel , those who are nearby and those who are far away in all the countries to which You have driven them, because of their unfaithful deeds which they have committed against You. 8 "Open shame belongs to us, O Lord , to our kings , our princes and our fathers , because we have sinned against You. 9 "To the Lord our God belong compassion and forgiveness , for we have rebelled against Him; 10 nor have we obeyed the voice of the Lord our God , to walk in His teachings which He set before us through His servants the prophets . 11 "Indeed all Israel has transgressed Your law and turned aside , not obeying Your voice ; so the curse has been poured out on us, along with the oath which is written in the law of Moses the servant of God , for we have sinned against Him. 12 "Thus He has confirmed His words which He had spoken against us and against our rulers who ruled us, to bring on us great calamity ; for under the whole heaven there has not been done anything like what was done to Jerusalem . 13 "As it is written in the law of Moses , all this calamity has come on us; yet we have not sought the favor e of the Lord our God by turning from our iniquity and giving attention to Your truth . 14 "Therefore the Lord has kept the calamity in store and brought it on us; for the Lord our God is righteous with respect to all His deeds which He has done , but we have not obeyed His voice . 15 "And now , O Lord our God , who have brought Your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand and have made a name for Yourself, as it is this day -we have sinned , we have been wicked . 16 "O Lord , in accordance with all Your righteous acts , let now Your anger and Your wrath turn away from Your city Jerusalem , Your holy mountain ; for because of our sins and the iniquities of our fathers , Jerusalem and Your people have become a reproach to all those around us. 17 "So now , our God , listen to the prayer of Your servant and to his supplications , and for Your sake , O Lord , let Your face shine on Your desolate sanctuary . 18 "O my God , incline Your ear and hear ! Open Your eyes and see our desolations and the city which is called by Your name ; for we are not presenting our supplications before You on account of any merits of our own, but on account of Your great compassion . 19 "O Lord , hear ! O Lord , forgive ! O Lord , listen and take action ! For Your own sake , O my God , do not delay , because Your city and Your people are called by Your name ."

The Prophecy concerning the Seventy Weeks

20 Now while I was speaking and praying , and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel , and presenting my supplication before the Lord my God in behalf of the holy mountain of my God , 21 while I was still speaking in prayer , then the man Gabriel , whom I had seen in the vision previously , came to me in my extreme weariness about the time of the evening offering . 22 He gave me instruction and talked with me and said , "O Daniel , I have now come forth to give you insight with understanding . 23 "At the beginning of your supplications the command was issued , and I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed ; so give heed to the message and gain understanding of the vision . 24 "Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city , to finish the transgression , to make an end of sin , to make atonement for iniquity , to bring in everlasting righteousness , to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy place. 25 "So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty-two e weeks ; it will be built again , with plaza and moat , even in times of distress . 26 "Then after the sixty-two e weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing , and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary . And its end will come with a flood ; even to the end there will be war ; desolations are determined . 27 "And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week , but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering ; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate , even until a complete destruction , one that is decreed , is poured out on the one who makes desolate ."

Daniel's Vision by the Great River

101 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a message was revealed to Daniel , who was named e Belteshazzar ; and the message was true and one of great conflict , but he understood the message and had an understanding of the vision . 2 In those days , I, Daniel , had been mourning for three entire weeks . 3 I did not eat any tasty food , nor did meat or wine enter my mouth , nor did I use any ointment at all until the entire three weeks were completed . 4 On the twenty-fourth e day of the first month , while I was by the bank of the great river , that is, the Tigris , 5 I lifted my eyes and looked , and behold , there was a certain man dressed in linen , whose waist was girded with a belt of pure gold of Uphaz . 6 His body also was like beryl , his face had the appearance of lightning , his eyes were like flaming torches , his arms and feet like the gleam of polished bronze , and the sound of his words like the sound of a tumult . 7 Now I, Daniel , alone saw the vision , while the men who were with me did not see the vision ; nevertheless , a great dread fell on them, and they ran away to hide themselves. 8 So I was left alone and saw this great vision ; yet no strength was left in me, for my natural color turned to a deathly pallor , and I retained no strength . 9 But I heard the sound of his words ; and as soon as I heard the sound of his words , I fell into a deep sleep on my face , with my face to the ground .

10 Then behold , a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands e and knees . 11 He said to me, "O Daniel , man of high esteem , understand the words that I am about to tell you and stand upright e , for I have now been sent to you." And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling . 12 Then he said to me, " Do not be afraid , Daniel , for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God , your words were heard , and I have come in response to your words . 13 "But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was withstanding me for twenty-one e days ; then behold , Michael , one of the chief princes , came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia . 14 "Now I have come to give you an understanding of what will happen to your people in the latter days , for the vision pertains to the days yet future." 15 When he had spoken to me according to these words , I turned my face toward the ground and became speechless . 16 And behold , one who resembled a human being e was touching my lips ; then I opened my mouth and spoke and said to him who was standing before me, "O my lord , as a result of the vision anguish has come upon me, and I have retained no strength . 17 "For how can such a servant of my lord talk with such as my lord ? As for me, there remains just now no strength in me, nor has any breath been left in me." 18 Then this one with human appearance touched me again and strengthened me. 19 He said , "O man of high esteem , do not be afraid . Peace be with you; take courage and be courageous !" Now as soon as he spoke to me, I received strength and said , "May my lord speak , for you have strengthened me." 20 Then he said , "Do you understand why I came to you? But I shall now return to fight against the prince of Persia ; so I am going forth , and behold , the prince of Greece is about to come . 21 "However , I will tell you what is inscribed in the writing of truth . Yet there is no one who stands firmly with me against these forces except e Michael your prince .

Salutation

11 The elder to the beloved Gaius , whom I love in truth . 2 Beloved , I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health , just as your soul prospers .

3 For I was very glad when brethren came and testified to your truth , that is, how you are walking in truth . 4 I have no greater joy than [1]this , to hear of my children walking in the truth .

Gaius' Hospitality Commended

5 Beloved , you are acting faithfully in whatever e you accomplish for the brethren , and [2]especially when they are strangers ; 6 and they have testified to your love before the church . You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God . 7 For they went out for the sake of the Name , accepting nothing from the Gentiles . 8 Therefore we ought to [3]support such men , so that we may [4]be fellow workers [5]with the truth .

The Opposition of Diotrephes

9 I wrote something to the church ; but Diotrephes , who loves to be first among them, does not accept [6]what we say . 10 For this reason , if I come , I will call attention to his deeds which he does , unjustly accusing us with wicked words ; and not satisfied with this , he himself does not receive the brethren , either , and he forbids those who desire to do so and puts them out of the church .

The Good Report concerning Demetrius

11 Beloved , do not imitate what is evil , but what is good . The one who does good is of God ; the one who does evil has not seen God .

12 Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone , and from the truth itself ; and we add our testimony , and you know that our testimony is true .

Final Greetings

13 I had many things to write to you, but I am not willing to write them to you with pen and ink ; 14 but I hope to see you shortly , and we will speak face to face . 15 Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends by name .