בִּשְׁנַ֣ת חֲדָ֗ה לְבֵלְאשַׁצַּר֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ בָּבֶ֔ל דָּנִיֵּאל֙ חֵ֣לֶם חֲזָ֔ה וְחֶזְוֵ֥י רֵאשֵׁ֖הּ עַֽל־מִשְׁכְּבֵ֑הּ בֵּאדַ֙יִן֙ חֶלְמָ֣א כְתַ֔ב רֵ֥אשׁ מִלִּ֖ין אֲמַֽר׃ In the first year of King Belshazzar of Babylon, Daniel saw a dream and a vision of his mind in bed; afterward he wrote down the dream. Beginning the account,
עָנֵ֤ה דָנִיֵּאל֙ וְאָמַ֔ר חָזֵ֥ה הֲוֵ֛ית בְּחֶזְוִ֖י עִם־לֵֽילְיָ֑א וַאֲר֗וּ אַרְבַּע֙ רוּחֵ֣י שְׁמַיָּ֔א מְגִיחָ֖ן לְיַמָּ֥א רַבָּֽא׃ Daniel related the following: “In my vision at night, I saw the four winds of heaven stirring up the great sea.
וְאַרְבַּ֤ע חֵיוָן֙ רַבְרְבָ֔ן סָלְקָ֖ן מִן־יַמָּ֑א שָׁנְיָ֖ן דָּ֥א מִן־דָּֽא׃ Four mighty beasts different from each other emerged from the sea.
קַדְמָיְתָ֣א כְאַרְיֵ֔ה וְגַפִּ֥ין דִּֽי־נְשַׁ֖ר לַ֑הּ חָזֵ֣ה הֲוֵ֡ית עַד֩ דִּי־מְּרִ֨יטוּ (גפיה) [גַפַּ֜הּ] וּנְטִ֣ילַת מִן־אַרְעָ֗א וְעַל־רַגְלַ֙יִן֙ כֶּאֱנָ֣שׁ הֳקִימַ֔ת וּלְבַ֥ב אֱנָ֖שׁ יְהִ֥יב לַֽהּ׃ The first was like a lion but had eagles’ wings. As I looked on, its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted off the ground and set on its feet like a man and given the mind of a man.
וַאֲר֣וּ חֵיוָה֩ אׇחֳרִ֨י תִנְיָנָ֜ה דָּמְיָ֣ה לְדֹ֗ב וְלִשְׂטַר־חַד֙ הֳקִמַ֔ת וּתְלָ֥ת עִלְעִ֛ין בְּפֻמַּ֖הּ בֵּ֣ין (שניה) [שִׁנַּ֑הּ] וְכֵן֙ אָמְרִ֣ין לַ֔הּ ק֥וּמִֽי אֲכֻ֖לִי בְּשַׂ֥ר שַׂגִּֽיא׃ Then I saw a second, different beast, which was like a bear but raised on one side, and with three fangs in its mouth among its teeth; it was told, ‘Arise, eat much meat!’
בָּאתַ֨ר דְּנָ֜ה חָזֵ֣ה הֲוֵ֗ית וַאֲר֤וּ אׇֽחֳרִי֙ כִּנְמַ֔ר וְלַ֨הּ גַּפִּ֥ין אַרְבַּ֛ע דִּי־ע֖וֹף עַל־[גַּבַּ֑הּ] (גביה) וְאַרְבְּעָ֤ה רֵאשִׁין֙ לְחֵ֣יוְתָ֔א וְשׇׁלְטָ֖ן יְהִ֥יב לַֽהּ׃ After that, as I looked on, there was another one, like a leopard, and it had on its back four wings like those of a bird; the beast had four heads, and dominion was given to it.
בָּאתַ֣ר דְּנָה֩ חָזֵ֨ה הֲוֵ֜ית בְּחֶזְוֵ֣י לֵֽילְיָ֗א וַאֲר֣וּ חֵיוָ֣ה (רביעיה) [רְֽבִיעָאָ֡ה] דְּחִילָה֩ וְאֵֽימְתָנִ֨י וְתַקִּיפָ֜א יַתִּ֗ירָה וְשִׁנַּ֨יִן דִּֽי־פַרְזֶ֥ל לַהּ֙ רַבְרְבָ֔ן אָֽכְלָ֣ה וּמַדֱּקָ֔ה וּשְׁאָרָ֖א (ברגליה) [בְּרַגְלַ֣הּ] רָפְסָ֑ה וְהִ֣יא מְשַׁנְּיָ֗ה מִן־כׇּל־חֵֽיוָתָא֙ דִּ֣י (קדמיה) [קׇֽדָמַ֔הּ] וְקַרְנַ֥יִן עֲשַׂ֖ר לַֽהּ׃ After that, as I looked on in the night vision, there was a fourth beast—fearsome, dreadful, and very powerful, with great iron teeth—that devoured and crushed, and stamped the remains with its feet. It was different from all the other beasts which had gone before it; and it had ten horns.
מִשְׂתַּכַּ֨ל הֲוֵ֜ית בְּקַרְנַיָּ֗א וַ֠אֲל֠וּ קֶ֣רֶן אׇחֳרִ֤י זְעֵירָה֙ סִלְקָ֣ת (ביניהון) [בֵּֽינֵיהֵ֔ן] וּתְלָ֗ת מִן־קַרְנַיָּא֙ קַדְמָ֣יָתָ֔א (אתעקרו) [אֶתְעֲקַ֖רָה] מִן־[קֳדָמַ֑הּ] (קדמיה) וַאֲל֨וּ עַיְנִ֜ין כְּעַיְנֵ֤י אֲנָשָׁא֙ בְּקַרְנָא־דָ֔א וּפֻ֖ם מְמַלִּ֥ל רַבְרְבָֽן׃ While I was gazing upon these horns, a new little horn sprouted up among them; three of the older horns were uprooted to make room for it. There were eyes in this horn like those of a man, and a mouth that spoke arrogantly.
חָזֵ֣ה הֲוֵ֗ית עַ֣ד דִּ֤י כׇרְסָוָן֙ רְמִ֔יו וְעַתִּ֥יק יוֹמִ֖ין יְתִ֑ב לְבוּשֵׁ֣הּ ׀ כִּתְלַ֣ג חִוָּ֗ר וּשְׂעַ֤ר רֵאשֵׁהּ֙ כַּעֲמַ֣ר נְקֵ֔א כׇּרְסְיֵהּ֙ שְׁבִיבִ֣ין דִּי־נ֔וּר גַּלְגִּלּ֖וֹהִי נ֥וּר דָּלִֽק׃ As I looked on, Thrones were set in place, And the Ancient of Days took His seat. His garment was like white snow, And the hair of His head was like lamb’s wool. His throne was tongues of flame; Its wheels were blazing fire.
נְהַ֣ר דִּי־נ֗וּר נָגֵ֤ד וְנָפֵק֙ מִן־קֳדָמ֔וֹהִי אֶ֤לֶף (אלפים) [אַלְפִין֙] יְשַׁמְּשׁוּנֵּ֔הּ וְרִבּ֥וֹ (רבון) [רִבְבָ֖ן] קָֽדָמ֣וֹהִי יְקוּמ֑וּן דִּינָ֥א יְתִ֖ב וְסִפְרִ֥ין פְּתִֽיחוּ׃ A river of fire streamed forth before Him; Thousands upon thousands served Him; Myriads upon myriads attended Him; The court sat and the books were opened.
חָזֵ֣ה הֲוֵ֔ית בֵּאדַ֗יִן מִן־קָל֙ מִלַּיָּ֣א רַבְרְבָתָ֔א דִּ֥י קַרְנָ֖א מְמַלֱּלָ֑ה חָזֵ֣ה הֲוֵ֡ית עַד֩ דִּ֨י קְטִילַ֤ת חֵֽיוְתָא֙ וְהוּבַ֣ד גִּשְׁמַ֔הּ וִיהִיבַ֖ת לִיקֵדַ֥ת אֶשָּֽׁא׃ I looked on. Then, because of the arrogant words that the horn spoke, the beast was killed as I looked on; its body was destroyed and it was consigned to the flames.
וּשְׁאָר֙ חֵֽיוָתָ֔א הֶעְדִּ֖יו שׇׁלְטָנְה֑וֹן וְאַרְכָ֧ה בְחַיִּ֛ין יְהִ֥יבַת לְה֖וֹן עַד־זְמַ֥ן וְעִדָּֽן׃ The dominion of the other beasts was taken away, but an extension of life was given to them for a time and season.
חָזֵ֤ה הֲוֵית֙ בְּחֶזְוֵ֣י לֵֽילְיָ֔א וַאֲרוּ֙ עִם־עֲנָנֵ֣י שְׁמַיָּ֔א כְּבַ֥ר אֱנָ֖שׁ אָתֵ֣ה הֲוָ֑א וְעַד־עַתִּ֤יק יֽוֹמַיָּא֙ מְטָ֔ה וּקְדָמ֖וֹהִי הַקְרְבֽוּהִי׃ As I looked on, in the night vision, One like a human being Came with the clouds of heaven; He reached the Ancient of Days And was presented to Him.
וְלֵ֨הּ יְהִ֤ב שׇׁלְטָן֙ וִיקָ֣ר וּמַלְכ֔וּ וְכֹ֣ל עַֽמְמַיָּ֗א אֻמַּיָּ֛א וְלִשָּׁנַיָּ֖א לֵ֣הּ יִפְלְח֑וּן שׇׁלְטָנֵ֞הּ שׇׁלְטָ֤ן עָלַם֙ דִּֽי־לָ֣א יֶעְדֵּ֔ה וּמַלְכוּתֵ֖הּ דִּי־לָ֥א תִתְחַבַּֽל׃ {פ}
Dominion, glory, and kingship were given to him; All peoples and nations of every language must serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not pass away, And his kingship, one that shall not be destroyed.
אֶתְכְּרִיַּ֥ת רוּחִ֛י אֲנָ֥ה דָנִיֵּ֖אל בְּג֣וֹא נִדְנֶ֑ה וְחֶזְוֵ֥י רֵאשִׁ֖י יְבַהֲלֻנַּֽנִי׃ As for me, Daniel, my spirit was disturbed within me and the vision of my mind alarmed me.
קִרְבֵ֗ת עַל־חַד֙ מִן־קָ֣אֲמַיָּ֔א וְיַצִּיבָ֥א אֶבְעֵֽא־מִנֵּ֖הּ עַֽל־כׇּל־דְּנָ֑ה וַאֲמַר־לִ֕י וּפְשַׁ֥ר מִלַּיָּ֖א יְהוֹדְעִנַּֽנִי׃ I approached one of the attendants and asked him the true meaning of all this. He gave me this interpretation of the matter:
אִלֵּין֙ חֵיוָתָ֣א רַבְרְבָתָ֔א דִּ֥י אִנִּ֖ין אַרְבַּ֑ע אַרְבְּעָ֥ה מַלְכִ֖ין יְקוּמ֥וּן מִן־אַרְעָֽא׃ ‘These great beasts, four in number [mean] four kingdoms will arise out of the earth;
וִֽיקַבְּלוּן֙ מַלְכוּתָ֔א קַדִּישֵׁ֖י עֶלְיוֹנִ֑ין וְיַחְסְנ֤וּן מַלְכוּתָא֙ עַֽד־עָ֣לְמָ֔א וְעַ֖ד עָלַ֥ם עָלְמַיָּֽא׃ then holy ones of the Most High will receive the kingdom, and will possess the kingdom forever—forever and ever.’
אֱדַ֗יִן צְבִית֙ לְיַצָּבָ֗א עַל־חֵֽיוְתָא֙ רְבִיעָ֣יְתָ֔א דִּֽי־הֲוָ֥ת שָֽׁנְיָ֖ה מִן־[כׇּלְּהֵ֑ין] (כלהון) דְּחִילָ֣ה יַתִּ֗ירָה (שניה) [שִׁנַּ֤הּ] דִּֽי־פַרְזֶל֙ (וטפריה) [וְטִפְרַ֣הּ] דִּֽי־נְחָ֔שׁ אָֽכְלָ֣ה מַדְּקָ֔ה וּשְׁאָרָ֖א (ברגליה) [בְּרַגְלַ֥הּ] רָֽפְסָֽה׃ Then I wanted to ascertain the true meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from them all, very fearsome, with teeth of iron, claws of bronze, that devoured and crushed, and stamped the remains;
וְעַל־קַרְנַיָּ֤א עֲשַׂר֙ דִּ֣י בְרֵאשַׁ֔הּ וְאׇחֳרִי֙ דִּ֣י סִלְקַ֔ת (ונפלו) [וּנְפַ֥לָה] מִן־[קֳדָמַ֖הּ] (קדמיה) תְּלָ֑ת וְקַרְנָ֨א דִכֵּ֜ן וְעַיְנִ֣ין לַ֗הּ וּפֻם֙ מְמַלִּ֣ל רַבְרְבָ֔ן וְחֶזְוַ֖הּ רַ֥ב מִן־חַבְרָתַֽהּ׃ and of the ten horns on its head; and of the new one that sprouted, to make room for which three fell—the horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spoke arrogantly, and which was more conspicuous than its fellows.
חָזֵ֣ה הֲוֵ֔ית וְקַרְנָ֣א דִכֵּ֔ן עָבְדָ֥ה קְרָ֖ב עִם־קַדִּישִׁ֑ין וְיָכְלָ֖ה לְהֹֽן׃ (I looked on as that horn made war with the holy ones and overcame them,
עַ֣ד דִּֽי־אֲתָ֗ה עַתִּיק֙ יֽוֹמַיָּ֔א וְדִינָ֣א יְהִ֔ב לְקַדִּישֵׁ֖י עֶלְיוֹנִ֑ין וְזִמְנָ֣א מְטָ֔ה וּמַלְכוּתָ֖א הֶחֱסִ֥נוּ קַדִּישִֽׁין׃ until the Ancient of Days came and judgment was rendered in favor of the holy ones of the Most High, for the time had come, and the holy ones took possession of the kingdom.)
כֵּן֮ אֲמַר֒ חֵֽיוְתָא֙ רְבִיעָ֣יְתָ֔א מַלְכ֤וּ (רביעיה) [רְבִיעָאָה֙] תֶּהֱוֵ֣א בְאַרְעָ֔א דִּ֥י תִשְׁנֵ֖א מִן־כׇּל־מַלְכְוָתָ֑א וְתֵאכֻל֙ כׇּל־אַרְעָ֔א וּתְדוּשִׁנַּ֖הּ וְתַדְּקִנַּֽהּ׃ This is what he said: ‘The fourth beast [means]—there will be a fourth kingdom upon the earth which will be different from all the kingdoms; it will devour the whole earth, tread it down, and crush it.
וְקַרְנַיָּ֣א עֲשַׂ֔ר מִנַּהּ֙ מַלְכוּתָ֔א עַשְׂרָ֥ה מַלְכִ֖ין יְקֻמ֑וּן וְאׇחֳרָ֞ן יְק֣וּם אַחֲרֵיהֹ֗ן וְה֤וּא יִשְׁנֵא֙ מִן־קַדְמָיֵ֔א וּתְלָתָ֥ה מַלְכִ֖ין יְהַשְׁפִּֽל׃ And the ten horns [mean]—from that kingdom, ten kings will arise, and after them another will arise. He will be different from the former ones, and will bring low three kings.
וּמִלִּ֗ין לְצַ֤ד (עליא) [עִלָּאָה֙] יְמַלִּ֔ל וּלְקַדִּישֵׁ֥י עֶלְיוֹנִ֖ין יְבַלֵּ֑א וְיִסְבַּ֗ר לְהַשְׁנָיָה֙ זִמְנִ֣ין וְדָ֔ת וְיִתְיַהֲב֣וּן בִּידֵ֔הּ עַד־עִדָּ֥ן וְעִדָּנִ֖ין וּפְלַ֥ג עִדָּֽן׃ He will speak words against the Most High, and will harass the holy ones of the Most High. He will think of changing times and laws, and they will be delivered into his power for a time, times, and half a time.
וְדִינָ֖א יִתִּ֑ב וְשׇׁלְטָנֵ֣הּ יְהַעְדּ֔וֹן לְהַשְׁמָדָ֥ה וּלְהוֹבָדָ֖ה עַד־סוֹפָֽא׃ Then the court will sit and his dominion will be taken away, to be destroyed and abolished for all time.
וּמַלְכוּתָ֨א וְשׇׁלְטָנָ֜א וּרְבוּתָ֗א דִּ֚י מַלְכְוָת֙ תְּח֣וֹת כׇּל־שְׁמַיָּ֔א יְהִיבַ֕ת לְעַ֖ם קַדִּישֵׁ֣י עֶלְיוֹנִ֑ין מַלְכוּתֵהּ֙ מַלְכ֣וּת עָלַ֔ם וְכֹל֙ שׇׁלְטָ֣נַיָּ֔א לֵ֥הּ יִפְלְח֖וּן וְיִֽשְׁתַּמְּעֽוּן׃ The kingship and dominion and grandeur belonging to all the kingdoms under Heaven will be given to the people of the holy ones of the Most High. Their kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey them.’”
עַד־כָּ֖ה סוֹפָ֣א דִֽי־מִלְּתָ֑א אֲנָ֨ה דָֽנִיֵּ֜אל שַׂגִּ֣יא ׀ רַעְיוֹנַ֣י יְבַהֲלֻנַּ֗נִי וְזִיוַי֙ יִשְׁתַּנּ֣וֹן עֲלַ֔י וּמִלְּתָ֖א בְּלִבִּ֥י נִטְרֵֽת׃ {פ}
Here the account ends. I, Daniel, was very alarmed by my thoughts, and my face darkened; and I could not put the matter out of my mind.