בִּשְׁנַת חֲדָה לְבֵלְאשַׁצַּר מֶלֶךְ בָּבֶל דָּנִיֵּאל חֵלֶם חֲזָה וְחֶזְוֵי רֵאשֵׁהּ עַל־מִשְׁכְּבֵהּ בֵּאדַיִן חֶלְמָא כְתַב רֵאשׁ מִלִּין אֲמַר

In the first year of Belshatzar king of Babylon, Daniel saw a dream and visions in his head which arose while he was dreaming on his bed; then he wrote down the dream for posterity, and stated the principal things, the beginning of the dream; alternatively, the headings.

עָנֵה דָנִיֵּאל וְאָמַר חָזֵה הֲוֵית בְּחֶזְוִי עִם־לֵילְיָא וַאֲרוּ אַרְבַּע רוּחֵי שְׁמַיָּא מְגִיחָן לְיַמָּא רַבָּא

Daniel spoke, saying: I was seeing in my vision at night, and behold, the four winds of the heavens were bursting forth to the great sea.

וְאַרְבַּע חֵיוָן רַבְרְבָן סָלְקָן מִן־יַמָּא שָׁנְיָן דָּא מִן־דָּא

Four great beasts arose from the sea, each different from the other.

קַדְמָיְתָא כְאַרְיֵה וְגַפִּין דִּי־נְשַׁר לַהּ חָזֵה הֲוֵית עַד דִּי־מְרִיטוּ גַפַּהּ וּנְטִילַת מִן־אַרְעָא וְעַל־רַגְלַיִן כֶּאֱנָשׁ הֳקִימַת וּלְבַב אֱנָשׁ יְהִיב לַהּ

The first was like a lion, and it had wings of an eagle. I was looking at it until its wings were torn off, and it was lifted from the ground and set on its feet like a man, and a man’s heart was given to it. The beast was given a somewhat human form.

וַאֲרוּ חֵיוָה אָחֳרִי תִנְיָנָה דָּמְיָה לְדֹב וְלִשְׂטַר־חַד הֳקִמַת וּתְלָת עִלְעִין בְּפֻמַּהּ בֵּין שִׁנַּהּ וְכֵן אָמְרִין לַהּ קוּמִי אֲכֻלִי בְּשַׂר שַׂגִּיא

Behold, another figure appeared; a second beast, resembling a bear, and it was positioned on one side, and there were three ribs in its mouth between its teeth; so they said to it: Arise, devour much flesh.

בָּאתַר דְּנָה חָזֵה הֲוֵית וַאֲרוּ אָחֳרִי כִּנְמַר וְלַהּ גַּפִּין אַרְבַּע דִּי־עוֹף עַל־גַּבַּהּ וְאַרְבְּעָה רֵאשִׁין לְחֵיוְתָא וְשָׁלְטָן יְהִיב לַהּ

After this I saw, and behold, there was another animal, like a leopard, which had upon it four wings of a bird; the beast had four heads, and dominion was given to it.

בָּאתַר דְּנָה חָזֵה הֲוֵית בְּחֶזְוֵי לֵילְיָא וַאֲרוּ חֵיוָה רְבִיעָאָה דְּחִילָה וְאֵימְתָנִי וְתַקִּיפָא יַתִּירָה וְשִׁנַּיִן דִּי־פַרְזֶל לַהּ רַבְרְבָן אָכְלָה וּמַדְּקָה וּשְׁאָרָא בְּרַגְלַהּ רָפְסָה וְהִיא מְשַׁנְּיָה מִן־כָּל־חֵיוָתָא דִּי קָדָמַהּ וְקַרְנַיִן עֲשַׂר לַהּ

After this array of creatures that I was seeing in the night visions, I looked and behold, a fourth beast appeared, fearsome, and terrifying, and very strong, and it had great iron teeth. It devoured and crushed with those teeth, and stomped and sullied the remains with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns.

מִשְׂתַּכַּל הֲוֵית בְּקַרְנַיָּא וַאֲלוּ קֶרֶן אָחֳרִי זְעֵירָה סִלְקָת בֵּינֵיהֵן וּתְלָת מִן־קַרְנַיָּא קַדְמָיָתָא אֶתְעֲקַרָה מִן־קֳדָמַהּ וַאֲלוּ עַיְנִין כְּעַיְנֵי אֲנָשָׁא בְּקַרְנָא־דָא וּפֻם מְמַלִּל רַבְרְבָן

I was looking at the horns, and behold, another, small horn arose among them, and three of the original horns were uprooted from before it. Behold, there were eyes like the eyes of a man in this small horn, and a mouth speaking arrogantly, making prideful statements.

חָזֵה הֲוֵית עַד דִּי כָרְסָוָן רְמִיו וְעַתִּיק יוֹמִין יְתִב לְבוּשֵׁהּ כִּתְלַג חִוָּר וּשְׂעַר רֵאשֵׁהּ כַּעֲמַר נְקֵא כָּרְסְיֵהּ שְׁבִיבִין דִּי־נוּר גַּלְגִּלּוֹהִי נוּר דָּלִק

I was seeing these visions until thrones were set in place, and the Ancient One, apparently a reference to God, sat. His garment was like white snow, and the hair of His head was also white, like pure wool. His throne was fashioned from sparks of fire, and its wheels, of the throne, were blazing fire.

נְהַר דִּי־נוּר נָגֵד וְנָפֵק מִן־קֳדָמוֹהִי אֶלֶף אַלְפִין יְשַׁמְּשׁוּנֵּהּ וְרִבּוֹ רִבְבָן קָדָמוֹהִי יְקוּמוּן דִּינָא יְתִב וְסִפְרִין פְּתִיחוּ

A river of fire flowed and emerged from before Him; thousands upon thousands of angels served Him, and tens of thousands upon tens of thousands of angels stood before Him; the court convened, and the books were opened.

חָזֵה הֲוֵית בֵּאדַיִן מִן־קָל מִלַּיָּא רַבְרְבָתָא דִּי קַרְנָא מְמַלֱּלָא חָזֵה הֲוֵית עַד דִּי קְטִילַת חֵיוְתָא וְהוּבַד גִּשְׁמַהּ וִיהִיבַת לִיקֵדַת אֶשָּׁא

I was seeing then, from the sound of the arrogant words that the small horn spoke; I was seeing this vision until the beast was slain, its body destroyed, and it was relegated to the burning of fire. As a result of the many boastful statements of the horn, the judgment was issued that the entire animal must be destroyed.

וּשְׁאָר חֵיוָתָא הֶעְדִּיו שָׁלְטָנְהוֹן וְאַרְכָה בְחַיִּין יְהִיבַת לְהוֹן עַד־זְמַן וְעִדָּן

As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was removed, and an extension of their lives was given them for a time and for a certain epoch, but not forever.

חָזֵה הֲוֵית בְּחֶזְוֵי לֵילְיָא וַאֲרוּ עִם־עֲנָנֵי שְׁמַיָּא כְּבַר אֱנָשׁ אָתֵה הֲוָא וְעַד־עַתִּיק יוֹמַיָּא מְטָה וּקְדָמוֹהִי הַקְרְבוּהִי

I was seeing in night visions, and behold, among the clouds of the heavens one cloud like the form of a person was coming, and he reached the Ancient One, and this “person” was presented before Him.

וְלֵהּ יְהִב שָׁלְטָן וִיקָר וּמַלְכוּ וְכֹל עַמְמַיָּא אֻמַּיָּא וְלִשָּׁנַיָּא לֵהּ יִפְלְחוּן שָׁלְטָנֵהּ שָׁלְטָן עָלַם דִּי־לָא יֶעְדֵּה וּמַלְכוּתֵהּ דִּי־לָא תִתְחַבַּל

To him was given dominion, honor, and kingship, and all the peoples, nations, and languages, groups that speak the same language or dialect, would serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not be abrogated, and his kingdom, one that will not be destroyed. This concludes the vision that Daniel saw, but he did not understand its meaning.

אֶתְכְּרִיַּת רוּחִי אֲנָה דָנִיֵּאל בְּגוֹא נִדְנֶה וְחֶזְוֵי רֵאשִׁי יְבַהֲלֻנַּנִי

I, Daniel, my spirit was distressed, or removed from, or was excited, or became impatient, in my body, and the visions of my head terrified me.

קִרְבֵת עַל־חַד מִן־קָאֲמַיָּא וְיַצִּיבָא אֶבְעֵא־מִנֵּהּ עַל־כָּל־דְּנָה וַאֲמַר־לִי וּפְשַׁר מִלַּיָּא יְהוֹדְעִנַּנִי

I approached one of those standing, one of the angels, and I asked him for the truth concerning all this, the vision of the beasts and these figures. He said to me and made known to me the interpretation of the matters:

אִלֵּין חֵיוָתָא רַבְרְבָתָא דִּי אִנִּין אַרְבַּע אַרְבְּעָה מַלְכִין יְקוּמוּן מִן־אַרְעָא

These great beasts, which are four, are alluding to four kings; kingdoms, dynasties, or levels of governments. They will arise from the earth, appear in the world.

וִיקַבְּלוּן מַלְכוּתָא קַדִּישֵׁי עֶלְיוֹנִין וְיַחְסְנוּן מַלְכוּתָא עַד־עָלְמָא וְעַד עָלַם עָלְמַיָּא

The holy ones of the Most High, angels, or the righteous, will receive the kingdom, dominion over the world, and take possession of the kingdom forever, forever and ever. The kingdom of God will last forever.

אֱדַיִן צְבִית לְיַצָּבָא עַל־חֵיוְתָא רְבִיעָיְתָא דִּי־הֲוָת שָׁנְיָה מִן־כָּלְּהֵן דְּחִילָה יַתִּירָה שִׁנַּהּ דִּי־פַרְזֶל וְטִפְרַהּ דִּי־נְחָשׁ אָכְלָה מַדְּקָה וּשְׁאָרָא בְּרַגְלַהּ רָפְסָה

Then I wished for the truth concerning the fourth beast, wanting to know the significance of this creature, which was different from them all, exceedingly fearsome; its teeth were of iron and its nails were of bronze; it devoured and crushed its prey, and as for the remains, it stomped on them with its feet,

וְעַל קַרְנַיָּא עֲשַׂר דִּי בְרֵאשַׁהּ וְאָחֳרִי דִּי סִלְקַת וּנְפַלָה מִן־קֳדָמַהּ תְּלָת וְקַרְנָא דִכֵּן וְעַיְנִין לַהּ וּפֻם מְמַלִּל רַבְרְבָן וְחֶזְוַהּ רַב מִן־חַבְרָתַהּ

and concerning the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn that arose, and before which three horns fell; that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spoke arrogantly, and its, the beast’s, appearance was greater than that of its counterparts.

חָזֵה הֲוֵית וְקַרְנָא דִכֵּן עָבְדָא קְרָב עִם־קַדִּישִׁין וְיָכְלָה לְהֹן

Daniel further describes what he saw after the appearance of the terrible beast, in an attempt to discover its meaning: I was seeing, and that horn made war with the holy ones, the angels or the righteous, and overcame them. Everything about this horn was negative;

עַד דִּי־אֲתָה עַתִּיק יוֹמַיָּא וְדִינָא יְהִב לְקַדִּישֵׁי עֶלְיוֹנִין וְזִמְנָא מְטָה וּמַלְכוּתָא הֶחֱסִנוּ קַדִּישִׁין

until the Ancient One came, and passed judgment in favor of the holy ones of the Most High; He brought their judgment to light and fought on their behalf, and the time arrived, and the holy ones of the Most High took possession of the kingdom represented by that horn, which was at the extremity of the fourth beast.

כֵּן אֲמַר חֵיוְתָא רְבִיעָיְתָא מַלְכוּ רְבִיעָאָה תֶּהֱוֵא בְאַרְעָא דִּי תִשְׁנֵא מִן־כָּל־מַלְכְוָתָא וְתֵאכֻל כָּל־אַרְעָא וּתְדוּשִׁנַּהּ וְתַדְּקִנַּהּ

So he, the angel, said: The fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom upon the earth that will be different from all the other kingdoms, and will devour, destroy or plunder, the entire earth, and will stomp it and crush it.

וְקַרְנַיָּא עֲשַׂר מִנַּהּ מַלְכוּתָא עַשְׂרָה מַלְכִין יְקֻמוּן וְאָחֳרָן יְקוּם אַחֲרֵיהֹן וְהוּא יִשְׁנֵא מִן־קַדְמָיֵא וּתְלָתָה מַלְכִין יְהַשְׁפִּל

And as for the ten horns, the meaning is that from this kingdom, ten kings will arise, and another will arise after them, and he will be different from the earlier ones, and he will subdue three kings.

וּמִלִּין לְצַד עִלָּאָה יְמַלִּל וּלְקַדִּישֵׁי עֶלְיוֹנִין יְבַלֵּא וְיִסְבַּר לְהַשְׁנָיָה זִמְנִין וְדָת וְיִתְיַהֲבוּן בִּידֵהּ עַד־עִדָּן וְעִדָּנִין וּפְלַג עִדָּן

He will speak words against the Most High God, and will demolish the holy of the Most High; he will think of changing the holy and commemorative times; he will change or eliminate their observance, and will do away with the law, and they, the holy ones, will be delivered into his hand until an epoch, and epochs, and half an epoch will have passed (see 12:7).

וְדִינָא יִתִּב וְשָׁלְטָנֵהּ יְהַעְדּוֹן לְהַשְׁמָדָה וּלְהוֹבָדָה עַד־סוֹפָא

Then the court will convene, and his dominion, of this king, will be removed, for him to be destroyed and eliminated completely.

וּמַלְכוּתָא וְשָׁלְטָנָא וּרְבוּתָא דִּי מַלְכְוָת תְּחוֹת כָּל־שְׁמַיָּא יְהִיבַת לְעַם קַדִּישֵׁי עֶלְיוֹנִין מַלְכוּתֵהּ מַלְכוּת עָלַם וְכֹל שָׁלְטָנַיָּא לֵהּ יִפְלְחוּן וְיִשְׁתַּמְּעוּן

The kingdom, the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the entire heavens will be given to the people of the holy of the Most High, the nation of Israel. Their kingdom is to be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions will serve and obey them.

עַד־כָּה סוֹפָא דִי־מִלְּתָא אֲנָה דָנִיֵּאל שַׂגִּיא רַעְיוֹנַי יְבַהֲלֻנַּנִי וְזִיוַי יִשְׁתַּנּוֹן עֲלַי וּמִלְּתָא בְּלִבִּי נִטְרֵת

Here is the end of the matter. I, Daniel, my thoughts greatly terrified me, and my demeanor was changed in me and I kept the matter in my heart. In his dream, Daniel saw predators rising from the sea and the image of a man coming from the heights. God also appeared in the vision, with an entourage of His ministers. One of the angels explained to Daniel that the vision symbolizes future events in the world, as different kingdoms will follow one another, until the eventual redemption.