8:1 In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision appeared to me, [even to] me Daniel, after that which appeared to me at the first.
8:2 And I saw in a vision; and it came to pass, when I saw, that I [was] at Shushan [in] the palace, which [is] in the province of Elam; and I saw in a vision, and I was by the river Ulai.
8:3 Then I lifted up my eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood before the river a ram which had [two] horns: and the [two] horns [were] high; but one [was] higher than the other, and the higher came up last.
8:4 I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beasts might stand before him, neither [was there any] that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and became great.
8:5 And as I was considering, behold, a male goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat [had] a notable horn between his eyes.
8:6 And he came to the ram that had [two] horns, which I had seen standing before the river, and ran to him in the fury of his power.
8:7 And I saw him come close to the ram, and he was moved with anger against him, and smote the ram, and broke his two horns: and there was no power in the ram to stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground, and stamped upon him: and there was none that could deliver the ram out of his hand.
8:8 Therefore the male goat became very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and in its stead came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven.
8:9 And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which became exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant [land].
8:10 And it grew great, [even] to the host of heaven; and it cast down [some] of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them.
8:11 Yea, he magnified [himself] even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily [sacrifice] was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.
8:12 And an host was given [him] against the daily [sacrifice] by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it continued, and prospered.
8:13 Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said to that certain [saint] who spoke, How long [shall be] the vision [concerning] the daily [sacrifice], and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?
8:14 And he said to me, Until two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.
8:15 And it came to pass, when I, [even] I Daniel, had seen the vision, and sought for the meaning, then, behold, there stood before me [one having] the appearance of a man.
8:16 And I heard a mans voice between [the banks of] Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this [man] to understand the vision.
8:17 So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said to me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end [shall be] the vision.
8:18 Now as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground: but he touched me, and set me upright.
8:19 And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation: for at the time appointed the end [shall be].
8:20 The ram which thou sawest having [two] horns [are] the kings of Media and Persia.
8:21 And the rough goat [is] the king of Greece: and the great horn that [is] between his eyes [is] the first king.
8:22 Now that being broken, though four stood up in its place, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power.
8:23 And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.
8:24 And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and continue, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.
8:25 And through his policy also he shall cause deceit to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify [himself] in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.
8:26 And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told [is] true: therefore shut thou up the vision; for it [shall be] for many days.
8:27 And I Daniel fainted, and was sick [certain] days; afterward I rose, and did the kings business; and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood [it].