In the first year of Belshazzar, king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream and visions of his head on his bed. Then he wrote down the dream, and the beginning of the words he spoke.

Daniel spoke and said, 'I was seeing in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of the heavens were breaking forth on the great sea.'

'And four great beasts were ascending from the sea, each different from the other.'

'The first was like a lion, and it had wings of an eagle. I was watching until its wings were plucked, and it was lifted from the earth and made to stand on two feet like a man, and a human heart was given to it.'

'And behold, another beast, a second, like a bear, and it was raised on one side, and three ribs were in its mouth between its teeth. And thus they said to it, 'Arise, devour much flesh.''

'After this I was watching, and behold, another, like a leopard, and it had four wings of a bird on its back. And the beast had four heads, and dominion was given to it.'

'After this I was watching in the visions of the night, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrifying, and exceedingly strong, and it had great teeth of iron. It was devouring and crushing, and trampling the remainder with its feet. And it was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns.'

'I was watching the horns, and behold, another horn, small, was coming up among them, and three of the first horns were plucked out before it. And behold, eyes like the eyes of a man were in this horn, and a mouth speaking great things.'

'I was watching until thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days sat. His clothing was white like snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool. His throne was flames of fire, its wheels were burning fire.'

'A river of fire was flowing and coming out from before him. A thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was seated, and the books were opened.'

'I was watching then because of the sound of the great words that the horn was speaking. I was watching until the beast was killed, and its body was destroyed, and given to the burning of fire.'

'And as for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but a prolonging of life was given to them until an appointed time and season.'

'I was watching in the visions of the night, and behold, with the clouds of the heavens, one like a son of man was coming, and he came to the Ancient of Days, and he was brought before him.'

'And to him was given dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, and all peoples, nations, and languages would serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will not be destroyed.'

'My spirit, I Daniel, was distressed within me, and the visions of my head alarmed me.'

'I approached one of those standing there and asked him for the truth about all this. And he told me and made known to me the interpretation of the words.'

'These great beasts, which are four, are four kings who will arise from the earth.'

'But the holy ones of the Most High will receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.'

'Then I desired to know the truth about the fourth beast, which was different from all the others, exceedingly dreadful, with teeth of iron and claws of bronze, which was devouring, crushing, and trampling the remainder with its feet.'

'And concerning the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn that came up, and before which three fell, and concerning that horn that had eyes and a mouth speaking great things, and whose appearance was greater than its companions.'

'I was watching, and that horn was making war with the holy ones and prevailing over them.'

'Until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given to the holy ones of the Most High, and the time came, and the holy ones possessed the kingdom.'

'Thus he said: The fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom on the earth, which will be different from all the kingdoms, and will devour all the earth, and tread it down, and crush it.'

'And the ten horns from it are ten kings who will arise, and another will arise after them, and he will be different from the former ones, and he will subdue three kings.'

'And he will speak words against the Most High, and wear down the holy ones of the Most High, and will intend to change times and laws, and they will be given into his hand for a time, and times, and half a time.'

'But the court will sit, and his dominion will be taken away to be destroyed and to be annihilated until the end.'

'And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under all the heavens will be given to the people of the holy ones of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions will serve him and obey him.'

'Up to this point is the end of the matter. I, Daniel, was greatly distressed by my thoughts, and my appearance changed, but I kept the matter in my heart.'