Daniel 12:1-12

12:1 “At that time Michael,

the great prince who watches over your people, ¹ 

will arise. ² 

There will be a time of distress

unlike any other from the nation’s beginning ³ 

up to that time.

But at that time your own people,

all those whose names are ⁴  found written in the book,

will escape.

12:2 Many of those who sleep

in the dusty ground will awake –

some to everlasting life,

and others to shame and everlasting abhorrence. ⁵ 

12:3 But the wise will shine

like the brightness of the heavenly expanse.

And those bringing many to righteousness

will be like the stars forever and ever.

12:4 “But you, Daniel, close up these words and seal the book until the time of the end. Many will dash about, ⁶  and knowledge will increase.”

12:5 I, Daniel, watched as two others stood there, one on each side of the river. ⁷  12:6 One said to the man clothed in linen who was above the waters of the river, “When will the end of these wondrous events occur?” 12:7 Then I heard the man clothed in linen who was over the waters of the river as he raised both his right and left hands to the sky ⁸  and made an oath by the one who lives forever: “It is for a time, times, and half a time. Then, when the power of the one who shatters ⁹  the holy people has been exhausted, all these things will be finished.”

12:8 I heard, but I did not understand. So I said, “Sir, ¹⁰  what will happen after these things?” 12:9 He said, “Go, Daniel. For these matters are closed and sealed until the time of the end. 12:10 Many will be purified, made clean, and refined, but the wicked will go on being wicked. None of the wicked will understand, though the wise will understand. 12:11 From the time that the daily sacrifice is removed and the abomination that causes desolation is set in place, ¹¹  there are 1,290 days. 12:12 Blessed is the one who waits and attains to the 1,335 days.

[12:1]  ¹ tn Heb “stands over the sons of your people.”

[12:1]  ² tn Heb “will stand up.”

[12:1]  ³ tn Or “from the beginning of a nation.”

[12:1]  ⁴ tn The words “whose names are” are added in the translation for stylistic reasons and for clarification.

[12:2]  ⁵ sn This verse is the only undisputed reference to a literal resurrection found in the Hebrew Bible.

[12:4]  ⁶ tn Or “will run back and forth”; KJV “shall run to and fro”; NIV “will go here and there”; CEV “will go everywhere.”

[12:5]  ⁷ tn Heb “one to this edge of the river and one to that edge of the river.”

[12:7]  ⁸ tn Or “to the heavens.” The Hebrew term שָׁמַיִם (shamayim) may be translated “heavens” or “sky” depending on the context.

[12:7]  ⁹ tc The present translation reads יַד־נֹפֵץ (yad-nofets, “hand of one who shatters”) rather than the MT נַפֵּץ־יַד (nappets-yad, “to shatter the hand”).

[12:8]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “my lord,” a title of polite address.

[12:11]  ¹¹ tn Heb “to give.”