The holy ones<n id="1" /> of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will take possession of the kingdom forever and ever.&#8217;p>

<p class="poetry">But the court will convene,<n id="1" /> and his ruling authority will be removed &#8211;p> <p class="poetry">destroyed and abolished forever!p>

As for the rest of the beasts, their ruling authority had already been removed, though they were permitted to go on living<n id="1" /> for a time and a season.

saying,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;Let the name of God<n id="2" /> be praised<n id="3" /> forever and ever,p> <p class="poetry">for wisdom and power belong to him.p>

You were watching as<n id="1" /> a stone was cut out,<n id="2" /> but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its iron and clay feet, breaking them in pieces.

I was watching in the night visions,p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;And with<n id="1" /> the clouds of the sky<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">one like a son of man<n id="3" /> was approaching.p> <p class="poetry">He went up to the Ancient of Daysp> <p class="poetry">and was escorted<n id="4" /> before him.p>

until the Ancient of Days arrived and judgment was rendered<n id="1" /> in favor of the holy ones of the Most High. Then the time came for the holy ones to take possession of the kingdom.p>

<p class="poetry">He will speak words against the Most High.p> <p class="poetry">He will harass<n id="1" /> the holy ones of the Most High continually.p> <p class="poetry">His intention<n id="2" /> will be to change times established by law.<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">They will be delivered into his handp> <p class="poetry">For a time, times,<n id="4" /> and half a time.p>

<p class="bodytext">&#8220;This is the conclusion of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts troubled me greatly, and the color drained from my face.<n id="1" /> But I kept the matter to myself.&#8221;<n id="2" />p>

If you don&#8217;t inform me of the dream, there is only one thing that is going to happen to you.<n id="1" /> For you have agreed among yourselves to report to me something false and deceitful<n id="2" /> until such time as things might change. So tell me the dream, and I will have confidence<n id="3" /> that you can disclose its interpretation.&#8221;p>

Later Daniel entered (whose name is Belteshazzar after the name of my god,<n id="1" /> and in whom there is a spirit of the holy gods). I recounted the dream for him as well,

<p class="poetry">This announcement is by the decree of the sentinels;p> <p class="poetry">this decision is by the pronouncement of the holy ones,p> <p class="poetry">so that<n id="1" /> those who are alive may understandp> <p class="poetry">that the Most High has authority over human kingdoms,<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">and he bestows them on whomever he wishes.p> <p class="poetry">He establishes over them even the lowliest of human beings.&#8217;p>

You will be driven from human society, and you will live with the wild animals. You will be fed grass like oxen, and seven periods of time will pass by for you before<n id="1" /> you understand that the Most High is ruler over human kingdoms and gives them to whomever he wishes.&#8221;p>

<p class="bodytext">Now in that very moment<n id="1" /> this pronouncement about<n id="2" /> Nebuchadnezzar came true.<n id="3" /> He was driven from human society, he ate grass like oxen, and his body became damp with the dew of the sky, until his hair became long like an eagle&#8217;s feathers, and his nails like a bird&#8217;s claws.<n id="4" />p>

<p class="bodytext">When the king heard this,<n id="1" /> he was very upset and began thinking about<n id="2" /> how he might rescue Daniel. Until late afternoon<n id="3" /> he was struggling to find a way to rescue him.

The king gave another order,<n id="1" /> and those men who had maliciously accused<n id="2" /> Daniel were brought and thrown<n id="3" /> into the lions&#8217; den &#8211; they, their children, and their wives.<n id="4" /> They did not even reach the bottom of the den before the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.p>

<p class="bodytext">&#8220;The first one was like a lion with eagles&#8217; wings. As I watched, its wings were pulled off and it was lifted up from the ground. It was made to stand on two feet like a human being, and a human mind<n id="1" /> was given to it.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="bodytext">&#8220;While I was watching,p> <p class="poetry">thrones were set up,p> <p class="poetry">and the Ancient of Days<n id="1" /> took his seat.p> <p class="poetry">His attire was white like snow;p> <p class="poetry">the hair of his head was like lamb&#8217;s<n id="2" /> wool.p> <p class="poetry">His throne was ablaze with firep> <p class="poetry">and its wheels were all aflame.<n id="3" />p>

<p class="bodytext">&#8220;Then I kept on watching because of the arrogant words of the horn that was speaking. I was watching<n id="1" /> until the beast was killed and its body destroyed and thrown into<n id="2" /> the flaming fire.

As for the king seeing a holy sentinel coming down from heaven and saying, &#8216;Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave its taproot in the ground, with a band of iron and bronze around it, surrounded by the grass of the field. Let it become damp with the dew of the sky, and let it live with the wild animals, until seven periods of time go by for him&#8217; &#8211;