A modern English translation drawn directly from the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts. Translated word-for-word where possible, by a committee with scholarly oversight.
Uses the same source texts as the ESV, NASB, and most academic Bibles, including the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia and the Nestle-Aland critical edition.
Daniel 12
Daniel 12 is the twelfth and final chapter of the book of Daniel. The 13-verse chapter concludes the vision with a promise of deliverance, a resurrection, and instructions to seal the words until the end.
The chapter opens with Michael, "the great prince who stands watch over" Daniel's people, rising up at a time of unequaled distress, after which everyone whose name is written in the book will be delivered. It then gives one of the clearest Old Testament statements of resurrection: many who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to everlasting life and others to shame and everlasting contempt, and the wise "will shine like the brightness of the heavens."
Daniel sees two others standing on the banks of the river and hears one ask the man dressed in linen how long until these wonders are fulfilled. The answer, given with a solemn oath, is "a time, and times, and half a time." Daniel hears but does not understand, and asks what the outcome will be. He is told to go his way, for the words are sealed until the time of the end, when many will be purified and the wise will understand.
The chapter closes with figures of days, 1,290 and 1,335, and a final blessing on the one who waits. Daniel himself is told to go his way until the end, to rest, and then to rise to his inheritance at the end of the days.
Verse 1. “At that time Michael, the great prince who stands watch over your people, will rise up. There will be a time of distress, the likes of which will not have occurred from the beginning of nations until that time. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered.
Verse 2. And many who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to everlasting life, but others to shame and everlasting contempt.
Verse 3. Then the wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever and ever.
Verse 4. But you, Daniel, shut up these words and seal the book until the time of the end. Many will roam to and fro, and knowledge will increase.”
Verse 5. Then I, Daniel, looked and saw two others standing there, one on this bank of the river and one on the opposite bank.
Verse 6. One of them said to the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long until the fulfillment of these wonders?”
Verse 7. And the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by Him who lives forever, saying, “It will be for a time, and times, and half a time. When the power of the holy people has finally been shattered, all these things will be completed.”
Verse 8. I heard, but I did not understand. So I asked, “My lord, what will be the outcome of these things?”
Verse 9. “Go on your way, Daniel,” he replied, “for the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end.
Verse 10. Many will be purified, made spotless, and refined, but the wicked will continue to act wickedly. None of the wicked will understand, but the wise will understand.
Verse 11. And from the time the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation set up, there will be 1,290 days.
Verse 12. Blessed is he who waits and reaches the end of the 1,335 days.
Verse 13. But as for you, go on your way until the end. You will rest, and then you will arise to your inheritance at the end of the days.”
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