Daniel

Young's Literal Translation

Daniel has 12 chapters. Read Daniel in the Young's Literal Translation, chapter by chapter, free and without an account.

In the twelve-chapter Hebrew and Aramaic form summarized here, Daniel combines stories of Jewish exiles at foreign courts with visions of kingdoms, persecution, judgment, and deliverance. Daniel and his companions face pressure over food, worship, and prayer. Dreams and visions portray human empires as temporary and God’s rule as enduring, ending with hope of resurrection and a charge to persevere.

Read the Daniel summary and outline →

In Christian Bibles, Daniel is one of the Major Prophets of the Old Testament. In the Jewish Tanakh it belongs to the Ketuvim, the Writings. See it on the shelf.

Daniel and his three companions choose bowls of vegetables and water beside an untouched Babylonian royal feast
Daniel 1

Daniel 1: four Judean exiles remain faithful in Babylon, choosing simple food and receiving exceptional wisdom for royal service.

Daniel stands before Nebuchadnezzar as a many-metaled statue, an approaching stone, and a distant mountain fill the vision
Daniel 2

Daniel 2: God reveals Nebuchadnezzar's statue dream and promises an everlasting kingdom that will outlast every empire.

Nebuchadnezzar watches three Judean men and a luminous fourth figure walk unharmed inside the fiery furnace
Daniel 3

Daniel 3: three Judean men refuse the golden image and emerge unharmed from the furnace after trusting God whatever the outcome.

A humbled Nebuchadnezzar lifts his eyes at dawn beside the banded stump of the great tree from his dream
Daniel 4

Daniel 4: Nebuchadnezzar's great-tree dream is fulfilled as pride gives way to humility and recognition of heaven's rule.

Belshazzar and his nobles recoil from radiance on a blank palace wall as Daniel stands beside uneven balance scales
Daniel 5

Daniel 5: at Belshazzar's feast, Daniel interprets the writing on the wall as Babylon's immediate judgment for pride and sacrilege.

Daniel stands unharmed among resting lions as King Darius looks into the opened den at dawn
Daniel 6

Daniel 6: Daniel continues praying despite the decree, survives the lions' den, and shows Darius the power of the living God.

Daniel watches four symbolic beasts emerge from a stormy sea before a radiant heavenly court with opened books
Daniel 7

Daniel 7: four beasts represent temporary kingdoms, while heaven's judgment grants everlasting dominion to the saints.

Daniel and a luminous messenger watch a two-horned ram confront a swift horned goat above the Ulai river
Daniel 8

Daniel 8: the ram-and-goat vision portrays rising empires, desecration, and a fierce ruler whose power will finally be broken.

Daniel kneels in confession before ruined Jerusalem as a softly luminous messenger approaches at evening
Daniel 9

Daniel 9: Daniel confesses Israel's sin, pleads for Jerusalem by God's mercy, and receives Gabriel's message concerning seventy weeks.

A radiant linen-clad messenger lifts and strengthens a weakened Daniel beside the Tigris while his companions flee
Daniel 10

Daniel 10: beside the Tigris, a radiant messenger strengthens Daniel and reveals that his prayer was heard despite unseen resistance.

Rival northern and southern kings confer across a treaty table while armies gather and faithful teachers instruct a small community
Daniel 11

Daniel 11: rival kingdoms, deceptive alliances, persecution, and faithful resistance unfold until arrogant power reaches its appointed end.

Daniel seals a scroll beside the river as people rise into dawn light and wise teachers shine beneath the stars
Daniel 12

Daniel 12: amid final trouble come deliverance, resurrection, shining wisdom, patient waiting, and Daniel's promised rest.