6. “While I was watching, another beast appeared. It was like a leopard with four wings of a bird on its back. It had four heads and was given authority to rule.
7. “While I was watching in the night visions, a fourth beast appeared, frightening and dreadful, and incredibly strong, with large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed, and it trampled with its feet whatever was left. It was different from all the beasts before it, and it had 10 horns.
8. “While I was considering the horns, suddenly another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. There were eyes in this horn like a man’s, and it had a mouth that spoke arrogantly.
9. “As I kept watching,thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took His seat.His clothing was white like snow, and the hair of His head like whitest wool. His throne was flaming fire; its wheels were blazing fire.
10. A river of fire was flowing,coming out from His presence.Thousands upon thousands served Him;ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him.The court was convened, and the books were opened.
11. “I watched, then, because of the sound of the arrogant words the horn was speaking. As I continued watching, the beast was killed and its body destroyed and given over to the burning fire.
12. As for the rest of the beasts, their authority to rule was removed, but an extension of life was granted to them for a certain period of time.
13. I continued watching in the night visions,and I saw One like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Daysand was escorted before Him.
14. He was given authority to rule, and glory, and a kingdom;so that those of every people,nation, and language should serve Him.His dominion is an everlasting dominionthat will not pass away,and His kingdom is onethat will not be destroyed.
15. “As for me, Daniel, my spirit was deeply distressed within me, and the visions in my mind terrified me.
16. I approached one of those who were standing by and asked him the true meaning of all this. So he let me know the interpretation of these things:
17. ‘These huge beasts, four in number, are four kings who will rise from the earth.
18. But the holy ones of the Most High will receive the kingdom and possess it forever, yes, forever and ever.’
19. “Then I wanted to know the true meaning of the fourth beast, the one different from all the others, extremely terrifying, with iron teeth and bronze claws, devouring, crushing, and trampling with its feet whatever was left.
20. I also wanted to know about the 10 horns on its head and about the other horn that came up, before which three fell — the horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spoke arrogantly, and that was more visible than the others.
21. As I was watching, this horn waged war against the holy ones and was prevailing over them