18. “While he was speaking to me, I fell into a deep sleep with my face to the ground. But he touched me and stood me up,
19. and said: ‘Behold, I am going to inform you about what will happen later in the time of wrath, for the vision pertains to the appointed time of the end.
20. The ram that you saw with the two horns stands for the kings of Media and Persia.
21. The buck, the male goat, is the king of Greece; and the large horn between his eyes is the first king.
22. The four horns that replaced the one that was broken represent four kingdoms that will arise from this nation, though not with its power.
23. “‘Now toward the end of their reign, when the measure of transgressions is completed, a stern-faced king, a master of intrigue, will arise.
24. His power will be mighty, but it will not be by his strength alone. He will cause extraordinary devastation, and succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy both the powerful and the holy people.
25. By his cunning he will cause deceit to prosper under his hand and he will consider himself superior. He will destroy many, taking them unaware. He will even stand up against the Prince of princes, yet he will be broken, but not by human hands.
26. “‘Now the vision of the evenings and mornings that has been told to you is true, but seal up the vision for it concerns many days from now.’
27. “Then I, Daniel, was stricken and languished for days. Then I got up and went about the king’s business, but I was astounded at the vision and no one could explain it.