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TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

Chapter 8

Translation and Transliteration of 

1In the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar, a vision appeared to me, to me, Daniel, after the one that had appeared to me earlier.

bi-SHANAT sha-LOSH le-mal-KHUT bel-a-SHATsar ha-ME-lekh, kha-ZON nir-AH e-LAI a-NI da-NI-YEL, a-kha-RAY ha-nir-AH e-LAI ba-te-khi-LAH.

אבִּשְׁנַ֣ת שָׁל֔וֹשׁ לְמַלְכ֖וּת בֵּלְאשַׁצַּ֣ר הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ חָז֞וֹן נִרְאָ֤ה אֵלַי֙ אֲנִ֣י דָנִיֵּ֔אל אַחֲרֵ֛י הַנִּרְאָ֥ה אֵלַ֖י בַּתְּחִלָּֽה׃

2I saw in the vision—at the time I saw it I was in the fortress of Shushan, in the province of Elam—I saw in the vision that I was beside the Ulai River.

va-e-reh be-cha-ZON, va-y'-HEE bi-RE-o-TEE, va-a-NEE b'-shu-SHAN ha-bi-RA, a-SHER b'-ei-LAM ha-me-di-NAH, va-e-reh be-cha-ZON, va-a-NEE ha-YEE-tee al u-val o-LAI.

בוָֽאֶרְאֶה֮ בֶּחָזוֹן֒ וַיְהִי֙ בִּרְאֹתִ֔י וַאֲנִי֙ בְּשׁוּשַׁ֣ן הַבִּירָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּעֵילָ֣ם הַמְּדִינָ֑ה וָאֶרְאֶה֙ בֶּֽחָז֔וֹן וַאֲנִ֥י הָיִ֖יתִי עַל־אוּבַ֥ל אוּלָֽי׃

3I looked and saw a ram standing between me and the river; he had two horns; the horns were high, with one higher than the other, and the higher sprouting last.

va-e-SA e-NAI va-er-EH, v'-hi-NEH, a-YIL e-KHAD o-MED lif-NEI ha-u-BAL, v'-LO k'-ra-NA-yim, v'-ha-k'-ra-NA-yim g'-vo-HOT, v'-ha-a-KHA-ta g'-vo-HA min ha-SHE-nit, v'-ha-g'-vo-HA o-LA ba-a-kha-RO-na

גוָאֶשָּׂ֤א עֵינַי֙ וָאֶרְאֶ֔ה וְהִנֵּ֣ה ׀ אַ֣יִל אֶחָ֗ד עֹמֵ֛ד לִפְנֵ֥י הָאֻבָ֖ל וְל֣וֹ קְרָנָ֑יִם וְהַקְּרָנַ֣יִם גְּבֹה֗וֹת וְהָאַחַת֙ גְּבֹהָ֣ה מִן־הַשֵּׁנִ֔ית וְהַ֨גְּבֹהָ֔ה עֹלָ֖ה בָּאַחֲרֹנָֽה׃

4I saw the ram butting westward, northward, and southward. No beast could withstand him, and there was none to deliver from his power. He did as he pleased and grew great.

ra-EE-tee et ha-A-YIL me-na-GAY-akh ya-MAH v'-tza-FO-nah va-NEG-bah v'-KOL kha-YOT lo ya-a-M'-DU l'-fa-NAV v'-AYN ma-TSEEYL mi-YA-do v'-a-SAH kheer-TZO-no v'-hi-G'-DEEL

דרָאִ֣יתִי אֶת־הָאַ֡יִל מְנַגֵּ֩חַ֩ יָ֨מָּה וְצָפ֜וֹנָה וָנֶ֗גְבָּה וְכׇל־חַיּוֹת֙ לֹֽא־יַֽעַמְד֣וּ לְפָנָ֔יו וְאֵ֥ין מַצִּ֖יל מִיָּד֑וֹ וְעָשָׂ֥ה כִרְצֹנ֖וֹ וְהִגְדִּֽיל׃

5As I looked on, a he-goat came from the west, passing over the entire earth without touching the ground. The goat had a conspicuous horn on its forehead.

va-a-NI ha-YI-tee me-VEEN v'-hi-NEH t'-FEER ha-i-ZEEM BA min ha-ma-a-RAV al p'-NAY kol ha-A-retz v'-AYN no-GAY-a ba-A-retz v'-ha-TZA-feer KE-ren cha-ZUT BAYN ay-NAV

הוַאֲנִ֣י ׀ הָיִ֣יתִי מֵבִ֗ין וְהִנֵּ֤ה צְפִיר־הָֽעִזִּים֙ בָּ֤א מִן־הַֽמַּעֲרָב֙ עַל־פְּנֵ֣י כׇל־הָאָ֔רֶץ וְאֵ֥ין נוֹגֵ֖עַ בָּאָ֑רֶץ וְהַ֨צָּפִ֔יר קֶ֥רֶן חָז֖וּת בֵּ֥ין עֵינָֽיו׃

6He came up to the two-horned ram that I had seen standing between me and the river and charged at him with furious force.

va-YA-vo ad ha-a-YIL ba-al ha-ke-ra-NA-yim a-SHER ra-EE-tee o-MED lif-NEI ha-u-BAL va-YA-ROTZ e-LAV ba-cha-MAT KO-cho

ווַיָּבֹ֗א עַד־הָאַ֙יִל֙ בַּ֣עַל הַקְּרָנַ֔יִם אֲשֶׁ֣ר רָאִ֔יתִי עֹמֵ֖ד לִפְנֵ֣י הָאֻבָ֑ל וַיָּ֥רׇץ אֵלָ֖יו בַּחֲמַ֥ת כֹּחֽוֹ׃

7I saw him reach the ram and rage at him; he struck the ram and broke its two horns, and the ram was powerless to withstand him. He threw him to the ground and trampled him, and there was none to deliver the ram from his power.

u-re-i-TI-v ma-GI-a ET-zel ha-A-YIL va-yit-mar-MAR e-LA-YAV va-YAKH et ha-A-YIL va-ye-SHA-ber et SHE-tei k'-RA-naiv v'-lo-ha-YA ko-ACH ba-A-YIL la-a-MOD l'-fa-NAV va-ya-sh'-LI-khe-HU ar-TZA va-yir-m'-SE-HU v'-lo-ha-YA mat-SEEL la-A-YIL mi-YA-do

זוּרְאִיתִ֞יו מַגִּ֣יעַ ׀ אֵ֣צֶל הָאַ֗יִל וַיִּתְמַרְמַ֤ר אֵלָיו֙ וַיַּ֣ךְ אֶת־הָאַ֔יִל וַיְשַׁבֵּר֙ אֶת־שְׁתֵּ֣י קְרָנָ֔יו וְלֹא־הָ֥יָה כֹ֛חַ בָּאַ֖יִל לַעֲמֹ֣ד לְפָנָ֑יו וַיַּשְׁלִיכֵ֤הוּ אַ֙רְצָה֙ וַֽיִּרְמְסֵ֔הוּ וְלֹא־הָיָ֥ה מַצִּ֛יל לָאַ֖יִל מִיָּדֽוֹ׃

8Then the he-goat grew very great, but at the peak of his power his big horn was broken. In its place, four conspicuous horns sprouted toward the four winds of heaven.

u-tz'-FEER ha-i-ZEEM hi-G'-DEEL ad-m'-OD u-k'-a-TZMO nish-B'-RAH ha-KE-ren ha-g'-DO-lah va-ta-a-LE-nah cha-ZUT ar-BA tach-TE-ha l'-ar-BA ru-KHOT ha-sha-MA-yim

חוּצְפִ֥יר הָעִזִּ֖ים הִגְדִּ֣יל עַד־מְאֹ֑ד וּכְעׇצְמ֗וֹ נִשְׁבְּרָה֙ הַקֶּ֣רֶן הַגְּדֹלָ֔ה וַֽתַּעֲלֶ֜נָה חָז֤וּת אַרְבַּע֙ תַּחְתֶּ֔יהָ לְאַרְבַּ֖ע רוּח֥וֹת הַשָּׁמָֽיִם׃

9From one of them emerged a small horn, which extended itself greatly toward the south, toward the east, and toward the beautiful land.

u-min ha-a-KHAT me-HEM ya-TZAH ke-REN a-KHAT mi-tze-i-RA, va-tig-DAL ye-TER el ha-NE-GEV v'-el ha-miz-RAKH v'-el ha-tse-VI

טוּמִן־הָאַחַ֣ת מֵהֶ֔ם יָצָ֥א קֶֽרֶן־אַחַ֖ת מִצְּעִירָ֑ה וַתִּגְדַּל־יֶ֛תֶר אֶל־הַנֶּ֥גֶב וְאֶל־הַמִּזְרָ֖ח וְאֶל־הַצֶּֽבִי׃

10It grew as high as the host of heaven and it hurled some stars of the [heavenly] host to the ground and trampled them.

va-tig-DAL ad-tze-VA ha-sha-MA-yim va-ta-PAYL ar-TZA min ha-tza-VA u-min ha-ko-KHA-veem va-tir-M'-SEM

יוַתִּגְדַּ֖ל עַד־צְבָ֣א הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם וַתַּפֵּ֥ל אַ֛רְצָה מִן־הַצָּבָ֥א וּמִן־הַכּוֹכָבִ֖ים וַֽתִּרְמְסֵֽם׃

11It vaunted itself against the very chief of the host; on its account the regular offering was suspended, and His holy place was abandoned.

v'-AD sar ha-tza-VA hi-g'-DEEL u-mi-ME-nu (ha-RIM) [hu-RAM] ha-ta-MEED v'-hush-LAKH m'-KHOHN mik-DA-sho

יאוְעַ֥ד שַֽׂר־הַצָּבָ֖א הִגְדִּ֑יל וּמִמֶּ֙נּוּ֙ (הרים) [הוּרַ֣ם] הַתָּמִ֔יד וְהֻשְׁלַ֖ךְ מְכ֥וֹן מִקְדָּשֽׁוֹ׃

12An army was arrayed iniquitously against the regular offering; it hurled truth to the ground and prospered in what it did.

v'-tza-VA ti-NA-ten al ha-ta-MEED b'-fa-SHA v'-tash-LEKH e-MET ar-TZAH v'-a-s'-TAH v'-hitz-li-KHA

יבוְצָבָ֛א תִּנָּתֵ֥ן עַל־הַתָּמִ֖יד בְּפָ֑שַׁע וְתַשְׁלֵ֤ךְ אֱמֶת֙ אַ֔רְצָה וְעָשְׂתָ֖ה וְהִצְלִֽיחָה׃

13Then I heard a holy being speaking, and another holy being said to whoever it was who was speaking, “How long will [what was seen in] the vision last—the regular offering be forsaken because of transgression; the sanctuary be surrendered and the [heavenly] host be trampled?”

va-esh-m'-AH e-KHAD-ka-DOSH m'-da-BAYR, va-YO-mer e-KHAD ka-DOSH la-pal-MO-NEE ha-m'-da-BAYR, ad ma-TAI he-kha-ZON ha-ta-MEED v'-ha-pe-SHA sho-MAYM, TAYT v'-KO-desh v'-tza-VA mir-MAS

יגוָאֶשְׁמְעָ֥ה אֶֽחָד־קָד֖וֹשׁ מְדַבֵּ֑ר וַיֹּ֩אמֶר֩ אֶחָ֨ד קָד֜וֹשׁ לַפַּֽלְמוֹנִ֣י הַֽמְדַבֵּ֗ר עַד־מָתַ֞י הֶחָז֤וֹן הַתָּמִיד֙ וְהַפֶּ֣שַׁע שֹׁמֵ֔ם תֵּ֛ת וְקֹ֥דֶשׁ וְצָבָ֖א מִרְמָֽס׃

14He answered me, “For twenty-three hundred evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary shall be cleansed.”

vai-YO-mer e-LAI, ad E-rev BO-ker al-PA-yim u-sh'-LOSH me-OT v'-nit'-Z'-DAK ko-DASH

ידוַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַ֔י עַ֚ד עֶ֣רֶב בֹּ֔קֶר אַלְפַּ֖יִם וּשְׁלֹ֣שׁ מֵא֑וֹת וְנִצְדַּ֖ק קֹֽדֶשׁ׃

15While I, Daniel, was seeing the vision, and trying to understand it, there appeared before me one who looked like a man.

vai-HI, bi-r'-o-TEE a-NEE da-nee-YEL et he-cha-ZON, va-a-va-k'-SHAH vi-NAH, v'-hi-NEH o-MAYD le-NEG-dee k'-mar-EH ga-VER

טווַיְהִ֗י בִּרְאֹתִ֛י אֲנִ֥י דָנִיֵּ֖אל אֶת־הֶחָז֑וֹן וָאֲבַקְשָׁ֣ה בִינָ֔ה וְהִנֵּ֛ה עֹמֵ֥ד לְנֶגְדִּ֖י כְּמַרְאֵה־גָֽבֶר׃

16I heard a human voice from the middle of Ulai calling out, “Gabriel, make that man understand the vision.”

v'-a-ESH-ma KOL a-DAM BAYN u-LAI, va-YIK-ra va-YO-mer, gav-ree-AYL ha-VEN l'-ha-LAZ et ha-mar-EH

טזוָאֶשְׁמַ֥ע קוֹל־אָדָ֖ם בֵּ֣ין אוּלָ֑י וַיִּקְרָא֙ וַיֹּאמַ֔ר גַּבְרִיאֵ֕ל הָבֵ֥ן לְהַלָּ֖ז אֶת־הַמַּרְאֶֽה׃

17He came near to where I was standing, and as he came I was terrified, and fell prostrate. He said to me, “Understand, O man, that the vision refers to the time of the end.”

vai-YA-vo ETZEL om-DEE u-ve-BO ni-v'-a-TI va-e-PE-la al pa-NAI vai-YO-mer e-LAI ha-VEN ben a-DAM, KEE l'-ET k'-TZ he-cha-ZON

יזוַיָּבֹא֙ אֵ֣צֶל עׇמְדִ֔י וּבְבֹא֣וֹ נִבְעַ֔תִּי וָאֶפְּלָ֖ה עַל־פָּנָ֑י וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלַי֙ הָבֵ֣ן בֶּן־אָדָ֔ם כִּ֖י לְעֶת־קֵ֥ץ הֶחָזֽוֹן׃

18When he spoke with me, I was overcome by a deep sleep as I lay prostrate on the ground. Then he touched me and made me stand up,

u-v'-da-BO-ro i-MEE nir-DA-m'-TEE al pa-NAI or-TZAH, va-YI-ga b'-EE va-ya-a-mi-DAY-nee al o-m'-DEE

יחוּבְדַבְּר֣וֹ עִמִּ֔י נִרְדַּ֥מְתִּי עַל־פָּנַ֖י אָ֑רְצָה וַיִּ֨גַּע־בִּ֔י וַיַּֽעֲמִידֵ֖נִי עַל־עׇמְדִֽי׃

19and said, “I am going to inform you of what will happen when wrath is at an end, for [it refers] to the time appointed for the end.

vai-YO-mer, hin-NEE mo-di-A-kha, AYT a-SHER yi-HE-yeh b'-a-kha-REET ha-za-AM, KEE l'-mo-AYD KAYTZ

יטוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ הִנְנִ֣י מוֹדִֽיעֲךָ֔ אֵ֥ת אֲשֶׁר־יִהְיֶ֖ה בְּאַחֲרִ֣ית הַזָּ֑עַם כִּ֖י לְמוֹעֵ֥ד קֵֽץ׃

20“The two-horned ram that you saw [signifies] the kings of Media and Persia;

ha-AY-il a-SHER ra-EE-ta ba-AL ha-ke-ra-NA-yim mal-KHEI ma-DAI u-fa-RAS

כהָאַ֥יִל אֲשֶׁר־רָאִ֖יתָ בַּ֣עַל הַקְּרָנָ֑יִם מַלְכֵ֖י מָדַ֥י וּפָרָֽס׃

21and the buck, the he-goat—the king of Greece; and the large horn on his forehead, that is the first king.

v'-ha-tza-FEER ha-sa-EER ME-lekh ya-VAN v'-ha-KE-ren ha-g'-do-LAH a-SHER BAYN ay-NAV hu ha-ME-lekh ha-ri-SHON

כאוְהַצָּפִ֥יר הַשָּׂעִ֖יר מֶ֣לֶךְ יָוָ֑ן וְהַקֶּ֤רֶן הַגְּדוֹלָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בֵּין־עֵינָ֔יו ה֖וּא הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ הָרִאשֽׁוֹן׃

 8:21   And the buck, the he-goat—the king of Greece

In Daniel’s first vision, the second and third kingdoms are represented by vicious beasts – a bear and a leopard. In this vision, they are represented by more tame animals – the ram and the he-goat. Rabbi Yitzchak Abrabanel explains that the first vision depicts the empires’ objective strength, while the second vision portrays how these kingdoms treated the Jewish people and the Land of Israel. The Persian-Median empire, as well as the Greeks, were extremely powerful nations who conquered the entire known world at the time. Despite their might, these nations dealt relatively kindly with the Children of Israel. During Persian-Median rule, Cyrus encouraged the Jews to return to Israel. Darius allowed the completion of the Temple’s construction and Xerxes provided material to help this cause. Alexander the Great, the first ruler of Greece, retreated peacefully from Yerushalayim. Only later, under the rule of Antiochus, did the Jews really begin to suffer.

22One was broken and four came in its stead—that [means]: four kingdoms will arise out of a nation, but without its power.

v'-ha-nish-BE-ret va-ta-a-moD-na ar-BA ta-kh'-TE-ha ar-BA mal-khu-YOT mi-GOY ya-a-moD-na v'-lo b'-kho-KHO

כבוְהַ֨נִּשְׁבֶּ֔רֶת וַתַּֽעֲמֹ֥דְנָה אַרְבַּ֖ע תַּחְתֶּ֑יהָ אַרְבַּ֧ע מַלְכֻי֛וֹת מִגּ֥וֹי יַעֲמֹ֖דְנָה וְלֹ֥א בְכֹחֽוֹ׃

23When their kingdoms are at an end, when the measure of transgression has been filled, then a king will arise, impudent and versed in intrigue.

u-v'-a-kha-ree-T mal-khu-TAM, k'-ha-TEM ha-po-sh'-EEM, ya-a-MOD me-LEKH az-pa-NEEM u-m'-VEEN khee-DOT

כגוּֽבְאַחֲרִית֙ מַלְכוּתָ֔ם כְּהָתֵ֖ם הַפֹּשְׁעִ֑ים יַעֲמֹ֛ד מֶ֥לֶךְ עַז־פָּנִ֖ים וּמֵבִ֥ין חִידֽוֹת׃

24He will have great strength, but not through his own strength. He will be extraordinarily destructive; he will prosper in what he does, and destroy the mighty and the people of holy ones.

v'-a-TZAM ko-KHO v'-LO v'-kho-KHO v'-nif-LA-OT yash-KHEET v'-hitz-LEE-akh v'-a-SA v'-hish-KHEET a-tzu-MEEM v'-am-k'-do-SHEEM

כדוְעָצַ֤ם כֹּחוֹ֙ וְלֹ֣א בְכֹח֔וֹ וְנִפְלָא֥וֹת יַשְׁחִ֖ית וְהִצְלִ֣יחַ וְעָשָׂ֑ה וְהִשְׁחִ֥ית עֲצוּמִ֖ים וְעַם־קְדֹשִֽׁים׃

25By his cunning, he will use deceit successfully. He will make great plans, will destroy many, taking them unawares, and will rise up against the chief of chiefs, but will be broken, not by [human] hands.

v'-al-sikh-LO v'-hitz-LEE-akh mir-MAH b'-ya-DO u-vil-va-VO yag-DEEL u-v'-shal-VA yash-KHEET ra-BEEM v'-al-sar-sa-REEM ya-a-MOD u-v'-E-fes YAD yi-sha-VER

כהוְעַל־שִׂכְל֗וֹ וְהִצְלִ֤יחַ מִרְמָה֙ בְּיָד֔וֹ וּבִלְבָב֣וֹ יַגְדִּ֔יל וּבְשַׁלְוָ֖ה יַשְׁחִ֣ית רַבִּ֑ים וְעַ֤ל־שַׂר־שָׂרִים֙ יַעֲמֹ֔ד וּבְאֶ֥פֶס יָ֖ד יִשָּׁבֵֽר׃

26What was said in the vision about evenings and mornings is true. Now you keep the vision a secret, for it pertains to far-off days.”

u-mar-EH ha-E-rev v'-ha-BO-ker a-SHER ne-e-MAR e-MET hu v'-a-TAH s'-TOM he-cha-ZON, KEE l'-ya-MEEM ra-BEEM

כווּמַרְאֵ֨ה הָעֶ֧רֶב וְהַבֹּ֛קֶר אֲשֶׁ֥ר נֶאֱמַ֖ר אֱמֶ֣ת ה֑וּא וְאַתָּה֙ סְתֹ֣ם הֶֽחָז֔וֹן כִּ֖י לְיָמִ֥ים רַבִּֽים׃

27So I, Daniel, was stricken, and languished many days. Then I arose and attended to the king's business, but I was dismayed by the vision and no one could explain it.

va-a-NEE da-nee-YAYL ni-h'-YAY-tee v'-ne-kh'-LAY-tee ya-MEEM va-a-KUM va-e-SEH et me-LE-khet ha-ME-lekh va-esh-TO-mem al ha-mar-EH v'-AYN may-VEEN.

כזוַאֲנִ֣י דָנִיֵּ֗אל נִהְיֵ֤יתִי וְנֶֽחֱלֵ֙יתִי֙ יָמִ֔ים וָאָק֕וּם וָאֶֽעֱשֶׂ֖ה אֶת־מְלֶ֣אכֶת הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וָאֶשְׁתּוֹמֵ֥ם עַל־הַמַּרְאֶ֖ה וְאֵ֥ין מֵבִֽין׃