The King Who Exalts Himself

36 “The king will do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify himself(A) above every god and will say unheard-of things(B) against the God of gods.(C) He will be successful until the time of wrath(D) is completed, for what has been determined must take place.(E) 37 He will show no regard for the gods of his ancestors or for the one desired by women, nor will he regard any god, but will exalt himself above them all. 38 Instead of them, he will honor a god of fortresses; a god unknown to his ancestors he will honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and costly gifts. 39 He will attack the mightiest fortresses with the help of a foreign god and will greatly honor those who acknowledge him. He will make them rulers over many people and will distribute the land at a price.[a]

40 “At the time of the end the king of the South(F) will engage him in battle, and the king of the North will storm(G) out against him with chariots and cavalry and a great fleet of ships. He will invade many countries and sweep through them like a flood.(H) 41 He will also invade the Beautiful Land.(I) Many countries will fall, but Edom,(J) Moab(K) and the leaders of Ammon will be delivered from his hand. 42 He will extend his power over many countries; Egypt will not escape. 43 He will gain control of the treasures of gold and silver and all the riches of Egypt,(L) with the Libyans(M) and Cushites[b] in submission. 44 But reports from the east and the north will alarm him, and he will set out in a great rage to destroy and annihilate many. 45 He will pitch his royal tents between the seas at[c] the beautiful holy mountain.(N) Yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him.

The End Times

12 “At that time Michael,(O) the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress(P) such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book(Q)—will be delivered.(R) Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake:(S) some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.(T) Those who are wise[d](U) will shine(V) like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness,(W) like the stars for ever and ever.(X) But you, Daniel, roll up and seal(Y) the words of the scroll until the time of the end.(Z) Many will go here and there(AA) to increase knowledge.”

Then I, Daniel, looked, and there before me stood two others, one on this bank of the river and one on the opposite bank.(AB) One of them said to the man clothed in linen,(AC) who was above the waters of the river, “How long will it be before these astonishing things are fulfilled?”(AD)

The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, lifted his right hand(AE) and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by him who lives forever,(AF) saying, “It will be for a time, times and half a time.[e](AG) When the power of the holy people(AH) has been finally broken, all these things will be completed.(AI)

I heard, but I did not understand. So I asked, “My lord, what will the outcome of all this be?”

He replied, “Go your way, Daniel, because the words are rolled up and sealed(AJ) until the time of the end.(AK) 10 Many will be purified, made spotless and refined,(AL) but the wicked will continue to be wicked.(AM) None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.(AN)

11 “From the time that the daily sacrifice(AO) is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation(AP) is set up, there will be 1,290 days.(AQ) 12 Blessed is the one who waits(AR) for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days.(AS)

13 “As for you, go your way till the end.(AT) You will rest,(AU) and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance.(AV)

Footnotes

  1. Daniel 11:39 Or land for a reward
  2. Daniel 11:43 That is, people from the upper Nile region
  3. Daniel 11:45 Or the sea and
  4. Daniel 12:3 Or who impart wisdom
  5. Daniel 12:7 Or a year, two years and half a year

36 And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.

37 Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all.

38 But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things.

39 Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain.

40 And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over.

41 He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon.

42 He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape.

43 But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps.

44 But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many.

45 And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.

12 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

Then I Daniel looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank of the river.

And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?

And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.

And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?

And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.

10 Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.

11 And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.

12 Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.

13 But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.

36 “Then the king shall do according to his own will: he shall (A)exalt and magnify himself above every god, shall speak blasphemies against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the wrath has been accomplished; for what has been determined shall be done. 37 He shall regard neither the [a]God of his fathers nor the desire of women, (B)nor regard any god; for he shall exalt himself above them all. 38 But in their place he shall honor a god of fortresses; and a god which his fathers did not know he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and pleasant things. 39 Thus he shall act against the strongest fortresses with a foreign god, which he shall acknowledge, and advance its glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and divide the land for [b]gain.

The Northern King’s Conquests

40 “At the (C)time of the end the king of the South shall attack him; and the king of the North shall come against him (D)like a whirlwind, with chariots, (E)horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter the countries, overwhelm them, and pass through. 41 He shall also enter the Glorious Land, and many countries shall be overthrown; but these shall escape from his hand: (F)Edom, Moab, and the [c]prominent people of Ammon. 42 He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of (G)Egypt shall not escape. 43 He shall have power over the treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; also the Libyans and Ethiopians shall follow (H)at his heels. 44 But news from the east and the north shall trouble him; therefore he shall go out with great fury to destroy and annihilate many. 45 And he shall plant the tents of his palace between the seas and (I)the glorious holy mountain; (J)yet he shall come to his end, and no one will help him.

Prophecy of the End Time

12 “At that time Michael shall stand up,
The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people;
(K)And there shall be a time of trouble,
Such as never was since there was a nation,
Even to that time.
And at that time your people (L)shall be delivered,
Every one who is found (M)written in the book.
And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake,
(N)Some to everlasting life,
Some to shame (O)and everlasting [d]contempt.
Those who are wise shall (P)shine
Like the brightness of the firmament,
(Q)And those who turn many to righteousness
(R)Like the stars forever and ever.

“But you, Daniel, (S)shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall (T)run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”

Then I, Daniel, looked; and there stood two others, one on this riverbank and the other on that (U)riverbank. And one said to the man clothed in (V)linen, who was above the waters of the river, (W)“How long shall the fulfillment of these wonders be?

Then I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he (X)held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by Him (Y)who lives forever, (Z)that it shall be for a time, times, and half a time; (AA)and when the power of (AB)the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished.

Although I heard, I did not understand. Then I said, “My lord, what shall be the end of these things?

And he said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. 10 (AC)Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, (AD)but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but (AE)the wise shall understand.

11 “And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days. 12 Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days.

13 “But you, go your way till the end; (AF)for you shall rest, (AG)and will arise to your inheritance at the end of the days.”

Footnotes

  1. Daniel 11:37 Or gods
  2. Daniel 11:39 profit
  3. Daniel 11:41 Lit. chief of the sons of Ammon
  4. Daniel 12:2 Lit. abhorrence

On Denying the Incarnation

Dear friends,(A) do not believe every spirit,(B) but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.(C) This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh(D) is from God,(E) but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist,(F) which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.(G)

You, dear children,(H) are from God and have overcome them,(I) because the one who is in you(J) is greater than the one who is in the world.(K) They are from the world(L) and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us.(M) This is how we recognize the Spirit[a] of truth(N) and the spirit of falsehood.(O)

God’s Love and Ours

Dear friends, let us love one another,(P) for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God(Q) and knows God.(R) Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.(S) This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son(T) into the world that we might live through him.(U) 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us(V) and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.(W) 11 Dear friends,(X) since God so loved us,(Y) we also ought to love one another.(Z) 12 No one has ever seen God;(AA) but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.(AB)

13 This is how we know(AC) that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit.(AD) 14 And we have seen and testify(AE) that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.(AF) 15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God,(AG) God lives in them and they in God.(AH) 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.

God is love.(AI) Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.(AJ) 17 This is how love is made complete(AK) among us so that we will have confidence(AL) on the day of judgment:(AM) In this world we are like Jesus. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear,(AN) because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

19 We love because he first loved us.(AO) 20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister(AP) is a liar.(AQ) For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen,(AR) cannot love God, whom they have not seen.(AS) 21 And he has given us this command:(AT) Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.(AU)

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Footnotes

  1. 1 John 4:6 Or spirit

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:

And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.

We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.

13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

19 We love him, because he first loved us.

20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

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Love for God and One Another

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but (A)test the spirits, whether they are of God; because (B)many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: (C)Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess [a]that Jesus [b]Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.

You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than (D)he who is in the world. (E)They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and (F)the world hears them. We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. (G)By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

Knowing God Through Love(H)

(I)Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who (J)loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. (K)In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten (L)Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, (M)not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son (N)to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, (O)if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

Seeing God Through Love

12 (P)No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. 13 (Q)By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. 14 And (R)we have seen and testify that (S)the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. 15 (T)Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and (U)he who abides in love abides in God, and God (V)in him.

The Consummation of Love

17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that (W)we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 19 (X)We love [c]Him because He first loved us.

Obedience by Faith

20 (Y)If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, [d]how can he love God (Z)whom he has not seen? 21 And (AA)this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 John 4:3 NU omits that
  2. 1 John 4:3 NU omits Christ has come in the flesh
  3. 1 John 4:19 NU omits Him
  4. 1 John 4:20 NU he cannot

Psalm 123

A song of ascents.

I lift up my eyes to you,
    to you who sit enthroned(A) in heaven.
As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master,
    as the eyes of a female slave look to the hand of her mistress,
so our eyes look to the Lord(B) our God,
    till he shows us his mercy.

Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us,
    for we have endured no end of contempt.
We have endured no end
    of ridicule from the arrogant,
    of contempt from the proud.

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123 Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens.

Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the Lord our God, until that he have mercy upon us.

Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us: for we are exceedingly filled with contempt.

Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, and with the contempt of the proud.

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Prayer for Relief from Contempt

A Song of Ascents.

123 Unto You (A)I lift up my eyes,
O You (B)who dwell in the heavens.
Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters,
As the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress,
(C)So our eyes look to the Lord our God,
Until He has mercy on us.

Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us!
For we are exceedingly filled with contempt.
Our soul is exceedingly filled
With the scorn of those who are at ease,
With the contempt of the proud.

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When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice;(A)
    when the wicked rule,(B) the people groan.(C)

A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father,(D)
    but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.(E)

By justice a king gives a country stability,(F)
    but those who are greedy for[a] bribes tear it down.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 29:4 Or who give

When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.

Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father: but he that keepeth company with harlots spendeth his substance.

The king by judgment establisheth the land: but he that receiveth gifts overthroweth it.

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When the righteous [a]are in authority, the (A)people rejoice;
But when a wicked man rules, (B)the people groan.

Whoever loves wisdom makes his father rejoice,
But a companion of harlots wastes his wealth.

The king establishes the land by justice,
But he who receives bribes overthrows it.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 29:2 become great