Daniel 9

1 In the first [initial, beginning] year of Darius [a title given to several Persian kings] son of Xerxes [also known as Ahasuerus], a Mede [from the Medes, a people descended from Japheth] by descent [seed, offspring], who was made [appointed, established] ruler [king, monarch] over the kingdom [royal power, dominion] of the Chaldeans [inhabitants of Chaldea, a region in Mesopotamia] — word study 2 in the first [initial, beginning] year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood [gained insight, discerned] from the sacred [holy, set apart] books, according to the word [message, revelation] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] to Jeremiah [whom Jehovah has appointed] the prophet [one who speaks for God], that the desolation [laying waste, destruction] of Jerusalem [the city of peace] would last [be fulfilled, completed] seventy [a complete cycle, a period of perfection] years. word study 3 So I turned my attention [set my face, directed my thoughts] to the Lord God [Adonay, the reverenced God] to seek [search for, inquire of] Him by prayer [supplication, heartfelt request] and petition [earnest plea], with fasting [abstaining from food, humbling myself], sackcloth [coarse cloth], and ashes. word study 4 And I prayed [made my confession, poured out my heart] to the LORD [Yehovah, the great I AM] my God [Elohim, the supreme Creator] and confessed [acknowledged my sins, gave thanks], “O, Lord [Adonay, my Master], the great [mighty, powerful] and awesome [dreadful, fearful] God, who keeps [guards, protects] His covenant [promise, agreement] of loving devotion [kindness, mercy] to those who love [have affection for, are devoted to] Him and keep [obey, protect] His commandments [laws, precepts], word study 5 we have sinned [to miss the mark, gone wrong] and done wrong [committed iniquity, acted perversely]. We have acted wickedly [been evil, done evil things] and rebelled [resisted, defied authority]. We have turned away [departed, removed ourselves] from Your commandments [laws, rules, divine instructions] and ordinances [justice, judgments, righteous decrees]. word study 6 We have not [refused to, failed to] listened [paid attention, heeded] to Your servants [faithful messengers, prophets] the prophets [spokesmen for God], who spoke [declared, proclaimed] in Your name [authority, character] to our kings [rulers], leaders [princes, officials], and fathers [ancestors, forefathers], and to all [the entire nation, every person] the people [nation, community] of the land [country, territory]. word study 7 To You, O Lord [Adonay, the sovereign Master], belongs righteousness [justice, virtue, moral integrity], but this day we are covered with shame [confusion of face, guilt, embarrassment]—the men of Judah [the tribe of Judah], the people of Jerusalem [the city of peace], and all Israel [the descendants of Jacob] near [close at hand] and far [distant, scattered], in all the countries [lands, territories] to which You have driven us [banished, expelled] because of our unfaithfulness [treachery, disloyalty] to You. word study 8 O [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] LORD, we are covered with [public, open] shame [confusion of face, guilt]—our [royal] kings, our [prince-like] leaders [rulers, captains], and our [ancestral] fathers—because we have [missed the mark, gone wrong, repented] sinned [incurring guilt, penalty] against You [the supreme Creator]. word study 9 To the Lord [Adonay, our sovereign Master] our God [Elohim, the one supreme God] belong compassion [tender love, mercies] and forgiveness [pardoning our sins], even though we have rebelled [resisted, defied authority] against Him word study 10 and have not obeyed [hearkened to, listened to] the voice [sound, utterance] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] our God [Elohim, the supreme God] to walk [live, conduct our lives] in His laws [instructions, commandments], which He set [gave, established] before us through [by the hand of, by the ministry of] His servants [attendants, messengers] the prophets [spokesmen, seers]. word study 11 All [the whole, entire] Israel has transgressed [rebelled against, disobeyed] Your law [instruction, divine guidance] and turned away [departed, withdrawn], refusing [lest, not willing] to obey [listen to, heed] Your voice [sound, word]; so the oath [promise, vow] and the curse [malediction, condemnation] written [recorded, inscribed] in the Law of Moses [leader] the servant of God [Elohim, the supreme God] has been poured out [flowed forth, bestowed] on us, because we have sinned [missed the mark, gone wrong] against You [in rebellion, with disobedience]. word study 12 You have carried out [fulfilled, brought to pass] the words spoken against us and against our rulers [judges, leaders] by bringing upon us a great [severe, calamitous] disaster. For under all of heaven [the whole sky, the universe], nothing has ever been done [happened, occurred] like what has been done [accomplished, inflicted] to Jerusalem [the city of peace, the holy city]. word study 13 Just as it is written [recorded, inscribed] in the Law [instruction, teachings] of Moses, all [every, the entirety] this disaster [evil, calamity] has come upon us, yet we have not sought [entreated, begged for] the favor [mercy, kindness] of the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God] our God [Elohim, the supreme God] by turning [repenting, changing direction] from our iniquities [sins, wickedness] and giving attention [understanding, discerning] to Your truth [faithfulness, reliability]. word study 14 Therefore the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] has kept the calamity [evil, moral or natural harm] in store and brought it upon us [as a consequence of our actions]. For the LORD our God [Elohim, the one supreme God] is righteous [just, fair] in all He does [His works, deeds]; yet we have not obeyed [listened to, heeded] His voice [sound, command]. word study 15 Now, O Lord [Adonay, our sovereign Master] our God [Elohim, the one supreme God], who brought Your people [Your nation, Israel] out of the land [the territory, the country] of Egypt [a country in northeastern Africa] with a mighty [strong, powerful] hand [an open hand; strength, a side or share], and who made for Yourself a name [Your identity, honor, and character] renowned [famous, well-known] to this day [at this present time], we have sinned [missed the mark, gone wrong]; we have acted wickedly [done wrong, been evil]. word study 16 O Lord [Adonay, a title of reverence], in keeping with all Your righteous acts [according to Your justice and virtue], I pray that Your anger [fury, intense wrath] and wrath [burning rage] may turn away [be turned back, return] from Your city Jerusalem [the city of peace, Your holy dwelling place], Your holy mountain [a sacred and set-apart place]; for because of our sins [missing the mark, guilt and offense] and the iniquities [moral evil, wickedness] of our fathers [ancestors, forefathers], Jerusalem and Your people [a nation, a community] are a reproach [shame, scorn] to all around us [our neighbors, those who surround us]. word study 17 So now [at this time, in this moment], our God [Elohim, the one supreme God], hear [listen and obey] the prayers [supplications, heartfelt requests] and petitions [earnest pleas] of Your servant [slave, one who serves]. For Your sake [because of Your great name, for the Lord’s sake], O Lord [Adonay, our Master], cause Your face [presence, countenance] to shine [to give light, to radiate joy] upon Your desolate [devastated, ruined] sanctuary [holy place, temple]. word study 18 Incline Your ear [and give heed], O my God [Elohim, the supreme God], and hear; open Your eyes [and behold with compassion] and see the desolation [devastation, waste] of the city that bears Your name [which is called by Your name]. For we are not presenting our petitions [supplications, heartfelt prayers] before You because of our righteous acts [righteousness, justice], but because of Your great compassion [tender mercies, loving-kindness]. word study 19 O Lord [Adonay, Master and Ruler], listen [hear and obey]! O Lord, forgive [pardon and show mercy]! O Lord, hear [pay attention and consider] and act [intervene and do something]! For Your sake [because of Your honor and reputation], O my God [Elohim, the supreme God], do not delay [postpone or put off], because Your city [the place of Your dwelling and presence] and Your people [those called by Your name] bear [carry and represent] Your name [Your character and identity].” word study 20 While I was speaking [to God, in prayer], praying [and interceding], confessing [acknowledging, throwing] my sin [guilt, rebellion] and that of my people [nation, community] Israel [descendants of Jacob], and presenting [causing to fall, humbly offering] my petition [supplication, request] before the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God] my God [Elohim, the supreme God] concerning [regarding, on behalf of] His holy [set-apart, sacred] mountain [hill]— word study 21 while I [still, yet, in the midst of prayer] was still praying, Gabriel [the archangel, messenger of God], the man [human-like appearance, heavenly being] I had seen in the earlier [initial, first] vision, came to me in swift [rapid, speedy] flight about the time of the evening [sunset, late afternoon] sacrifice [offering, oblation, gift to God]. word study 22 He instructed [taught, gave insight to] me and spoke [communicated, talked] with me, saying: “O Daniel [God is my judge], I have come now [at this time, presently] to give you [bestow upon you, impart to you] insight [wisdom, discernment] and understanding [knowledge, discernment, to separate mentally and know something with your mind]. word study 23 At the [very start, commencement] beginning of your [earnest, heartfelt] petitions [supplications, prayers], an answer [commandment, word] went out [came forth], and I [as a messenger] have come [approached, arrived] to tell [declare, explain] you, for you are [considered, regarded as] highly [greatly, exceedingly] precious [beloved, desired]. So consider [reflect on, ponder] the message [matter, word] and understand [discern, comprehend] the vision [appearance, revelation]: word study 24 Seventy [a period of seventy weeks, seventy sevens] weeks are decreed [determined, appointed] for your people [nation, Israel] and your holy [set-apart, sacred] city to stop [restrain, hold back] their transgression [rebellion, sin], to put an end [finish, complete] to sin [guilt, punishment for sin], to make atonement [reconciliation, covering] for iniquity [moral evil, wickedness], to bring in [introduce, establish] everlasting [eternal, forever] righteousness [justice, moral integrity], to seal up [close, confirm] vision [revelation, prophecy] and prophecy [spoken word from God], and to anoint [set apart, consecrate] the Most Holy [sacred, sanctified] Place [temple, sacred area]. word study 25 Know [be aware, understand] and understand [discern, perceive] this: From the issuance [going forth, exit] of the decree [commandment, word] to restore [return, rebuild] and rebuild [reestablish, renovate] Jerusalem [the city of peace, capital of Israel], until the Messiah [anointed one], the Prince [leader, ruler], there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks [a period of time, a season]. It will be rebuilt [restored, reestablished] with streets [public areas, plazas] and a trench [moat, sharp ditch], but in times [seasons, occasions] of distress [trouble, anguish]. word study 26 Then after the sixty-two weeks [a period of 434 years] the Messiah [anointed one] will be cut off [slain, killed] and will have nothing [no kingdom, no fulfillment]. Then the people of the prince [leader, ruler] who is to come [in the future, yet to arrive] will destroy [ruin, devastate] the city [Jerusalem, the holy city] and the sanctuary [Holy Place, temple]. The end [conclusion, final result] will come like a flood [overwhelming, catastrophic event], and until the end [final conclusion, last day] there will be war [battle, conflict]; desolations [devastations, ruins] have been decreed [determined, decided]. word study 27 And he will confirm [make firm, establish] a covenant [agreement, promise] with many [a large number, the multitude] for one week [a period of seven years], but in the middle [half, midst] of the week he will put an end [cause to cease, stop] to sacrifice [offering, act of worship] and offering [gift, donation]. And on the wing [edge, extremity] of the temple will come the abomination [detestable thing, idol] that causes desolation [devastation, destruction], until the decreed [determined, decided] destruction [consumption, judgment] is poured out [released, unleashed] upon him [the desolate one, the destroyer]. ” word study