Daniel 9

Daniel’s Prayer

1 So it was the first year of Darius, the son of Xerxes, who was made king over the Babylonian empire.

2 In that first year, I, Daniel, was reading the scriptures and came across the writings of Jeremiah the prophet. He said that Jerusalem would be in ruins for 70 years.

3 So, I turned to God, prayed, and fasted. I put on sackcloth and ashes, showing God I was serious.

4 I prayed to the Lord, saying, “O Lord, you are great and awesome, keeping your word and showing love to those who follow your commands.”

5 “But we messed up. We have sinned and acted wicked, rebelled against you, ignored your laws.”

6 “We did not listen to the prophets who spoke in your name to our kings, leaders, ancestors, and all the people.”

7 “Lord, righteousness is yours, but we are covered in shame, as is everyone from Judah, Jerusalem, and Israel, near and far, because we have sinned against you.”

8 “We are all ashamed, our kings, our leaders, our fathers, because we messed up against you.”

9 “But Lord, you are merciful and forgiving, even though we rebelled against you.”

10 “We have not listened to your voice or followed the laws you gave through your prophets.”

11 “All of Israel has violated your law and turned away, refusing to obey you. That is why the curse from the Law of Moses, your servant, has fallen on us, because we sinned against you.”

12 “You did what you said you would, bringing disaster on us and on Jerusalem. Nobody is ever seen anything like this in all of history.”

13 “Just like it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come on us, but we have not turned back to you, or asked for your mercy, or tried to understand your truth.”

14 “So, you brought this disaster upon us, Lord, because you are righteous in everything you do, and we did not obey your voice.”

15 “Lord our God, you brought us out of Egypt with a strong hand, making a name for yourself that lasts to this day, but we have sinned and done wicked things.”

16 “Lord, because of all your righteous acts, please turn your anger away from Jerusalem, your holy city. Our sins and our ancestors’ sins have brought disgrace on your people and your city.”

17 “So now, Lord, hear your servant’s prayer. Look with favor on your ruined sanctuary, for your own sake.”

18 “Listen, God, open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your name. We are not asking because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy.”

19 “Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! Do not delay, for your sake, God, because your city and your people bear your name.”

Gabriel’s Answer

20 While I was still speaking, praying, and confessing my sins and the sins of my people, Israel, and asking for mercy for Jerusalem, God’s holy mountain…

21 While I was still in prayer, Gabriel, the same angel I had seen in my earlier visions, came to me in swift flight around the time of the evening sacrifice.

22 He said, “Daniel, I have come now to give you insight and understanding.”

23 “As soon as you started praying, a word went out, and I have come to tell you because you are highly esteemed. So listen to the message and understand the vision."

The Seventy Weeks

24 “Seventy ‘sevens’ are set for your people and your holy city to finish rebellion, put an end to sin, atone for wickedness, bring everlasting righteousness, seal up the vision, and anoint the Most Holy Place.”

25 “Know and understand this: From the time the word goes out to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One (the Messiah), the ruler comes, there will be seven ‘sevens’ and sixty-two ‘sevens.’ It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble.”

26 “After the sixty-two ‘sevens,’ the Anointed One will be cut off and have nothing. The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed.”

27 “He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven,’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. At the temple, he will set up an abomination that causes desolation until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.”