9. “As I looked, thrones were placed,and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow,and the hair of his head like pure wool;his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire.
10. A stream of fire issuedand came out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him;the court sat in judgment,and the books were opened.
11. “I looked then because of the sound of the great words that the horn was speaking. And as I looked, the beast was killed, and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire.
12. As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.
13. “I saw in the night visions,and behold, with the clouds of heaventhere came one like a son of man,and he came to the Ancient of Daysand was presented before him.
14. And to him was given dominionand glory and a kingdom,that all peoples, nations, and languagesshould serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion,which shall not pass away,and his kingdom onethat shall not be destroyed.
15. “As for me, Daniel, my spirit within me was anxious, and the visions of my head alarmed me.
16. I approached one of those who stood there and asked him the truth concerning all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of the things.
17. ‘These four great beasts are four kings who shall arise out of the earth.