Chapter 9
1 In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the offspring of the Medes , who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans —
2 in the first year of his reign I , Daniel , understood by the books the number of the years about which Yahweh ’s word came to Jeremiah the prophet for the accomplishing of the desolations of Jerusalem , even seventy years .
3 I set my face to the Lord God , to seek by prayer and petitions, with fasting and sackcloth and ashes.
4 I prayed to Yahweh my God , and made confession , and said, "Oh, Lord , the great and dreadful God , who keeps covenant and loving kindness with those who love him and keep his commandments ,
5 we have sinned , and have dealt perversely , and have done wickedly , and have rebelled , even turning aside from your precepts and from your ordinances .
6 We haven’t listened to your servants the prophets , who spoke in your name to our kings , our princes , and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.
7 "Lord, righteousness belongs to you , but to us confusion of face , as it is today ; to the men of Judah , and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem , and to all Israel , who are near and who are far off , through all the countries where you have driven them , because of their trespass that they have trespassed against you .
8 Lord , to us belongs confusion of face , to our kings , to our princes , and to our fathers, because we have sinned against you .
9 To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgiveness , for we have rebelled against him .
10 We haven’t obeyed Yahweh our God ’s voice , to walk in his laws , which he set before us by his servants the prophets .
11 Yes , all Israel have transgressed your law , turning aside , that they should not obey your voice . " Therefore the curse and the oath written in the law of Moses the servant of God has been poured out on us , for we have sinned against him .
12 He has confirmed his words , which he spoke against us and against our judges who judged us , by bringing on us a great evil ; for under the whole sky , such has not been done as has been done to Jerusalem .
13 As it is written in the law of Moses , all this evil has come on us . Yet we have not entreated the favor of Yahweh our God , that we should turn from our iniquities and have discernment in your truth .
14 Therefore Yahweh has watched over the evil , and brought it on us ; for Yahweh our God is righteous in all his works which he does , and we have not obeyed his voice .
15 " Now , Lord our God , who has brought your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand , and have gotten yourself renown , as it is today , we have sinned . We have done wickedly .
16 Lord, according to all your righteousness , please let your anger and your wrath be turned away from your city Jerusalem , your holy mountain ; because for our sins and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and your people have become a reproach to all who are around us .
17 " Now therefore , our God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his petitions, and cause your face to shine on your sanctuary that is desolate , for the Lord’s sake .
18 My God , turn your ear and hear . Open your eyes and see our desolations , and the city which is called by your name ; for we do not present our petitions before you for our righteousness , but for your great mercies ’ sake .
19 Lord, hear . Lord, forgive . Lord, listen and do . Don’t defer, for your own sake , my God, because your city and your people are called by your name ."
20 While I was speaking , praying , and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel , and presenting my supplication before Yahweh my God for the holy mountain of my God —
21 yes , while I was speaking in prayer — the man Gabriel , whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning , being caused to fly swiftly , touched me about the time of the evening offering .
22 He instructed me and talked with me , and said , " Daniel , I have now come to give you wisdom and understanding .
23 At the beginning of your petitions the commandment went out , and I have come to tell you , for you are greatly beloved. Therefore consider the matter and understand the vision .
24 " Seventy weeks are decreed on your people and on your holy city , to finish disobedience, to make an end of sins , to make reconciliation for iniquity , to bring in everlasting righteousness , to seal up vision and prophecy , and to anoint the most holy .
25 " Know therefore and discern that from the going out of the commandment to restore and build Jerusalem to the Anointed One , the prince , will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks . It will be built again , with street and moat , even in troubled times .
26 After the sixty-two weeks the Anointed One will be cut off , and will have nothing. The people of the prince who come will destroy the city and the sanctuary . Its end will be with a flood , and war will be even to the end . Desolations are determined .
27 He will make a firm covenant with many for one week . In the middle of the week he will cause the sacrifice and the offering to cease . On the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate ; and even to the decreed full end , wrath will be poured out on the desolate ."