Four large animals came up out of the sea. Each one was different from the others.

有四个大兽从海中上来，形状各有不同：

有四只巨兽从海里上来，它们各不相同：

有四只巨兽从海里上来，它们各不相同：

接着，四只巨兽从海中上来，各有不同的形状。

“有四只巨兽从海中上来，形状各不相同。

有四只巨兽从海里上来，各个都不相同。

有四個大獸從海中上來，形狀各有不同：

有四隻巨獸從海裏上來，牠們各不相同：

有四隻巨獸從海裏上來，牠們各不相同：

接著，四隻巨獸從海中上來，各有不同的形狀。

“有四隻巨獸從海中上來，形狀各不相同。

有四隻大獸從海中上來，彼此各不相同。

有四隻巨獸從海裡上來，各個都不相同。

有四巨獸、自海而出、其狀各殊、

四獸甚巨、自海而出、狀各殊異、

四獸甚巨、自海而出、其狀各異、

Four great beasts, each different from the others, came up out of the sea.

And four great beasts came up out of the sea, different from one another.

Then four huge beasts came up out of the water, each different from the others.

Four huge beasts came up from the sea, each different from the other.

And four great beasts were coming up from the sea, different from one another.

And four great beasts came up from the sea, each different from the other.

And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.

Four huge beasts came up from the sea, each different from the other.

And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.

Then four large beasts came up from the sea; they were different from one another.

Four great animals came up from the sea, different from one another.

The dragon stood on the seashore. I saw a beast coming out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads. There were ten crowns on its horns. On each head was an evil name that brought shame to God.

He said,‘ The four large animals stand for four kings. The kings will appear on the earth.

“ The first animal was like a lion. It had the wings of an eagle. I watched until its wings were torn off. Then it was lifted up from the ground. It stood on two feet like a human being. And the mind of a human being was given to it.“ I saw a second animal. It looked like a bear. It was raised up on one of its sides. And it had three ribs between its teeth. It was told,‘ Get up! Eat meat until you are full!’“ After that, I saw another animal. It looked like a leopard. On its back were four wings like the wings of a bird. The animal I saw had four heads. And it was given authority to rule.“ After that, in my vision I looked up and saw a fourth animal. It was terrifying and very powerful. It had large iron teeth. It crushed those it attacked and ate them up. It stomped on anything that was left. It was different from the other animals. And it had ten horns.“ I thought about the horns. Then I saw another horn. It was a little one. It grew up among the other horns. Three of the first horns were pulled up by their roots to make room for it. The little horn had eyes like the eyes of a human being. Its mouth was always bragging.

I looked up again and saw four chariots. They were coming out from between two mountains. The mountains were made out of bronze.The first chariot was pulled by red horses. The second one had black horses.The third had white horses. And the fourth had spotted horses. All the horses were powerful.I asked the angel who was talking with me,“ Sir, what are these?”The angel answered,“ The four spirits of heaven. They are going out to serve the Lord of the whole world.The chariot pulled by the black horses is going toward the north country. The one with the white horses is going toward the west. And the one with the spotted horses is going toward the south.”The powerful horses went out. They were in a hurry to go all over the earth. The angel said,“ Go all through the earth!” So they did.Then the Lord called out to me,“ Look! The horses going toward the north have given my Spirit rest in the north country.”

One of them was Jehoahaz. He became a strong lion. He learned to tear apart what he caught. And he became a man- eater.The nations heard about him. They trapped him in their pit. They put hooks in his face. And they led him away to Egypt.“‘ The mother lion looked and waited. But all her hope was gone. So she got another one of her cubs. She made him into a strong lion.He prowled with the lions. He became very strong. He learned to tear apart what he caught. And he became a man- eater.He broke down their forts. He completely destroyed their towns. The land and all those who were in it were terrified when he roared.Then nations came against him. They came from all around him. They spread out their net to catch him. He was trapped in their pit.

The head of the statue was made out of pure gold. Its chest and arms were made out of silver. Its stomach and thighs were made out of bronze.Its legs were made out of iron. And its feet were partly iron and partly baked clay.

God, you shine like a very bright light. You are more majestic than mountains full of wild animals.

King Nebuchadnezzar, you are the greatest king of all. The God of heaven has given you authority and power. He has given you might and glory.He has put everyone under your control. He has also given you authority over the wild animals and the birds in the sky. It doesn’t matter where they live. He has made you ruler over all of them. You are that head of gold.“ After you, another kingdom will take over. It won’t be as powerful as yours. Next, a third kingdom will rule over the whole earth. The bronze part of the statue stands for that kingdom.Finally, there will be a fourth kingdom. It will be as strong as iron. Iron breaks and smashes everything to pieces. And the fourth kingdom will crush and break all the others.