Daniel 9

1In the first year of Darius son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, who was made king over the kingdom of the Chaldeans.

2In his first year as king, I, Daniel, understood through the books the number of the years specified in the word of Yahweh to Jeremiah the prophet for fulfilling the desolations of Jerusalem, seventy years.

3I turned my face toward the Lord God to seek prayer and supplications with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.

4I prayed to Yahweh my God and confessed, saying, "Please, Lord God, great and awesome, who keeps covenant and steadfast love for those who love him and keep his commandments."

5We have sinned, acted corruptly and wickedly, and rebelled by turning away from your commandments and judgments.

6Nor have we 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.

7Lord, righteousness is yours, but shame covers our faces this day—to Judah's men, Jerusalem's inhabitants, all Israel near and far, in every land where you drove them because of their unfaithfulness in which they trespassed against you.

8Yahweh, shame of face belongs to us, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against you.

9With the Lord our God are compassion and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him.

10and we have not heeded the voice of Yahweh our God to walk in his laws, which he placed before us by the hand of his servants the prophets.

11All Israel has violated your law and turned aside, so as not to heed your voice, and the curse and the oath written in the law of Moses, servant of God, have poured out upon us, because we have sinned against him.

12He has fulfilled his words, which he spoke against us and against our judges who judged us, by bringing upon us a great calamity such as has not been done under all the heavens, as has been done in Jerusalem.

13As recorded in the law of Moses, all this affliction has come upon us, yet we have not besought the face of Yahweh our God to turn from our iniquities and understand your truth.

14Yahweh watched over the calamity and brought it upon us, for Yahweh our God is righteous in all his deeds that he has done, yet we have not obeyed his voice.

15And now, Lord our God, who brought your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand and made a name for yourself, as at this day; we have sinned, we have done wickedly.

16Lord, in keeping with all your righteousness, please turn your anger and wrath away from your city Jerusalem, your holy mountain; for our sins and the iniquities of our fathers have made Jerusalem and your people a reproach to all around us.

17Now, our God, hear your servant's prayer and his pleas, and let your face shine upon your desolate sanctuary, for the Lord's sake.

18My God, incline your ear and hear; open your eyes and see our desolations and the city on which your name is called, for we do not fall before you with our supplications for our righteousnesses, but for your abundant mercies.

19Lord, hear! Lord, forgive! Lord, give ear and act! Do not delay, for your sake, my God, for your name is called upon your city and your people.

20While I was still speaking and 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,

21While I was still speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, flying swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening offering.

22He made me understand and spoke with me, and said, "Daniel, now I have come to instruct you in understanding."

23At the beginning of your supplications the word went forth, and I came to declare it to you, for you are greatly cherished. Understand the matter, and perceive the vision.

24Seventy weeks are ordained for your people and your holy city, to end transgression, to seal sin, to finish sins, to atone for iniquity, to bring everlasting righteousness, to seal vision and prophecy, and to anoint the holy of holies.

25Know and understand that from the issuing of the command to restore and build Jerusalem until Messiah the ruler there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; the street and moat will be restored and built, even in the distress of the times.

27He will strengthen a covenant with many for one week, and in the middle of the week he will halt sacrifice and offering; upon the wing of abominations a desolator will come, even until consummation and decreed judgment pours out on the desolator.