New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
Daniel 9
1
It was the first year that Darius was king of Babylonia. He was from Media and was the son of Xerxes.
Reference
People
Parallel theme
Daniel 11:1
2
In that year I learned from the Scriptures that Jerusalem would remain destroyed for 70 years. That was what the Lord had told the prophet Jeremiah.
Reference
Kingdom
Ezra 1:1
Jeremiah 27:7
Parallel theme
Zechariah 7:5
Psalm 119:24
Prophecy
Acts 8:34
References Jerusalem
Micah 3:12
Isaiah 64:10
Word
Jeremiah 29:10
2 Chronicles 36:21
Revelation 1:3
3
So I prayed to the Lord God. I begged him. I made many appeals to him. I didn't eat anything. I put on black clothes. And I sat down in ashes.
Reference
Parallel theme
Jeremiah 33:3
Esther 4:16
Nehemiah 9:1
Prayer
Daniel 6:10
Acts 10:30
Psalm 35:13
Luke 2:37
References God
Ezra 9:5
Ezra 8:21
Ezra 10:6
4
I prayed to the Lord my God. I admitted that we had sinned. I said, "Lord, you are a great and wonderful God. You keep the covenant you made with all those who love you and obey your commands. You show them your love.
Reference
Grace
Exodus 20:6
Deuteronomy 5:10
Nehemiah 9:32
Deuteronomy 7:9
1 Kings 8:23
Love
Romans 8:28
Prayer
2 Chronicles 7:14
References God
Deuteronomy 7:21
Jeremiah 3:13
References Lord
Psalm 32:5
5
"We have sinned and done what is wrong. We have been evil. We have refused to obey you. We have turned away from your commands and laws.
Reference
Evil
Hebrews 3:12
Psalm 18:21
Ezekiel 6:9
Parallel theme
Malachi 3:7
Hosea 1:2
Lamentations 1:20
Sin
Daniel 9:11
Daniel 9:15
Psalm 106:6
Jeremiah 14:7
6
We haven't listened to your servants the prophets. They spoke in your name to our kings and princes. They also brought your message to all of our people in the land.
Reference
7
"Lord, you always do what is right. But we are covered with shame today. We are the people of Judah and Jerusalem. All of us are Israelites, no matter where we live. We are now living in many countries. You scattered us among the nations because we weren't faithful to you.
Reference
Parallel theme
Psalm 44:15
Romans 6:21
References Israel
Amos 9:9
References Lord
Jeremiah 3:25
Deuteronomy 4:27
Daniel 9:8
Righteousness
Daniel 9:14
8
Lord, we and our kings and princes and people are covered with shame. We have sinned against you.
Reference
9
"You are the Lord our God. You show us your tender love. You forgive us. But we have turned against you.
Reference
Parallel theme
Daniel 9:5
Psalm 130:4
References God
Psalm 86:15
Isaiah 55:7
Jonah 4:2
References Lord
Daniel 9:7
Psalm 130:7
Jeremiah 14:7
Psalm 62:12
Isaiah 63:7
10
You are the Lord our God. But we haven't obeyed you. We haven't kept the laws you gave us through your servants the prophets.
Reference
11
All of the people of Israel have broken your law and turned away from it. They have refused to obey you. "Curses and warnings are written down in the Law of Moses. He was your servant. Those curses have been poured out on us. That's because we have sinned against you.
12
The warnings you gave us and our rulers have come true. You have brought great trouble on us. Nothing like what has been done to Jerusalem has ever happened anywhere else on earth.
Reference
Judgment
Job 12:17
Parallel theme
Ezekiel 5:9
Lamentations 1:12
References Jerusalem
Lamentations 2:13
Word
Isaiah 44:26
Lamentations 2:17
13
"The curses that are written in the Law of Moses have fallen on us. We have received nothing but trouble. You are the Lord our God. But we haven't asked for your favor. We haven't turned away from our sins. We've refused to pay attention to the laws you gave us.
Reference
Creation
Jeremiah 5:3
Parallel theme
Psalm 119:27
Job 36:13
Isaiah 42:9
Isaiah 64:7
References God
Jeremiah 31:18
Hosea 7:10
References Lord
Isaiah 9:13
Word
Daniel 9:11
Jeremiah 2:30
14
Lord, you didn't hold back from bringing this trouble on us. You always do what is right. But we haven't obeyed you.
Reference
Evil
Jeremiah 44:27
References Lord
Jeremiah 31:28
Righteousness
Daniel 9:7
Nehemiah 9:33
Psalm 51:14
15
"Lord our God, you used your mighty hand to bring your people out of Egypt. You made a name for yourself. It is still great to this very day. But we have sinned. We've done what is wrong.
Reference
Parallel theme
Nehemiah 9:10
Nehemiah 1:10
References God
Exodus 32:11
References Lord
Exodus 6:1
Exodus 14:18
Sin
Daniel 9:5
16
Lord, you saved your people before. So turn your burning anger away from Jerusalem again. After all, it is your city. It's your holy mountain. All those who live around us laugh at Jerusalem and your people. That's because we have sinned. Our people before us did evil things too.
Reference
Holy
Zechariah 8:3
Joel 3:17
Daniel 9:20
Parallel theme
Psalm 79:4
Righteousness
Psalm 31:1
Psalm 71:2
Sin
Exodus 20:5
17
"Our God, hear my prayers. Pay attention to the appeals I make to you. Look with favor on your temple that has been destroyed. Do it for your own honor.
Reference
18
Our God, please listen to us. The city that belongs to you has been destroyed. Open your eyes and see it. We aren't asking you to answer our prayers because we are godly. Instead, we're asking you to do it because you love us so much.
Reference
Parallel theme
Jeremiah 36:7
Jeremiah 25:29
Jeremiah 14:7
References God
Isaiah 37:17
2 Kings 19:16
Jeremiah 15:16
Ezekiel 36:32
19
"Lord, please listen! Lord, please forgive us! Lord, hear our prayers! Take action for your own honor. Our God, please don't wait. Your city and your people belong to you."
Reference
Parallel theme
Luke 11:8
Ephesians 1:12
Numbers 14:19
References God
Daniel 9:18
Amos 7:2
Ephesians 3:10
References Lord
Jeremiah 14:7
Jeremiah 14:9
20
I was speaking and praying. I was admitting that I and my people Israel had sinned. I was making my appeal to the Lord my God concerning his holy mountain of Zion.
Reference
Holy
Daniel 9:16
Kingdom
Isaiah 58:9
Isaiah 6:5
Isaiah 65:24
References Lord
Psalm 145:18
Sin
Romans 3:23
Psalm 32:5
21
While I was still praying, Gabriel came to me. I had seen him in my earlier vision. He flew over to me very quickly. It was about the time when the evening sacrifice is offered.
Reference
Kingdom
Daniel 8:18
Parallel theme
Luke 1:19
Daniel 8:16
1 Kings 18:36
Daniel 10:16
Hebrews 1:14
Isaiah 6:2
Acts 10:3
Psalm 103:20
Exodus 29:39
22
He helped me understand. He said, "Daniel, I have come now to give you a good knowledge and understanding of these things.
Reference
23
You are highly respected. So as soon as you began to pray, the Lord gave you an answer. I have come to tell you what it is. Here is how you must understand the vision.
Reference
Song of Solomon 7:10
Love
Daniel 10:19
Parallel theme
Matthew 24:15
Luke 1:28
Ezekiel 24:16
Ezekiel 26:12
24
"The Lord has appointed 70 'weeks' for your people and your holy city. During that time, acts against God's law will be stopped. Sin will come to an end. And the evil things people do will be paid for. Then everyone will always do what is right. Everything that has been made known in visions and prophecies will come true. And the Most Holy Room in the temple will be anointed.
Reference
Holy
Psalm 2:6
Parallel theme
Romans 5:10
Isaiah 61:1
Leviticus 25:8
Numbers 14:34
Prophecy
Acts 3:22
Righteousness
Isaiah 51:6
Isaiah 56:1
Isaiah 51:8
Psalm 45:7
25
"Here is what I want you to know and understand. There will be seven 'weeks.' Then there will be 62 'weeks.' The seven 'weeks' will begin when an order is given to rebuild Jerusalem and make it like new again. "At the end of the 62 'weeks,' the Anointed King will come. Jerusalem will have streets and a water system when it is rebuilt. But that will be done in times of trouble.
Reference
Parallel theme
Isaiah 9:6
Isaiah 55:4
John 4:25
John 1:41
Nehemiah 6:15
Nehemiah 3:1
Daniel 8:25
References Jerusalem
Ezra 4:24
Nehemiah 4:8
Word
Daniel 9:23
26
After the 62 'weeks,' the Anointed King will be cut off. His followers will desert him. And everything he has will be taken away from him. The army of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the temple. The end will come like a flood. War will continue until the end. The Lord has ordered that many places be destroyed.
Reference
27
"A covenant will be put into effect with many people for one 'week.' In the middle of the 'week' sacrifices and offerings will come to an end. In one part of the temple a hated thing that destroys will be set up. It will remain until the Lord brings the end he has ordered."
Reference
Covenant
Isaiah 55:3
Parallel theme
Matthew 24:15
Luke 21:20
Mark 13:14
Daniel 11:36
Sacrifice
Daniel 12:11
Daniel 8:13
Chapter Summary
Daniel 9 begins with Daniel studying Jeremiah's prophecy concerning the seventy years of Jerusalem's desolation, and instead of simply waiting for the promised period to end, Daniel responds by fasting, confessing Israel's sins, acknowledging God's righteousness, and urgently asking for mercy and restoration for Jerusalem and the ruined sanctuary.
Daniel's prayer is remarkable because he does not approach God by claiming that Israel deserves restoration.
Instead, he openly admits that the nation has sinned, rebelled, ignored God's commandments, rejected the warnings of the prophets, and experienced judgment as a consequence of its persistent disobedience.
At the same time, Daniel repeatedly emphasizes God's righteousness, faithfulness, compassion, and willingness to forgive, making the prayer both a confession of national guilt and an appeal to the character of God.
Daniel also recognizes that the destruction of Jerusalem is not merely a political tragedy but a spiritual consequence of Israel's broken relationship with God.
He therefore asks God to restore Jerusalem and the sanctuary, not because Israel has earned such restoration, but because God's mercy and reputation are ultimately at stake.
While Daniel is still praying, Gabriel arrives and tells him that his prayer has been heard from the beginning.
The answer, however, goes far beyond the immediate question of the seventy years.
Gabriel introduces the much larger prophecy of the seventy weeks, explaining that God's purposes for Daniel's people and Jerusalem extend beyond the immediate return from exile and involve dealing with rebellion, sin, guilt, righteousness, prophecy, and the restoration of what is holy.
The prophecy describes a sequence of events involving the restoration and rebuilding of Jerusalem, the appearance and subsequent removal of an anointed figure, further destruction of the city and sanctuary, and a final period associated with covenant, sacrifice, abomination, and desolation.
Daniel 9 therefore connects historical restoration with a much larger divine plan, showing that the end of the Babylonian exile does not represent the complete resolution of Israel's spiritual problems.
The chapter also demonstrates an important relationship between prayer and prophecy because Daniel studies God's previous revelation, responds through repentance and intercession, and then receives further revelation that expands his understanding of God's purposes.
The central message is that Daniel 9 teaches that genuine prayer begins with humility, honest confession, and confidence in God's mercy rather than confidence in human righteousness, as Daniel recognizes Israel's guilt while appealing to God's faithfulness and compassion for the restoration of Jerusalem.
The chapter also shows that God's plan extends far beyond the immediate return from exile, because the revelation of the seventy weeks places Jerusalem's restoration, the problem of sin, the coming of an anointed ruler, further suffering, and ultimate divine judgment within a larger timetable that remains under God's control.
Daniel's prayer is remarkable because he does not approach God by claiming that Israel deserves restoration.
Instead, he openly admits that the nation has sinned, rebelled, ignored God's commandments, rejected the warnings of the prophets, and experienced judgment as a consequence of its persistent disobedience.
At the same time, Daniel repeatedly emphasizes God's righteousness, faithfulness, compassion, and willingness to forgive, making the prayer both a confession of national guilt and an appeal to the character of God.
Daniel also recognizes that the destruction of Jerusalem is not merely a political tragedy but a spiritual consequence of Israel's broken relationship with God.
He therefore asks God to restore Jerusalem and the sanctuary, not because Israel has earned such restoration, but because God's mercy and reputation are ultimately at stake.
While Daniel is still praying, Gabriel arrives and tells him that his prayer has been heard from the beginning.
The answer, however, goes far beyond the immediate question of the seventy years.
Gabriel introduces the much larger prophecy of the seventy weeks, explaining that God's purposes for Daniel's people and Jerusalem extend beyond the immediate return from exile and involve dealing with rebellion, sin, guilt, righteousness, prophecy, and the restoration of what is holy.
The prophecy describes a sequence of events involving the restoration and rebuilding of Jerusalem, the appearance and subsequent removal of an anointed figure, further destruction of the city and sanctuary, and a final period associated with covenant, sacrifice, abomination, and desolation.
Daniel 9 therefore connects historical restoration with a much larger divine plan, showing that the end of the Babylonian exile does not represent the complete resolution of Israel's spiritual problems.
The chapter also demonstrates an important relationship between prayer and prophecy because Daniel studies God's previous revelation, responds through repentance and intercession, and then receives further revelation that expands his understanding of God's purposes.
The central message is that Daniel 9 teaches that genuine prayer begins with humility, honest confession, and confidence in God's mercy rather than confidence in human righteousness, as Daniel recognizes Israel's guilt while appealing to God's faithfulness and compassion for the restoration of Jerusalem.
The chapter also shows that God's plan extends far beyond the immediate return from exile, because the revelation of the seventy weeks places Jerusalem's restoration, the problem of sin, the coming of an anointed ruler, further suffering, and ultimate divine judgment within a larger timetable that remains under God's control.