In the firstyearof Dariusthe sonof Ahasuerus, of the seedof the Medes, whichwas made kingoverthe realmof the Chaldeans; In the firstyearof his reignIDanielunderstoodby booksthe numberof the years, whereofthe wordof the LORDcametoJeremiahthe prophet, that he would accomplishseventyyearsin the desolationsof Jerusalem. And I setmy faceuntothe LordGod, to seekby prayerand supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes: And I prayedunto the LORDmy God, and made my confession, and said, OLord, the greatand dreadfulGod, keepingthe covenantand mercyto them that lovehim, and to them that keephis commandments; We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departingfrom thy preceptsand from thy judgments: Neitherhave we hearkeneduntothy servantsthe prophets, whichspokein thy nametoour kings, our princes, and our fathers, and toallthe peopleof the land. O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusionof faces, as at thisday; to the menof Judah, and to the inhabitantsof Jerusalem, and unto allIsrael, that are near, and that are far off, through allthe countrieswhitherthou hast driventhem, because of their trespassthatthey have trespassedagainst thee. O Lord, to us belongeth confusionof face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, becausewe have sinnedagainst thee. To the Lordour God belong merciesand forgivenesses, thoughwe have rebelledagainst him; Neitherhave we obeyedthe voiceof the LORDour God, to walkin his laws, whichhe setbeforeus byhis servantsthe prophets. Yea, allIsraelhave transgressedthy law, even by departing, that they might notobeythy voice; therefore the curseis poureduponus, and the oaththat is writtenin the lawof Mosesthe servantof God, becausewe have sinnedagainst him. And he hath confirmedhis words, whichhe spokeagainstus, and againstour judgesthatjudgedus, by bringinguponus a greatevil: forunderthe wholeheavenhath notbeen doneashath been doneupon Jerusalem. As it is writtenin the lawof Moses, allthisevilis comeuponus: yet made we not our prayerbeforethe LORDour God, that we might turnfrom our iniquities, and understandthy truth. Therefore hath the LORDwatcheduponthe evil, and broughtit uponus: forthe LORDour God is righteousinallhis workswhichhe doeth: for we obeyednothis voice. And now, O Lordour God, thathast brought thy people forthout of the landof Egyptwith a mightyhand, and hast gottenthee renown, as at thisday; we have sinned, we have done wickedly. O Lord, according to allthy righteousness, I beseech thee, let thine angerand thy furybe turned awayfrom thy cityJerusalem, thy holymountain: becausefor our sins, and for the iniquitiesof our fathers, Jerusalemand thy people are become a reproachto all that are aboutus. Nowtherefore, O our God, hearthe prayerof thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy faceto shineuponthy sanctuarythat is desolate, for the Lord's sake. O my God, inclinethine ear, and hear; openthine eyes, and beholdour desolations, and the citywhichis calledbythy name: forwedo notpresentour supplicationsbeforethee forour righteousnesses, butforthy greatmercies. O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearkenand do; defernot, for thine own sake, O my God: forthy cityand thy peopleare calledby thy name. And whileI was speaking, and praying, and confessingmy sinand the sinof my peopleIsrael, and presentingmy supplicationbeforethe LORDmy Godforthe holymountainof my God; Yea, whileI was speakingin prayer, even the manGabriel, whomI had seenin the visionat the beginning, being caused to flyswiftly, touchedme about the timeof the eveningoblation. And he informed me , and talkedwithme, and said, O Daniel, I am nowcome forthto give thee skilland understanding. At the beginningof thy supplicationsthe commandmentcame forth, and Iam cometo show thee ; forthou art greatly beloved: therefore understandthe matter, and considerthe vision. Seventyweeksare determineduponthy peopleand uponthy holycity, to finishthe transgression, and to make an endof sins, and to make reconciliationfor iniquity, and to bring ineverlastingrighteousness, and to seal upthe visionand prophecy, and to anointthe most Holy. Knowtherefore and understand, that fromthe going forthof the commandmentto restoreand to buildJerusalemuntothe Messiahthe Prince shall be sevenweeks, and threescoreand twoweeks: the streetshall be builtagain, and the wall, even in troubloustimes. And afterthreescoreand twoweeksshall Messiahbe cut off, but notfor himself: and the peopleof the princethat shall comeshall destroythe cityand the sanctuary; and the endthereof shall be with a flood, and untothe endof the wardesolationsare determined. And he shall confirmthe covenantwith manyfor oneweek: and in the midstof the weekhe shall cause the sacrificeand the oblationto cease, and forthe overspreadingof abominationshe shall make it desolate, even untilthe consummation, and that determinedshall be poureduponthe desolate.