In Daniel 12: 4, Daniel is instructed to close and seal a book. This book is not to be opened until the time of the end of the world. Then, he is told something in regard to what will be happening in those final years. As one reads the various versions, a number of translations (or interpretations) can be seen. The complete verse for twenty-four versions is quoted. It is this last part of the verse that is being considered here.
Versions Compared
- AAT – An American Translation (Beck)
- AB – Amplified Bible
- DHB – Darby Holy Bible
- EVD – English Version for the Deaf
- GW – God’s Word
- HBME – The Holy Bible in Modern English
- KJV – King James Version
- KTC – Knox Translation
- LB – Living Bible
- LBP – Lamsa Bible
- LXX – The Septuagint
- MNT – Moffatt New Translation
- NAB – New American Bible
- NBV – New Berkeley Version
- NCV – New Century Version
- NEB – New English Bible
- NIV – New International Version
- NJB – New Jerusalem Bible
- NRS – New Revised Standard Version
- NWT – New World Translation
- REB – Revised English Bible
- SGAT – An American Translation (Smith-Goodspeed)
- SISR – The Scriptures (ISR)
- TEV – Today’s English Version
Daniel 12: 4
AAT – “But you, Daniel, keep these words and seal the book till the last time. Many will seek it thoroughly, and knowledge will grow.”
AB – But you, O Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book until the time of the end. [Then] many shall run to and fro and search anxiously [through the Book], and knowledge [of God’s purposes as revealed by His prophets] shall be increased and become great. [Cf. Amos 8:12.]
DHB – And thou, Daniel, close the words, and seal the book, till the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
Footnote: [shall run to and fro] – Or “shall diligently investigate.” See Job 1:7; 2:2.
EVD – “But you, Daniel, keep this message a secret until the time of the end. Many people will go here and there looking for true knowledge. And the true knowledge will increase.”
GW – “But you, Daniel, keep these words secret, and seal the book until the end times. Many will travel everywhere, and knowledge will grow.”
HBME – “So you, Daniel, conceal the events, and seal the record, until the fixed period, when many will travel and knowledge will be increased.”
KJV – But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
KTC – For thyself, Daniel, keep this revelation locked away; sealed up in the record of it must be until the hour appointed. Leave others to hasten to and fro, in search of knowledge.
Footnote: The last part of this verse cannot be rendered with any certainty.
LB – “But Daniel, keep this prophecy a secret; seal it up so that it will not be understood until the end times, when travel and education shall be vastly increased.”
LBP – But you, O Daniel, seal these words and be silent, and seal this book even to the time of the end; many shall want to know the end, and knowledge shall be increased.
LXX – And thou, Daniel, close the words, and seal the book to the time of the end; until many are taught, and knowledge is increased.
MNT – And now, O Daniel, keep all this a close secret, till the crisis at the end; ere then many shall give way and trouble shall be multiplied on earth.
NAB – “As for you, Daniel, keep secret the message and seal the book until the end time; many shall fall away and evil shall increase.”
NBV – “But you, Daniel, keep the message a secret; seal the Book until the final period; many shall investigate and information shall advance.”
Footnote: [shall investigate] – Literally, shall run back and forth.
NCV – “But you, Daniel, close up the book and seal it. These things will happen at the time of the end. Many people will go here and there to find true knowledge.”
NEB – But you, Daniel, keep the words secret and seal the book till the time of the end. Many will be at their wits’ end, and punishment will be heavy.
NIV – But you, Daniel, close up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge.
NJB – “But you, Daniel, must keep these words secret and keep the book sealed until the time of the End. Many will roam about, this way and that, and wickedness will continue to increase.”
NRS – “But you, Daniel, keep the words secret and the book sealed until the time of the end. Many shall be running back and forth, and evil shall increase.”
NWT – “As for you, O Daniel, make secret the words and seal up the book, until the time of [the] end. Many will rove about; and the [true] knowledge will become abundant.”
REB – “But you, Daniel, keep the words secret and seal the book until the time of the end. Many will rush to and fro, trying to gain such knowledge.”
SGAT – “And now , O Daniel, bind up the words, and seal the book till the time of the end; for many shall prove disloyal, and troubles shall be many.”
SISR – “But you, Dani’el, hide the words, and seal the book until the time of the end. Many shall diligently search and knowledge shall increase.”
TEV – He said to me, “And now, Daniel, close the book and put a seal on it until the end of the world. Meanwhile, many people will waste their efforts trying to understand what is happening.”
