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Daniel 12:2
ESV And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
NIV Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.
NASB And many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt.
CSB Many who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to eternal life, and some to disgrace and eternal contempt.
NLT Many of those whose bodies lie dead and buried will rise up, some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting disgrace.
KJV And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
NKJV And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt.

What does Daniel 12:2 mean?

An angel speaking to Daniel (Daniel 10:1, 18–21) continues to describe what will happen in the end times: the last moments of history before God's judgment. The prior verse (Daniel 12:1) mentioned ideas often discussed in "eschatology:" the study of those last days. Among these were the great tribulation and concept of a "book" recording those who are saved.

This verse uses a euphemism for death, calling it "sleep." This reflects the idea that the end of earthly life is not the end of all life. In the New Testament, Paul uses this same metaphor (1 Corinthians 15:51; 1 Thessalonians 4:15).

Another crucial point reinforced here is that all people will be resurrected into one of two fates. These are the only possible eternal fates. One is life with God, the other is the "contempt" of separation from Him (Acts 24:15; Revelation 20:12–13). Jesus also spoke of this two-sided eternal destiny during His earthly ministry (Matthew 25:46; John 5:28–29). John's vision of the ultimate judgment makes the same distinction (Revelation 20:11–15), also making mention of a "book."
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