Daniel 10
1 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, a message was revealed to Daniel, who was called Belteshazzar. The message was true, and it concerned a great conflict. And the understanding of the message was given to him in a vision.
In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, a message was revealed to Daniel, who was also called Belteshazzar. This message was true. It was about a great war. Daniel understood the message when he had insight from the vision.
2 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three full weeks.
In those days I, Daniel, was in mourning for three weeks.
3 I ate no rich food, no meat or wine entered my mouth, and I did not anoint myself with oil until the three weeks were completed.
I ate no delicacies, I ate no meat, I drank no wine, and I did not anoint myself with oil until the completion of three entire weeks.
4 On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river, the Tigris,
On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was beside the great river (that is, the Tigris),
5 I lifted up my eyes, and behold, there was a certain man dressed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist.
I looked up and saw a man dressed in linen, with a belt around his waist made of pure gold from Uphaz.
6 His body was like beryl, his face like the brilliance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of polished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude.
His body was like topaz, and his face was like lightning. His eyes were like flaming torches, and his arms and his feet were like polished bronze. The sound of his words was like the sound of a great crowd.
7 Only I, Daniel, saw the vision; the men with me did not see it, but a great terror fell upon them, and they ran and hid themselves.
I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see the vision. However, a great terror came on them, and they ran away to hide themselves.
8 So I was left alone, gazing at this great vision. No strength remained in me; my face grew deathly pale, and I was powerless.
So I was left alone and saw this great vision. No strength remained in me; my bright appearance was turned into a ruined look, and no strength remained in me.
9 I heard the sound of his words, and as I listened, I fell into a deep sleep, with my face to the ground.
Then I heard his words—and as I heard them, I fell on my face in deep sleep with my face to the ground.
10 Suddenly, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees.
A hand touched me, and it made me tremble in my knees and the palms of my hands.
11 He said to me, “Daniel, you are a man who is highly precious. Consider carefully the words that I am about to say to you. Stand up, for I have now been sent to you.” And when he had said this to me, I stood up trembling.
The angel said to me, “Daniel, man greatly treasured, understand the words that I am speaking to you. Stand upright, for I have been sent to you.” When he had spoken this message to me, I stood up trembling.
12 “Do not be afraid, Daniel,” he said, “for from the first day that you purposed to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.
Then he said to me, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you set your mind to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come because of your words.
13 However, the prince of the kingdom of Persia opposed me for twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia.
The prince of the kingdom of Persia resisted me, and I was kept there with the kings of Persia for twenty-one days. But Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me.
14 Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision concerns those days.”
Now I have come to help you understand what will happen to your people in the last days. For the vision is for days yet to come.”
15 While he was speaking these words to me, I set my face toward the ground and became speechless.
While he was speaking to me using these words, I turned my face toward the ground and was unable to speak.
16 And suddenly one with the likeness of a man touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and said to the one standing before me, “My lord, because of the vision, I am overcome with anguish, and I have no strength.
One who was like the sons of man touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and spoke to him who stood before me: “My master, I am in agony because of the vision; I have no strength left.
17 How can I, your servant, speak with you, my lord? Now I have no strength, nor is any breath left in me.”
I am your servant. How can I talk with my master? For I now have no strength, and there is no breath left in me.”
18 Again the one with the likeness of a man touched me and strengthened me.
Again the one with an appearance of a man touched me and strengthened me.
19 “Do not be afraid, you who are highly precious,” he said. “Peace be with you! Be strong now; be very strong!” As he spoke with me, I was strengthened and said, “Speak, my lord, for you have strengthened me.”
He said, “Do not be afraid, man greatly treasured. May peace be to you! Be strong now, be strong!” While he was speaking to me, I was strengthened. I said, “Let my master speak, for you have strengthened me.”
20 “Do you know why I have come to you?” he said. “I must return at once to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I have gone forth, behold, the prince of Greece will come.
He said, “Do you know why I have come to you? I will soon return to fight against the prince of Persia. When I go, the prince of Greece will come.
21 But first I will tell you what is inscribed in the Book of Truth. Yet no one has the courage to support me against these, except Michael your prince.
But I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. There is no one who shows himself to be strong with me against them, except Michael your prince.”
