< Daniel 10 >
1 In the third year of Cyrus, king of Persia, a matter, was revealed unto Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar; and faithful was the matter, but [concerned] a great warfare, and he marked the word, and had understanding in the revelation.
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.
2 In those days, I, Daniel, was mourning three sevens of days:
In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three full weeks.
3 food to delight in, did I not eat, neither flesh nor wine, came into my mouth, nor did I so much as, anoint, myself, —until were fulfilled three sevens of days.
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.
4 And, on the twenty-fourth day of the first month, —when, I, was by the side of the great river, the same, is Tigris,
On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river, the Tigris,
5 then lifted I up mine eyes, and looked, and lo! a man, clothed in linen, —whose loins, were girded with the bright gold of Uphaz;
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.
6 whose body, was like Tarshish-stone, and, his face, like the appearance of lightning, and, his eyes, were like torches of fire, and, his arms and his feet, like the look of bronze burnished, —and, the sound of his words, was like the sound of a multitude.
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.
7 And, I, Daniel, alone, beheld the revelation, and, the men who were with me, beheld not the revelation, —in truth, a great terror, had fallen upon them, and they had fled while hiding themselves.
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.
8 I, therefore, was left alone, and beheld this great revelation, and there remained in me no strength, —but, my freshness, was turned upon me into disfigurement, and I retained no strength.
So I was left alone, gazing at this great vision. No strength remained in me; my face grew deathly pale, and I was powerless.
9 So then I heard the sound of his words, —and, when I heard the sound of his words, then, I myself, came to be in a deep sleep upon my face, with, my face, to the earth.
I heard the sound of his words, and as I listened, I fell into a deep sleep, with my face to the ground.
10 And lo! a hand, touched me; and roused me up on my knees and the palms of my hands.
Suddenly, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees.
11 Then said he unto me, O Daniel! man greatly delighted in! have understanding in the words which, I, am about to speak unto thee, and stand up where thou art, for, now, have I been sent unto thee. And, when he had spoken with me this word, I stood up trembling.
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.
12 Then said he unto me, Do not fear, Daniel, for, from the first day that thou didst set thy heart to understand and to humble thyself before thy God, thy words were heard; and, I, am come, by reason of thy words.
“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.
13 But, the ruler of the kingdom of Persia, withstood me twenty-one days, but lo! Michael, one of the chief rulers, came in to help me, —and, I, left him there, beside the kings of Persia.
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.
14 So then I am come to let thee understand that which shall befall thy people in the afterpart of the days, —for yet is the vision for [those] days.
Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision concerns those days.”
15 And, when he had spoken with me such words as these, —I set my face towards the earth, and was dumb.
While he was speaking these words to me, I set my face toward the ground and became speechless.
16 Then lo! like the similitude of the sons of men, one was touching my lips, —so I opened my mouth, and spake, and said unto him who was standing before me, O my lord! By the revelation, my pains have seized me, and I retain no strength.
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.
17 How then can the servant of this my lord speak with this my lord, —seeing that, as for me—henceforth, there remaineth in me no strength, and no, spirit, is left in me?
How can I, your servant, speak with you, my lord? Now I have no strength, nor is any breath left in me.”
18 Then again there touched me one like in appearance to a son of earth, and he strengthened me.
Again the one with the likeness of a man touched me and strengthened me.
19 And he said, Do not fear, O man greatly delighted in! peace to thee, be strong, yea be strong! And, as he spake with me, I gained strength, and said, Let my lord speak, for thou hast strengthened me.
“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.”
20 And he said, Knowest thou wherefore I am come unto thee? But, now, must I return to fight with the ruler of Persia; I, therefore am going forth, and lo! the ruler of Greece, is coming.
“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.
21 Howbeit I will tell thee that which is inscribed in the writing of truth, —but there is no one who holdeth strongly with me concerning these things, save Michael your ruler.
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.