Daniel 10
1 During the third year that Cyrus was the king of Persia, I Daniel, [who had been given the] name Belteshazzar, received [another] message [from God]. The message was true, but it was very difficult for me to understand it. But [later] I understood the message because of the vision that I had seen.
Ngomnyaka wesithathu kaKhurosi inkosi yasePhezhiya, kwafika kuDanyeli (owayebizwa ngokuthi nguBhelitheshazari) isambulelo. Umbiko waso wawuqinisile umayelana lempi enkulu. Ukuzwisiseka kombiko lowo kwamehlela ngombono.
2 At that time I had been sad for three weeks [about what had happened to Jerusalem].
Kulesosikhathi mina Danyeli ngalila okwamaviki amathathu.
3 I did not eat any tasty food or any meat or drink any wine. I did not even put any perfumed oil on my [face or hair] for those three weeks.
Angizange ngikudle ukudla okuconsayo; inyama loba iwayini kakuzange kuzithinte izindebe zami; njalo kangizange ngisebenzise amagcobo lakanye kwaze kwaphela amaviki amathathu.
4 [When those three weeks ended, ] on April 23, [my companions and] I were standing on the bank of the great Tigris River.
Ngosuku lwamatshumi amabili lane lwenyanga yokuqala, ngathi ngimi ekhunjini lomfula omkhulu, iThigrisi,
5 I looked up and saw someone there who was wearing fine white/linen clothes and a belt [made of] pure gold.
ngakhangela ngabona khonapho phambi kwami kumi indoda igqoke ilineni, ilebhanti legolide elihle okhalweni lwayo.
6 His body [shone] like a precious beryl stone. His face was as [bright as] a flash of lightning. His eyes [were/shone] like flaming torches. His arms and legs [shone] like polished bronze. And his voice was [very loud], like the roar of a huge crowd.
Umzimba wayo wawufana lekhrisolathi, ubuso bayo bunjengombane, amehlo ayo enjengezibane ezivuthayo, izingalo zayo lemilenze yayo kufanana lokukhazimula kwethusi elilolongiweyo, lelizwi layo linjengomsindo wexuku labantu.
7 I, Daniel, was the only one who saw this vision. The men who were with me did not see anything, but [they sensed that someone was there, and they] became terrified. They ran away and hid themselves.
Mina Danyeli, yimi ngedwa engawubonayo umbono; amadoda ayelami kawubonanga, kodwa afikelwa yikwesaba okukhulu aze abaleka ayacatsha.
8 So I was left there by myself, looking at this very unusual vision. I had no strength left. My face became very pale, with the result that no one would have recognized me.
Ngakho ngasala ngedwa, ngiqhuzule amehlo ami kulo umbono omkhulu; ngaphela amandla, ubuso bami bahloba okokufa njalo sengiphelelwe.
9 I saw a man there, and when I heard him speak, I fell to the ground. I (fainted/became unconscious), [and I lay there] with my face on the ground.
Ngasengimuzwa ekhuluma, kwathi ngilokhu ngimlalele, ngehlelwa likhoza lobuthongo ngithe mbo phansi ngobuso.
10 Suddenly someone’s hand took hold of me and lifted me, with the result that I was on my hands and knees, [but I was still] trembling.
Isandla sangithinta ngezwa sengiqhaqhazela ezandleni lemadolweni.
11 The man said to me, “Daniel, [God] loves you very much. Stand up and listen to what I am going to say to you, because [God] sent me to you.” When he said that, I stood up, [but I was still] trembling.
Wathi, “Danyeli, uyaqakathekiswa kakhulu, nanzelela amazwi esengizawakhuluma kuwe, usukume, ngoba manje ngithunywe kuwe.” Wathi esitsho lokhu kimi ngasukuma ngiqhaqhazela.
12 Then he said to me, “Daniel, do not be afraid. God has heard what you have prayed ever since the first day that you determined to humble yourself in order to understand [the vision]. I have come to you because of what you prayed.
Waseqhubeka wathi, “Ungesabi, Danyeli. Kulokhu kwasukela mhla ubeka ingqondo yakho ukuzuza ukuzwisisa lokuzithoba phambi kukaNkulunkulu wakho, amazwi akho ezwakala, yikho ngilapha ngenxa yalokho.
13 The [evil spirit who] rules the kingdom of Persia resisted/hindered me for 21 days, but Michael, who is one of God’s chief angels, came to help me. I left him there in Persia [to resist] that evil spirit who rules there.
Kodwa inkosi yombuso wasePhezhiya yangivimbela okwensuku ezingamatshumi amabili lanye. Kwasekusithi uMikhayeli, omunye wamakhosana amakhulu, weza ezongisiza, ngoba ngangivalelwe khonale yinkosi yasePhezhiya.
14 I have come here to enable you to understand what will happen to the Israeli people in the future. [Do not forget that] the vision [that you saw] is about [things that will happen in] the distant future, [not about things that will happen very soon].”
Manje ngilande ukuzakuchasisela lokho okuzakwenzakala ebantwini bakini esikhathini esizayo, ngoba umbono umayelana lesikhathi esizafika.”
15 While he was saying that, I stared at the ground and was unable to say anything [because I was very afraid].
Uthe esitsho lokhu kimi ngakhothamisela ubuso bami phansi ngehluleka ukukhuluma.
16 Suddenly [the angel], who resembled a human, touched my lips. Then [I was able to speak, and] I said to him, “Sir, because [I have seen] this vision, I have become very weak, with the result that I cannot stop trembling.
Kwasekusithi othile owayefana lomuntu wathinta izindebe zami, ngasengivula umlomo wami ngakhuluma. Ngathi kulowo owayemi phambi kwami, “Sengigajelwa yikudabuka kwenhliziyo ngenxa yombono, nkosi yami, njalo sengiphelelwe yikho konke.
17 I am not able [RHQ] to talk to you, my master. I have no strength left, and it is very difficult for me to breathe.”
Mina inceku yakho, ngingakhuluma kanjani lawe na, nkosi yami? Amandla ami kawasekho njalo sekusala ukuthi ngiphefumule.”
18 But he took hold of me again, and enabled me to become stronger again.
Waphinda njalo othile owayefana lomuntu wangithinta wangipha amandla.
19 He said to me, “You human, God loves you very much. [So] do not be afraid. I desire/want things to go well for you and that you will be encouraged.” When he had said that, I felt even stronger, and I said, “Sir, tell me [what you want to tell me]. You have enabled me to feel stronger.”
Wathi, “Ungesabi, Oh muntu oqakathekiswayo kakhulu. Ukuthula! Qina manje; qina.” Wathi ekhuluma lami ngaqina ngathi, “Khuluma, nkosi yami, njengoba usungiphile amandla.”
20 Then he said, “(Do you know why I came to you?/I will tell you why I came to you.) [RHQ] It is to reveal to you what is written in the book which reveals/contains God’s truth. But now I must return to fight against [the evil spirit] who rules the kingdom of Persia. After I have defeated him, [the evil angel] who guards Greece will appear [and I must defeat him]. Michael, who guards you [Israeli people], will help me, but there is no one else to help me.”
Ngakho wasesithi, “Uyakwazi nje ukuthi kungani ngize kuwe na? Masinyane ngizabuya ukuzakulwa lenkosi yasePhezhiya, kuthi ngingahamba, kuzakuza inkosi yaseGrisi;
kodwa ngizaqala ngikutshele okulotshiweyo eNcwadini yeQiniso. (Kakho ongelekelelayo ukumelana labo ngaphandle kukaMikhayeli inkosana yakho.
