Danihelis Prophetæ 10
1 Anno tertio Cyri regis Persarum, verbum revelatum est Danieli cognomento Baltassar, et verbum verum, et fortitudo magna: intellexitque sermonem: intelligentia enim est opus in visione.
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.
2 In diebus illis ego Daniel lugebam trium hebdomadarum diebus,
At that time I had been sad for three weeks [about what had happened to Jerusalem].
3 panem desiderabilem non comedi, et caro et vinum non introierunt in os meum, sed neque unguento unctus sum: donec complerentur trium hebdomadarum dies.
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.
4 Die autem vigesima et quarta mensis primi eram iuxta fluvium magnum, qui est Tigris.
[When those three weeks ended, ] on April 23, [my companions and] I were standing on the bank of the great Tigris River.
5 Et levavi oculos meos, et vidi: et ecce vir unus vestitus lineis, et renes eius accincti auro obrizo:
I looked up and saw someone there who was wearing fine white/linen clothes and a belt [made of] pure gold.
6 et corpus eius quasi chrysolithus, et facies eius velut species fulguris, et oculi eius ut lampas ardens: et brachia eius, et quæ deorsum sunt usque ad pedes, quasi species æris candentis: et vox sermonum eius ut vox multitudinis.
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.
7 Vidi autem ego Daniel solus visionem: porro viri, qui erant mecum, non viderunt: sed terror nimius irruit super eos, et fugerunt in absconditum.
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.
8 Ego autem relictus solus vidi visionem grandem hanc: et non remansit in me fortitudo, sed et species mea immutata est in me, et emarcui, nec habui quidquam virium.
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.
9 Et audivi vocem sermonum eius: et audiens iacebam consternatus super faciem meam, et vultus meus hærebat terræ.
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.
10 Et ecce manus tetigit me, et erexit me super genua mea, et super articulos manuum mearum.
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.
11 Et dixit ad me: Daniel vir desideriorum, intellige verba, quæ ego loquor ad te, et sta in gradu tuo: nunc enim sum missus ad te. Cumque dixisset mihi sermonem istum, steti tremens.
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.
12 Et ait ad me: Noli metuere Daniel: quia ex die primo, quo posuisti cor tuum ad intelligendum ut te affligeres in conspectu Dei tui, exaudita sunt verba tua: et ego veni propter sermones tuos.
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.
13 Princeps autem regni Persarum restitit mihi viginti et uno diebus: et ecce Michael unus de principibus primis venit in adiutorium meum, et ego remansi ibi iuxta regem Persarum.
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.
14 Veni autem ut docerem te quæ ventura sunt populo tuo in novissimis diebus, quoniam adhuc visio in dies.
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].”
15 Cumque loqueretur mihi huiuscemodi verbis, deieci vultum meum ad terram, et tacui.
While he was saying that, I stared at the ground and was unable to say anything [because I was very afraid].
16 Et ecce quasi similitudo filii hominis tetigit labia mea: et aperiens os meum locutus sum, et dixi ad eum, qui stabat contra me: Domine mi, in visione tua dissolutæ sunt compages meæ, et nihil in me remansit virium.
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.
17 Et quomodo poterit servus Domini mei loqui cum Domino meo? nihil enim in me remansit virium, sed et halitus meus intercluditur.
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.”
18 Rursum ergo tetigit me quasi visio hominis, et confortavit me,
But he took hold of me again, and enabled me to become stronger again.
19 et dixit: Noli timere vir desideriorum: pax tibi: confortare, et esto robustus. Cumque loqueretur mecum, convalui, et dixi: Loquere Domine mi, quia confortasti me.
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.”
20 Et ait: Numquid scis quare venerim ad te? et nunc revertar ut prælier adversum principem Persarum. cum ego egrederer, apparuit princeps Græcorum veniens.
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.”
21 Verumtamen annuntiabo tibi quod expressum est in scriptura veritatis: et nemo est adiutor meus in omnibus his, nisi Michael princeps vester.
