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Daniel’s Vision

10 In the third year of Cyrus, king of Persia, a message was revealed to Daniel (also known as Belteshazzar). The message was trustworthy and concerned a great conflict. He understood it and had insight concerning the vision.

“At that time I, Daniel, had been mourning for three straight weeks.[a] I ate no fancy foods—neither meat nor wine entered my mouth. Furthermore, I didn’t use any ointment until the end of the entire three weeks.[b] On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, while I was beside the bank of the great Tigris[c] River, I lifted up my eyes to look, and to my surprise, there was a certain man dressed in linen, whose waist was encircled with gold from Uphaz! His body was like beryl,[d] his face flashed like lightning, his eyes were like flaming torches, his arms and legs were like polished bronze, and his speech roared[e] like that of a crowd.

“Now I, Daniel, was the only one to receive the vision—the men who were with me didn’t see it.[f] However, an enormous fear overwhelmed them, so they ran away to hide, and I was left alone to observe this magnificent vision. Nevertheless, no strength remained in me—my face lost its color, and I became weak. As I listened to the sound of his words, I fell down on my face unconscious, with my face to the ground.”

Daniel is Given Understanding

10 “All of a sudden, a hand touched me and lifted me upon my hands and knees. 11 He told me, ‘Daniel, man highly regarded, understand the message that I’m about to relate to you. Stand up, because I’ve been sent to you.’ When he spoke this statement to me, I stood there trembling.

12 “‘Don’t be afraid, Daniel,’ he told me, ‘because from the first day that you committed yourself to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard. I’ve come in answer to[g] your prayers. 13 However, the prince of the kingdom of Persia opposed me for 21 days. Then all of a sudden, Michael, one of the chief angels,[h] came to assist me! I had been detained there near the kings of Persia. 14 Now I’ve come to help you understand what will happen to your people in the days to come, because the vision pertains to those days.’

15 “After he had spoken to me like this, I bowed my face to the ground, unable to speak. 16 But suddenly someone who resembled a human being touched my lips, so addressing the one who was standing in front of me, I opened my mouth and said, ‘Sir,[i] I’m overwhelmed with anguish by this vision. I have no strength left.[j] 17 So how can a servant of my lord talk with someone like you, sir?[k] And as for me, there’s no strength left in me, and I can hardly breathe.’

18 “Then this person who looked like a man touched me again and strengthened me 19 and said, ‘Don’t be afraid, man highly regarded. Be at peace, and be strong.’

“As soon as he spoke to me, I gained strength and replied, ‘Sir, please[l] speak, now that you’ve strengthened me.’

20 “Then he said, ‘Do you understand why I came to you? Soon I’ll return to fight the prince of Persia. I’m going forth to war—and take note—the prince of Greece[m] is coming! 21 I’ll inform you about what has been recorded in the Book of Truth. No one stands firmly with me against these opponents,[n] except Michael your prince.

Footnotes

  1. Daniel 10:2 Lit. for three weeks of days
  2. Daniel 10:3 Lit. the three weeks of days
  3. Daniel 10:4 Lit. Hiddekel
  4. Daniel 10:6 Lit. Tarshish; a yellow semi-precious stone named after its region of origin
  5. Daniel 10:6 The Heb. lacks roared
  6. Daniel 10:7 Lit. see the vision
  7. Daniel 10:12 The Heb. lacks answer to
  8. Daniel 10:13 Lit. princes
  9. Daniel 10:16 Lit. My lord
  10. Daniel 10:16 The Heb. lacks left
  11. Daniel 10:17 Lit. like my lord
  12. Daniel 10:19 Lit. May my lord
  13. Daniel 10:20 Lit. Javan
  14. Daniel 10:21 The Heb. lacks opponents

Daniel’s Vision of a Man

10 In the third year of Cyrus(A) king of Persia, a revelation was given to Daniel (who was called Belteshazzar).(B) Its message was true(C) and it concerned a great war.[a] The understanding of the message came to him in a vision.

At that time I, Daniel, mourned(D) for three weeks. I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips;(E) and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over.

On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank(F) of the great river, the Tigris,(G) I looked up(H) and there before me was a man dressed in linen,(I) with a belt of fine gold(J) from Uphaz around his waist. His body was like topaz,(K) his face like lightning,(L) his eyes like flaming torches,(M) his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze,(N) and his voice(O) like the sound of a multitude.

I, Daniel, was the only one who saw the vision; those who were with me did not see it,(P) but such terror overwhelmed them that they fled and hid themselves. So I was left alone,(Q) gazing at this great vision; I had no strength left,(R) my face turned deathly pale(S) and I was helpless.(T) Then I heard him speaking, and as I listened to him, I fell into a deep sleep, my face to the ground.(U)

10 A hand touched me(V) and set me trembling on my hands and knees.(W) 11 He said, “Daniel, you who are highly esteemed,(X) consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you, and stand up,(Y) for I have now been sent to you.” And when he said this to me, I stood up trembling.

12 Then he continued, “Do not be afraid,(Z) Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble(AA) yourself before your God, your words(AB) were heard, and I have come in response to them.(AC) 13 But the prince(AD) of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael,(AE) one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. 14 Now I have come to explain(AF) to you what will happen to your people in the future,(AG) for the vision concerns a time yet to come.(AH)

15 While he was saying this to me, I bowed with my face toward the ground and was speechless.(AI) 16 Then one who looked like a man[b] touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and began to speak.(AJ) I said to the one standing before me, “I am overcome with anguish(AK) because of the vision, my lord, and I feel very weak. 17 How can I, your servant, talk with you, my lord? My strength is gone and I can hardly breathe.”(AL)

18 Again the one who looked like a man touched(AM) me and gave me strength.(AN) 19 “Do not be afraid, you who are highly esteemed,”(AO) he said. “Peace!(AP) Be strong now; be strong.”(AQ)

When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Speak, my lord, since you have given me strength.”(AR)

20 So he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? Soon I will return to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I go, the prince of Greece(AS) will come; 21 but first I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth.(AT) (No one supports me against them except Michael,(AU) your prince.

Footnotes

  1. Daniel 10:1 Or true and burdensome
  2. Daniel 10:16 Most manuscripts of the Masoretic Text; one manuscript of the Masoretic Text, Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint Then something that looked like a human hand