< 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 Koresh king of Persia a word was revealed to Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar; and the word was true: a great war. And he understood the word, and had understanding of the vision.
2 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three full weeks.
In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three whole 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 had no pleasing food, neither meat nor wine came into my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, until three whole weeks were fulfilled.
4 On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river, the Tigris,
In the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which 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 lifted up my eyes and looked, and look, a man clothed in linen, around his waist a belt 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 beryl, and his face like the appearance of lightning, and his eyes like flaming torches, and his arms and his feet like burnished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude.
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; but a great trembling fell on them, and they fled 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, and there remained no strength in me; for my natural appearance grew deathly pale, and I retained no strength.
9 I heard the sound of his words, and as I listened, I fell into a deep sleep, with my face to the ground.
Yet I heard the sound of his words, and when I heard the sound of his words, then I fell into a deep sleep on my face, with my face toward the ground.
10 Suddenly, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees.
Look, a hand touched me, which set me on my knees and on 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.
He said to me, "Daniel, man greatly loved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright; for I have now been sent to you." And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood 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; for from the first day that you did set your heart 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.
But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; but, look, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was left there with the kings of Persia.
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 make you understand what shall happen to your people in the latter days; for the vision refers to future days."
15 While he was speaking these words to me, I set my face toward the ground and became speechless.
And when he had spoken to me according to these words, I turned my face toward the ground, and could not 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.
And look, something like a man's hand touched my lips. Then I opened my mouth and spoke and said to him who stood before me, "My lord, it is because of the vision anguish has come upon me, and I have no strength.
17 How can I, your servant, speak with you, my lord? Now I have no strength, nor is any breath left in me.”
For how can this servant of my lord talk with my lord? As for me, no strength remains, and I am breathless."
18 Again the one with the likeness of a man touched me and strengthened me.
Then one like the appearance of a man touched me again 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.”
And he said, "Greatly loved man, do not be afraid, peace be to you; be strong, be strong." When he spoke to me, I was strengthened, and said, "Let my lord 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.
Then he said, "Do you know why I have come to you? Now I will return to fight with the prince of Persia. When I go forth, look, the prince of Greece shall 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 that which is inscribed in the Book of Truth. And there is no one who contends with me against them except Michael, your prince."

< Daniel 10 >