¹² Then he said to me, “^(A)Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on ^(B)humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come ^(C)in response to your words. ¹³ But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was standing ^[a]in my way for twenty-one days; then behold, ^(D)Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia. ¹⁴ Now I have come to ^(E)explain to you what will happen to your people in the ^[b](F)latter days, because the vision pertains to ^(G)the days still future.”

¹⁵ When he had spoken to me according to these words, I ^[c]turned my face toward the ground and became ^(H)speechless. ¹⁶ And behold, ^[d](I)one who resembled a human was ^(J)touching my lips. Then I opened my mouth and spoke and said to him who was standing before me, “My lord, due to the vision ^[e](K)anguish has come upon me, and I have retained no strength. ¹⁷ For ^(L)how can such a servant of my lord talk with such as my lord? As for me, there remains just now ^(M)no strength in me, nor has any breath been left in me.”

¹⁸ Then this one with human appearance touched me again and ^(N)strengthened me. ¹⁹ And he said, “^[f]You who are treasured, ^(O)do not be afraid. Peace be to you; take ^(P)courage and be courageous!” Now as soon as he spoke to me, I felt strengthened and said, “May my lord speak, for you have ^(Q)strengthened me.” ²⁰ Then he said, “Do you ^[g]understand why I came to you? But I shall now return to fight against the prince of Persia; so I am leaving, and behold, the ^(R)prince of ^[h]Greece is about to come. ²¹ However, I will tell you what is recorded in the writing of ^(S)truth. Yet there is no one who ^[i]stands firmly with me against these forces except ^(T)Michael your prince.