³ I ^(A)did not eat any ^[a]tasty food, nor did meat or wine enter my mouth, nor did I use any ointment at all until the entire three weeks were completed. ⁴ On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, while I was by the bank of the great ^(B)river, that is, the ^[b]Tigris, ⁵ I raised my eyes and looked, and behold, there was a man ^(C)dressed in linen, whose waist ^(D)had a belt of pure ^(E)gold of Uphaz. ⁶ His body also was like topaz, his face ^[c]had the appearance of lightning, ^(F)his eyes were like flaming torches, his arms and feet like the gleam of polished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude. ⁷ Now I, Daniel, ^(G)alone saw the vision, while the ^(H)men who were with me did not see the vision; nevertheless, a great ^(I)fear fell on them, and they ran away to hide themselves. ⁸ So I was ^(J)left alone and saw this great vision; yet ^(K)no strength was left in me, for my complexion turned to ^[d]a deathly pallor, and I retained no strength. ⁹ But I heard the sound of his words; and as soon as I heard the sound of his words, I ^(L)fell into a deep sleep on my face, with my face to the ground.

Daniel Comforted

¹⁰ Then behold, a hand ^(M)touched me and shook me on my ^[e]hands and knees. ¹¹ And he said to me, “^(N)Daniel, ^[f]you who are treasured, ^(O)understand the words that I am about to tell you and ^(P)stand at your place, for I have now been sent to you.” And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up ^(Q)trembling. ¹² Then he said to me, “^(R)Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on ^(S)humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come ^(T)in response to your words. ¹³ But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was standing ^[g]in my way for twenty-one days; then behold, ^(U)Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia.