Add parallel Print Page Options

Daniel’s Vision of a Dazzling Heavenly Messenger

10 In the third year of Cyrus the king of the Persians, a word[a] was revealed to Daniel, who was called by his name Belteshazzar, and the word[b] was reliable and it concerned a great tribulation,[c] and he understood the word[d] and he received understanding.[e]

In those days, I, Daniel, I myself[f] was in mourning for three whole weeks.[g] I had not eaten any choice food, and meat and wine did not enter my mouth, and I did not use any ointment[h] until the end of three whole weeks.[i] And then on the twenty-fourth day of the first month, I myself[j] was on the bank of the great river; that is, the Tigris. And I lifted up my eyes and I saw,[k] and there was a man, and he was dressed in linen, and his waist was girded with the gold of Uphaz. Now his body was like turquoise,[l] and his face was like the appearance of lightning, and his eyes were like torches of fire, and his arms and his legs were like the gleam of polished bronze, and the sound of his words was like the sound of a multitude. And I saw, I, Daniel alone,[m] the vision; and the people who were with me did not see[n] the vision; nevertheless, a great trembling fell upon them and they fled in order to hide themselves. And I myself, Daniel, alone saw this great vision, and as a result no strength was left in me[o] and my complexion grew deathly pale,[p] and I did not retain any strength. And I heard the sound of his words, and when I heard[q] the sound of his words I myself began falling into a trance on my face, with my face to the ground.[r]

10 And look, a hand touched me and it roused me to my knees[s] and the palms[t] of my hands. 11 And he said to me, “Daniel, a man beloved, pay attention to the words that I am speaking to you and stand upright where you are,[u] for I have now been sent to you.” And while he was speaking[v] with me this word,[w] I stood up trembling. 12 And he said to me, “You must not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and to humble yourself before[x] your God, your words were heard, and I myself[y] have come because of your words. 13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia stood before me[z] for twenty-one days. And look,[aa] Michael, one of the chief princes, came to assist me, and I left him there beside the king of the Persians. 14 And I have come[ab] to instruct you about what[ac] will happen to your people in the future,[ad] for there is a further vision here for the future.[ae]

15 And while he was speaking with me according to these words, I turned my face toward the ground and I was speechless. 16 Then look, there was one in the form of a human;[af] he touched my lips and I opened my mouth and I spoke and I said to the one standing before me,[ag] “My lord, because of the vision my anxieties fell upon me and I have not retained my strength. 17 So how am I, a servant of my lord[ah] to speak with you, my lord,[ai] and I just now[aj] have no strength in me?”[ak]

18 And he again touched[al] me, the one in the form of a human,[am] and he strengthened me. 19 And he said, “You must not fear, O beloved man. Peace be to you;[an] be strong and be courageous!” And when he spoke[ao] with me, I was strengthened and I said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.” 20 Then he asked, “Do you know why I have come to you? And now I return to fight against the prince of Persia and I myself[ap] am going, and look,[aq] the prince of Javan[ar] will come. 21 However, I will tell you what is inscribed[as] in the book of truth, and there is not one who contends with me against these beings except[at] Michael, your prince.”

Footnotes

  1. Daniel 10:1 Or “matter,” or “message”
  2. Daniel 10:1 Or “matter,” or “message”
  3. Daniel 10:1 Or “conflict”
  4. Daniel 10:1 Or “matter,” or “message”
  5. Daniel 10:1 Literally “and understanding to him”
  6. Daniel 10:2 This is an emphatic use of the first person personal pronoun
  7. Daniel 10:2 Literally “three weeks of days”
  8. Daniel 10:3 Literally “I have not anointed at all”
  9. Daniel 10:3 Literally “until being full/complete three weeks of days”
  10. Daniel 10:4 This is an emphatic use of the first person personal pronoun
  11. Daniel 10:5 Or “looked”
  12. Daniel 10:6 Or “yellow jasper” or other gold-colored stones; the exact identity of ancient precious stones is difficult
  13. Daniel 10:7 Literally “to alone me”
  14. Daniel 10:7 Literally “not they saw”
  15. Daniel 10:8 Literally “not was left in me strength”
  16. Daniel 10:8 Literally “and complexion my changed over me to destruction”
  17. Daniel 10:9 Literally “at my hearing”
  18. Daniel 10:9 Literally “and my face toward the ground”
  19. Daniel 10:10 Hebrew “on my knees”
  20. Daniel 10:10 Hebrew “palm”
  21. Daniel 10:11 Literally “stand on your position”
  22. Daniel 10:11 Literally “at his speaking”
  23. Daniel 10:11 Or “matter,” or “message”
  24. Daniel 10:12 Literally “to the face of”
  25. Daniel 10:12 This is an emphatic use of the first person personal pronoun
  26. Daniel 10:13 Literally “to front of me”
  27. Daniel 10:13 Or “finally”
  28. Daniel 10:14 Hebrew “I came”
  29. Daniel 10:14 Hebrew “that”
  30. Daniel 10:14 Literally “at the end of the days”
  31. Daniel 10:14 Literally “for the days”
  32. Daniel 10:16 Literally “as the likeness of a son of man”
  33. Daniel 10:16 Literally “to opposite me”
  34. Daniel 10:17 Literally “how is he able a servant of my lord this”
  35. Daniel 10:17 Literally “with my lord this”
  36. Daniel 10:17 Literally “from now”
  37. Daniel 10:17 Literally “not it remains in me strength”
  38. Daniel 10:18 Literally “he added to and touched”
  39. Daniel 10:18 Literally “like vision of a man”
  40. Daniel 10:19 Literally “Peace to/for you”
  41. Daniel 10:19 Literally “at his speaking”
  42. Daniel 10:20 This is an emphatic use of the first person personal pronoun
  43. Daniel 10:20 Or “listen”
  44. Daniel 10:20 That is, Greece
  45. Daniel 10:21 Literally “the being inscribed”
  46. Daniel 10:21 Literally “but if”

10 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a word was revealed to Daniel, who was called Belteshazzar. And the word was true and it referred to great tribulation (conflict and wretchedness). And he understood the word and had understanding of the vision.(A)

In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three whole weeks.

I ate no pleasant or desirable food, nor did any meat or wine come into my mouth; and I did not anoint myself at all for the full three weeks.

On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was on the bank of the great river Hiddekel [which is the Tigris],

I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, a man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with pure gold of Uphaz.

His body also was [a golden luster] like beryl, his face had the appearance of lightning, his eyes were like flaming torches, his arms and his feet like glowing burnished bronze, and the sound of his words was like the noise of a multitude [of people or the roaring of the sea].(B)

And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision [of this heavenly being], for the men who were with me did not see the vision, but a great trembling fell upon them so that they fled to hide themselves.

So I was left alone and saw this great vision, and no strength was left in me, for my fresh appearance was turned to pallor; I grew weak and faint [with fright].

Then I heard the sound of his words; and when I heard the sound of his words, I fell on my face in a deep sleep, with my face [sunk] to the ground.

10 And behold, a hand touched me, which set me [unsteadily] upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands.

11 And [the angel] said to me, O Daniel, you greatly beloved man, understand the words that I speak to you and stand upright, for to you I am now sent. And while he was saying this word to me, I stood up trembling.

12 Then he said to me, Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your mind and heart to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come as a consequence of [and in response to] your words.

13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me for twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief [of the celestial] princes, came to help me, for I remained there with the kings of Persia.

14 Now I have come to make you understand what is to befall your people in the latter days, for the vision is for [many] days yet to come.

15 When he had spoken to me according to these words, I turned my face toward the ground and was dumb.

16 And behold, one in the likeness of the sons of men touched my lips. Then I opened my mouth and spoke. I said to him who stood before me, O my lord, by reason of the vision sorrows and pains have come upon me, and I retain no strength.

17 For how can my lord’s servant [who is so feeble] talk with this my lord? For now no strength remains in me, nor is there any breath left in me.

18 Then there touched me again one whose appearance was like that of a man, and he strengthened me.

19 And he said, O man greatly beloved, fear not! Peace be to you! Be strong, yes, be strong. And when he had spoken to me, I was strengthened and said, Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.

20 Then he said, Do you know why I have come to you? And now I will return to fight with the [hostile] prince of Persia; and when I have gone, behold, the [hostile] prince of Greece will come.

21 But I will tell you what is inscribed in the writing of truth or the Book of Truth. There is no one who holds with me and strengthens himself against these [hostile spirit forces] except Michael, your prince [national guardian angel].