Daniel 10
New American Standard Bible
Daniel Is Terrified by a Vision
10 In the third year of (A)Cyrus king of Persia, a [a]message was revealed to (B)Daniel, who was named Belteshazzar; and the [b](C)message was true and it concerned great [c]conflict, but he understood the [d]message and had an (D)understanding of the vision.
2 In those days, I, Daniel, had been (E)mourning for three [e]entire weeks. 3 I (F)did not eat any [f]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 (G)river, that is, the [g]Tigris, 5 I raised my eyes and looked, and behold, there was a man (H)dressed in linen, whose waist (I)had a belt of pure (J)gold of Uphaz. 6 His body also was like topaz, his face [h]had the appearance of lightning, (K)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, (L)alone saw the vision, while the (M)men who were with me did not see the vision; nevertheless, a great (N)fear fell on them, and they ran away to hide themselves. 8 So I was (O)left alone and saw this great vision; yet (P)no strength was left in me, for my complexion turned to [i]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 (Q)fell into a deep sleep on my face, with my face to the ground.
Daniel Comforted
10 Then behold, a hand (R)touched me and shook me on my [j]hands and knees. 11 And he said to me, “(S)Daniel, [k]you who are treasured, (T)understand the words that I am about to tell you and (U)stand at your place, for I have now been sent to you.” And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up (V)trembling. 12 Then he said to me, “(W)Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on (X)humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come (Y)in response to your words. 13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was standing [l]in my way for twenty-one days; then behold, (Z)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 (AA)explain to you what will happen to your people in the [m](AB)latter days, because the vision pertains to (AC)the days still future.”
15 When he had spoken to me according to these words, I [n]turned my face toward the ground and became (AD)speechless. 16 And behold, [o](AE)one who resembled a human was (AF)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 [p](AG)anguish has come upon me, and I have retained no strength. 17 For (AH)how can such a servant of my lord talk with such as my lord? As for me, there remains just now (AI)no strength in me, nor has any breath been left in me.”
18 Then this one with human appearance touched me again and (AJ)strengthened me. 19 And he said, “[q]You who are treasured, (AK)do not be afraid. Peace be to you; take (AL)courage and be courageous!” Now as soon as he spoke to me, I felt strengthened and said, “May my lord speak, for you have (AM)strengthened me.” 20 Then he said, “Do you [r]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 (AN)prince of [s]Greece is about to come. 21 However, I will tell you what is recorded in the writing of (AO)truth. Yet there is no one who [t]stands firmly with me against these forces except (AP)Michael your prince.
Footnotes
- Daniel 10:1 Lit word
- Daniel 10:1 Lit word
- Daniel 10:1 Or warfare
- Daniel 10:1 Lit word
- Daniel 10:2 Lit weeks of days
- Daniel 10:3 Lit delicate
- Daniel 10:4 Heb Hiddekel
- Daniel 10:6 Lit like
- Daniel 10:8 Lit destruction
- Daniel 10:10 Lit knees and the palms of my hands
- Daniel 10:11 Lit man of treasure
- Daniel 10:13 Lit opposite me
- Daniel 10:14 Lit end of the days
- Daniel 10:15 Lit gave
- Daniel 10:16 Lit as a likeness of sons of mankind
- Daniel 10:16 Lit my pains have
- Daniel 10:19 Lit man of treasure
- Daniel 10:20 Lit know
- Daniel 10:20 Heb Javan
- Daniel 10:21 Lit shows himself courageous
Daniel 10
Common English Bible
Vision of a man
10 In the third year of Persia’s King Cyrus, a message was revealed to Daniel, who was called Belteshazzar. The message was true: there would be a great conflict. Daniel understood the message, having discerned the meaning of the vision.
2 During that time, I, Daniel, had been mourning for three weeks. 3 I didn’t eat any rich foods. Neither meat nor wine passed my lips, and I didn’t clean up at all until the three weeks were up. 4 Then, on the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was on the bank of the great Tigris River, 5 I looked up and suddenly saw a man clothed in linen in front of me. He had a brilliant gold belt around his waist, 6 and his body was like topaz. His face was like a flash of lightning, and his eyes were like burning torches. His arms and feet looked like polished bronze. When he spoke, it sounded like the roar of a crowd. 7 Only I, Daniel, saw this vision. The other people who were with me didn’t see it. Despite that, they were terrified and ran away to hide.
8 So I was left alone to see this great vision all by myself. All my strength left me. My energy was sapped, and I couldn’t stay strong. 9 Then I heard the sound of the man’s words. When I heard it, I fell into a trance with my face on the ground. 10 But then a hand touched me, lifting me up to my hands and knees.
11 The man said to me, “Daniel, you are greatly treasured. Now grasp the meaning of what I’m saying to you. And stand up, because I’ve been sent to you.”
As he said this to me, I stood up, shaking.
12 Then the man said to me, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel, because from the day you first set your mind to understand things and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard. I’ve come because of your words! 13 For twenty-one days the leader of the Persian kingdom blocked my way. But then Michael, one of the highest leaders, came to help me. I left Michael there with the leader of the Persian kingdom.[a] 14 But I’ve come to help you understand what will happen to your people in the future, because there is another vision concerning that time.”
15 While he said this to me, I turned my face to the ground and kept quiet. 16 But then someone who looked like a human being[b] touched my lips. Then I opened my mouth and spoke, saying to the person standing in front of me: “My lord, the vision bothered me deeply, and I couldn’t stay strong during it. 17 So how can I, my lord’s servant, speak with you, my lord? Even now there’s no strength in me, and I can barely breathe.”
18 The one who looked like a human being touched me again and gave me strength. 19 He said, “Don’t be afraid. You are greatly treasured. All will be well with you. Be strong!”
As he spoke to me, I suddenly felt strong. Then I said: “My lord can go on, because you’ve made me strong.”
20 Then he said: “Do you know why I have come to you? Now I must go back to fight the leader of Persia. As I leave, the leader of Greece will come! 21 But I will tell you what is written in the Scroll of Truth. No one stands strong with me against these leaders except your leader Michael.
Footnotes
- Daniel 10:13 LXX; Heb after I was detained there with the kings of Persia
- Daniel 10:16 Heb bene adam (a son of a man) is an idiom that means human being; cf 7:13.
Daniel 10
New International Version
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.
2 At that time I, Daniel, mourned(D) for three weeks. 3 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.
4 On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank(F) of the great river, the Tigris,(G) 5 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. 6 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.
7 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. 8 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) 9 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
- Daniel 10:1 Or true and burdensome
- 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
Daniel 10
Complete Jewish Bible
10 In the third year of Koresh king of Persia, a word was revealed to Dani’el, also called Belt’shatzar. The word was certain: a great war. He understood the word, having gained understanding in the vision.
2 At that time I, Dani’el, had been mourning for three whole weeks. 3 I hadn’t eaten any food that satisfied me — neither meat nor wine had entered my mouth, and I didn’t anoint myself once, until three full weeks had passed.
4 On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, I was on the bank of the great river, the Tigris, 5 when I looked up, and there before me was a man dressed in linen wearing a belt made of fine Ufaz gold. 6 His body was like beryl, his face looked like lightning and his eyes like fiery torches; his arms and feet were the color of burnished bronze; and when he spoke, it sounded like the roar of a crowd. 7 Only I, Dani’el, saw the vision; the men who were with me did not see the vision; however, a great trembling fell over them; so that they rushed to hide themselves. 8 Thus I was left alone; and when I saw this great vision, there was no strength left in me — my face, normally pleasant-looking, became disfigured; and I had no strength.
9 I heard his voice speaking; and when I heard him speaking, I fell down in a faint, with my face to the ground. 10 Then a hand touched me and raised me, tottering, to my hands and knees. 11 He said to me, “Dani’el, you are a greatly loved man. Now pay attention to the words I am saying to you, and stand upright; for it is to you that I have been sent now.” After he had said this to me, I stood up, trembling. 12 Then he said to me, “Don’t be afraid, Dani’el; because since the first day that you determined to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your words have been heard; and I have come because of what you said. 13 The prince of the kingdom of Persia prevented me from coming for twenty-one days; but Mikha’el, one of the chief princes, came to assist me; so that I was no longer needed there with the kings of Persia. 14 So I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the acharit-hayamim; for there is still another vision which will relate to those days.”
15 After he had said these things to me, I looked down at the ground and couldn’t speak. 16 Then someone who looked like a human being touched my lips, after which I could open my mouth and speak; I said to the one standing in front of me, “My lord, it is because of the vision that I am seized with such anguish; I don’t have any strength. 17 For how can this servant of my lord speak with my lord, when my strength and breath have failed me?” 18 Then, again someone who looked human touched me and revived me. 19 He said, “You man so greatly loved, don’t be afraid. Shalom to you; and be strong, yes, truly strong.” His speaking to me strengthened me, and I said, “My lord, keep speaking; because you’ve given me strength.” 20 Then he said, “Do you know why I came to you? Although now I must return to fight the prince of Persia; and when I leave, the prince of Greece will come; 21 nevertheless, I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. There is no one standing with me against them except Mikha’el your prince;
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