Daniel’s Terrifying Vision of a Man

10 In the third year of ^(A)Cyrus king of Persia, a word was revealed to ^(B)Daniel, who was named Belteshazzar; and the ^(C)word was true and one of great ^[a]conflict, but he understood the word and had an ^(D)understanding of what had appeared.

² In those days, I, Daniel, had been ^(E)mourning for three entire ^[b]weeks. ³ I ^(F)did not eat any ^[c]tasty food, nor did meat or wine enter my mouth, nor did I use any ointment at all until the entire three ^[d]weeks were fulfilled.

⁴ And on the twenty-fourth day of the first month, while I was by the bank of the great ^(G)river, that is, the ^[e]Tigris, ⁵ I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, there was a certain man ^(H)dressed in linen, whose loins were ^(I)girded with a belt of pure ^(J)fine gold of Uphaz. ⁶ His body also was like ^[f]beryl, his face ^[g]had the appearance of lightning, ^(K)his eyes were like flaming torches, his arms and feet like the gleam of burnished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude. ⁷ Now I, Daniel, ^(L)alone saw the vision that appeared, but the ^(M)men who were with me did not see the vision that appeared; nevertheless, a great ^(N)terror fell on them, and they ran away to hide themselves. ⁸ So I alone ^(O)remained and saw this great vision that appeared; yet ^(P)no might remained in me, for my outward splendor turned to ^[h]a deathly pallor, and I retained no might. 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 Is Strengthened

¹⁰ Then behold, a hand ^(R)touched me and set me shaking on my ^[i]hands and knees. ¹¹ And he said to me, “O ^(S)Daniel, man of ^[j]high esteem, ^(T)understand the words that I am about to speak to you and ^(U)stand ^[k]upright, 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 gave your heart to understand this and to ^(X)humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response ^(Y)to your words. ¹³ But the ^[l]prince of the kingdom of Persia was ^[m]standing against me for twenty-one days; then behold, ^(Z)Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me. Now I had been left there with the kings of Persia. ¹⁴ Now I have come to ^(AA)give you an understanding of what will happen to your people in the ^[n](AB)last days, for the vision pertains to ^(AC)the days yet future.” ¹⁵ Now when he had spoken to me according to these words, I ^[o]turned my face toward the ground and became ^(AD)speechless.

¹⁶ And behold, ^(AE)one ^[p]in the likeness of the sons of men was ^(AF)touching my lips; then I opened my mouth and spoke and said to him who was standing before me, “O my lord, as a result of the vision that appeared, ^(AG)pains have come upon me, and I have retained no might. ¹⁷ Now ^(AH)how can such a servant of my lord talk with such as my lord? As for me, right now ^(AI)no might stands within me, nor does any breath remain within me.”

¹⁸ Then this one with the appearance of a man touched me again and ^(AJ)strengthened me. ¹⁹ And he said, “O man of ^[q]high esteem, ^(AK)do not be afraid. Peace ^[r]be with you; gather ^(AL)strength and be strong!” Now as soon as he spoke to me, I received strength and said, “May my lord speak, for you have ^(AM)strengthened me.” ²⁰ Then he said, “Do you know why I came to you? But I shall now return to fight against the ^[s]prince of Persia; so I am going forth, and behold, the ^[t](AN)prince of ^[u]Greece is about to come. ²¹ However, I will tell you what is ^[v]inscribed in the writing of ^(AO)truth. Now there is no one who ^[w]exerts strength with me against these forces except ^(AP)Michael your prince.