Vision of a Glorious One

10 In the third year of King Cyrus of Persia,^(A) a message was revealed to Daniel, who was named Belteshazzar.^(B) The message was true and was about a great conflict. He understood the message and had understanding of the vision.^(C)

² In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three full weeks.^{(D) 3} I didn’t eat any rich food,^(E) no meat or wine entered my mouth, and I didn’t put any oil on my body until the three weeks were over. ⁴ On the twenty-fourth day of the first month,^[a] as I was standing on the bank of the great river,^(F) the Tigris, ⁵ I looked up, and there was a man dressed in linen,^(G) with a belt of gold^(H) from Uphaz^[b](I) round his waist. ⁶ His body was like beryl,^[c] his face like the brilliance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches,^(J) his arms and feet like the gleam of polished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude.^(K)

⁷ Only I, Daniel, saw the vision.^(L) The men who were with me did not see it,^(M) but a great terror fell on them,^(N) and they ran and hid. ⁸ I was left alone, looking at this great vision.^(O) No strength was left in me; my face grew deathly pale,^[d](P) and I was powerless. ⁹ I heard the words he said, and when I heard them I fell into a deep sleep,^[e](Q) with my face to the ground.

Angelic Conflict

¹⁰ Suddenly, a hand touched me and set me shaking on my hands and knees. ¹¹ He said to me, ‘Daniel, you are a man treasured by God.^[f](R) Understand the words that I’m saying to you. Stand on your feet,^(S) for I have now been sent to you.’^(T) After he said this to me, I stood trembling.

¹² ‘Don’t be afraid,^(U) Daniel,’ he said to me, ‘for from the first day that you purposed to understand and to humble yourself before your God,^(V) your prayers were heard. I have come because of your prayers.^{(W) 13} But the prince of the kingdom of Persia opposed me for twenty-one days. Then Michael,^(X) one of the chief princes, came to help me after I had been left there with the kings of Persia.^{(Y) 14} Now I have come to help you understand what will happen to your people in the last days,^(Z) for the vision refers to those days.’^(AA)

¹⁵ While he was saying these words to me, I turned my face towards the ground and was speechless.^{(AB) 16} Suddenly one with human likeness^(AC) touched my lips.^(AD) I opened my mouth and said to the one standing in front of me, ‘My lord, because of the vision, anguish overwhelms me and I am powerless.^{(AE) 17} How can someone like me,^(AF) your servant,^[g] speak with someone like you, my lord? Now I have no strength, and there is no breath in me.’

¹⁸ Then the one with a human appearance touched me again and strengthened me.^{(AG) 19} He said, ‘Don’t be afraid,^(AH) you who are^[h] treasured by God.^(AI) Peace to you; be very strong! ’^(AJ)

As he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, ‘Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.’^(AK)

²⁰ He said, ‘Do you know why I’ve come to you? I must return at once to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I leave, the prince of Greece will come.^{(AL) 21} However, I will tell you what is recorded in the book of truth. (No one has the courage to support me against those princes except Michael,^(AM) your prince.