11 He said, “Daniel, you who are highly esteemed,(A) consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you, and stand up,(B) 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,(C) Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble(D) yourself before your God, your words(E) were heard, and I have come in response to them.(F) 13 But the prince(G) of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael,(H) 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(I) to you what will happen to your people in the future,(J) for the vision concerns a time yet to come.(K)

15 While he was saying this to me, I bowed with my face toward the ground and was speechless.(L) 16 Then one who looked like a man[a] touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and began to speak.(M) I said to the one standing before me, “I am overcome with anguish(N) 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.”(O)

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Footnotes

  1. 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

11 And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling.

12 Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.

13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.

14 Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.

15 And when he had spoken such words unto me, I set my face toward the ground, and I became dumb.

16 And, behold, one like the similitude of the sons of men touched my lips: then I opened my mouth, and spake, and said unto him that stood before me, O my lord, by the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I have retained no strength.

17 For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord? for as for me, straightway there remained no strength in me, neither is there breath left in me.

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