Add parallel Print Page Options

So I was left alone to see this great vision. My strength left me, and my complexion grew deathly pale, and I retained no strength.(A) When[a] I heard the sound of his words, I fell into a trance, face to the ground.(B)

10 But then a hand touched me and roused me to my hands and knees.(C) 11 He said to me, “Daniel, greatly beloved, pay attention to the words that I am going to speak to you. Stand on your feet, for I have now been sent to you.” So while he was speaking this word to me, I stood up trembling.(D) 12 He said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words.(E) 13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia opposed me twenty-one days. So Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, and I left him there with the prince of the kingdom of Persia[b](F) 14 and have come to help you understand what is to happen to your people at the end of days. For there is a further vision for those days.”(G)

15 While he was speaking these words to me, I turned my face toward the ground and was speechless.(H) 16 Then one in human form touched my lips, and I opened my mouth to speak and said to the one who stood before me, “My lord, because of the vision such pains have come upon me that I retain no strength.(I) 17 How can my lord’s servant talk with my lord? For I am exhausted;[c] no strength remains in me, and no breath is left in me.”

18 Again one in human form touched me and strengthened me. 19 He said, “Do not fear, greatly beloved; you are safe. Be strong and courageous!” When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.”(J) 20 Then he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? Now I must return to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I am through with him, the prince of Greece will come. 21 But I am to tell you what is inscribed in the book of truth. There is no one with me who contends against these princes except Michael, your prince.(K) 11 “As for me, in the first year of Darius the Mede, I stood up to support and strengthen him.(L)

“Now I will announce the truth to you. Three more kings shall arise in Persia. The fourth shall be far richer than all of them, and when he has become strong through his riches, he shall stir up all against the kingdom of Greece. Then a warrior king shall arise who shall rule with great dominion and take action as he pleases.(M) And while still rising in power, his kingdom shall be broken and divided toward the four winds of heaven but not to his posterity nor according to the dominion with which he ruled, for his kingdom shall be uprooted and go to others besides these.(N)

“Then the king of the south shall grow strong, but one of his officers shall grow stronger than he and shall rule a realm greater than his own realm. After some years they shall make an alliance, and the daughter of the king of the south shall come to the king of the north to ratify the agreement. But she shall not retain her power, and his offspring shall not endure. She shall be given up, she and her attendants and her child and the one who supported her.

“In those times(O) a branch from her roots shall rise up in his place. He shall come against the army and enter the fortress of the king of the north, and he shall take action against them and prevail.(P) Even their gods, with their idols and with their precious vessels of silver and gold, he shall carry off to Egypt as spoils of war. For some years he shall refrain from attacking the king of the north;(Q) then the latter shall invade the realm of the king of the south but will return to his own land.

10 “His sons shall wage war and assemble a multitude of great forces that shall advance like a flood and pass through and again shall carry the war as far as his fortress.(R) 11 Moved with rage, the king of the south shall go out and do battle against the king of the north, who shall muster a great multitude, but the multitude shall be given over to his hand.(S) 12 When the multitude has been carried off, his heart shall be exalted, and he shall overthrow tens of thousands, but he shall not prevail. 13 For the king of the north shall again raise a multitude larger than the former, and after some years[d] he shall advance with a great army and abundant supplies.(T)

14 “In those times many shall rise against the king of the south. The lawless among your own people shall lift themselves up in order to fulfill the vision, but they shall fail. 15 Then the king of the north shall come and throw up siegeworks and take a well-fortified city. And the forces of the south shall not stand, not even his picked troops, for there shall be no strength to resist.(U) 16 But he who comes against him shall take the actions he pleases, and no one shall withstand him. He shall take a position in the beautiful land, and all of it shall be in his power.(V) 17 He shall set his face to come with the strength of his whole kingdom. He shall make peace with him and shall give him a woman in marriage, in order to destroy the kingdom,[e] but it shall not succeed or be to his advantage.(W) 18 Afterward he shall turn to the coastlands and shall capture many, but a commander shall put an end to his insolence; indeed,[f] he shall turn his insolence back upon him.(X) 19 Then he shall turn back toward the fortresses of his own land, but he shall stumble and fall and shall not be found.(Y)

Footnotes

  1. 10.9 Gk Syr: Heb Then I heard the sound of his words, and when
  2. 10.13 Gk Theodotion: Heb I was left there with the kings of Persia
  3. 10.17 Gk: Heb from now
  4. 11.13 Heb and at the end of the times years
  5. 11.17 Heb it
  6. 11.18 Meaning of Heb uncertain

So I was left alone,(A) gazing at this great vision; I had no strength left,(B) my face turned deathly pale(C) and I was helpless.(D) Then I heard him speaking, and as I listened to him, I fell into a deep sleep, my face to the ground.(E)

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

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

18 Again the one who looked like a man touched(W) me and gave me strength.(X) 19 “Do not be afraid, you who are highly esteemed,”(Y) he said. “Peace!(Z) Be strong now; be strong.”(AA)

When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Speak, my lord, since you have given me strength.”(AB)

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(AC) will come; 21 but first I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth.(AD) (No one supports me against them except Michael,(AE) your prince. 11 And in the first year of Darius(AF) the Mede, I took my stand to support and protect him.)

The Kings of the South and the North

“Now then, I tell you the truth:(AG) Three more kings will arise in Persia, and then a fourth, who will be far richer than all the others. When he has gained power by his wealth, he will stir up everyone against the kingdom of Greece.(AH) Then a mighty king will arise, who will rule with great power and do as he pleases.(AI) After he has arisen, his empire will be broken up and parceled out toward the four winds of heaven.(AJ) It will not go to his descendants, nor will it have the power he exercised, because his empire will be uprooted(AK) and given to others.

“The king of the South will become strong, but one of his commanders will become even stronger than he and will rule his own kingdom with great power. After some years, they will become allies. The daughter of the king of the South will go to the king of the North to make an alliance, but she will not retain her power, and he and his power[b] will not last. In those days she will be betrayed, together with her royal escort and her father[c] and the one who supported her.

“One from her family line will arise to take her place. He will attack the forces of the king of the North(AL) and enter his fortress; he will fight against them and be victorious. He will also seize their gods,(AM) their metal images and their valuable articles of silver and gold and carry them off to Egypt.(AN) For some years he will leave the king of the North alone. Then the king of the North will invade the realm of the king of the South but will retreat to his own country. 10 His sons will prepare for war and assemble a great army, which will sweep on like an irresistible flood(AO) and carry the battle as far as his fortress.

11 “Then the king of the South will march out in a rage and fight against the king of the North, who will raise a large army, but it will be defeated.(AP) 12 When the army is carried off, the king of the South will be filled with pride and will slaughter many thousands, yet he will not remain triumphant. 13 For the king of the North will muster another army, larger than the first; and after several years, he will advance with a huge army fully equipped.

14 “In those times many will rise against the king of the South. Those who are violent among your own people will rebel in fulfillment of the vision, but without success. 15 Then the king of the North will come and build up siege ramps(AQ) and will capture a fortified city. The forces of the South will be powerless to resist; even their best troops will not have the strength to stand. 16 The invader will do as he pleases;(AR) no one will be able to stand against him.(AS) He will establish himself in the Beautiful Land and will have the power to destroy it.(AT) 17 He will determine to come with the might of his entire kingdom and will make an alliance with the king of the South. And he will give him a daughter in marriage in order to overthrow the kingdom, but his plans[d] will not succeed(AU) or help him. 18 Then he will turn his attention to the coastlands(AV) and will take many of them, but a commander will put an end to his insolence and will turn his insolence back on him.(AW) 19 After this, he will turn back toward the fortresses of his own country but will stumble and fall,(AX) to be seen no more.(AY)

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
  2. Daniel 11:6 Or offspring
  3. Daniel 11:6 Or child (see Vulgate and Syriac)
  4. Daniel 11:17 Or but she