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.

In those days, I, Daniel, had been (E)mourning for three [e]entire weeks. 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. 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, 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. 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. 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. 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. 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

  1. Daniel 10:1 Lit word
  2. Daniel 10:1 Lit word
  3. Daniel 10:1 Or warfare
  4. Daniel 10:1 Lit word
  5. Daniel 10:2 Lit weeks of days
  6. Daniel 10:3 Lit delicate
  7. Daniel 10:4 Heb Hiddekel
  8. Daniel 10:6 Lit like
  9. Daniel 10:8 Lit destruction
  10. Daniel 10:10 Lit knees and the palms of my hands
  11. Daniel 10:11 Lit man of treasure
  12. Daniel 10:13 Lit opposite me
  13. Daniel 10:14 Lit end of the days
  14. Daniel 10:15 Lit gave
  15. Daniel 10:16 Lit as a likeness of sons of mankind
  16. Daniel 10:16 Lit my pains have
  17. Daniel 10:19 Lit man of treasure
  18. Daniel 10:20 Lit know
  19. Daniel 10:20 Heb Javan
  20. Daniel 10:21 Lit shows himself courageous

10 In the third year of the realm of Cyrus, king of Persians, a word was showed to Daniel, Belteshazzar by name; and a true word, and (of) great strength, and he understood the word; for why understanding is needful in vision. (In the third year of the reign of Cyrus, the king of Persia, a word was showed to Daniel, who was also called Belteshazzar; and it was a true word, and of great strength, and he understood the word; because understanding is needed to interpret a vision.)

In those days I, Daniel, mourned by the days of three weeks; (In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three weeks;)

I ate not desirable bread (I did not eat tasty bread), and flesh, and wine entered not into my mouth, but neither I was anointed with ointment, till the days of three weeks were [ful]filled.

Forsooth in the four and twentieth day of the first month, I was beside the great flood, which is Tigris. (And on the twenty-fourth day of the first month, I was standing on the bank of the great Tigris River.)

And I raised mine eyes, and I saw, and lo! one man was clothed with linen clothes, and his reins were girded with shining gold; (And I raised up my eyes, and I saw, and lo! a man who was clothed in linen clothes, and he had on his waist a belt made of the gold of Uphaz, or of Ophir;)

and his body was as chrysolyte, and his face was as the likeness of lightning, and his eyes were as a burning lamp, and his arms and those things that were beneath till to the feet were as the likeness of brass being white, and the voice of his words was as the voice of (a) multitude. (and his body was like chrysolyte, and his face was like the appearance of lightning, and his eyes were like a burning lamp, and his arms and those things that were beneath unto the feet were like the appearance of shining, or polished, bronze, and his voice was like the voice of a multitude.)

Forsooth I, Daniel, alone saw the vision; certainly the men that were with me saw not, but full great fearedfulness fell in on them, and they fled into an hid place. (And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision; certainly the men who were with me did not see it, but a very great fearfulness fell in upon them, and they fled to a place where they could hid.)

But I was left alone, and I saw this great vision, and strength dwelled not in me; but also my likeness was changed in me, and I was stark (and I was made stiff, or rigid, like in a trance), and I had not in me anything of strengths.

And I heard the voice of his words, and I heard, and lay astonied on my face, and my face cleaved to the earth. (And I heard the sound of his words, and as I listened, I fell down on my face astonished, with my face to the ground.)

10 And lo! an hand touched me, and raised me on my knees, and on the toes of my feet [and upon the fingers of mine hands].

11 And he said to me, Thou, Daniel, a man of desires, understand the words which I speak to thee, and stand in thy degree; for now I am sent to thee. And when he had said this word to me, I stood quaking. (And he said to me, O Daniel, a man much beloved, understand the words which I speak to thee, and stand upright; for I am now sent to thee. And when he had said these words to me, I stood up, trembling and shaking.)

12 And he said to me, Daniel, do not thou dread, for from the first day in which thou settedest thine heart to understand, that thou shouldest torment thee in the sight of thy God, thy words were heard, and I came for thy words. (And he said to me, Daniel, do not thou fear, for from the first day when thou settest thy heart to understand, and that thou didest torment, or humble, thyself before thy God, thy prayers were heard, and I came because of thy prayers/and I came in answer to thy prayers.)

13 Forsooth the prince of the realm of Persians against-stood me one and twenty days, and lo! Michael, one of the first princes, came into mine help, and I dwelled still there beside the king of Persians. (And the angel prince of the kingdom of Persia stood against me for twenty-one days, and lo! Michael, one of the chief angels/one of the chief princes, came to my help, because I still lived there with the prince of Persia.)

14 Forsooth I am come to teach thee, what things shall come to thy people in the last days; for yet the vision is delayed into days (for this vision is for those days).

15 And when he spake to me by such words, I casted down my cheer to the earth, and was still. (And when he spoke to me with such words, I cast down my face to the ground, and was silent.)

16 And lo! as the likeness of son of a man touched my lips; and I opened my mouth, and spake, and said to him that stood before me, My Lord, in thy sight my joints be unknit, and nothing of strengths dwelled in me. (And lo! one like the son of a man touched my lips; and I opened my mouth, and spoke, and said to him who stood before me, My lord, this vision hath caused my joints to be unknit, and no strength remaineth in me.)

17 And how shall the servant of my Lord be able to speak with my Lord? nothing of strengths dwelled in me, but also my breath is closed betwixt, [or stopped]. (And how shall my lord’s servant be able to speak with my lord? for no strength remaineth in me, and also my breath is taken away.)

18 Therefore again (the one) as the sight of a man touched me, and comforted me, (And so again the one with the appearance of a man touched me, and strengthened me,)

19 and said, Man of desires, do not thou dread; peace be to thee, be thou comforted, and be thou strong. And when he spake with me, I waxed strong, and said, My Lord, speak thou, for thou hast comforted me. (and said, O man much beloved, do not thou fear; peace be to thee, be thou strengthened, and be thou strong. And when he spoke with me, I grew strong, and said, My lord, speak thou, for thou hast strengthened me.)

20 And he said, Whether thou knowest not, why I came to thee? And now I shall turn again, to fight against the prince of Persians. For when I went out, the prince of Greeks appeared coming. (And he said, Knowest thou not, why I came to thee? And now I must return, to fight against the angel of Persia. And after I have gone out, the angel of Greece shall soon appear/And now I must return, to fight against the prince of Persia. And after I have gone out, the prince of Greece shall soon appear.)

21 Nevertheless I shall tell to thee that, that is expressed in the scripture of truth; and none is mine helper in all these things, no but Michael, your prince. (Nevertheless I shall tell thee what is written in The Book of Truth; and no one is my helper in all of these things, except Michael, your angel/your prince.)

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.

At that time I, Daniel, mourned(D) for three weeks. 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.

On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank(F) of the great river, the Tigris,(G) 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. 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.

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. 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) 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

  1. Daniel 10:1 Or true and burdensome
  2. 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

Vision of the Glorious Man

10 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a message was revealed to Daniel, whose (A)name was called Belteshazzar. The message was true, [a]but the appointed time was long; and he understood the message, and had understanding of the vision. In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. I ate no [b]pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.

Now on the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, that is, the [c]Tigris, I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, a certain man clothed in (B)linen, whose waist was (C)girded with gold of Uphaz! His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like torches of fire, his arms and feet like burnished bronze in color, (D)and the sound of his words like the voice of a multitude.

And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see the vision; but a great terror fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves. Therefore I was left alone when I saw this great vision, and no strength remained in me; for my [d]vigor was turned to [e]frailty in me, and I retained no strength. Yet I heard the sound of his words; and while I heard the sound of his words I was in a deep sleep on my face, with my face to the ground.

Prophecies Concerning Persia and Greece

10 (E)Suddenly, a hand touched me, which made me tremble on my knees and on the palms of my hands. 11 And he said to me, “O Daniel, (F)man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you.” While he was speaking this word to me, I stood trembling.

12 Then he said to me, (G)“Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, (H)your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. 13 (I)But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, (J)Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia. 14 Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people (K)in the latter days, (L)for the vision refers to many days yet to come.

15 When he had spoken such words to me, (M)I [f]turned my face toward the ground and became speechless. 16 And suddenly, (N)one having the likeness of the [g]sons of men (O)touched my lips; then I opened my mouth and spoke, saying to him who stood before me, “My lord, because of the vision (P)my sorrows have [h]overwhelmed me, and I have retained no strength. 17 For how can this servant of my lord talk with you, my lord? As for me, no strength remains in me now, nor is any breath left in me.”

18 Then again, the one having the likeness of a man touched me and strengthened me. 19 (Q)And he said, “O man greatly beloved, (R)fear not! Peace be to you; be strong, yes, be strong!”

So when he spoke to me I was strengthened, and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.”

20 Then he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? And now I must return to fight (S)with the prince of Persia; and when I have gone forth, indeed the prince of Greece will come. 21 But I will tell you what is noted in the Scripture of Truth. (No one upholds me against these, (T)except Michael your prince.

Footnotes

  1. Daniel 10:1 Or and of great conflict;
  2. Daniel 10:3 desirable
  3. Daniel 10:4 Heb. Hiddekel
  4. Daniel 10:8 Lit. splendor
  5. Daniel 10:8 Lit. ruin
  6. Daniel 10:15 Lit. set
  7. Daniel 10:16 Theodotion, Vg. the son; LXX a hand
  8. Daniel 10:16 Or turned upon