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La gran visión final

10 El año tercero de Ciro, rey de Persia, Daniel (apodado Baltasar) tuvo una revelación. El mensaje, que era digno de crédito, se refería a una gran guerra. Él entendió el mensaje, pues la visión le proporcionó perspicacia.

Por entonces, yo, Daniel, estuve tres semanas haciendo penitencia. No comí alimentos apetitosos; no probé carne ni bebí vino; ni me perfumé hasta que pasaron las tres semanas. El día vigésimo cuarto del primer mes estaba yo a orillas del Tigris cuando, al alzar la vista, vi ante mí a un hombre vestido de lino, con un cinturón de oro puro. Su cuerpo parecía de crisólito, su cara destellaba como el relámpago, sus ojos semejaban antorchas encendidas, sus brazos y piernas brillaban como el bronce bruñido, y su voz resonaba como si hablara una multitud. Yo, Daniel, fui el único testigo de la visión; ninguno de los que estaban conmigo la vio, pues, sobrecogidos por el terror, huyeron a esconderse. Así que me quedé solo contemplando aquella gran visión. Me quedé sin fuerzas, mi semblante se cubrió de una palidez mortal y me abandonó el vigor. En aquel momento oí el sonido de su voz y caí de bruces, en trance. 10 Sentí entonces que una mano me tocaba y me levantaba tembloroso sobre mis manos y mis rodillas. 11 Luego me dijo:

— Daniel, tú que eres una persona tan apreciada, presta mucha atención al mensaje que voy a transmitirte y ponte en pie, pues acabo de ser enviado a ti.

Cuando oí estas palabras, me incorporé tembloroso. 12 El [hombre vestido de lino] continuó:

— No temas, Daniel. Tus palabras fueron escuchadas desde el primer día en que te propusiste comprender y te humillaste ante tu Dios. Yo he venido a responder a esas palabras. 13 Pero el príncipe del reino de Persia me ha opuesto resistencia durante veintiún días. Menos mal que Miguel, uno de los primeros príncipes, acudió en mi ayuda, pues yo estaba retenido junto a los reyes de Persia. 14 Pero ahora he podido venir a explicarte lo que sucederá a tu pueblo en los últimos días, pues la visión se refiere a un tiempo todavía por llegar.

15 Mientras me dirigía estas palabras, di con mi rostro en tierra y enmudecí. 16 Pero alguien que parecía un hombre tocó mis labios; entonces abrí la boca y comencé a hablar. Dije al que estaba frente a mí:

— Señor, me siento invadido por la angustia a causa de la visión, y me he quedado sin fuerzas. 17 ¿Cómo podrá tu siervo hablar contigo, Señor? Las fuerzas me han abandonado y casi no puedo respirar.

18 El que parecía un hombre me tocó y me devolvió las fuerzas. Después me dijo:

19 — No temas, pues eres muy apreciado. La paz sea contigo. Ahora sé fuerte y ten ánimo.

Mientras me hablaba, sentí que recuperaba las fuerzas y dije:

— Puedes hablar, Señor, pues me has devuelto las fuerzas.

20 Entonces me preguntó:

— ¿Sabes por qué he venido hasta ti? Pronto volveré a luchar contra el príncipe de Persia; cuando me vaya, llegará el príncipe de Grecia. 21 Pero antes te revelaré lo que está escrito en el Libro de la Verdad. No hay nadie que me ayude a luchar contra esos príncipes, salvo Miguel, el Príncipe de ustedes.

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)

In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three full weeks.(D) 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. On the twenty-fourth day of the first month,[a] as I was standing on the bank of the great river,(F) the Tigris, I looked up, and there was a man dressed in linen,(G) with a belt of gold(H) from Uphaz[b](I) around his waist. 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)

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. 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. 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 toward 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.

Footnotes

  1. 10:4 = Nisan (March–April)
  2. 10:5 Some Hb mss read Ophir
  3. 10:6 The identity of this stone is uncertain.
  4. 10:8 Lit my splendor was turned on me to ruin
  5. 10:9 Lit a sleep on my face
  6. 10:11 by God added for clarity, also in v. 19
  7. 10:17 Lit Can I, a servant of my lord
  8. 10:19 Lit afraid, man

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