Daniel 10
Common English Bible
Vision of a man
10 In the third year of Persia’s King Cyrus, a message was revealed to Daniel, who was called Belteshazzar. The message was true: there would be a great conflict. Daniel understood the message, having discerned the meaning of the vision.
2 During that time, I, Daniel, had been mourning for three weeks. 3 I didn’t eat any rich foods. Neither meat nor wine passed my lips, and I didn’t clean up at all until the three weeks were up. 4 Then, on the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was on the bank of the great Tigris River, 5 I looked up and suddenly saw a man clothed in linen in front of me. He had a brilliant gold belt around his waist, 6 and his body was like topaz. His face was like a flash of lightning, and his eyes were like burning torches. His arms and feet looked like polished bronze. When he spoke, it sounded like the roar of a crowd. 7 Only I, Daniel, saw this vision. The other people who were with me didn’t see it. Despite that, they were terrified and ran away to hide.
8 So I was left alone to see this great vision all by myself. All my strength left me. My energy was sapped, and I couldn’t stay strong. 9 Then I heard the sound of the man’s words. When I heard it, I fell into a trance with my face on the ground. 10 But then a hand touched me, lifting me up to my hands and knees.
11 The man said to me, “Daniel, you are greatly treasured. Now grasp the meaning of what I’m saying to you. And stand up, because I’ve been sent to you.”
As he said this to me, I stood up, shaking.
12 Then the man said to me, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel, because from the day you first set your mind to understand things and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard. I’ve come because of your words! 13 For twenty-one days the leader of the Persian kingdom blocked my way. But then Michael, one of the highest leaders, came to help me. I left Michael there with the leader of the Persian kingdom.[a] 14 But I’ve come to help you understand what will happen to your people in the future, because there is another vision concerning that time.”
15 While he said this to me, I turned my face to the ground and kept quiet. 16 But then someone who looked like a human being[b] touched my lips. Then I opened my mouth and spoke, saying to the person standing in front of me: “My lord, the vision bothered me deeply, and I couldn’t stay strong during it. 17 So how can I, my lord’s servant, speak with you, my lord? Even now there’s no strength in me, and I can barely breathe.”
18 The one who looked like a human being touched me again and gave me strength. 19 He said, “Don’t be afraid. You are greatly treasured. All will be well with you. Be strong!”
As he spoke to me, I suddenly felt strong. Then I said: “My lord can go on, because you’ve made me strong.”
20 Then he said: “Do you know why I have come to you? Now I must go back to fight the leader of Persia. As I leave, the leader of Greece will come! 21 But I will tell you what is written in the Scroll of Truth. No one stands strong with me against these leaders except your leader Michael.
Footnotes
- Daniel 10:13 LXX; Heb after I was detained there with the kings of Persia
- Daniel 10:16 Heb bene adam (a son of a man) is an idiom that means human being; cf 7:13.
Daniel 10
Revised Geneva Translation
10 In the third year of Cyrus, king of Persia, a thing was revealed to Daniel (whose name was called Belteshazzar). And the word was true, but the time appointed was long. And he understood the thing, and had understanding of the vision.
2 At the same time I, Daniel, was in heaviness for three weeks of days.
3 I ate no pleasant bread, nor came flesh or wine into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three weeks of days were fulfilled.
4 And on the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was by the side of that great river, Hiddekel,
5 I lifted my eyes, and looked. And behold, there was a man clothed in linen, whose waist was bound with fine gold of Uphaz.
6 His body also was like the Chrysolite; and his face like the lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire. And his arms and his feet had the color of polished brass. And the voice of his words was like the voice of a multitude.
7 And I, Daniel, alone, saw the vision. For the men who were with me, saw not the vision. But a great fear fell upon them, so that they fled away and hid themselves.
8 Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision. And there remained no strength in me. For the strength in me was corrupted, and I retained no power.
9 Yet heard I the voice of his words. And when I heard the voice of his words, I slept on my face. And my face was toward the ground.
10 And behold, a hand touched me which set me up upon my knees, and upon the palms of my hands.
11 And he said to me, “O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you. And stand in your place. For to you am I now sent.” And when he had said this word to me, I stood trembling.
12 Then he said to me, “Fear not, Daniel. For from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard. And I have come because of your words.
13 “But the prince of the kingdom of Persia resisted me twenty-one days. But lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me. And I remained there by the kings of Persia.
14 “Now I have come to show you what shall come to your people in the latter days. For the vision is for many days yet to come.”
15 And when he spoke these words to me, I set my face toward the ground, and held my tongue.
16 And behold, one looking similar to the sons of man touched my lips. Then I opened my mouth, and spoke, and said to him who stood before me, “O my lord, by the vision my sorrows have returned upon me. And I have retained no strength.
17 “For how can the servant of this, my lord, talk with my lord, being such one? For there now remains no strength in me, nor is there breath left in me.”
18 Then there came again one having the appearance of a man, who touched me, and strengthened me,
19 And said, “O man, greatly beloved, fear not. Peace be to you. Be strong and of good courage.” And when he had spoken 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? But now I will return to fight with the Prince of Persia. And when I have gone forth, lo, the Prince of Greece shall come.
21 “But I will show you that which is decreed in the Scripture of truth. And there is no one who upholds me in these things except Michael, your prince.”
Daniel 10
New King James Version
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. 2 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. 3 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.
4 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, 5 I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, a certain man clothed in (B)linen, whose waist was (C)girded with gold of Uphaz! 6 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.
7 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. 8 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. 9 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
- Daniel 10:1 Or and of great conflict;
- Daniel 10:3 desirable
- Daniel 10:4 Heb. Hiddekel
- Daniel 10:8 Lit. splendor
- Daniel 10:8 Lit. ruin
- Daniel 10:15 Lit. set
- Daniel 10:16 Theodotion, Vg. the son; LXX a hand
- Daniel 10:16 Or turned upon
Daniel 10
New Living Translation
Daniel’s Vision of a Messenger
10 In the third year of the reign of King Cyrus of Persia,[a] Daniel (also known as Belteshazzar) had another vision. He understood that the vision concerned events certain to happen in the future—times of war and great hardship.
2 When this vision came to me, I, Daniel, had been in mourning for three whole weeks. 3 All that time I had eaten no rich food. No meat or wine crossed my lips, and I used no fragrant lotions until those three weeks had passed.
4 On April 23,[b] as I was standing on the bank of the great Tigris River, 5 I looked up and saw a man dressed in linen clothing, with a belt of pure gold around his waist. 6 His body looked like a precious gem. His face flashed like lightning, and his eyes flamed like torches. His arms and feet shone like polished bronze, and his voice roared like a vast multitude of people.
7 Only I, Daniel, saw this vision. The men with me saw nothing, but they were suddenly terrified and ran away to hide. 8 So I was left there all alone to see this amazing vision. My strength left me, my face grew deathly pale, and I felt very weak. 9 Then I heard the man speak, and when I heard the sound of his voice, I fainted and lay there with my face to the ground.
10 Just then a hand touched me and lifted me, still trembling, to my hands and knees. 11 And the man said to me, “Daniel, you are very precious to God, so listen carefully to what I have to say to you. Stand up, for I have been sent to you.” When he said this to me, I stood up, still trembling.
12 Then he said, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer. 13 But for twenty-one days the spirit prince[c] of the kingdom of Persia blocked my way. Then Michael, one of the archangels,[d] came to help me, and I left him there with the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia.[e] 14 Now I am here to explain what will happen to your people in the future, for this vision concerns a time yet to come.”
15 While he was speaking to me, I looked down at the ground, unable to say a word. 16 Then the one who looked like a man[f] touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and began to speak. I said to the one standing in front of me, “I am filled with anguish because of the vision I have seen, my lord, and I am very weak. 17 How can someone like me, your servant, talk to you, my lord? My strength is gone, and I can hardly breathe.”
18 Then the one who looked like a man touched me again, and I felt my strength returning. 19 “Don’t be afraid,” he said, “for you are very precious to God. Peace! Be encouraged! Be strong!”
As he spoke these words to me, I suddenly felt stronger and said to him, “Please speak to me, my lord, for you have strengthened me.”
20 He replied, “Do you know why I have come? Soon I must return to fight against the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia, and after that the spirit prince of the kingdom of Greece[g] will come. 21 Meanwhile, I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. (No one helps me against these spirit princes except Michael, your spirit prince.[h]
Footnotes
- 10:1 The third year of Cyrus’s reign was 536 B.c.
- 10:4 Hebrew On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar. This date in the book of Daniel can be cross-checked with dates in surviving Persian records and can be related accurately to our modern calendar. This event occurred on April 23, 536 B.c.
- 10:13a Hebrew the prince; also in 10:13c, 20.
- 10:13b Hebrew the chief princes.
- 10:13c As in one Greek version; Hebrew reads and I was left there with the kings of Persia. The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
- 10:16 As in most manuscripts of the Masoretic Text; one manuscript of the Masoretic Text and one Greek version read Then something that looked like a human hand.
- 10:20 Hebrew of Javan.
- 10:21 Hebrew against these except Michael, your prince.
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