Daniel's Vision beside the Tigris River

10 In the third year^[a] of Cyrus the king of Persia, a message came to Daniel^[b] from God, and it was explained in a vision. The message was about a dreadful war, and it was true. ² Daniel wrote:

For three weeks I was in sorrow. ³ I ate no fancy food or meat, I drank no wine, and I put no olive oil on my face or hair.^{[c] 4} Then, on the twenty-fourth day of the first month,^[d] I was standing on the banks of the great Tigris River, ^5 (A) when I looked up and saw someone dressed in linen and wearing a solid gold belt.^{[e] 6} His body was like a precious stone,^[f] his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming fires, his arms and legs like polished bronze, and his voice like the roar of a crowd. ^7 (B) Although the people who were with me did not see the vision, they became so frightened that they scattered and hid. ⁸ Only I saw this great vision. I became weak and pale, ⁹ and at the sound of his voice, I fell facedown in a deep sleep.

¹⁰ He raised me to my hands and knees ¹¹ and then said, “Daniel, your God thinks highly of you, and he has sent me. So stand up and pay close attention.” I stood trembling, while the angel said:

¹² Daniel, don't be afraid! God has listened to your prayers since the first day you humbly asked for understanding, and he has sent me here. ^13 (C) But the guardian angel^[g] of Persia opposed me for 21 days. Then Michael, who is one of the strongest guardian angels,^[h] came to rescue me from the kings of Persia.^{[i] 14} Now I have come here to give you another vision about what will happen to your people in the future.

¹⁵ While this angel was speaking to me, I stared at the ground, speechless. ¹⁶ Then he appeared in human form and touched my lips. I said, “Sir, this vision has brought me great pain and has drained my strength. ¹⁷ I am merely your servant. How can I possibly speak with someone so powerful, when I am almost too weak to get my breath?”

^18-19 The angel touched me a second time and said, “Don't be frightened! God thinks highly of you, and he intends this for your good, so be brave and strong.”

At this, I regained my strength and replied, “Please speak! You have already made me feel much better.”

²⁰ Then the angel said:

Now do you understand why I have come? Soon I must leave to fight against the guardian angel of Persia. Then after I have defeated him, the guardian angel of Greece will attack me. ²¹ I will tell you what is written in The Book of Truth. But first, you must realize that no one except Michael, the guardian angel of Israel, is on my side.