5 I looked upv and there before me was a man dressed in linen,w with a belt of fine goldx from Uphaz around his waist. 6 His body was like topaz,y his face like lightning,z his eyes like flaming torches,a his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze,b and his voicec like the sound of a multitude.

7 I, Daniel, was the only one who saw the vision; those who were with me did not see it,d but such terror overwhelmed them that they fled and hid themselves. 8 So I was left alone,e gazing at this great vision; I had no strength left,f my face turned deathly paleg and I was helpless.h 9 Then I heard him speaking, and as I listened to him, I fell into a deep sleep, my face to the ground.i

10 A hand touched mej and set me trembling on my hands and knees.k 11 He said, “Daniel, you who are highly esteemed,l consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you, and stand up,m 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,n Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humbleo yourself before your God, your wordsp were heard, and I have come in response to them.q 13 But the princer of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael,s 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 explaint to you what will happen to your people in the future,u for the vision concerns a time yet to come.v”