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”

15 While he was saying this to me, I bowed with my face toward the ground and was speechless.w 16 Then one who looked like a manb touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and began to speak.x I said to the one standing before me, “I am overcome with anguishy 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.”z

18 Again the one who looked like a man toucheda me and gave me strength.b 19 “Do not be afraid, you who are highly esteemed,”c he said. “Peace!d Be strong now; be strong.”e

When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Speak, my lord, since you have given me strength.”f