Daniel’s Vision of a Man

10 In the third year of Cyruso king of Persia, a revelation was given to Daniel (who was called Belteshazzar).p Its message was trueq and it concerned a great war.a The understanding of the message came to him in a vision.

2 At that time I, Daniel, mournedr for three weeks. 3 I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips;s and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over.

4 On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bankt of the great river, the Tigris,u 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”

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

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 Greeceg will come; 21 but first I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth.h (No one supports me against them except Michael,i your prince.