Daniel 10

Vision of the Glorious Man

10In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a message was revealed to Daniel, whose ^aname was called Belteshazzar. The message was true, ¹but the appointed time was long; and he understood the message, and had understanding of the vision. ²In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. ³I ate no ²pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.

⁴Now on the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, that is, the ³Tigris, ⁵I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, a certain man clothed in ^blinen, whose waist was ^cgirded with gold of Uphaz! ⁶His 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, ^dand the sound of his words like the voice of a multitude.

⁷And 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. ⁸Therefore I was left alone when I saw this great vision, and no strength remained in me; for my ⁴vigor was turned to ⁵frailty in me, and I retained no strength. ⁹Yet 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

^10eSuddenly, a hand touched me, which made me tremble on my knees and on the palms of my hands. ¹¹And he said to me, “O Daniel, ^fman 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.

¹²Then 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, ^hyour words were heard; and I have come because of your words. ¹³ⁱBut the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, ^jMichael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia. ¹⁴Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people ^kin the latter days, ^lfor the vision refers to many days yet to come.”

¹⁵When he had spoken such words to me, ^mI ⁶turned my face toward the ground and became speechless. ¹⁶And suddenly, ⁿone having the likeness of the ⁷sons of men ^otouched my lips; then I opened my mouth and spoke, saying to him who stood before me, “My lord, because of the vision ^pmy sorrows have ⁸overwhelmed me, and I have retained no strength. ¹⁷For 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.”

¹⁸Then again, the one having the likeness of a man touched me and strengthened me. ^19qAnd he said, “O man greatly beloved, ^rfear 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.”

²⁰Then he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? And now I must return to fight ^swith the prince of Persia; and when I have gone forth, indeed the prince of Greece will come. ²¹But I will tell you what is noted in the Scripture of Truth. (No one upholds me against these, ^texcept Michael your prince.