Vision of a Glorious One
1 In the third year of King Cyrus of Persia, v a message was revealed to Daniel, who was named Belteshazzar. w The message was true and was about a great conflict. He understood the message and had understanding of the vision. x
2 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three full weeks. y 3 I didn’t eat any rich food, z no meat or wine entered my mouth, and I didn’t put any oil on my body until the three weeks were over. 4 On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, K as I was standing on the bank of the great river, a the Tigris, 5 I looked up, and there was a man dressed in linen, b with a belt of gold c from Uphaz L,d around his waist. 6 His body was like beryl, M his face like the brilliance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, e his arms and feet like the gleam of polished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude. f
7 Only I, Daniel, saw the vision. g The men who were with me did not see it, h but a great terror fell on them, i and they ran and hid. 8 I was left alone, looking at this great vision. j No strength was left in me; my face grew deathly pale, N,k and I was powerless. 9 I heard the words he said, and when I heard them I fell into a deep sleep, O,l with my face to the ground.
Angelic Conflict
10 Suddenly, a hand touched me and set me shaking on my hands and knees. 11 He said to me, “Daniel, you are a man treasured by God. P,m Understand the words that I’m saying to you. Stand on your feet, n for I have now been sent to you.” o After he said this to me, I stood trembling.
12 “Don’t be afraid, p Daniel,” he said to me, “for from the first day that you purposed to understand and to humble yourself before your God, q your prayers were heard. I have come because of your prayers. r 13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia opposed me for twenty-one days. Then Michael, s one of the chief princes, came to help me after I had been left there with the kings of Persia. t 14 Now I have come to help you understand what will happen to your people in the last days, u for the vision refers to those days.” v
15 While he was saying these words to me, I turned my face toward the ground and was speechless. w 16 Suddenly one with human likeness x touched my lips. y I opened my mouth and said to the one standing in front of me, “My lord, because of the vision, anguish overwhelms me and I am powerless. z 17 How can someone like me, a your servant, Q speak with someone like you, my lord? Now I have no strength, and there is no breath in me.”
18 Then the one with a human appearance touched me again and strengthened me. b 19 He said, “Don’t be afraid, c you who are R treasured by God. d Peace to you; be very strong! ” e
As he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.” f
20 He said, “Do you know why I’ve come to you? I must return at once to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I leave, the prince of Greece will come. g 21 However, I will tell you what is recorded in the book of truth. (No one has the courage to support me against those princes except Michael, h your prince.