1 In the thirdyear of 1Cyrusking of Persia a message was revealed to 2Daniel, who was named*Belteshazzar; and the 3message was true and one of greatconflict, but he understood the message and had an 4understanding of the vision.
2
In thosedays, I, Daniel, had been5mourning for threeentireweeks.
3
I 6did not eat any tastyfood, nor did meat or wineenter my mouth, nor did I use any ointment at all until the entirethreeweeks were completed.
4
On the twenty-fourth*day of the firstmonth, while I was by the bank of the great7river, that is, the Tigris,
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I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, there was a certainman8dressed in linen, whose waist was 9girded with a belt of pure10gold of Uphaz.
6
His body also was like beryl, his face had the appearance of lightning, 11his eyes were like flamingtorches, his arms and feet like the gleam of polishedbronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a tumult.
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Now I, Daniel, 12alonesaw the vision, while the 13menwho were with me did not see the vision; nevertheless, a great14dreadfell on them, and they ranaway to hide themselves.
8
So I was 15leftalone and sawthisgreatvision; yet 16nostrength was left in me, for my naturalcolorturned to a deathlypallor, and I retainednostrength.
9
But I heard the sound of his words; and as soon as I heard the sound of his words, I 17fell into a deepsleep on my face, with my face to the ground.
Daniel Comforted
10 Then behold, a hand18touched me and set me trembling on my hands* and knees.
11
He said to me, "O 19Daniel, man of highesteem, 20understand the words that I am about to tell you and 21standupright*, for I have now been sent to you." And when he had spokenthisword to me, I stood up 22trembling.
12
Then he said to me, "23Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the firstday that you set your heart on understanding this and on 24humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response 25to your words.
13
"But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was withstanding me for twenty-one*days; then behold, 26Michael, one of the chiefprinces, came to help me, for I had been leftthere with the kings of Persia.
14
"Now I have come to 27give you an understanding of what will happen to your people in the 28latterdays, for the vision pertains to 29the daysyet future."
15
When he had spoken to me according to thesewords, I turned my face toward the ground and became30speechless.
16
And behold, 31one whoresembled a humanbeing* was 32touching my lips; then I opened my mouth and spoke and said to him who was standingbefore me, "O my lord, as a result of the vision33anguish has come upon me, and I have retainednostrength.
17
"For 34howcansuch a servant of my lordtalk with such as my lord? As for me, there remains just now35nostrength in me, nor has any breath been left in me."
18
Then this one with humanappearancetouched me again and 36strengthened me.
19
He said, "O man of highesteem, 37do not be afraid. Peace be with you; take38courage and be courageous!" Now as soon as he spoke to me, I receivedstrength and said, "May my lordspeak, for you have 39strengthened me."
20
Then he said, "Do you understandwhy I came to you? But I shall nowreturn to fightagainst the prince of Persia; so I am goingforth, and behold, the 40prince of Greece is about to come.
21
"However, I will tell you what is inscribed in the writing of 41truth. Yet there is noone who standsfirmly with me againstthese forces except*42Michael your prince.