Daniel 10

Daniel Is Terrified by a Vision

1In the third year of 1Cyrus king of Persia a 2message was revealed to 3Daniel, who was named Belteshazzar; and the 45message was true and one of great 6conflict, but he understood the 7message and had an 8understanding of the vision.

2In those days, I, Daniel, had been 9mourning for three entire weeks. 3I 10did not eat any 11tasty food, nor did meat or wine enter my mouth, nor did I use any ointment at all until the entire three weeks were completed. 4On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, while I was by the bank of the great 12river, that is, the 13Tigris, 5I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, there was a certain man 14dressed in linen, whose waist was 15girded with a belt of pure 16gold of Uphaz. 6His body also was like 17beryl, his face 18had the appearance of lightning, 19his eyes were like flaming torches, his arms and feet like the gleam of polished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a 20tumult. 7Now I, Daniel, 21alone saw the vision, while the 22men who were with me did not see the vision; nevertheless, a great 23dread fell on them, and they ran away to hide themselves. 8So I was 24left alone and saw this great vision; yet 25no strength was left in me, for my 26natural color turned to 27a deathly pallor, and I retained no strength. 9But I heard the sound of his words; and as soon as I heard the sound of his words, I 28fell into a deep sleep on my face, with my face to the ground.

Daniel Comforted

10Then behold, a hand 29touched me and set me trembling on my 30hands and knees. 11He said to me, “O 31Daniel, man of 32high esteem, 33understand the words that I am about to tell you and 34stand 35upright, for I have now been sent to you.” And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up 36trembling. 12Then he said to me, “37Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on 38humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response 39to your words. 13But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was 40withstanding me for twenty-one days; then behold, 41Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia. 14Now I have come to 42give you an understanding of what will happen to your people in the 4344latter days, for the vision pertains to 45the days yet future.”

15When he had spoken to me according to these words, I 46turned my face toward the ground and became 47speechless. 16And behold, 4849one who resembled a human being was 50touching my lips; then I opened my mouth and spoke and said to him who was standing before me, “O my lord, as a result of the vision 5152anguish has come upon me, and I have retained no strength. 17For 53how can such a servant of my lord talk with such as my lord? As for me, there remains just now 54no strength in me, nor has any breath been left in me.”

18Then this one with human appearance touched me again and 55strengthened me. 19He said, “O man of 56high esteem, 57do not be afraid. Peace 58be with you; take 59courage and be courageous!” Now as soon as he spoke to me, I received strength and said, “May my lord speak, for you have 60strengthened me.” 20Then he said, “Do you 61understand why I came to you? But I shall now return to fight against the 62prince of Persia; so I am going forth, and behold, the 6364prince of 65Greece is about to come. 21However, I will tell you what is inscribed in the writing of 66truth. Yet there is no one who 67stands firmly with me against these forces except 68Michael your prince.