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 it concerned great 6conflict, but he understood the 7message and had an 8understanding of the vision.

2In those days, I, Daniel, had been 9mourning for three 10entire weeks. 3I 11did not eat any 12tasty 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 13river, that is, the 14Tigris, 5I raised my eyes and looked, and behold, there was a man 15dressed in linen, whose waist 16had a belt of pure 17gold of Uphaz. 6His body also was like topaz, 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 multitude. 7Now I, Daniel, 20alone saw the vision, while the 21men who were with me did not see the vision; nevertheless, a great 22fear fell on them, and they ran away to hide themselves. 8So I was 23left alone and saw this great vision; yet 24no strength was left in me, for my complexion turned to 25a 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 26fell into a deep sleep on my face, with my face to the ground.

Daniel Comforted

10Then behold, a hand 27touched me and shook me on my 28hands and knees. 11And he said to me, “29Daniel, 30you who are treasured, 31understand the words that I am about to tell you and 32stand at your place, for I have now been sent to you.” And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up 33trembling. 12Then he said to me, “34Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on 35humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come 36in response to your words. 13But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was standing 37in my way for twenty-one days; then behold, 38Michael, 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 39explain to you what will happen to your people in the 4041latter days, because the vision pertains to 42the days still future.”

15When he had spoken to me according to these words, I 43turned my face toward the ground and became 44speechless. 16And behold, 4546one who resembled a human was 47touching my lips. Then I opened my mouth and spoke and said to him who was standing before me, “My lord, due to the vision 4849anguish has come upon me, and I have retained no strength. 17For 50how can such a servant of my lord talk with such as my lord? As for me, there remains just now 51no strength in me, nor has any breath been left in me.”

18Then this one with human appearance touched me again and 52strengthened me. 19And he said, “53You who are treasured, 54do not be afraid. Peace be to you; take 55courage and be courageous!” Now as soon as he spoke to me, I felt strengthened and said, “May my lord speak, for you have 56strengthened me.” 20Then he said, “Do you 57understand why I came to you? But I shall now return to fight against the prince of Persia; so I am leaving, and behold, the 58prince of 59Greece is about to come. 21However, I will tell you what is recorded in the writing of 60truth. Yet there is no one who 61stands firmly with me against these forces except 62Michael your prince.