Daniel 10

Modern

Literal

Daniel’s Vision by the Tigris

¹In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, a message was revealed to Daniel, who was called Belteshazzar. The message was true, and it concerned a great conflict.^a And the understanding of the message was given to him in a vision.

¹In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, a word was revealed to Daniel, of whom his name is called Belteshazzar. And the word was true and the conflict great; and he understood the word, and understanding of the vision was unto him.

²In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three full weeks.

²In those days, I, Daniel, was mourning for three weeks of days.

³I ate no rich food, no meat or wine entered my mouth, and I did not anoint myself with oil until the three weeks were completed.

³Desirable food I did not eat, and meat and wine did not come into my mouth, and I did not anoint myself at all until the fulfilling of three weeks of days.

⁴On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river, the Tigris,

⁴And on the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was on the side of the great river—it is the Tigris—

⁵I lifted up my eyes, and behold, there was a certain man dressed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist.

⁵and I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, one man clothed in linen, and his loins girded with gold of Uphaz.

⁶His body was like beryl, his face like the brilliance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of polished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude.

⁶And his body was like beryl, and his face like the appearance of lightning, and his eyes like torches of fire, and his arms and feet like an eye of polished bronze, and the voice of his speaking was like the voice of a multitude.

⁷Only I, Daniel, saw the vision; the men with me did not see it, but a great terror fell upon them, and they ran and hid themselves.

⁷And I saw—I, Daniel, by myself—the vision: For the men who were with me did not see the vision, but a great trembling fell upon them and they fled to hide themselves.

⁸So I was left alone, gazing at this great vision. No strength remained in me; my face grew deathly pale, and I was powerless.

⁸And I was left by myself, and I saw this great vision; and no power was left in me, for my complexion was turned in me to deathly pale, and I did not retain strength.

⁹I heard the sound of his words, and as I listened, I fell into a deep sleep, with my face to the ground.

⁹And I heard the voice of his speaking; and at my hearing the voice of his speaking, I was sleeping deeply on my face, and my face to the ground.

¹⁰Suddenly, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees.

¹⁰And behold, a hand touched me, and it set me trembling on my knees and the palms of my hands.

¹¹He said to me, “Daniel, you are a man who is highly precious. Consider carefully the words that I am about to say to you. Stand up, for I have now been sent to you.”

And when he had said this to me, I stood up trembling.

¹¹And he said to me: “O Daniel, man most precious, may you have understanding of the words that I am speaking to you, and may you stand upon your station, for now I have been sent to you.” And in his speaking with me this word, I stood trembling.

¹²“Do not be afraid, Daniel,” he said, “for from the first day that you purposed to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.

¹²And he said to me: “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you gave your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words.

¹³However, the prince of the kingdom of Persia opposed me for twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia.

¹³And the prince of the kingdom of Persia was standing in front of me for twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there alongside the kings of Persia.

¹⁴Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision concerns those days.”

¹⁴And I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for yet the vision is for those days.”

¹⁵While he was speaking these words to me, I set my face toward the ground and became speechless.

¹⁵And at his speaking with me these words, I turned my face to the ground, and I became speechless.

¹⁶And suddenly one with the likeness of a man^a touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and said to the one standing before me, “My lord, because of the vision, I am overcome with anguish, and I have no strength.

¹⁶And behold, one with the likeness of the sons of man was touching upon my lips. And I opened my mouth and spoke, and said to the one standing before me, “My lord. Because of the vision, have turned over my pains upon me, and I retain no strength.

¹⁷How can I, your servant, speak with you, my lord? Now I have no strength, nor is any breath left in me.”

¹⁷And how is the servant of such as my lord able to speak with such as my lord? And for me, from now there remains in me no strength, and breath has not been left in me.”

¹⁸Again the one with the likeness of a man touched me and strengthened me.

¹⁸And he continued and touched me, the one with the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me.

¹⁹“Do not be afraid, you who are highly precious,” he said. “Peace be with you! Be strong now; be very strong!”

As he spoke with me, I was strengthened and said, “Speak, my lord, for you have strengthened me.”

¹⁹And he said, “Do not fear, O man most precious! Peace be with you! Be strong, and be strong.” And at his speaking with me, I was strengthened, and said: “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.”

²⁰“Do you know why I have come to you?” he said. “I must return at once to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I have gone forth, behold, the prince of Greece^a will come.

²⁰And he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? Now I must return to fight with the prince of Persia; and I am going forth, and behold, the prince of Javan will come.

²¹But first I will tell you what is inscribed in the Book of Truth. Yet no one has the courage to support me against these, except Michael your prince.

²¹Truly I will declare to you what is inscribed in the Book of Truth, and there is no one strengthening himself with me against these, but only Michael your prince.