Daniel 10:1-21 - Daniel's Vision Of A Dazzling Heavenly Messenger

¹ In the third year of Cyrus [the] king of [the] Persians, a word was revealed to Daniel, who was called [by] his name Belteshazzar, and the word [was] reliable and [it concerned] a great tribulation, and he understood the word and {he received understanding}.

² In those days, I, Daniel, I [myself] was [in] mourning {for three whole weeks}. ³ I had not eaten [any] choice food, and meat and wine did not enter my mouth, and {I did not use any ointment} {until the end of three whole weeks}. ⁴ And [then] on [the] twenty-fourth day of the first month, I [myself] was on the bank of the great river; that is, [the] Tigris. ⁵ And I lifted up my eyes and I saw, and there was a man, [and] he was dressed [in] linen, and his waist was girded with [the] gold of Uphaz. ⁶ Now his body [was] like turquoise, and his face [was] like [the] appearance of lightning, and his eyes [were] like torches of fire, and his arms and his legs [were] like [the] gleam of polished bronze, and the sound of his words [was] like [the] sound of a multitude.

⁷ And I saw, I, Daniel {alone}, the vision; and the people who were with me {did not see} the vision; nevertheless, a great trembling fell upon them and they fled [in order] to hide themselves. ⁸ And I myself, Daniel, alone saw this great vision, and [as a result] {no strength was left in me} and {my complexion grew deathly pale}, and I did not retain any strength. ⁹ And I heard the sound of his words, and {when I heard} the sound of his words I myself [began] falling into a trance on my face, {with my face to the ground}.

¹⁰ And look, a hand touched me and it roused me to my knees and the palms of my hands. ¹¹ And he said to me, "Daniel, man beloved, pay attention to the words that I [am] speaking to you and {stand upright where you are}, for I have now been sent to you." And {while he was speaking} with me this word, I stood up trembling.

¹² And he said to me, "You must not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and to humble yourself {before} your God, your words were heard, and I [myself] have come because of your words. ¹³ But [the] prince of [the] kingdom of Persia stood {before me} [for] twenty-one days. And look, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to assist me, and I left [him] there beside [the] king of [the] Persians. ¹⁴ And I have come to instruct you about what will happen to your people {in the future}, for [there is] a further vision [here] {for the future}.

¹⁵ And while he was speaking with me according to these words, I turned my face toward the ground and I was speechless. ¹⁶ Then look, there was {one in the form of a human}; he touched my lips and I opened my mouth and I spoke and I said to the [one] standing {before me}, "My lord, because of the vision my anxieties fell upon me and I [have] not retained [my] strength. ¹⁷ So {how am I, a servant of my lord} to speak with {you, my lord}, and I {just now} {have no strength in me}?"

¹⁸ And {he again touched} me, {the one in the form of a human}, and he strengthened me. ¹⁹ And he said, "You must not fear, beloved man. {Peace be to you}; be strong and be courageous!" And {when he spoke} with me, I was strengthened and I said, "Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me."

²⁰ Then he asked, "Do you know why I have come to you? And now I return to fight against the prince of Persia and I [myself] [am] going, and look, [the] prince of Javan will come. ²¹ However, I will tell you {what is inscribed} in [the] book of truth, and there is not one [who] contends with me against these [beings] {except} Michael, your prince."