Daniel has a vision about what will happen to Israel
1It was the third year that Cyrus, the king of Persia, ruled over Babylon. At that time I was living in Babylon. There the people called me Belteshazzar. A message from God came to me. It was true. It was about a great war. I had a vision that showed me what it meant.2At that time I was very sad for three weeks.3I didn’t eat any rich food. No meat or wine touched my lips. I didn’t use any lotions at all until the three weeks were over.4I was standing on the bank of the great Tigris River. It was the 24th day of the first month.5I looked up and saw a man dressed in linen clothes. He had a belt around his waist. It was made out of fine gold from Uphaz.6His body gleamed like topaz. His face shone like lightning. His eyes were like flaming torches. His arms and legs were as bright as polished bronze. And his voice was like the sound of a large crowd.7I was the only one who saw the vision. The people who were there with me didn’t see it. But they were so terrified that they ran and hid.8So I was left alone as I was watching this great vision. I felt very weak. My face turned as pale as death. And I was helpless.9Then I heard the man speak. As I listened to him, I fell sound asleep. My face was towards the ground.10A hand touched me. It pulled me up on my hands and knees. I began to tremble with fear.11The man said, ‘Daniel, you are highly respected. Think carefully about what I am going to say to you. And stand up. God has sent me to you.’ When he said that, I trembled as I stood up.12He continued, ‘Do not be afraid, Daniel. You decided to get more understanding. You made yourself humble as you worshipped your God. Since the first day you did those things, your words were heard. I have come to give you an answer.13But the prince of Persia opposed me for 21 days. Then Michael came to help me. He is one of the leaders of the angels. He helped me win the battle over the king of Persia.14Now I have come to explain the vision to you. I will tell you what will happen to your people. The vision shows what will take place in days to come.’15While he was telling me these things, I bowed with my face towards the ground. I wasn’t able to speak.16Then someone who looked like a man touched my lips. I opened my mouth. I began to speak to the one who was standing in front of me. I said, ‘My master, I’m greatly troubled because of the vision I’ve seen. And I feel very weak.17How can I talk with you? My strength is gone. In fact, I can hardly breathe.’18The one who looked like a man touched me again. He gave me strength.19‘Do not be afraid,’ he said. ‘You are highly respected. May peace be with you! Be strong now. Be strong.’ When he spoke to me, I became stronger. I said, ‘Speak, my master. You have given me strength.’20So he said, ‘Do you know why I have come to you? Soon I will return to fight against the prince of Persia. When I go, the prince of Greece will come.21But first I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. No one gives me any help against those princes except Michael. He is your leader.
Daniel 10
English Standard Version
Daniel’s Terrifying Vision of a Man
1In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a word was revealed to Daniel, who was named Belteshazzar. And the word was true, and it was a great conflict.[1] And he understood the word and had understanding of the vision. (Da 1:7; Da 1:17; Da 1:21; Da 6:28; Da 8:26)2In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three weeks. (Da 10:13)3I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, for the full three weeks. (Da 10:2; Am 6:6; Mt 6:17)4On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river (that is, the Tigris) (Ge 2:14; Da 12:5)5I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, a man clothed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist. (Jos 5:13; Jer 10:9; Eze 9:2; Re 1:13; Re 15:6)6His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude. (Eze 1:14; Eze 1:16; Eze 10:9; Mt 28:3; Re 1:14; Re 1:15)7And I, Daniel, alone saw 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. (Ac 9:7)8So I was left alone and saw this great vision, and no strength was left in me. My radiant appearance was fearfully changed,[2] and I retained no strength. (Da 7:28; Da 10:16)9Then I heard the sound of his words, and as I heard the sound of his words, I fell on my face in deep sleep with my face to the ground. (Da 8:18)10And behold, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. (Eze 2:9)11And he said to me, “O Daniel, man greatly loved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for now I have been sent to you.” And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling. (Eze 2:1; Da 1:17; Da 9:23; Da 10:19; Heb 1:14)12Then he said to me, “Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words. (Jud 6:23; Da 9:3; Da 9:23; Da 10:19; Ac 10:4; Re 1:17)13The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia, (Da 10:2; Da 10:20; Da 10:21; Da 12:1; Jud 1:9; Re 12:7)14and came to make you understand what is to happen to your people in the latter days. For the vision is for days yet to come.” (Da 2:28; Da 8:26; Da 10:12; Hab 2:3)15When he had spoken to me according to these words, I turned my face toward the ground and was mute. (Ps 39:2; Ps 39:9; Da 8:18; Da 10:9)16And behold, one in the likeness of the children of man touched my lips. Then I opened my mouth and spoke. I said to him who stood before me, “O my lord, by reason of the vision pains have come upon me, and I retain no strength. (Isa 6:7; Da 8:15; Da 10:8)17How can my lord’s servant talk with my lord? For now no strength remains in me, and no breath is left in me.”18Again one having the appearance of a man touched me and strengthened me. (Da 10:16)19And he said, “O man greatly loved, fear not, peace be with you; be strong and of good courage.” And as he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.” (Da 9:23; Da 10:11; Da 10:12)20Then he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? But now I will return to fight against the prince of Persia; and when I go out, behold, the prince of Greece will come. (Da 8:21; Da 10:13)21But I will tell you what is inscribed in the book of truth: there is none who contends by my side against these except Michael, your prince. (Ex 32:32; Da 10:13; Da 12:1; Da 12:4)