Daniel Is Terrified by a Vision

10 In the third year of (A)Cyrus king of Persia, a [a]message was revealed to (B)Daniel, who was named Belteshazzar; and the [b](C)message was true and it concerned great [c]conflict, but he understood the [d]message and had an (D)understanding of the vision.

In those days, I, Daniel, had been (E)mourning for three [e]entire weeks. I (F)did not eat any [f]tasty food, nor did meat or wine enter my mouth, nor did I use any ointment at all until the entire three weeks were completed. On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, while I was by the bank of the great (G)river, that is, the [g]Tigris, I raised my eyes and looked, and behold, there was a man (H)dressed in linen, whose waist (I)had a belt of pure (J)gold of Uphaz. His body also was like topaz, his face [h]had the appearance of lightning, (K)his 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. Now I, Daniel, (L)alone saw the vision, while the (M)men who were with me did not see the vision; nevertheless, a great (N)fear fell on them, and they ran away to hide themselves. So I was (O)left alone and saw this great vision; yet (P)no strength was left in me, for my complexion turned to [i]a deathly pallor, and I retained no strength. But I heard the sound of his words; and as soon as I heard the sound of his words, I (Q)fell into a deep sleep on my face, with my face to the ground.

Daniel Comforted

10 Then behold, a hand (R)touched me and shook me on my [j]hands and knees. 11 And he said to me, “(S)Daniel, [k]you who are treasured, (T)understand the words that I am about to tell you and (U)stand at your place, for I have now been sent to you.” And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up (V)trembling. 12 Then he said to me, “(W)Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on (X)humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come (Y)in response to your words. 13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was standing [l]in my way for twenty-one days; then behold, (Z)Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia. 14 Now I have come to (AA)explain to you what will happen to your people in the [m](AB)latter days, because the vision pertains to (AC)the days still future.”

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Footnotes

  1. Daniel 10:1 Lit word
  2. Daniel 10:1 Lit word
  3. Daniel 10:1 Or warfare
  4. Daniel 10:1 Lit word
  5. Daniel 10:2 Lit weeks of days
  6. Daniel 10:3 Lit delicate
  7. Daniel 10:4 Heb Hiddekel
  8. Daniel 10:6 Lit like
  9. Daniel 10:8 Lit destruction
  10. Daniel 10:10 Lit knees and the palms of my hands
  11. Daniel 10:11 Lit man of treasure
  12. Daniel 10:13 Lit opposite me
  13. Daniel 10:14 Lit end of the days

Daniel’s Vision of a Man

10 In the third year of Cyrus(A) king of Persia, a revelation was given to Daniel (who was called Belteshazzar).(B) Its message was true(C) and it concerned a great war.[a] The understanding of the message came to him in a vision.

At that time I, Daniel, mourned(D) for three weeks. I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips;(E) and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over.

On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank(F) of the great river, the Tigris,(G) I looked up(H) and there before me was a man dressed in linen,(I) with a belt of fine gold(J) from Uphaz around his waist. His body was like topaz,(K) his face like lightning,(L) his eyes like flaming torches,(M) his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze,(N) and his voice(O) like the sound of a multitude.

I, Daniel, was the only one who saw the vision; those who were with me did not see it,(P) but such terror overwhelmed them that they fled and hid themselves. So I was left alone,(Q) gazing at this great vision; I had no strength left,(R) my face turned deathly pale(S) and I was helpless.(T) Then I heard him speaking, and as I listened to him, I fell into a deep sleep, my face to the ground.(U)

10 A hand touched me(V) and set me trembling on my hands and knees.(W) 11 He said, “Daniel, you who are highly esteemed,(X) consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you, and stand up,(Y) for I have now been sent to you.” And when he said this to me, I stood up trembling.

12 Then he continued, “Do not be afraid,(Z) Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble(AA) yourself before your God, your words(AB) were heard, and I have come in response to them.(AC) 13 But the prince(AD) of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael,(AE) one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. 14 Now I have come to explain(AF) to you what will happen to your people in the future,(AG) for the vision concerns a time yet to come.(AH)

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Footnotes

  1. Daniel 10:1 Or true and burdensome