Another angel appears to Daniel

10 In the third year that King Cyrus ruled Persia, God gave a message to Daniel.^[a] (Daniel's other name was Belteshazzar.) The message was true. It was about a great war. Daniel had a vision which helped him to understand the message.

² At that time I, Daniel, was very sad for three weeks. ³ I did not eat any special food. I ate no meat and I drank no wine. I did not put any sweet oil on my skin or my hair until the three weeks had finished.

⁴ On the 24th day of the first month, I was standing beside the great Tigris river. ⁵ I looked up. I saw a man who was wearing good linen clothes. He also wore a belt made of pure gold. ⁶ His body was bright like a jewel. His face shone like lightning. His eyes were like flames of fire. His arms and his feet shone like bright bronze. When he spoke, his voice was very loud, like the sound of many people's voices.

⁷ Only I, Daniel, saw this vision. The people who were with me did not see anything. But they became very afraid. They ran away to hide themselves. ⁸ So I was there alone to see this great vision. All my strength disappeared. My face became very white. I was very weak. ⁹ I listened to the man's voice. When I heard him, I fell down, with my face on the ground. I was completely asleep.

¹⁰ Then a hand touched me. It helped me to get up on my hands and knees. ¹¹ The man said, ‘Daniel, God loves you very much. Listen carefully to what I say to you. Stand up now, because God has sent me to you.’ When he said this, I stood up. But my body was still shaking.

¹² Then he said to me, ‘Daniel, do not be afraid. God has listened to your prayers since the time that you first turned to him. You wanted to understand about God. You put yourself under his authority. So I have come to bring the answer to your prayers. ¹³ But the ruler of the kingdom of Persia stood against me for 21 days. Then Michael came to help me. He is one of God's most important angels. He helped me because the ruler of Persia was keeping me there.^{[b] 14} Now I have come to explain what will happen to your people in the future. The vision is about a future time.’

¹⁵ While he was saying this to me, I was looking down at the ground. I could not speak. ¹⁶ Then someone who looked like a man touched my lips. I opened my mouth and I was able to speak again. So I said to the person who stood in front of me, ‘Sir, the vision makes me very afraid. My strength has disappeared. ¹⁷ I am your servant, sir. I am too weak to speak with you. It is difficult for me to breathe.’

¹⁸ The angel who looked like a man touched me again. That made me stronger. ¹⁹ He said to me, ‘Do not be afraid. God loves you very much. Have peace in your mind. Now be strong and brave!’ When he said this, I felt stronger. I said, ‘Sir, please speak to me now. You have made me strong again.’

^20-21 Then the angel said to me, ‘I will tell you why I have come to you. I will explain to you what the words in the book of God's truth mean. But now I must return to fight a battle against the ruler of Persia. After I have won that battle, the ruler of Greece will appear.

Only Michael will help me. He is the angel who keeps your own people safe. Nobody else will be there to help me fight against God's enemies.