Daniel 10

¹In the third year of Cyrus, king of Persia, a secret was unfolded to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar; and the thing was true, even a hard work: and he had knowledge of it, and the vision was clear to him.

²In those days I, Daniel, gave myself up to grief for three full weeks.

³I had no pleasing food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, and I put no oil on my body till three full weeks were ended.

⁴And on the twenty-fourth day of the first month I was by the side of the great river;

⁵And lifting up my eyes I saw the form of a man clothed in a linen robe, and round him there was a band of gold, of the best gold:

⁶And his body was like the beryl, and his face had the look of a thunder-flame, and his eyes were like burning lights, and his arms and feet like the colour of polished brass, and the sound of his voice was like the sound of an army.

⁷And I, Daniel, was the only one who saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see it; but a great shaking came on them and they went in flight to take cover.

⁸So I was by myself, and I saw this great vision, and all my strength went from me; and the colour went from my face.

⁹But the sound of his words came to my ears, and on hearing his voice I went into a deep sleep with my face to the earth.

¹⁰Then a hand gave me a touch, awaking me, and putting me on my knees and my hands.

¹¹And he said to me, O Daniel, you man dearly loved, take in the sense of the words I say to you and get up on to your feet: for to you I am now sent; and when he had said this to me I got on to my feet, shaking with fear.

¹²Then he said to me, Have no fear, Daniel; for from the first day when you gave your heart to getting wisdom and making yourself poor in spirit before your God, your words have come to his ears: and I have come because of your words.

¹³But the angel of the kingdom of Persia put himself against me for twenty-one days; but Michael, one of the chief angels, came to my help; and when I came he was still there with the angel of the kings of Persia.

¹⁴Now I have come to give you knowledge of the fate of your people in the later days; for there is still a vision for the days.

¹⁵And after he had said these words to me, I kept my face turned to the earth and was unable to say anything.

¹⁶Then one whose form was like the sons of men put his finger on my lips; and opening my mouth, I said to him who was before me, O my lord, because of the vision my pains have come on me, and I have no more strength.

¹⁷For how may this servant of my lord have talk with my lord? for, as for me, straight away my strength went from me and there was no breath in my body.

¹⁸Then again one having the form of a man put his hand on me and gave me strength.

¹⁹And he said to me, O man greatly loved, have no fear: peace be with you, be strong and let your heart be lifted up. And at his words I became strong, and said, Let my lord say on, for you have given me strength.

²⁰Then he said, It is clear to you why I have come to you. And now I will give you an account of what is recorded in the true writings:

²¹But I am going back to make war with the angel of Persia, and when I am gone, the angel of Greece will come. And there is no one on my side against these, but Michael, your angel.

Daniel 10

¹In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a word was revealed to Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar; and the word was true: a great war. And he understood the word, and had understanding of the vision.

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

³I had no pleasing food, neither meat nor wine came into my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, until three whole weeks were fulfilled.

⁴In the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is the Tigris,

⁵I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, a man clothed in linen, around his waist a belt made of pure gold from Uphaz.

⁶His body was like beryl, and his face like the appearance of lightning, and his eyes like flaming torches, and his arms and his feet like burnished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude.

⁷I, Daniel, alone saw the vision; for the men who were with me did not see the vision; but a great trembling fell on them, and they fled to hide themselves.

⁸So I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me; for my natural appearance grew deathly pale, and I retained no strength.

⁹Yet I heard the sound of his words, and when I heard the sound of his words, then I fell into a deep sleep on my face, with my face toward the ground.

¹⁰Behold, a hand touched me, which set me on my knees and on the palms of my hands.

¹¹He said to me, "Daniel, man greatly loved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright; for I have now been sent to you." And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood trembling.

¹²Then said he to me, "Do not be afraid, Daniel; for from the first day that you did set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard. And I have come because of your words.

¹³But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; but, behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was left there with the kings of Persia.

¹⁴Now I have come to make you understand what shall happen to your people in the latter days; for the vision refers to future days."

¹⁵And when he had spoken to me according to these words, I turned my face toward the ground, and could not speak.

¹⁶And behold, one in the likeness of a human touched my lips. Then I opened my mouth and spoke and said to him who stood before me, "My lord, it is because of the vision anguish has come upon me, and I have no strength.

¹⁷For how can this servant of my lord talk with my lord? As for me, no strength remains, and I am breathless."

¹⁸Then one like the appearance of a man touched me again and strengthened me.

¹⁹And he said, "Greatly loved man, do not be afraid, peace be to you; be strong, be strong!" When he spoke to me, I was strengthened, and said, "Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me."

²⁰Then he said, "Do you know why I have come to you? Now I will return to fight with the prince of Persia. When I go forth, behold, the prince of Greece shall come.

²¹But I will tell you that which is inscribed in the Book of Truth. And there is no one who contends with me against them except Michael, your prince."