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.

² In those days, I, Daniel, had been ^(E)mourning for three ^[e]entire weeks. ³ 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. ⁴ 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, ⁵ 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. ⁶ 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. ⁷ 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. ⁸ 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. ⁹ 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.”

¹⁵ When he had spoken to me according to these words, I ^[n]turned my face toward the ground and became ^(AD)speechless. ¹⁶ And behold, ^[o](AE)one who resembled a human was ^(AF)touching my lips. Then I opened my mouth and spoke and said to him who was standing before me, “My lord, due to the vision ^[p](AG)anguish has come upon me, and I have retained no strength. ¹⁷ For ^(AH)how can such a servant of my lord talk with such as my lord? As for me, there remains just now ^(AI)no strength in me, nor has any breath been left in me.”

¹⁸ Then this one with human appearance touched me again and ^(AJ)strengthened me. ¹⁹ And he said, “^[q]You who are treasured, ^(AK)do not be afraid. Peace be to you; take ^(AL)courage and be courageous!” Now as soon as he spoke to me, I felt strengthened and said, “May my lord speak, for you have ^(AM)strengthened me.” ²⁰ Then he said, “Do you ^[r]understand why I came to you? But I shall now return to fight against the prince of Persia; so I am leaving, and behold, the ^(AN)prince of ^[s]Greece is about to come. ²¹ However, I will tell you what is recorded in the writing of ^(AO)truth. Yet there is no one who ^[t]stands firmly with me against these forces except ^(AP)Michael your prince.