CHAPTER 10
In the third
year
of Cyrus
king
of Persia,
a message
was revealed
to Daniel,
who
was called
Belteshazzar.
The message
was true,
and it concerned a great
conflict.
And the understanding
of the message
was given to him
in a vision.
I ate
no
rich
food,
no
meat
or wine
entered
my mouth,
and I did not
anoint myself with oil
until
the three
weeks
were completed.
On the twenty-fourth
day
of the first
month,
as I
was
standing on
the bank
of the great
river,
the Tigris,
I lifted up
my eyes,
and behold,
there was a certain
man
dressed
in linen,
with a belt
of fine gold
from Uphaz
around his waist.
His body was
like beryl,
his face
like the brilliance
of lightning,
his eyes
like flaming
torches,
his arms
and legs
like the gleam
of polished
bronze,
and the sound
of his words
like the sound
of a multitude.
Only
I,
Daniel,
saw
the vision;
the men
with me
did not
see it,
but
a great
terror
fell
upon them,
and they ran
and hid themselves.
So I
was left alone,
gazing at
this
great
vision.
No
strength
remained
in me;
my face
grew
deathly pale,
and I was powerless.
I heard
the sound
of his words,
and as I listened,
I
fell into a deep sleep,
with my face
to the ground.
He said
to me,
“Daniel,
you are a man
who is highly precious.
Consider carefully
the words
that
I am
about to say
to you.
Stand
up,
for
I have now
been sent
to you.”
And when he had said
this
to me,
I stood up
trembling.
“Do not
be afraid,
Daniel,”
he said,
“for
from
the first
day
that
you purposed
to understand
and to humble
yourself before
your God,
your words
were heard,
and I
have come
in response to them.
However, the prince
of the kingdom
of Persia
opposed
me
for twenty-one
days.
Then Michael,
one
of the chief
princes,
came
to help me,
for I
had been left
there
with
the kings
of Persia.
Now I have come
to explain to you
what
will happen
to your people
in the latter
days,
for
the vision
concerns those days.”
And suddenly
one with the likeness
of a man
touched
my lips,
and I opened
my mouth
and said
to
the one standing
before me,
“My lord,
because of the vision,
I am overcome
with anguish,
and I have
no
strength.
How
can I,
your
servant,
speak
with
you,
my lord?
Now
I
have
no
strength,
nor
is any breath
left
in me.”
“Do not
be afraid,
you who are highly precious,”
he said.
“Peace be
with you!
Be strong now,
be very strong!”
As he spoke
to me,
I was strengthened
and said,
“May my lord
speak,
for
you have strengthened me.”
“Do you know
why
I have come
to you?”
he said.
“I must return
at once
to fight
against
the prince
of Persia,
and when I
have gone forth,
behold,
the prince
of Greece
will come.
But first
I will tell
you
what is inscribed
in the book
of truth.
Yet no
one
has the courage
to support me
against
these,
except
Michael,
your prince.