CHAPTER 10
1In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a word was revealed to Daniel, whose name had been called Belteshazzar, and the word was true and the service great, and he understood the word and had understanding of the vision. 2“At that time, I, Daniel, was mourning for three weeks. 3No fine bread did I eat, nor did meat and wine come into my mouth, and I was careful not to rub myself with oil until the three weeks were over. 4And on the twenty-fourth day of the first month, I was by the great river, which is the Tigris. 5And I raised my eyes and saw, and, look, there was a certain man dressed in linen and his loins were girt with pure gold, 6and his body was like chrysolite, and his face like the look of lightning, and his eyes like fiery torches, and his arms and his legs like the color of burnished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a great crowd. 7And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, but the people who were with me did not see the vision, yet a great trembling fell upon them and they fled to hide. 8As for me, I remained alone, and I saw this great vision, and no strength remained in me, and my bearing was shattered, and I retained no strength. 9And I heard the sound of his words, and as I heard the sound of his words, I was in a trance on my face, and my face to the ground. 10And, look, a hand touched me and he pulled me to my knees and to the palms of my hands. 11And he said to me, ‘Daniel, beloved man, understand the words that I speak to you and stand up where you are, for now have I been sent to you.’ And as he spoke this thing to me, I stood up, shaking. 12And he said to me, ‘Fear not, Daniel. For from the first day that you set your mind to understand and to afflict yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come through your words. 13And the prince of the kingdom of Persia was standing against me twenty-one days, and, look, Michael, one of the leading princes, was coming to help me, and I remained there by the king of Persia. 14And I have come to let you understand what will befall your people in the latter time, for there is yet a vision for the time.’ 15And as he spoke to me words of this sort, I put my face to the ground and I fell silent. 16And, look, one in the likeness of a human being was touching my lips, and I opened my mouth and spoke and said to him who stood before me, ‘My lord, in the vision my pangs overcame me and I retained no strength. 17And how can this slave of my lord speak with my lord, and I, strength will not stand in me and no breath is left me?’ 18And again one like the semblance of a human being touched me and made me strong. 19And he said, ‘Fear not, beloved man, it is well with you. Be very strong.’ And as he spoke with me, I grew strong and said, ‘Let my lord speak, for you have made me strong.’ 20And he said, ‘Do you know why I have come to you? And now, I shall go back to do battle with the prince of Persia, and as I go out, look, the prince of Greece is coming. 21But I shall tell you what is inscribed in the writ of truth, and there is no one sustaining me against all those save Michael your prince.’ 11:1And I in the first year of Darius the Mede, I took my stand to strengthen and to be a bastion for him. 2aAnd now the truth shall I tell you.”