Study Desk

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 one of great ^[c]conflict, but he understood the ^[d]message and had an ^(d)understanding of the vision.

In those days, I, Daniel, had been ^(e)mourning for three entire weeks.

I ^(f)did not eat any ^[e]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.

On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, while I was by the bank of the great ^(g)river, that is, the ^[f]Tigris,

I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, there was a certain man ^(h)dressed in linen, whose waist was ⁽ⁱ⁾girded with a belt of pure ^(j)gold of Uphaz.

His body also was like ^[g]beryl, 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 ^[i]tumult.

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⁾dread fell on them, and they ran away to hide themselves.

So I was ^(o)left alone and saw this great vision; yet ^(p)no strength was left in me, for my ^[j]natural color turned to ^[k]a deathly pallor, and I retained no strength.

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.

Then behold, a hand ^(r)touched me and set me trembling on my ^[l]hands and knees.

He said to me, "O ^(s)Daniel, man of ^[m]high esteem, ^(t)understand the words that I am about to tell you and ^(u)stand ^[n]upright, for I have now been sent to you." And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up ^(v)trembling.

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 in response ^(y)to your words.

But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was ^[o]withstanding me 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.

Now I have come to ^(aa)give you an understanding of what will happen to your people in the ^[p](ab)latter days, for the vision pertains to ^(ac)the days yet future."

When he had spoken to me according to these words, I ^[q]turned my face toward the ground and became ^(ad)speechless.

And behold, ^[r](ae)one who resembled a human being was ^(af)touching my lips; then I opened my mouth and spoke and said to him who was standing before me, "O my lord, as a result of the vision ^[s](ag)anguish has come upon me, and I have retained no strength.

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."

Then this one with human appearance touched me again and ^(aj)strengthened me.

He said, "O man of ^[t]high esteem, ^(ak)do not be afraid. Peace ^[u]be with you; take ^(al)courage and be courageous!" Now as soon as he spoke to me, I received strength and said, "May my lord speak, for you have ^(am)strengthened me."

Then he said, "Do you ^[v]understand why I came to you? But I shall now return to fight against the ^[w]prince of Persia; so I am going forth, and behold, the ^[x](an)prince of ^[y]Greece is about to come.

However, I will tell you what is inscribed in the writing of ^(ao)truth. Yet there is no one who ^[z]stands firmly with me against these forces except ^(ap)Michael your prince.