Study Desk

Daniel's Vision of a Man

In the third year of Cyrus^(a) king of Persia, a revelation was given to Daniel (who was called Belteshazzar).^(b) Its message was true^(c) and it concerned a great war.^[a] The understanding of the message came to him in a vision.

At that time I, Daniel, mourned^(d) for three weeks.

I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips;^(e) and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over.

On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank^(f) of the great river, the Tigris,^(g)

I looked up^(h) and there before me was a man dressed in linen,⁽ⁱ⁾ with a belt of fine gold^(j) from Uphaz around his waist.

His body was like topaz,^(k) his face like lightning,^(l) his eyes like flaming torches,^(m) his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze,⁽ⁿ⁾ and his voice^(o) like the sound of a multitude.

I, Daniel, was the only one who saw the vision; those who were with me did not see it,^(p) but such terror overwhelmed them that they fled and hid themselves.

So I was left alone,^(q) gazing at this great vision; I had no strength left,^(r) my face turned deathly pale^(s) and I was helpless.^(t)

Then I heard him speaking, and as I listened to him, I fell into a deep sleep, my face to the ground.^(u)

A hand touched me^(v) and set me trembling on my hands and knees.^(w)

He said, "Daniel, you who are highly esteemed,^(x) consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you, and stand up,^(y) for I have now been sent to you." And when he said this to me, I stood up trembling.

Then he continued, "Do not be afraid,^(z) Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble^(aa) yourself before your God, your words^(ab) were heard, and I have come in response to them.^(ac)

But the prince^(ad) of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael,^(ae) one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia.

Now I have come to explain^(af) to you what will happen to your people in the future,^(ag) for the vision concerns a time yet to come.^(ah)"

While he was saying this to me, I bowed with my face toward the ground and was speechless.^(ai)

Then one who looked like a man^[b] touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and began to speak.^(aj) I said to the one standing before me, "I am overcome with anguish^(ak) because of the vision, my lord, and I feel very weak.

How can I, your servant, talk with you, my lord? My strength is gone and I can hardly breathe."^(al)

Again the one who looked like a man touched^(am) me and gave me strength.^(an)

"Do not be afraid, you who are highly esteemed,"^(ao) he said. "Peace!^(ap) Be strong now; be strong."^(aq) When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, "Speak, my lord, since you have given me strength."^(ar)

So he said, "Do you know why I have come to you? Soon I will return to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I go, the prince of Greece^(as) will come;

but first I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth.^(at) (No one supports me against them except Michael,^(au) your prince.