DanielChapter 10

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¹In the third year that Cyrus was king of Persia, a message was shown to Daniel. Daniel was also called Belteshazzar. The message was true. It was about a great war. Daniel was given understanding of the message in a vision. ²At that time I, Daniel, was mourning for three whole weeks. ³I didn't eat any fine food. No meat or wine came into my mouth. I didn't put any oil on myself. I did this until the three weeks were over. ⁴On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, I was standing on the bank of the great river, the Tigris. ⁵I looked up, and I saw a man dressed in linen. He had a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist. ⁶His body was like a shining jewel called beryl. His face was as bright as lightning. His eyes were like flaming torches. His arms and legs shone like polished bronze. His voice sounded like the noise of a huge crowd. ⁷I, Daniel, was the only one who saw the vision. The men with me didn't see it. But a great terror fell on them. They ran away and hid. ⁸So I was left alone, staring at this great vision. I had no strength left. My face turned as pale as death. I was helpless. ⁹Then I heard the sound of his words. As I listened, I fell into a deep sleep with my face on the ground. ¹⁰Suddenly a hand touched me. It lifted me up, shaking, onto my hands and knees. ¹¹He said to me, "Daniel, you are greatly loved. Think carefully about the words I'm about to tell you. Stand up, because I've been sent to you now." When he said this to me, I stood up, shaking. ¹²Then he said, "Don't be afraid, Daniel. From the first day you set your heart to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard. I have come because of your words. ¹³But the prince of the kingdom of Persia stood against me for twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I had been left there with the kings of Persia. ¹⁴Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the last days, because the vision is about those days." ¹⁵While he was saying this to me, I bowed my face toward the ground. I couldn't speak. ¹⁶Suddenly someone who looked like a man touched my lips. Then I opened my mouth and spoke to the one standing in front of me. I said, "My lord, this vision has filled me with pain. I have no strength left. ¹⁷My lord, I am your servant. How can I talk with you? I have no strength now. There is no breath left in me." ¹⁸Again the one who looked like a man touched me. He made me strong. ¹⁹He said, "Don't be afraid. You are greatly loved. Peace be with you! Be strong now. Be very strong!" As he spoke to me, I felt stronger. I said, "Speak, my lord. You have made me strong." ²⁰He said, "Do you know why I have come to you? Now I must go back at once to fight against the prince of Persia. And when I leave, the prince of Greece will come. ²¹But first I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. No one is brave enough to stand with me against these princes except Michael, your prince.