Daniel 10 Today

Daniel's Vision of a Messenger

1In the third year of the reign of King Cyrus of Persia, Daniel (also known as Belteshazzar) had another vision. It concerned events certain to happen in the future—times of war and great hardship—and Daniel understood what the vision meant.

2When this vision came to me, I, Daniel, had been in mourning for three weeks. 3All that time I had eaten no rich food or meat, had drunk no wine, and had used no fragrant oils. 4On April 23, F45 as I was standing beside the great Tigris River, 5I looked up and saw a man dressed in linen clothing, with a belt of pure gold around his waist. 6His body looked like a dazzling gem. From his face came flashes like lightning, and his eyes were like flaming torches. His arms and feet shone like polished bronze, and his voice was like the roaring of a vast multitude of people.

7I, Daniel, am the only one who saw this vision. The men with me saw nothing, but they were suddenly terrified and ran away to hide. 8So I was left there all alone to watch this amazing vision. My strength left me, my face grew deathly pale, and I felt very weak. 9When I heard him speak, I fainted and lay there with my face to the ground.

10Just then a hand touched me and lifted me, still trembling, to my hands and knees. 11And the man said to me, "O Daniel, greatly loved of God, listen carefully to what I have to say to you. Stand up, for I have been sent to you." When he said this to me, I stood up, still trembling with fear.

12Then he said, "Don't be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer. 13But for twenty-one days the spirit prince F46 of the kingdom of Persia blocked my way. Then Michael, one of the archangels, F47 came to help me, and I left him there with the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia. F48 14Now I am here to explain what will happen to your people in the future, for this vision concerns a time yet to come."

15While he was speaking to me, I looked down at the ground, unable to say a word. 16Then the one who looked like a man F49 touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and began to speak. I said to the one standing in front of me, "I am terrified by the vision I have seen, my lord, and I am very weak. 17How can someone like me, your servant, talk to you, my lord? My strength is gone, and I can hardly breathe."

18Then the one who looked like a man touched me again, and I felt my strength returning. 19"Don't be afraid," he said, "for you are deeply loved by God. Be at peace; take heart and be strong!" As he spoke these words, I suddenly felt stronger and said to him, "Now you may speak, my lord, for you have strengthened me."

20He replied, "Do you know why I have come? Soon I must return to fight against the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia, and then against the spirit prince of the kingdom of Greece. F50 21But before I do that, I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. (There is no one to help me against these spirit princes except Michael, your spirit prince. F51 1I have been standing beside Michael F52 as his support and defense since the first year of the reign of Darius the Mede.)


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FOOTNOTES:
F45: Hebrew On the twenty-fourth day of the first month. This date in the book of Daniel can be cross-checked with dates in surviving Persian records and can be related accurately to our modern calendar. This day of the Hebrew lunar calendar occurred on April 23, 536 B.C.
F46: Hebrew the prince; also in 10:13c, 20.
F47: Hebrew the chief princes.
F48: As in one Greek version; Hebrew reads and I was left there with the kings of Persia. The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
F49: As in most manuscripts of the Masoretic Text; one manuscript of the Masoretic Text and one Greek version read Then something that looked like a human hand.
F50: Hebrew of Javan.
F51: Hebrew against these except Michael, your prince.
F52: Hebrew him.