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Daniel Is Terrified by a Vision

¹ In the third year of ^(C1)Cyrus king of Persia a message was revealed to ^(C2)Daniel, who was named Belteshazzar; and the ^(C3)message was true and it referred to great conflict (warfare, misery). And he understood the message and had an ^(C4)understanding of the vision. ^(VR1)

² In those days I, Daniel, had been ^(C1)mourning for three entire weeks.³ I ^(C1)ate no tasty food, nor did any meat or wine enter my mouth; and I did not ^(F1)anoint (refresh, groom) myself at all for the full three weeks.⁴ On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was on the bank of the great ^(C1)river Hiddekel which is the Tigris,⁵ I raised my eyes and looked, and behold, there was a ^(F1)certain man ^(C1)dressed in linen, whose loins were ^(C2)girded with a ^(F2)belt of pure ^(C3)gold of Uphaz.⁶ His body also was like beryl with a golden luster, his face had the appearance of lightning, ^(C1)his eyes were like flaming torches, his arms and his feet like the gleam of burnished bronze, and the sound of his words was like the noise of a multitude of people or the roaring of the sea. ^(VR1)7 And I, Daniel, ^(C1)alone saw the vision of this heavenly being, for the ^(C2)men who were with me did not see the vision; nevertheless, a great ^(C3)panic overwhelmed them, so they ran away to hide themselves.⁸ So I was ^(C1)left alone and saw this great vision; yet ^(C2)no strength was left in me, for my normal appearance turned to a deathly pale, and I grew weak and faint with fright.⁹ Then I heard the sound of his words; and when I heard the sound of his words, I ^(C1)fell on my face in a deep sleep, with my face toward the ground.

Daniel Comforted

¹⁰ Then behold, a hand ^(C1)touched me and set me unsteadily on my ^(F1)hands and knees.¹¹ So he said to me, "O ^(C1)Daniel, you highly regarded and greatly beloved man, ^(C2)understand the words that I am about to say to you and ^(C3)stand upright, for I have now been sent to you." And while he was saying this word to me, I stood up ^(C4)trembling.¹² Then he said to me, "^(C1)Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on ^(C2)humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response ^(C3)to your words.¹³ "But the ^(F1)prince of the kingdom of Persia was standing in opposition to me for twenty-one days. Then, behold, ^(C1)Michael, one of the chief of the celestial princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia.¹⁴ "Now I have come to ^(C1)make you understand what will happen to your people in the ^(C2)latter days, for the vision is in regard to the ^(C3)days yet to come."

¹⁵ When he had spoken to me according to these words, I turned my face toward the ground and was ^(C1)speechless.¹⁶ And behold, ^(C1)one who resembled the sons of men ^(C2)touched my lips. Then I opened my mouth and spoke and said to him who was standing before me, "O my lord, because of the vision ^(C3)anguish has come upon me, and I have retained no strength.¹⁷ "For ^(C1)how can such a weakened servant of my lord talk with such a being as my lord? For now there remains ^(C2)no strength in me, nor has any breath been left in me."

¹⁸ Then the one (Gabriel) whose appearance was like that of a man touched me again, and he ^(C1)strengthened me.¹⁹ He said, "O man, highly regarded and greatly beloved, ^(C1)do not be afraid. Peace be to you; take ^(C2)courage and be strong." Now when he had spoken to me, I was strengthened and said, "Let my lord speak, for you have ^(C3)strengthened me."²⁰ Then he said, "Do you understand fully why I came to you? Now I shall return to fight against the hostile ^(F1)prince of Persia; and when I have gone, behold, the ^(F2)(C1)prince of Greece is about to come.²¹ "But I (Gabriel) will tell you what is inscribed in the ^(F1)writing of ^(C1)truth. There is no one who stands firmly with me and strengthens himself against these hostile spirit forces except ^(C2)Michael, your prince the guardian of your nation.