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Daniel's Terrifying Vision of a Man

^1 (a)In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a word was revealed to Daniel, ^(b)who was named Belteshazzar. And ^(c)the word was true, and it was a great conflict.^[a] And ^(d)he understood the word and ^(e)had understanding of the vision.

² In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for ^(f)three weeks. ³ I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did I ^(g)anoint myself at all, for ^(h)the full three weeks. ⁴ On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing ⁽ⁱ⁾on the bank of the great river (^(j)that is, the Tigris) ^5 (k)I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, ^(l)a man clothed in linen, ^(m)with a belt of fine ⁽ⁿ⁾gold from Uphaz around his waist. ⁶ His body was like ^(o)beryl, his face ^(p)like the appearance of lightning, ^(q)his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and ^(r)legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and ^(s)the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude. ^7 (t)And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see the vision, but a great trembling fell upon them, and they fled to hide themselves. ⁸ So I was left alone and saw this great vision, and ^(u)no strength was left in me. My radiant appearance was fearfully changed,^{[b] (v)}and I retained no strength. ⁹ Then I heard the sound of his words, ^(w)and as I heard the sound of his words, I fell on my face in deep sleep ^(x)with my face to the ground.

¹⁰ And behold, ^(y)a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. ¹¹ And he said to me, "O Daniel, ^(z)man greatly loved, ^(aa)understand the words that I speak to you, and ^(ab)stand upright, for ^(ac)now I have been sent to you." And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling. ¹² Then he said to me, ^(ad)"Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you ^(ae)set your heart to understand and ^(af)humbled yourself before your God, ^(ag)your words have been heard, ^(ah)and I have come because of your words. ^13 (ai)The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me ^(aj)twenty-one days, but ^(ak)Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia, ^14 (al)and came to make you understand what is to happen to your people ^(am)in the latter days. For ^(an)the vision is for days yet to come."

¹⁵ When he had spoken to me according to these words, ^(ao)I turned my face toward the ground ^(ap)and was mute. ¹⁶ And behold, ^(aq)one in the likeness of the children of man ^(ar)touched my lips. Then I opened my mouth and spoke. I said to him who stood before me, "O my lord, by reason of the vision pains have come upon me, and ^(as)I retain no strength. ¹⁷ How can my lord's servant talk with my lord? For now no strength remains in me, and no breath is left in me."

¹⁸ Again ^(at)one having the appearance of a man ^(au)touched me and strengthened me. ¹⁹ And he said, ^(av)"O man greatly loved, ^(aw)fear not, peace be with you; be strong and of good courage." And as he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, "Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me." ²⁰ Then he said, "Do you know why I have come to you? But now I will return to fight against the ^(ax)prince of Persia; and when I go out, behold, the prince of ^(ay)Greece will come. ²¹ But I will tell you ^(az)what is inscribed in the book of truth: there is none who contends by my side against these except ^(ba)Michael, your prince.