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Daniel Is Terrified by a Vision

¹ In the third year of ^(C1)Cyrus king of Persia a ^(F1)message was revealed to ^(C2)Daniel, who was named Belteshazzar; and the ^(F1)(C3)message was true and one of great ^(F2)conflict, but he understood the ^(F1)message and had an ^(C4)understanding of the vision.

² In those days, I, Daniel, had been ^(C1)mourning for three entire weeks.³ I ^(C1)did not eat any ^(F1)tasty food, nor did meat or wine enter my mouth, nor did I use any ointment at all until the entire three weeks were completed.⁴ On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, while I was by the bank of the great ^(C1)river, that is, the ^(F1)Tigris,⁵ I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, there was a certain man ^(C1)dressed in linen, whose waist was ^(C2)girded with a belt of pure ^(C3)gold of Uphaz.⁶ His body also was like ^(F1)beryl, his face ^(F2)had the appearance of lightning, ^(C1)his eyes were like flaming torches, his arms and feet like the gleam of polished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a ^(F3)tumult.⁷ Now I, Daniel, ^(C1)alone saw the vision, while the ^(C2)men who were with me did not see the vision; nevertheless, a great ^(C3)dread fell on them, and 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 ^(F1)natural color turned to ^(F2)a deathly pallor, and I retained no strength.⁹ But I heard the sound of his words; and as soon as I heard the sound of his words, I ^(C1)fell into a deep sleep on my face, with my face to the ground.

Daniel Comforted

¹⁰ Then behold, a hand ^(C1)touched me and set me trembling on my ^(F1)hands and knees.¹¹ He said to me, "O ^(C1)Daniel, man of ^(F1)high esteem, ^(C2)understand the words that I am about to tell you and ^(C3)stand ^(F2)upright, for I have now been sent to you." And when he had spoken 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 prince of the kingdom of Persia was ^(F1)withstanding me for twenty-one days; then behold, ^(C1)Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia.¹⁴ "Now I have come to ^(C1)give you an understanding of what will happen to your people in the ^(F1)(C2)latter days, for the vision pertains to ^(C3)the days yet future."

¹⁵ When he had spoken to me according to these words, I ^(F1)turned my face toward the ground and became ^(C1)speechless.¹⁶ And behold, ^(F1)(C1)one who resembled a human being was ^(C2)touching my lips; then I opened my mouth and spoke and said to him who was standing before me, "O my lord, as a result of the vision ^(F2)(C3)anguish has come upon me, and I have retained no strength.¹⁷ "For ^(C1)how can such a servant of my lord talk with such as my lord? As for me, there remains just now ^(C2)no strength in me, nor has any breath been left in me."

¹⁸ Then this one with human appearance touched me again and ^(C1)strengthened me.¹⁹ He said, "O man of ^(F1)high esteem, ^(C1)do not be afraid. Peace ^(F2)be with you; take ^(C2)courage and be courageous!" Now as soon as he spoke to me, I received strength and said, "May my lord speak, for you have ^(C3)strengthened me."²⁰ Then he said, "Do you ^(F1)understand why I came to you? But I shall now return to fight against the ^(F2)prince of Persia; so I am going forth, and behold, the ^(F2)(C1)prince of ^(F3)Greece is about to come.²¹ "However, I will tell you what is inscribed in the writing of ^(C1)truth. Yet there is no one who ^(F1)stands firmly with me against these forces except ^(C2)Michael your prince.