Study Desk

In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia,^(a) a message was revealed to Daniel, who was named Belteshazzar.^(b) The message was true and was about a great conflict. He understood the message and had understanding of the vision.^(c)

In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three full weeks.^(d)

I didn't eat any rich food,^(e) no meat or wine entered my mouth, and I didn't put any oil on my body until the three weeks were over.

On the twenty-fourth day of the first month,^[a] as I was standing on the bank of the great river,^(f) the Tigris,

I looked up, and there was a man dressed in linen,^(g) with a belt of gold^(h) from Uphaz^[b](i) around his waist.

His body was like topaz,^[c] his face like the brilliance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches,^(j) his arms and feet like the gleam of polished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude.^(k)

Only I, Daniel, saw the vision.^(l) The men who were with me did not see it,^(m) but a great terror fell on them,⁽ⁿ⁾ and they ran and hid.

I was left alone, looking at this great vision.^(o) No strength was left in me; my face grew deathly pale,^[d](p) and I was powerless.

I heard the words he said, and when I heard them I fell into a deep sleep,^[e](q) with my face to the ground.

Suddenly, a hand touched me and raised me to my hands and knees.

He said to me, "Daniel, you are a man treasured by God.^(r) Understand the words that I'm saying to you. Stand on your feet,^(s) for I have now been sent to you."^(t) After he said this to me, I stood trembling.

"Don't be afraid,^(u) Daniel," he said to me, "for from the first day that you purposed to understand and to humble yourself before your God,^(v) your prayers were heard. I have come because of your prayers.^(w)

But the prince of the kingdom of Persia opposed me for 21 days. Then Michael,^(x) one of the chief princes, came to help me after I had been left there with the kings of Persia.^(y)

Now I have come to help you understand what will happen to your people in the last days,^(z) for the vision refers to those days."^(aa)

While he was saying these words to me, I turned my face toward the ground and was speechless.^(ab)

Suddenly one with human likeness^(ac) touched my lips.^(ad) I opened my mouth and said to the one standing in front of me, "My lord, because of the vision, anguish overwhelms me and I am powerless.^(ae)

How can someone like me,^(af) your servant,^[f] speak with someone like you, my lord? Now I have no strength, and there is no breath in me."

Then the one with human likeness touched me again and strengthened me.^(ag)

He said, "Don't be afraid,^(ah) you who are^[g] treasured by God.^(ai) Peace to you; be very strong!"^(aj) As he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, "Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me."^(ak)

He said, "Do you know why I've come to you? I must return at once to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I leave, the prince of Greece will come.^(al)

No one has the courage to support me against them except Michael,^(am) your prince. However, I will tell you what is recorded in the book of truth.