Daniel’s Vision of a Dazzling Heavenly Messenger

¹ In the third year of Cyrus the king of the Persians, a word¹ was revealed to Daniel, who was called by his name Belteshazzar, and the word² was reliable and it concerned a great tribulation,³ and he understood the word⁴ and ⌞he received understanding⌟.⁵

1. Or “matter,” or “message”
2. Or “matter,” or “message”
3. Or “conflict”
4. Or “matter,” or “message”
5. Literally “and understanding to him”

² In those days, I, Daniel, I myself¹ was in mourning ⌞for three whole weeks⌟.²

1. This is an emphatic use of the first person personal pronoun
2. Literally “three weeks of days”

³ I had not eaten any choice food, and meat and wine did not enter my mouth, and ⌞I did not use any ointment⌟¹ ⌞until the end of three whole weeks⌟.²

1. Literally “I have not anointed at all”
2. Literally “until being full/complete three weeks of days”

⁴ And then on the twenty-fourth day of the first month, I myself¹ was on the bank of the great river; that is, the Tigris.

1. This is an emphatic use of the first person personal pronoun

⁵ And I lifted up my eyes and I saw,¹ and there was a man, and he was dressed in linen, and his waist was girded with the gold of Uphaz.

1. Or “looked”

⁶ Now his body was like turquoise,¹ and his face was like the appearance of lightning, and his eyes were like torches of fire, and his arms and his legs were like the gleam of polished bronze, and the sound of his words was like the sound of a multitude.

1. Or “yellow jasper” or other gold-colored stones; the exact identity of ancient precious stones is difficult

⁷ And I saw, I, Daniel ⌞alone⌟,¹ the vision; and the people who were with me ⌞did not see⌟² the vision; nevertheless, a great trembling fell upon them and they fled in order to hide themselves.

1. Literally “to alone me”
2. Literally “not they saw”

⁸ And I myself, Daniel, alone saw this great vision, and as a result ⌞no strength was left in me⌟¹ and ⌞my complexion grew deathly pale⌟,² and I did not retain any strength.

1. Literally “not was left in me strength”
2. Literally “and complexion my changed over me to destruction”

⁹ And I heard the sound of his words, and ⌞when I heard⌟¹ the sound of his words I myself began falling into a trance on my face, ⌞with my face to the ground⌟.²

1. Literally “at my hearing”
2. Literally “and my face toward the ground”

¹⁰ And look, a hand touched me and it roused me to my knees¹ and the palms² of my hands.

1. Hebrew “on my knees”
2. Hebrew “palm”

¹¹ And he said to me, “Daniel, a man beloved, pay attention to the words that I am speaking to you and ⌞stand upright where you are⌟,¹ for I have now been sent to you.” And ⌞while he was speaking⌟² with me this word,³ I stood up trembling.

1. Literally “stand on your position”
2. Literally “at his speaking”
3. Or “matter,” or “message”

¹² And he said to me, “You must not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and to humble yourself ⌞before⌟¹ your God, your words were heard, and I myself² have come because of your words.

1. Literally “to the face of”
2. This is an emphatic use of the first person personal pronoun

¹³ But the prince of the kingdom of Persia stood ⌞before me⌟¹ for twenty-one days. And look,² Michael, one of the chief princes, came to assist me, and I left him there beside the king of the Persians.

1. Literally “to front of me”
2. Or “finally”

¹⁴ And I have come¹ to instruct you about what² will happen to your people ⌞in the future⌟,³ for there is a further vision here ⌞for the future⌟.⁴

1. Hebrew “I came”
2. Hebrew “that”
3. Literally “at the end of the days”
4. Literally “for the days”

¹⁵ And while he was speaking with me according to these words, I turned my face toward the ground and I was speechless.

¹⁶ Then look, there was ⌞one in the form of a human⌟;¹ he touched my lips and I opened my mouth and I spoke and I said to the one standing ⌞before me⌟,² “My lord, because of the vision my anxieties fell upon me and I have not retained my strength.

1. Literally “as the likeness of a son of man”
2. Literally “to opposite me”

¹⁷ So ⌞how am I, a servant of my lord⌟¹ to speak with ⌞you, my lord⌟,² and I ⌞just now⌟³ ⌞have no strength in me⌟?”⁴

1. Literally “how is he able a servant of my lord this”
2. Literally “with my lord this”
3. Literally “from now”
4. Literally “not it remains in me strength”

¹⁸ And ⌞he again touched⌟¹ me, ⌞the one in the form of a human⌟,² and he strengthened me.

1. Literally “he added to and touched”
2. Literally “like vision of a man”

¹⁹ And he said, “You must not fear, O beloved man. ⌞Peace be to you⌟;¹ be strong and be courageous!” And ⌞when he spoke⌟² with me, I was strengthened and I said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.”

1. Literally “Peace to/for you”
2. Literally “at his speaking”

²⁰ Then he asked, “Do you know why I have come to you? And now I return to fight against the prince of Persia and I myself¹ am going, and look,² the prince of Javan³ will come.

1. This is an emphatic use of the first person personal pronoun
2. Or “listen”
3. That is, Greece

²¹ However, I will tell you ⌞what is inscribed⌟¹ in the book of truth, and there is not one who contends with me against these beings ⌞except⌟² Michael, your prince.”

1. Literally “the being inscribed”
2. Literally “but if”