| English Standard Version | New Living Translation |
| 1In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a word was revealed to Daniel, who was named Belteshazzar. And the word was true, and it was a great conflict. And he understood the word and had understanding of the vision. | 1In the third year of the reign of King Cyrus of Persia, Daniel (also known as Belteshazzar) had another vision. He understood that the vision concerned events certain to happen in the future—times of war and great hardship. |
| 2In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three weeks. | 2When this vision came to me, I, Daniel, had been in mourning for three whole weeks. |
| 3I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, for the full three weeks. | 3All that time I had eaten no rich food. No meat or wine crossed my lips, and I used no fragrant lotions until those three weeks had passed. |
| 4On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river (that is, the Tigris) | 4On April 23, as I was standing on the bank of the great Tigris River, |
| 5I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, a man clothed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist. | 5I looked up and saw a man dressed in linen clothing, with a belt of pure gold around his waist. |
| 6His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude. | 6His body looked like a precious gem. His face flashed like lightning, and his eyes flamed like torches. His arms and feet shone like polished bronze, and his voice roared like a vast multitude of people. |
| 7And 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. | 7Only I, Daniel, saw this vision. The men with me saw nothing, but they were suddenly terrified and ran away to hide. |
| 8So I was left alone and saw this great vision, and no strength was left in me. My radiant appearance was fearfully changed, and I retained no strength. | 8So I was left there all alone to see this amazing vision. My strength left me, my face grew deathly pale, and I felt very weak. |
| 9Then I heard the sound of his words, and as I heard the sound of his words, I fell on my face in deep sleep with my face to the ground. | 9Then I heard the man speak, and when I heard the sound of his voice, I fainted and lay there with my face to the ground. |
| 10And behold, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. | 10Just then a hand touched me and lifted me, still trembling, to my hands and knees. |
| 11And he said to me, “O Daniel, man greatly loved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for now I have been sent to you.” And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling. | 11And the man said to me, “Daniel, you are very precious to God, so listen carefully to what I have to say to you. Stand up, for I have been sent to you.” When he said this to me, I stood up, still trembling. |
| 12Then he said to me, “Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words. | 12Then he said, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer. |
| 13The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia, | 13But for twenty-one days the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia blocked my way. Then Michael, one of the archangels, came to help me, and I left him there with the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia. |
| 14and came to make you understand what is to happen to your people in the latter days. For the vision is for days yet to come.” | 14Now I am here to explain what will happen to your people in the future, for this vision concerns a time yet to come.” |
| 15When he had spoken to me according to these words, I turned my face toward the ground and was mute. | 15While he was speaking to me, I looked down at the ground, unable to say a word. |
| 16And behold, one in the likeness of the children of man 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 I retain no strength. | 16Then the one who looked like a man touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and began to speak. I said to the one standing in front of me, “I am filled with anguish because of the vision I have seen, my lord, and I am very weak. |
| 17How can my lord’s servant talk with my lord? For now no strength remains in me, and no breath is left in me.” | 17How can someone like me, your servant, talk to you, my lord? My strength is gone, and I can hardly breathe.” |
| 18Again one having the appearance of a man touched me and strengthened me. | 18Then the one who looked like a man touched me again, and I felt my strength returning. |
| 19And he said, “O man greatly loved, 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.” | 19“Don’t be afraid,” he said, “for you are very precious to God. Peace! Be encouraged! Be strong!” As he spoke these words to me, I suddenly felt stronger and said to him, “Please speak to me, my lord, for you have strengthened me.” |
| 20Then he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? But now I will return to fight against the prince of Persia; and when I go out, behold, the prince of Greece will come. | 20He replied, “Do you know why I have come? Soon I must return to fight against the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia, and after that the spirit prince of the kingdom of Greece will come. |
| 21But I will tell you what is inscribed in the book of truth: there is none who contends by my side against these except Michael, your prince. | 21Meanwhile, I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. (No one helps me against these spirit princes except Michael, your spirit prince. |
| ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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