| International Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1In the third year of Cyrus, king of Persia, a message was revealed to Daniel (also known as Belteshazzar). The message was trustworthy and concerned a great conflict. He understood it and had insight concerning the vision. | 1In the third year of King Cyrus of Persia a message was revealed to Daniel (who was also called Belteshazzar). This message was true and concerned a great war. He understood the message and gained insight by the vision. |
| 2"At that time I, Daniel, had been mourning for three straight weeks. | 2In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three whole weeks. |
| 3I ate no fancy foods—neither meat nor wine entered my mouth. Furthermore, I didn't use any ointment until the end of the entire three weeks. | 3I ate no choice food; no meat or wine came to my lips, nor did I anoint myself with oil until the end of those three weeks. |
| 4On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, while I was beside the bank of the great Tigris River, | 4On the twenty-fourth day of the first month I was beside the great river, the Tigris. |
| 5I lifted up my eyes to look, and to my surprise, there was a certain man dressed in linen, whose waist was encircled with gold from Uphaz! | 5I looked up and saw a man clothed in linen; around his waist was a belt made of gold from Upaz. |
| 6His body was like beryl, his face flashed like lightning, his eyes were like flaming torches, his arms and legs were like polished bronze, and his speech roared like that of a crowd. | 6His body resembled yellow jasper, and his face had an appearance like lightning. His eyes were like blazing torches; his arms and feet had the gleam of polished bronze. His voice thundered forth like the sound of a large crowd. |
| 7"Now I, Daniel, was the only one to receive the vision—the men who were with me didn't see it. However, an enormous fear overwhelmed them, so they ran away to hide, | 7Only I, Daniel, saw the vision; the men who were with me did not see it. On the contrary, they were overcome with fright and ran away to hide. |
| 8and I was left alone to observe this magnificent vision. Nevertheless, no strength remained in me—my face lost its color, and I became weak. | 8I alone was left to see this great vision. My strength drained from me, and my vigor disappeared; I was without energy. |
| 9As I listened to the sound of his words, I fell down on my face unconscious, with my face to the ground." | 9I listened to his voice, and as I did so I fell into a trance-like sleep with my face to the ground. |
| 10"All of a sudden, a hand touched me and lifted me upon my hands and knees. | 10Then a hand touched me and set me on my hands and knees. |
| 11He told me, 'Daniel, man highly regarded, understand the message that I'm about to relate to you. Stand up, because I've been sent to you.' When he spoke this statement to me, I stood there trembling. | 11He said to me, "Daniel, you are of great value. Understand the words that I am about to speak to you. So stand up, for I have now been sent to you." When he said this to me, I stood up shaking. |
| 12"'Don't be afraid, Daniel,' he told me, 'because from the first day that you committed yourself to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard. I've come in answer to your prayers. | 12Then he said to me, "Don't be afraid, Daniel, for from the very first day you applied your mind to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard. I have come in response to your words. |
| 13However, the prince of the kingdom of Persia opposed me for 21 days. Then all of a sudden, Michael, one of the chief angels, came to assist me! I had been detained there near the kings of Persia. | 13However, the prince of the kingdom of Persia was opposing me for twenty-one days. But Michael, one of the leading princes, came to help me, because I was left there with the kings of Persia. |
| 14Now I've come to help you understand what will happen to your people in the days to come, because the vision pertains to those days.' | 14Now I have come to help you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision pertains to future days." |
| 15"After he had spoken to me like this, I bowed my face to the ground, unable to speak. | 15While he was saying this to me, I was flat on the ground and unable to speak. |
| 16But suddenly someone who resembled a human being touched my lips, so addressing the one who was standing in front of me, I opened my mouth and said, 'Sir, I'm overwhelmed with anguish by this vision. I have no strength left. | 16Then one who appeared to be a human being was touching my lips. I opened my mouth and started to speak, saying to the one who was standing before me, "Sir, due to the vision, anxiety has gripped me and I have no strength. |
| 17So how can a servant of my lord talk with someone like you, sir? And as for me, there's no strength left in me, and I can hardly breathe.' | 17How, sir, am I able to speak with you? My strength is gone, and I am breathless." |
| 18"Then this person who looked like a man touched me again and strengthened me | 18Then the one who appeared to be a human being touched me again and strengthened me. |
| 19and said, 'Don't be afraid, man highly regarded. Be at peace, and be strong.' "As soon as he spoke to me, I gained strength and replied, 'Sir, please speak, now that you've strengthened me.' | 19He said to me, "Don't be afraid, you who are valued. Peace be to you! Be strong! Be really strong!" When he spoke to me, I was strengthened. I said, "Sir, you may speak now, for you have given me strength." |
| 20"Then he said, 'Do you understand why I came to you? Soon I'll return to fight the prince of Persia. I'm going forth to war—and take note—the prince of Greece is coming! | 20He said, "Do you know why I have come to you? Now I am about to return to engage in battle with the prince of Persia. When I go, the prince of Greece is coming. |
| 21I'll inform you about what has been recorded in the Book of Truth. No one stands firmly with me against these opponents, except Michael your prince. | 21However, I will first tell you what is written in a dependable book. (There is no one who strengthens me against these princes, except Michael your prince. |
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