| New Living Translation | NET Bible |
| 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. | 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. |
| 2When this vision came to me, I, Daniel, had been in mourning for three whole weeks. | 2In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three whole 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. | 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 April 23, as I was standing on 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 looked up and saw a man dressed in linen clothing, with a belt of pure gold around his waist. | 5I looked up and saw a man clothed in linen; around his waist was a belt made of gold from Upaz. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 7Only I, Daniel, saw this vision. The men with me saw nothing, but they were suddenly terrified and 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. |
| 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. | 8I alone was left to see this great vision. My strength drained from me, and my vigor disappeared; I was without energy. |
| 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. | 9I listened to his voice, and as I did so I fell into a trance-like sleep with my face to the ground. |
| 10Just then a hand touched me and lifted me, still trembling, to my hands and knees. | 10Then a hand touched me and set me on my hands and knees. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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 am here to explain what will happen to your people in the future, for this vision concerns a time yet to come.” | 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." |
| 15While he was speaking to me, I looked down at the ground, unable to say a word. | 15While he was saying this to me, I was flat on the ground and unable to speak. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 17How can someone like me, your servant, talk to you, my lord? My strength is gone, and I can hardly breathe.” | 17How, sir, am I able to speak with you? My strength is gone, and I am breathless." |
| 18Then the one who looked like a man touched me again, and I felt my strength returning. | 18Then the one who appeared to be a human being touched me again and 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.” | 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." |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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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