A modern English translation drawn directly from the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts. Translated word-for-word where possible, by a committee with scholarly oversight.
Uses the same source texts as the ESV, NASB, and most academic Bibles, including the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia and the Nestle-Aland critical edition.
Daniel 10
Daniel 10 is the tenth chapter of the book of Daniel. The 21-verse chapter records a vision Daniel receives by the Tigris River, and it is the first passage in the Bible to name the angel Michael.
In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, after Daniel has mourned and fasted for three weeks, he sees a vision by the great river. A man dressed in linen appears, his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, and his voice like the sound of a multitude. Those with Daniel do not see the vision but are seized with terror and flee, leaving Daniel alone and drained of strength.
The figure touches Daniel and tells him not to be afraid, that from the first day he set his heart to understand, his words were heard. He explains that he had been delayed: "the prince of the kingdom of Persia" opposed him for twenty-one days, until Michael, "one of the chief princes," came to help him. He has come to tell Daniel what will happen to his people in the latter days.
Weak and speechless, Daniel is touched and strengthened again and told, "Do not be afraid, you who are highly precious." The messenger says he must return to fight the prince of Persia, and that the prince of Greece will come, and that no one supports him in this except "Michael your prince." The chapter is a rare glimpse of unseen conflict behind earthly events, and it sets up the message delivered in the chapters that follow.
Verse 1. In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, a message was revealed to Daniel, who was called Belteshazzar. The message was true, and it concerned a great conflict. And the understanding of the message was given to him in a vision.
Verse 2. In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three full weeks.
Verse 3. I ate no rich food, no meat or wine entered my mouth, and I did not anoint myself with oil until the three weeks were completed.
Verse 4. On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river, the Tigris,
Verse 5. I lifted up my eyes, and behold, there was a certain man dressed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist.
Verse 6. His body was like beryl, his face like the brilliance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of polished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude.
Verse 7. Only I, Daniel, saw the vision; the men with me did not see it, but a great terror fell upon them, and they ran and hid themselves.
Verse 8. So I was left alone, gazing at this great vision. No strength remained in me; my face grew deathly pale, and I was powerless.
Verse 9. I heard the sound of his words, and as I listened, I fell into a deep sleep, with my face to the ground.
Verse 10. Suddenly, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees.
Verse 11. He said to me, “Daniel, you are a man who is highly precious. Consider carefully the words that I am about to say to you. Stand up, for I have now been sent to you.” And when he had said this to me, I stood up trembling.
Verse 12. “Do not be afraid, Daniel,” he said, “for from the first day that you purposed to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.
Verse 13. However, the prince of the kingdom of Persia opposed me for twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia.
Verse 14. Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision concerns those days.”
Verse 15. While he was speaking these words to me, I set my face toward the ground and became speechless.
Verse 16. And suddenly one with the likeness of a man touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and said to the one standing before me, “My lord, because of the vision, I am overcome with anguish, and I have no strength.
Verse 17. How can I, your servant, speak with you, my lord? Now I have no strength, nor is any breath left in me.”
Verse 18. Again the one with the likeness of a man touched me and strengthened me.
Verse 19. “Do not be afraid, you who are highly precious,” he said. “Peace be with you! Be strong now; be very strong!” As he spoke with me, I was strengthened and said, “Speak, my lord, for you have strengthened me.”
Verse 20. “Do you know why I have come to you?” he said. “I must return at once to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I have gone forth, behold, the prince of Greece will come.
Verse 21. But first I will tell you what is inscribed in the Book of Truth. Yet no one has the courage to support me against these, except Michael your prince.
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