1 ARST During the third year that Cyrus was the king of Persia, I Daniel, who had been given the name Belteshazzar, received another message from God. The message was true, but it was very difficult for me to understand it. But later I understood the message because of the vision that I had seen. BSB BSB: 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.
2 ARST At that time I had been sad for three weeks about what had happened to Jerusalem. BSB BSB: In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three full weeks.
3 ARST I did not eat any tasty food or any meat or drink any wine. I did not even put any perfumed oil on my face or hair for those three weeks. BSB BSB: 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.
4 ARST When those three weeks ended, on April 23, my companions and I were standing on the bank of the great Tigris River. BSB BSB: On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river, the Tigris,
5 ARST I looked up and saw someone there who was wearing fine white clothes and a belt made of pure gold. BSB BSB: 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.
6 ARST His body shone like a precious beryl stone. His face was as bright as a flash of lightning. His eyes were like flaming torches. His arms and legs shone like polished bronze. And his voice was very loud, like the roar of a huge crowd. BSB BSB: 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.
7 ARST I, Daniel, was the only one who saw this vision. The men who were with me did not see anything, but they sensed that someone was there, and they became terrified. They ran away and hid themselves. BSB BSB: 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.
8 ARST So I was left there by myself, looking at this very unusual vision. I had no strength left. My face became very pale, with the result that no one would have recognized me. BSB BSB: So I was left alone, gazing at this great vision. No strength remained in me; my face grew deathly pale, and I was powerless.
9 ARST I saw a man there, and when I heard him speak, I fell to the ground. I fainted, and I lay there with my face on the ground. BSB BSB: I heard the sound of his words, and as I listened, I fell into a deep sleep, with my face to the ground.
10 ARST Suddenly someone’ s hand took hold of me and lifted me, with the result that I was on my hands and knees, but I was still trembling. BSB BSB: Suddenly, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees.
11 ARST The man said to me,“Daniel, God loves you very much. Stand up and listen to what I am going to say to you, because God sent me to you.” When he said that, I stood up, but I was stil trembling. BSB BSB: 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.
12 ARST Then he said to me,“Daniel, do not be afraid. God has heard what you have prayed ever since the first day that you determined to humble yourself in order to understand the vision. I have come to you because of what you prayed. BSB BSB: “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.
13 ARST The evil spirit who rules the kingdom of Persia resisted me for 21 days, but Michael, who is one of God’ s chief angels, came to help me. I left him there in Persia to resist that evil spirit who rules there. BSB BSB: 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.
14 ARST I have come here to enable you to understand what will happen to the Israeli people in the future. Do not forget that the vision that you saw is about things that will happen in the future, not about things that will happen very soon.” BSB BSB: Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision concerns those days.”
15 ARST While he was saying that, I stared at the ground and was unable to say anything because I was very afraid. BSB BSB: While he was speaking these words to me, I set my face toward the ground and became speechless.
16 ARST Suddenly the angel, who resembled a human, touched my lips. Then I was able to speak, and I said to him,“Sir, because I have seen this vision, I have become very weak, with the result that I cannot stop trembling. BSB BSB: 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.
17 ARST I am not able to talk to you, my master. I have no strength left, and it is very difficult for me to breathe.” BSB BSB: How can I, your servant, speak with you, my lord? Now I have no strength, nor is any breath left in me.”
18 ARST But he took hold of me again, and enabled me to become stronger again. BSB BSB: Again the one with the likeness of a man touched me and strengthened me.
19 ARST He said to me,“You human, God loves you very much. So do not be afraid. I desire that things will go well for you and that you will be encouraged.” When he had said that, I felt even stronger, and I said,“Sir, tell me what you want to tell me. You have enabled me to feel stronger.” BSB BSB: “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.”
20 ARST Then he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? It is to reveal to you what is written in the book which reveals God’s truth. But now I must return to fight against the evil spirit who rules the kingdom of Persia. After I have defeated him, the evil angel who guards Greece will appear and I must defeat him. Michael, who guards you Israelite people, will certainly help me, but there is no one else to help me.” BSB BSB: “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.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.