Daniel’s Vision by the Tigris 1 UST During the third year that Cyrus was the king of Persia, God revealed a message to Daniel.(The Babylonians had given him the name Belteshazzar.) The message was about a terrible war that was certainly going to happen. The message came in a vision, and Daniel understood what it meant. 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 UST At that time, I, Daniel, had been mourning for three weeks. BSB BSB: In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three full weeks.
3 UST Throughout those three weeks, I did not eat any tasty food. I did not eat any meat or drink any wine. I did not put olive oil on my face or hair. 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 UST Then, on the twenty- fourth day of the first month of the year, I was 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 UST I looked up, and I saw a man who was wearing linen clothes and a fine gold belt. 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 UST His body shone like a jewel. His face was as bright as a flash of lightning. His eyes were like flaming torches. His arms and legs shone like polished bronze. 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 UST I, Daniel, was the only one who saw this vision. There were some men with me, but they did not see it. However, they became very afraid, and they ran away and hid. 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 UST So I remained there by myself, looking at this great vision. I felt very weak. My face became pale because I was so weak. 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 UST Then I heard the man speak. When I heard him, I fainted and fell to the ground. 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 UST But then he took hold of me and lifted me up so that I was on my hands and knees. I was shaking. BSB BSB: Suddenly, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees.
11 UST The man told me,“Daniel, God loves you very much. God has sent me to you, so stand up. I am going to tell you a message, and I want you to understand it.” When he said that to me, I stood up, but I was still shaking. 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 UST Then he told me,“Daniel, you determined to ask God humbly to show you{ what would happen to your people in the future}. God has heard what you have been praying since then. I have come because of what you have prayed. So do not be afraid! 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 UST For 21 days, the evil spirit that influences the kingdom of Persia kept me from coming to you. But Michael, one of God’ s chief angels, came and helped me. Otherwise, I would not have been able to get past that evil spirit that influences the Persian rulers. 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 UST I have come to enable you to understand what will happen to your people when the world is about to end. Now this will happen sometime in the future.” 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 UST While he was saying these things to me, I was looking at the ground, and I was not saying anything. BSB BSB: While he was speaking these words to me, I set my face toward the ground and became speechless.
16 UST But then this person who looked like a human being touched my lips. Then I was able to speak. I said to him,“Sir, because I am seeing this vision, I am very upset, and I have become very weak. 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 UST I am not able to speak with you, sir. I feel very weak right now, and it is 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 UST But then this person who looked like a human being took hold of me again, and that made me feel stronger. BSB BSB: Again the one with the likeness of a man touched me and strengthened me.
19 UST He told me,“Do not be afraid, you mortal. God loves you very much. Be peaceful, and be very strong.” When he said that to me, I did feel stronger. I said,“Sir, you have helped me feel stronger. So please do give me your message.” 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 UST Then he said,“Remember what I told you about why I have come to you. There is a book that reveals God’ s truth, and I have come to tell you what it says. After that, I must return to fight against the evil spirit that influences the kingdom of Persia. After I have defeated him, the evil spirit that influences Javan will come. Michael, the angel who protects you Israelite people, is the only one who can help me defeat these spirits. 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.