Daniel's Terrifying Vision of a Man
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1In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a word was revealed to Daniel, 2who was named Belteshazzar. And 3the word was true, and it was a great conflict.a And 4he understood the word and 5had understanding of the vision.
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I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did I 7anoint myself at all, for 8the full three weeks.
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On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing 9on the bank of the great river (10that is, the Tigris)
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11I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, 12a man clothed in linen, 13with a belt of fine 14gold from Uphaz around his waist.
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His body was like 15beryl, his face 16like the appearance of lightning, 17his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and 18legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and 19the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude.
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20And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see the vision, but a great trembling fell upon them, and they fled to hide themselves.
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So I was left alone and saw this great vision, and 21no strength was left in me. My radiant appearance was fearfully changed,b22and I retained no strength.
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Then I heard the sound of his words, 23and as I heard the sound of his words, I fell on my face in deep sleep 24with my face to the ground.
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And he said to me, "O Daniel, 26man greatly loved, 27understand the words that I speak to you, and 28stand upright, for 29now I have been sent to you." And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling.
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Then he said to me, 30"Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you 31set your heart to understand and 32humbled yourself before your God, 33your words have been heard, 34and I have come because of your words.
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35The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me 36twenty-one days, but 37Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia,
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38and came to make you understand what is to happen to your people 39in the latter days. For 40the vision is for days yet to come."
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When he had spoken to me according to these words, 41I turned my face toward the ground 42and was mute.
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And behold, 43one in the likeness of the children of man 44touched my lips. Then I opened my mouth and spoke. I said to him who stood before me, "O my lord, by reason of the vision pains have come upon me, and 45I retain no strength.
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How can my lord's servant talk with my lord? For now no strength remains in me, and no breath is left in me."
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And he said, 48"O man greatly loved, 49fear not, peace be with you; be strong and of good courage." And as he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, "Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me."
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
(English Standard Version - The Holy Bible Online)