Daniel 10

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, a revelation was made to Daniel known as Belteshazzar, atrue revelation of a great conflict. He grasped the meaning of the revelation; what it meant was disclosed to himin a vision.	1 In the third year of Cyrus, king of Persia, a revelation was given to Daniel, who had been named Belteshazzar. The revelation was certain: a great war; he understood it from the vision.
2 At that time, I, Daniel, was doing a three-week penance;	2 In those days, I, Daniel, mourned three full weeks.
3 I ate no agreeable food, touched no meat or wine, and did not anoint myself, until these three weekswere over.	3 I ate no savory food, I took no meat or wine, and I did not anoint myself at all until the end of the three weeks.
4 On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I stood on the bank of that great river, the Tigris,	4 On the twenty-fourth day of the first month I was on the bank of the great river, the Tigris.
5 I raised my eyes to look about me, and this is what I saw: A man dressed in linen, with a belt of puregold round his waist:	5 As I looked up, I saw a man dressed in linen with a belt of fine gold around his waist.
6 his body was like beryl, his face looked like lightning, his eyes were like fiery torches, his arms and hisface had the gleam of burnished bronze, the sound of his voice was like the roar of a multitude.	6 His body was like chrysolite, his face shown like lightning, his eyes were like fiery torches, his arms and feet looked like burnished bronze, and his voice sounded like the roar of a multitude.
7 I, Daniel, alone saw the apparition; the men who were with me did not see the vision, but so great atrembling overtook them that they fled to hide.	7 I alone, Daniel, saw the vision; but great fear seized the men who were with me; they fled and hid themselves, although they did not see the vision.
8 I was left alone, gazing on this great vision; I was powerless, my appearance was changed andcontorted; my strength deserted me.	8 So I was left alone, seeing this great vision. No strength remained in me; I turned the color of death and was powerless.
9 I heard a voice speaking, and at the sound of the voice I fel fainting, face downwards on the ground.	9 When I heard the sound of his voice, I fell face forward in a faint.
10 I felt a hand touching me, setting my knees and my hands trembling.	10 But then a hand touched me, raising me to my hands and knees.
11 He said, 'Daniel, you are a man specially chosen; understand the words that I am about to say; standup; I have been sent to you now.' He said this, and I stood up trembling.	11 "Daniel, beloved," he said to me, "understand the words which I am speaking to you; stand up, for my mission now is to you." When he said this to me, I stood up trembling.
12 He then said, 'Daniel, do not be afraid: from that first day when, the better to understand, youresolved to mortify yourself before God, your words have been heard; and your words are the reason why I havecome.	12 "Fear not, Daniel," he continued; "from the first day you made up your mind to acquire understanding and humble yourself before God, your prayer was heard. Because of it I started out,
13 The Prince of the kingdom of Persia has been resisting me for twenty-one days, but Michael, one ofthe Chief Princes, came to my assistance. I have left him confronting the kings of Persia	13 but the prince of the kingdom of Persia stood in my way for twenty-one days, until finally Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me. I left him there with the prince of the kings of Persia,
14 and have come to tel you what will happen to your people in the final days. For here is a new visionabout those days.'	14 and came to make you understand what shall happen to your people in the days to come; for there is yet a vision concerning those days."
15 When he had said these things to me, I prostrated myself on the ground, without saying a word;	15 While he was speaking thus to me, I fell forward and kept silent.
16 then someone looking like a man touched my lips. I opened my mouth to speak, and I said to theperson standing in front of me, 'My lord, anguish overcomes me at this vision, and my strength deserts me.	16 Then something like a man's hand touched my lips; I opened my mouth and said to the one facing me, "My lord, I was seized with pangs at the vision and I was powerless.
17 How can your servant speak to my lord now that I have no strength left and my breath fails me?'	17 How can my lord's servant speak with you, my lord? For now no strength or even breath is left in me."
18 Once again, the person like a man touched me; he gave me strength.	18 The one who looked like a man touched me again and strengthened me, saying,
19 'Do not be afraid,' he said, 'you are a man special y chosen; peace be with you; play the man, bestrong!' And as he spoke to me I felt strong again and said, 'Let my lord speak, you have given me strength.'	19 "Fear not, beloved, you are safe; take courage and be strong."
20 He then said, 'Do you know why I have come to you?	20 When he spoke to me, I grew strong and said, "Speak, my lord, for you have strengthened me." "Do you know," he asked, "why I have come to you? Soon I must fight the prince of Persia again. When I leave, the prince of Greece will come;
21 It is to tel you what is written in the Book of Truth. I must go back to fight the Prince of Persia; when Ihave overcome him, the Prince of Javan wil come next.In al this, there is no one to lend me support exceptMichael your Prince,	21 but I shall tell you what is written in the truthful book. No one supports me against all these except Michael, your prince,