1 No terceiro ano de Ciro, rei da Pérsia, foi revelada uma palavra a Daniel, cujo nome é Beltessazar; a palavra era verdadeira e envolvia grande conflito; ele entendeu a palavra e teve a inteligência da visão. 2 Naqueles dias, eu, Daniel, pranteei durante três semanas. 3 Manjar desejável não comi, nem carne, nem vinho entraram na minha boca, nem me ungi com óleo algum, até que passaram as três semanas inteiras. 4 No dia vinte e quatro do primeiro mês, estando eu à borda do grande rio Tigre, 5 levantei os olhos e olhei, e eis um homem vestido de linho, cujos ombros estavam cingidos de ouro puro de Ufaz; 6 o seu corpo era como o berilo, o seu rosto, como um relâmpago, os seus olhos, como tochas de fogo, os seus braços e os seus pés brilhavam como bronze polido; e a voz das suas palavras era como o estrondo de muita gente. 7 Só eu, Daniel, tive aquela visão; os homens que estavam comigo nada viram; não obstante, caiu sobre eles grande temor, e fugiram e se esconderam. 8 Fiquei, pois, eu só e contemplei esta grande visão, e não restou força em mim; o meu rosto mudou de cor e se desfigurou, e não retive força alguma. 9 Contudo, ouvi a voz das suas palavras; e, ouvindo-a, caí sem sentidos, rosto em terra.

10 Eis que certa mão me tocou, sacudiu-me e me pôs sobre os meus joelhos e as palmas das minhas mãos. 11 Ele me disse: Daniel, homem muito amado, está atento às palavras que te vou dizer; levanta-te sobre os pés, porque eis que te sou enviado. Ao falar ele comigo esta palavra, eu me pus em pé, tremendo. 12 Então, me disse: Não temas, Daniel, porque, desde o primeiro dia em que aplicaste o coração a compreender e a humilhar-te perante o teu Deus, foram ouvidas as tuas palavras; e, por causa das tuas palavras, é que eu vim. 13 Mas o príncipe do reino da Pérsia me resistiu por vinte e um dias; porém Miguel, um dos primeiros príncipes, veio para ajudar-me, e eu obtive vitória sobre os reis da Pérsia. 14 Agora, vim para fazer-te entender o que há de suceder ao teu povo nos últimos dias; porque a visão se refere a dias ainda distantes. 15 Ao falar ele comigo estas palavras, dirigi o olhar para a terra e calei. 16 E eis que uma como semelhança dos filhos dos homens me tocou os lábios; então, passei a falar e disse àquele que estava diante de mim: meu senhor, por causa da visão me sobrevieram dores, e não me ficou força alguma. 17 Como, pois, pode o servo do meu senhor falar com o meu senhor? Porque, quanto a mim, não me resta já força alguma, nem fôlego ficou em mim.

18 Então, me tornou a tocar aquele semelhante a um homem e me fortaleceu; 19 e disse: Não temas, homem muito amado! Paz seja contigo! Sê forte, sê forte. Ao falar ele comigo, fiquei fortalecido e disse: fala, meu senhor, pois me fortaleceste. 20 E ele disse: Sabes por que eu vim a ti? Eu tornarei a pelejar contra o príncipe dos persas; e, saindo eu, eis que virá o príncipe da Grécia. 21 Mas eu te declararei o que está expresso na escritura da verdade; e ninguém há que esteja ao meu lado contra aqueles, a não ser Miguel, vosso príncipe.

1 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a thing was revealed unto Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar; and the thing was true, even a great warfare: and he understood the thing, and had understanding of the vision. 2 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three whole weeks. 3 I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine into my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled. 4 And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel, 5 I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, a man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with pure gold of Uphaz: 6 his body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as flaming torches, and his arms and his feet like unto burnished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude. 7 And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision; for the men that were with me saw not the vision; but a great quaking fell upon them, and they fled to hide themselves. 8 So I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me; for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength. 9 Yet heard I the voice of his words; and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I fallen into a deep sleep on my face, with my face toward the ground.

10 And, behold, a hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands. 11 And he said unto me, O Daniel, thou man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright; for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling. 12 Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel; for from the first day that thou didst set thy heart to understand, and to humble thyself before thy God, thy words were heard: and I am come for thy words’ sake. 13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days; but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me: and I remained there with the kings of Persia. 14 Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days; for the vision is yet for many days. 15 And when he had spoken unto me according to these words, I set my face toward the ground, and was dumb. 16 And, behold, one in the likeness of the sons of men touched my lips: then I opened my mouth, and spake and said unto him that stood before me, O my lord, by reason of the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I retain no strength. 17 For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord? for as for me, straightway there remained no strength in me, neither was there breath left in me.

18 Then there touched me again one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me. 19 And he said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he spake unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me. 20 Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I am come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I go forth, lo, the prince of Greece shall come. 21 But I will tell thee that which is inscribed in the writing of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me against these, but Michael your prince.

1 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, a revelation was given to Daniel (who was called Belteshazzar). Its message was true and it concerned a great war. "The understanding of the message came to him in a vision.

2 At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks.

3 I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over.

4 On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river, the Tigris,

5 I looked up and there before me was a man dressed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist.

6 His body was like topaz, his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude.

7 I, Daniel, was the only one who saw the vision; those who were with me did not see it, but such terror overwhelmed them that they fled and hid themselves.

8 So I was left alone, gazing at this great vision; I had no strength left, my face turned deathly pale and I was helpless.

9 Then I heard him speaking, and as I listened to him, I fell into a deep sleep, my face to the ground.

10 A hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees.

11 He said, "Daniel, you who are highly esteemed, consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you, and stand up, for I have now been sent to you." And when he said this to me, I stood up trembling.

12 Then he continued, "Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.

13 But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia.

14 Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come."

15 While he was saying this to me, I bowed with my face toward the ground and was speechless.

16 Then one who looked like a man "touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and began to speak. I said to the one standing before me, "I am overcome with anguish because of the vision, my lord, and I feel very weak.

17 How can I, your servant, talk with you, my lord? My strength is gone and I can hardly breathe."

18 Again the one who looked like a man touched me and gave me strength.

19 "Do not be afraid, you who are highly esteemed," he said. "Peace! Be strong now; be strong." When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, "Speak, my lord, since you have given me strength."

20 So he said, "Do you know why I have come to you? Soon I will return to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I go, the prince of Greece will come;

21 but first I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. (No one supports me against them except Michael, your prince.