Daniel having humbled himself by fasting and penance seeth a vision,
with which he is much terrified; but he is comforted by an angel.
10:1. In the third year of Cyrus, king of the Persians, a word was
revealed to Daniel, surnamed Baltassar, and a true word, and great
strength: and he understood the word: for there is need of understanding
in a vision.
10:2. In those days I, Daniel, mourned the days of three weeks.
10:3. I ate no desirable bread, and neither flesh, nor wine, entered
into my mouth, neither was I anointed with ointment: till the days of
three weeks were accomplished.
10:4. And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, I was by the
great river, which is the Tigris.
10:5. And I lifted up my eyes, and I saw: and behold a man clothed in
linen, and his loins were girded with the finest gold:
10:6. And his body was like the chrysolite, and his face as the
appearance of lightning, and his eyes as a burning lamp: and his arms,
and all downward even to the feet, like in appearance to glittering
brass: and the voice of his word like the voice of a multitude.
10:7. And I, Daniel alone, saw the vision: for the men that were with me
saw it not: but an exceeding great terror fell upon them, and they fled
away, and hid themselves.
10:8. And I, being left alone, saw this great vision: and there remained
no strength in me, and the appearance of my countenance was changed in
me, and I fainted away, and retained no strength.
10:9. And I heard the voice of his words: and when I heard I lay in a
consternation upon my face, and my face was close to the ground.
10:10. And behold a hand touched me, and lifted me up upon my knees, and
upon the joints of my hands.
10:11. And he said to me: Daniel, thou man of desires, understand the
words that I speak to thee, and stand upright: for I am sent now to
thee. And when he had said this word to me, I stood trembling.
10:12. And he said to me: Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that
thou didst set thy heart to understand, to afflict thyself in the sight
of thy God, thy words have been heard: and I am come for thy words.
10:13. But the prince of the kingdom of the Persians resisted me one and
twenty days: and behold Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help
me, and I remained there by the king of the Persians.
The prince, etc... That is, the angel guardian of Persia: who according
to his office, seeking the spiritual good of the Persians was desirous
that many of the Jews should remain among them.
10:14. But I am come to teach thee what things shall befall thy people
in the latter days, for as yet the vision is for days.
10:15. And when he was speaking such words to me, I cast down my
countenance to the ground, and held my peace.
10:16. And behold as it were the likeness of a son of man touched my
lips: then I opened my mouth and spoke, and said to him that stood
before me: O my lord, at the sight of thee my joints are loosed, and no
strength hath remained in me.
10:17. And how can the servant of my lord speak with my lord? for no
strength remaineth in me; moreover, my breath is stopped.
10:18. Therefore, he that looked like a man, touched me again, and
strengthened me.
10:19. And he said: Fear not, O man of desires, peace be to thee: take
courage, and be strong. And when he spoke to me, I grew strong, and I
said: Speak, O my lord, for thou hast strengthened me.
10:20. And he said: Dost thou know wherefore I am come to thee? And now
I will return, to fight against the prince of the Persians. When I went
forth, there appeared the prince of the Greeks coming.
10:21. But I will tell thee what is set down in the scripture of truth:
and none is my helper in all these things, but Michael your prince.
Michael your prince... The guardian general of the church of God.