Dan 10 | ESV | STEP | In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a word was revealed to Daniel , who was named Belteshazzar . And the word was true , and it was a great conflict . And he understood the word and had understanding of the vision .

1 ^aIn the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a word was revealed to Daniel, ^bwho was named Belteshazzar. And ^cthe word was true, and it was a great conflict. ^{▼▼Or and it was about a great conflict} And ^ehe understood the word and ^fhad understanding of the vision.

2 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for ^gthree weeks. 3 I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did I ^hanoint myself at all, for ⁱthe full three weeks. 4 On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing ^jon the bank of the great river ( ^kthat is, the Tigris) 5 ^lI lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, ^ma man clothed in linen, ⁿwith a belt of fine ^ogold from Uphaz around his waist. 6 His body was like ^pberyl, his face ^qlike the appearance of lightning, ^rhis eyes like flaming torches, his arms and ^slegs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and ^tthe sound of his words like the sound of a multitude. 7 ^uAnd 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. 8 So I was left alone and saw this great vision, and ^vno strength was left in me. My radiant appearance was fearfully changed, ^{▼▼Hebrew My splendor was changed to ruin} ^xand I retained no strength. 9 Then I heard the sound of his words, ^yand as I heard the sound of his words, I fell on my face in deep sleep ^zwith my face to the ground.

10 And behold, ^aaa hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. 11 And he said to me, “O Daniel, ^abman greatly loved, ^acunderstand the words that I speak to you, and ^adstand upright, for ^aenow I have been sent to you.” And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling. 12 Then he said to me, ^af“Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you ^agset your heart to understand and ^ahhumbled yourself before your God, ^aiyour words have been heard, ^ajand I have come because of your words. 13 ^akThe prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me ^altwenty-one days, but ^amMichael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia, 14 ^anand came to make you understand what is to happen to your people ^aoin the latter days. For ^apthe vision is for days yet to come.”

15 When he had spoken to me according to these words, ^aqI turned my face toward the ground ^arand was mute. 16 And behold, ^asone in the likeness of the children of man ^attouched 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 ^auI retain no strength. 17 How can my lord’s servant talk with my lord? For now no strength remains in me, and no breath is left in me.”

18 Again ^avone having the appearance of a man ^awtouched me and strengthened me. 19 And he said, ^ax“O man greatly loved, ^ayfear 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.” 20 Then he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? But now I will return to fight against the ^azprince of Persia; and when I go out, behold, the prince of ^baGreece will come. 21 But I will tell you ^bbwhat is inscribed in the book of truth: there is none who contends by my side against these except ^bcMichael, your prince.