底格里斯河邊的異象
1波斯王塞魯士執政第三年，但以理，又名伯提沙撒，得到啟示。這啟示是真實的，是關於一場大爭戰的事。但以理通過異象明白了啟示的意思。
2那時，我但以理悲傷了三個星期， 3期間沒有吃過美味，沒有嚐過酒肉，沒有抹過膏油。 4一月二十四日，我站在底格里斯河邊， 5舉目觀看，見有一個人身穿細麻衣，腰束純金的帶子， 6身體如碧玉，面貌如閃電，眼睛如火炬，四肢如明亮的銅，聲音如眾人的呼喊。 7只有我但以理看見了這異象，跟我在一起的人都沒有看見，但他們極其恐懼，紛紛逃匿， 8只剩下我一人觀看這奇異的景象。我渾身無力，臉色蒼白，精疲力盡。 9接著，我聽見他說話的聲音，一聽見他的聲音，我便俯伏在地上昏睡過去。 10忽然有一隻手輕拍我，扶我用膝和手掌支撐起身體。 11他對我說：「倍受眷愛的但以理啊，要留心聽我說，站起來吧，因為我是奉命到你這裡來的。」他說完這話，我便戰戰兢兢地站起來。 12他說：「但以理啊，不要怕，從你在上帝面前謙卑地懇求明白這異象的第一天，你的禱告已蒙垂聽。我是來答覆你的。 13波斯國的守護神攔阻我二十一日。由於我滯留在波斯諸王那裡，天使長米迦勒便來幫助我。 14我來是要使你明白將來你同胞的遭遇，因為這異象是關於將來的事。」 15他對我說話時，我低著頭，說不出話。 16後來，有一位樣子像人的用手摸我的嘴唇，我便開口對站在我面前的說：「我主啊，因為這異象，我痛苦不堪，毫無氣力。 17僕人我怎能跟我主說話？我現在渾身無力，沒有氣息。」
18於是，那位樣子像人的再次摸我，使我有力量。 19他對我說：「倍受眷愛的人啊，不要怕，願你平安！要剛強勇敢。」我聽到他的話，便有了力量，於是對他說：「我主啊，請說，因為你使我有了力量。」 20他說：「你知道我為什麼要到你這裡來嗎？現在我要回去與波斯的守護神爭戰。我離開後，希臘的守護神就會來。 21除了你們的守護天使米迦勒以外，誰也不能幫助我抵擋他們。我來是要把記錄在真理書上的事告訴你。
Daniel’s Vision of a Man
1In 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.10:1 Or true and burdensome The understanding of the message came to him in a vision.
2At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks. 3I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over.
4On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river, the Tigris, 5I looked up and there before me was a man dressed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist. 6His 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.
7I, 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. 8So I was left alone, gazing at this great vision; I had no strength left, my face turned deathly pale and I was helpless. 9Then I heard him speaking, and as I listened to him, I fell into a deep sleep, my face to the ground.
10A hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. 11He 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.
12Then 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. 13But 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. 14Now 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.”
15While he was saying this to me, I bowed with my face toward the ground and was speechless. 16Then one who looked like a man10:16 Most manuscripts of the Masoretic Text; one manuscript of the Masoretic Text, Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint Then something that looked like a human hand 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. 17How can I, your servant, talk with you, my lord? My strength is gone and I can hardly breathe.”
18Again 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.”
20So 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; 21but first I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. (No one supports me against them except Michael, your prince.
