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.
Maono Ya Danieli Kuhusu Mtu
110:1 Dan 1:7, 21; 8:26Katika mwaka wa tatu wa utawala wa Koreshi mfalme wa Uajemi, Danieli (ambaye aliitwa Belteshaza) alipewa ufunuo. Ujumbe wake ulikuwa kweli, nao ulihusu vita vikubwa. Ufahamu wa ujumbe ulimjia katika maono.
210:2 Ezr 9:4Wakati huo, mimi Danieli nikaomboleza kwa majuma matatu. 310:3 Dan 6:18Sikula chakula kizuri; nyama wala divai havikugusa midomo yangu; nami sikujipaka mafuta kamwe mpaka majuma matatu yalipotimia.
410:4 Mwa 2:14; Dan 2:15; 12:5Kwenye siku ya ishirini na nne ya mwezi wa kwanza, nilipokuwa nimesimama kwenye ukingo wa mto mkubwa Hidekeli,10:4 Hedekeli ndio Mto Tigrisi. 510:5 Ezr 9:2; Ufu 15:6; Yer 10:9; Dan 8:3nikatazama juu, na mbele yangu alikuwepo mtu aliyevaa mavazi ya kitani na mshipi wa dhahabu safi kutoka ufazi kiunoni mwake. 610:6 Mt 17:2; 28:3; Ay 41:19; 19:12; Ufu 19:12; 1:15; Kut 28:20; Eze 1:24Mwili wake ulikuwa kama kito cha zabarajadi safi, uso wake kama umeme wa radi, macho yake kama mwali wa moto, mikono yake na miguu yake kama mngʼao wa shaba iliyosuguliwa sana, nayo sauti yake kama ya umati mkubwa wa watu.
710:7 2Fal 6:17-20; Mdo 9:2Mimi Danieli, ni mimi peke yangu niliyeona hayo maono; watu waliokuwa pamoja nami hawakuyaona, lakini waligubikwa na hofu kuu, hata wakakimbia na kujificha. 810:8 Mwa 32:24; Ay 4:14; Dan 8:27; Hes 3:16; Ay 4:15; Hab 3:16Kwa hiyo niliachwa peke yangu, nikikodolea macho maono hayo makubwa; sikubakiwa na nguvu, na rangi ya uso wangu ikabadilika kama aliyekufa, nikakosa nguvu. 910:9 Dan 8:18; Mt 17:6; Wim 5:2Kisha nikamsikia akisema, nami nilipokuwa nikimsikiliza, nikalala kifudifudi, nikapatwa na usingizi mzito.
1010:10 Yer 1:9; Ufu 1:17Mkono ulinigusa, ukaninyanyua, na kuniweka nikipiga magoti na mikono yangu ikashika chini, huku nikiwa bado ninatetemeka. 11Akasema, “Danieli, wewe mtu upendwaye sana, fikiri kwa makini maneno ninayokwenda kunena nawe sasa; simama wima, kwa maana sasa nimetumwa kwako.” Naye aliponiambia haya, nikasimama nikitetemeka.
1210:12 Law 16:31; Dan 9:3, 20; Mt 14:27; Isa 65:24Ndipo akaendelea kusema, “Danieli, usiogope. Tangu siku ya kwanza ulipotia moyo wako ili kupata ufahamu na kujinyenyekeza mbele ya Mungu wako, maneno yako yalisikiwa, nami nimekuja ili kujibu maneno yako. 1310:13 Dan 12:1; Yud 9; Isa 24:21Lakini mkuu wa ufalme wa Uajemi alinipinga kwa siku ishirini na moja. Ndipo Mikaeli, mmoja wa malaika wakuu, alikuja kunisaidia, kwa sababu nilikuwa nimezuiliwa huko na mfalme wa Uajemi. 1410:14 Dan 9:22; 2:28; Hab 2:3; Dan 8:26; Eze 12:27Sasa nimekuja kukuelezea mambo yatakayowatokea watu wako wakati ujao, kwa maana maono hayo yanahusu wakati ambao haujaja bado.”
1510:15 Eze 24:27; Lk 1:20; Dan 8:18Alipokuwa akinielezea haya, nilisujudu uso wangu ukiwa umeelekea chini, nikawa bubu. 1610:16 Isa 6:7; 21:3; Yer 1:9; Dan 8:15-18Ndipo mmoja aliyeonekana kama mwanadamu akanigusa midomo yangu, nami nikafungua kinywa changu, nikaanza kunena. Nikamwambia yule aliyesimama mbele yangu, “Nimepatwa na huzuni kubwa kwa sababu ya maono haya, bwana wangu, nami nimeishiwa nguvu. 1710:17 Dan 4:19Bwana wangu, mimi mtumishi wako nitawezaje kuzungumza na wewe? Nguvu zangu zimeniishia hata ninashindwa kupumua.”
1810:18 Dan 8:18Tena yule aliyeonekana kama mwanadamu akanigusa na kunitia nguvu. 1910:19 Kut 14:13; Amu 6:23; Isa 35:4; 6:1-8; Yos 1:9; Rum 8:31; Dan 9:23Akasema, “Ee mtu upendwaye sana, usiogope. Amani iwe kwako! Uwe na nguvu sasa; jipe nguvu.”
Alipozungumza nami, nilipata nguvu, nikasema, “Nena, bwana wangu, kwa kuwa umenipa nguvu.”
2010:20 Dan 8:21; 11:2Kwa hiyo akasema, “Je, unajua kwa nini nimekujia? Sasa hivi nitarudi kupigana dhidi ya mkuu wa Uajemi, nami nikienda, mkuu wa Uyunani atakuja. 2110:21 Dan 11:2; Yud 9Lakini kwanza nitakuambia kile kilichoandikwa katika Kitabu cha Kweli. (Hakuna hata mmoja anayenisaidia dhidi yao isipokuwa Mikaeli, mkuu wenu.
