Daniel 10 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.

In the third year of Cyrus, king of Persia, a message was revealed to Daniel (who had been given the name Belteshazzar). The message was true, and it concerned a great conflict. He understood the message — it came to him through a vision.

At that time, I, Daniel, had been mourning for three full weeks.

I ate no rich food, no meat or wine touched my lips, and I didn't use any oils on my skin for those entire three weeks.

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

I looked up, and there in front of me was a man dressed in linen, with a belt of pure gold from Uphaz wrapped around his waist.

His body gleamed like beryl, his face blazed like lightning, his eyes burned like flaming torches, his arms and legs shone like polished bronze, and his voice thundered like the roar of a massive crowd.

I, Daniel, was the only one who saw the vision. The men who were with me didn't see it, but a wave of terror hit them, and they ran and hid.

So I was left alone, staring at this overwhelming vision. All my strength drained out of me, my face went deathly pale, and I was completely helpless.

Then I heard the sound of his words, and as I listened, I collapsed face-down on the ground, unconscious.

Then a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees.

He said to me, "Daniel, you are deeply valued. Stand up and pay close attention to what I'm about to tell you, because I've been sent to you specifically." When he said this, I stood up, still shaking.

Then he said, "Don't be afraid, Daniel. From the very first day you set your mind to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words were heard. I've come because of what you said."

But the prince of the kingdom of Persia resisted me for twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I had been held up there with the kings of Persia.

"I've come to help you understand what will happen to your people in the days ahead. This vision is about what's still to come in the future."

While he was saying this to me, I bowed my face toward the ground and couldn't speak.

Then someone who looked like a human being touched my lips. I opened my mouth and started to speak. I said to the one standing in front of me, "My lord, this vision has overwhelmed me with anguish, and I have no strength left."

"How can someone like me even talk to someone like you, my lord? My strength is gone and I can barely breathe."

Then the one who looked like a human being touched me again and gave me strength.

He said, "Don't be afraid, you who are deeply valued. Peace to you. Be strong — be strong!" As he spoke to me, I felt my strength return. I said, "Speak, my lord, because you've given me strength."

Then he said, "Do you know why I've come to you? Soon I'll go back to fight against the prince of Persia, and after that, the prince of Greece will come."

"But first, I'll tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. No one stands with me against these forces except Michael, your prince."