Daniel 10

Bible in Basic English (BBE)

1 Ref In the third year of Cyrus, king of Persia, a secret was unfolded to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar; and the thing was true, even a hard work: and he had knowledge of it, and the vision was clear to him.

2 Ref In those days I, Daniel, gave myself up to grief for three full weeks.

3 Ref I had no pleasing food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, and I put no oil on my body till three full weeks were ended.

4 Ref And on the twenty-fourth day of the first month I was by the side of the great river;

5 Ref And lifting up my eyes I saw the form of a man clothed in a linen robe, and round him there was a band of gold, of the best gold:

6 Ref And his body was like the beryl, and his face had the look of a thunder-flame, and his eyes were like burning lights, and his arms and feet like the colour of polished brass, and the sound of his voice was like the sound of an army.

7 Ref And I, Daniel, was the only one who saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see it; but a great shaking came on them and they went in flight to take cover.

8 Ref So I was by myself, and I saw this great vision, and all my strength went from me; and the colour went from my face.

9 Ref But the sound of his words came to my ears, and on hearing his voice I went into a deep sleep with my face to the earth.

10 Ref Then a hand gave me a touch, awaking me, and putting me on my knees and my hands.

11 Ref And he said to me, O Daniel, you man dearly loved, take in the sense of the words I say to you and get up on to your feet: for to you I am now sent; and when he had said this to me I got on to my feet, shaking with fear.

12 Ref Then he said to me, Have no fear, Daniel; for from the first day when you gave your heart to getting wisdom and making yourself poor in spirit before your God, your words have come to his ears: and I have come because of your words.

13 Ref But the angel of the kingdom of Persia put himself against me for twenty-one days; but Michael, one of the chief angels, came to my help; and when I came he was still there with the angel of the kings of Persia.

14 Ref Now I have come to give you knowledge of the fate of your people in the later days; for there is still a vision for the days.

15 Ref And after he had said these words to me, I kept my face turned to the earth and was unable to say anything.

16 Ref Then one whose form was like the sons of men put his finger on my lips; and opening my mouth, I said to him who was before me, O my lord, because of the vision my pains have come on me, and I have no more strength.

17 Ref For how may this servant of my lord have talk with my lord? for, as for me, straight away my strength went from me and there was no breath in my body.

18 Ref Then again one having the form of a man put his hand on me and gave me strength. And he said to me, O man greatly loved, have no fear: peace be with you, be strong and let your heart be lifted up. And at his words I became strong, and said, Let my lord say on, for you have given me strength.

19 Ref Then he said, It is clear to you why I have come to you. And now I will give you an account of what is recorded in the true writings:

20 Ref But I am going back to make war with the angel of Persia, and when I am gone, the angel of Greece will come. And there is no one on my side against these, but Michael, your angel.

21 Ref []

Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 Ref In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, a thing is revealed to Daniel, whose name is called Belteshazzar, and the thing `is' true, and the warfare `is' great: and he hath understood the thing, and hath understanding about the appearance.

2 Ref `In those days, I, Daniel, have been mourning three weeks of days;

3 Ref desirable bread I have not eaten, and flesh and wine hath not come in unto my mouth, and I have not anointed myself at all, till the completion of three weeks of days.

4 Ref `And in the twenty and fourth day of the first month, I have been by the side of the great river, that `is' Hiddekel:

5 Ref and I lift up mine eyes, and look, and lo, a certain one clothed in linen, and his loins girt with pure gold of Uphaz,

6 Ref and his body as a beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet as the aspect of bright brass, and the voice of his words as the voice of a multitude.

7 Ref `And I have seen -- I, Daniel, by myself -- the appearance: and the men who have been with me have not seen the appearance, but a great trembling hath fallen on them, and they flee to be hidden;

8 Ref and I have been left by myself, and I see this great appearance, and there hath been no power left in me, and my honour hath been turned in me to corruption, yea, I have not retained power.

9 Ref `And I hear the voice of his words, and when I hear the voice of his words, then I have been in a trance on my face, and my face `is' to the earth;

10 Ref and lo, a hand hath come against me, and shaketh me on my knees and the palms of my hands.

11 Ref `And he saith unto me: Daniel, man greatly desired, attend to the words that I am speaking unto thee, and stand on thy station, for now I have been sent unto thee. `And when he speaketh with me this word, I have stood trembling.

12 Ref And he saith unto me: Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that thou didst give thy heart to understand, and to humble thyself before thy God, thy words have been heard, and I have come because of thy words.

13 Ref `And the head of the kingdom of Persia is standing over-against me twenty and one days, and lo, Michael, first of the chief heads, hath come in to help me, and I have remained there near the kings of Persia;

14 Ref and I have come to cause thee to understand that which doth happen to thy people in the latter end of the days, for yet the vision `is' after days.

15 Ref `And when he speaketh with me about these things, I have set my face toward the earth, and have been silent;

16 Ref and lo, as the manner of the sons of men, he is striking against my lips, and I open my mouth, and I speak, and say unto him who is standing over-against me: My lord, by the appearance turned have been my pangs against me, and I have retained no power.

17 Ref And how is the servant of this my lord able to speak with this my lord? as for me, henceforth there remaineth in me no power, yea, breath hath not been left in me.

18 Ref `And he addeth, and striketh against me, as the appearance of a man, and strengtheneth me,

19 Ref and he saith: Do not fear, O man greatly desired, peace to thee, be strong, yea, be strong; and when he speaketh with me, I have strengthened myself, and I say, Let my lord speak, for thou hast strengthened me.

20 Ref And he saith, Hast thou known why I have come unto thee? and now I turn back to fight with the head of Persia; yea, I am going forth, and lo, the head of Javan hath come;

21 Ref but I declare to thee that which is noted down in the Writing of Truth, and there is not one strengthening himself with me, concerning these, except Michael your head.

World English Bible (WEB)

1 Ref In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a thing was revealed to Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar; and the thing was true, even a great warfare: and he understood the thing, and had understanding of the vision.

2 Ref In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three whole weeks.

3 Ref I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine into my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, until three whole weeks were fulfilled.

4 Ref In the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel,

5 Ref I lifted up my eyes, and looked, and, behold, a man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with pure gold of Uphaz:

6 Ref his body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as flaming torches, and his arms and his feet like burnished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.

7 Ref I, Daniel, alone saw the vision; for the men who were with me didn't see the vision; but a great quaking fell on them, and they fled to hide themselves.

8 Ref So I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me; for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength.

9 Ref Yet heard I the voice of his words; and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I fallen into a deep sleep on my face, with my face toward the ground.

10 Ref Behold, a hand touched me, which set me on my knees and on the palms of my hands.

11 Ref He said to me, Daniel, you man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright; for to you am I now sent. When he had spoken this word to me, I stood trembling.

12 Ref Then said he to me, Don't be afraid, Daniel; for from the first day that you did set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard: and I am come for your words' sake.

13 Ref But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; but, behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me: and I remained there with the kings of Persia.

14 Ref Now I have come to make you understand what shall happen to your people in the latter days; for the vision is yet for [many] days:

15 Ref and when he had spoken to me according to these words, I set my face toward the ground, and was mute.

16 Ref Behold, one in the likeness of the sons of men touched my lips: then I opened my mouth, and spoke and said to him who stood before me, my lord, by reason of the vision my sorrows are turned on me, and I retain no strength.

17 Ref For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord? for as for me, immediately there remained no strength in me, neither was there breath left in me.

18 Ref Then there touched me again one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me.

19 Ref He said, "Greatly beloved man, don't be afraid: peace be to you, be strong, yes, be strong." When he spoke to me, I was strengthened, and said, "Let my lord speak; for you have strengthened me."

20 Ref Then he said, "Do you know why I have come to you? Now I will return to fight with the prince of Persia. When I go forth, behold, the prince of Greece shall come.

21 Ref But I will tell you that which is inscribed in the writing of truth: and there is none who holds with me against these, but Michael your prince."

Chapter 10 of 12

Begin Your Journey of Faith

We all start at different points in our walk with Christ. No matter where you are, we're here to support you as you grow in faith.

Accept Jesus Christ as Your Savior

If you haven’t made the decision to follow Jesus yet, we want to walk with you as you discover the new life He offers.

Read "A Truly Free Gift"

What Guides Our Walk With Christ

Discover the biblical truths and core beliefs that shape how we live, serve, and walk faithfully with Christ each day.

Explore Our Beliefs

Join a Community of Believers

Don’t walk through life alone. Find others to connect with, whether in person or online, and grow together in Christ.

Discover Where We Meet