12:1 “At that time Michael,
the great prince who watches over your people, 1
will arise. 2
There will be a time of distress
unlike any other from the nation’s beginning 3
up to that time.
But at that time your own people,
all those whose names are 4 found written in the book,
will escape.
1 tn Heb “stands over the sons of your people.”
2 tn Heb “will stand up.”
3 tn Or “from the beginning of a nation.”
4 tn The words “whose names are” are added in the translation for stylistic reasons and for clarification.
5 sn An allusion to Dan 12:3.
6 tn The translation “had better listen!” captures the force of the third person imperative more effectively than the traditional “let him hear,” which sounds more like a permissive than an imperative to the modern English reader. This was Jesus’ common expression to listen and heed carefully (cf. Matt 11:15, 13:9; Mark 4:9, 23; Luke 8:8, 14:35).
7 tn Grk “transform the body of our humility.”