Daniel 10:12-21

10:12 Then he said to me, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel, for from the very first day you applied your mind ¹  to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard. I have come in response to your words. 10:13 However, the prince of the kingdom of Persia was opposing me for twenty-one days. But ²  Michael, one of the leading princes, came to help me, because I was left there ³  with the kings of Persia. 10:14 Now I have come to help you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision pertains to future days.”

10:15 While he was saying this to me, ⁴  I was flat on ⁵  the ground and unable to speak. 10:16 Then ⁶  one who appeared to be a human being ⁷  was touching my lips. I opened my mouth and started to speak, saying to the one who was standing before me, “Sir, ⁸  due to the vision, anxiety has gripped me and I have no strength. 10:17 How, sir, am I able to speak with you? ⁹  My strength is gone, ¹⁰  and I am breathless.” 10:18 Then the one who appeared to be a human being touched me again ¹¹  and strengthened me. 10:19 He said to me, “Don’t be afraid, you who are valued. ¹²  Peace be to you! Be strong! Be really strong!” When he spoke to me, I was strengthened. I said, “Sir, you may speak now, ¹³  for you have given me strength.” 10:20 He said, “Do you know why I have come to you? ¹⁴  Now I am about to return to engage in battle with the prince of Persia. When I go, the prince of Greece is coming. 10:21 However, I will first tell you what is written in a dependable book. ¹⁵  (There is no one who strengthens me against these princes, ¹⁶  except Michael your ¹⁷  prince.

¹ tn Heb “gave your heart.”

² tn Heb “and behold.”

³ tc The Greek version of Theodotion reads “I left him [i.e., Michael] there,” and this is followed by a number of English translations (cf. NAB, NRSV, NLT).

⁴ tn Heb “speaking to me according to these words.”

⁵ tn Heb “I placed my face toward.”

⁶ tn Heb “Behold.”

⁷ tc So most Hebrew MSS; one Hebrew MS along with the Dead Sea Scrolls and LXX read “something that looked like a man’s hand.”

⁸ tn Heb “my lord,” here a title of polite address. Cf. v. 19.

⁹ tn Heb “How is the servant of this my lord able to speak with this my lord?”

¹⁰ tn Heb “does not stand.”

¹¹ tn Heb “He added and touched me.” The construction is a verbal hendiadys.

¹² tn Heb “treasured man.”

¹³ tn Heb “my lord may speak.”

¹⁴ sn The question is rhetorical, intended to encourage reflection on Daniel’s part.

¹⁵ tn Heb “a book of truth.” Several English versions treat this as a title of some sort (cf. NIV, NCV, TEV, CEV, NLT), although the NAB’s rendering “the truthful book” regards “truth” as an attributive adjective, as does the present translation.

¹⁶ tn The word “princes” is supplied for clarity.

¹⁷ tn The pronoun is plural in Hebrew, suggesting that Michael is the angelic prince of Daniel and his people.