Daniel 10:16-19

10:16 Then ¹  one who appeared to be a human being ²  was touching my lips. I opened my mouth and started to speak, saying to the one who was standing before me, “Sir, ³  due to the vision, anxiety has gripped me and I have no strength. 10:17 How, sir, am I able to speak with you? ⁴  My strength is gone, ⁵  and I am breathless.” 10:18 Then the one who appeared to be a human being touched me again ⁶  and strengthened me. 10:19 He said to me, “Don’t be afraid, you who are valued. ⁷  Peace be to you! Be strong! Be really strong!” When he spoke to me, I was strengthened. I said, “Sir, you may speak now, ⁸  for you have given me strength.”

¹ tn Heb “Behold.”

² 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.”

³ tn Heb “my lord,” here a title of polite address. Cf. v. 19.

⁴ tn Heb “How is the servant of this my lord able to speak with this my lord?”

⁵ tn Heb “does not stand.”

⁶ tn Heb “He added and touched me.” The construction is a verbal hendiadys.

⁷ tn Heb “treasured man.”

⁸ tn Heb “my lord may speak.”