Daniel's Vision by the Tigris River
1 In the third year that Cyrus was emperor of Persia, a message was revealed to Daniel, who is also called Belteshazzar. The message was true but extremely hard to understand. It was explained to him in a vision.
2 At that time I was mourning for three weeks. 3 I did not eat any rich food or any meat, drink any wine, or comb my hair until the three weeks were past.
4 On the twenty-fourth day of the first month of the year I was standing on the bank of the mighty Tigris River. 5 I looked up and saw someone who was wearing linen clothes and a belt of fine gold. 6 His body shone like a jewel. His face was as bright as a flash of lightning, and his eyes blazed like fire. His arms and legs shone like polished bronze, and his voice sounded like the roar of a great crowd.
7 I was the only one who saw the vision. Those who were with me did not see anything, but they were terrified and ran and hid. 8 I was left there alone, watching this amazing vision. I had no strength left, and my face was so changed that no one could have recognized me. 9 When I heard his voice, I fell to the ground unconscious and lay there face downward. 10 Then a hand took hold of me and raised me to my hands and knees; I was still trembling.
11 The angel said to me, “Daniel, God loves you. Stand up and listen carefully to what I am going to say. I have been sent to you.” When he had said this, I stood up, still trembling.
12 Then he said, “Daniel, don't be afraid. God has heard your prayers ever since the first day you decided to humble yourself in order to gain understanding. I have come in answer to your prayer. 13 The angel prince of the kingdom of Persia opposed me for twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief angels, came to help me, because I had been left there alone in Persia. 14 I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the future. This is a vision about the future.”
15 When he said this, I stared at the ground, speechless. 16 Then the angel, who looked like a human being, reached out and touched my lips. I said to him, “Sir, this vision makes me so weak that I can't stop trembling. 17 I am like a slave standing before his master. How can I talk to you? I have no strength or breath left in me.”
18 Once more he took hold of me, and I felt stronger. 19 He said, “God loves you, so don't let anything worry you or frighten you.”
When he had said this, I felt even stronger and said, “Sir, tell me what you have to say. You have made me feel better.”
20-21 He said, “Do you know why I came to you? It is to reveal to you what is written in the Book of Truth. Now I have to go back and fight the guardian angel of Persia. After that the guardian angel of Greece will appear. There is no one to help me except Michael, Israel's guardian angel.
Tautas un to sargeņģeļi
1 Persijas ķēniņa Kīra trešajā valdīšanas gadā Daniēlam, kuru sauca arī par Bēltšacaru, tika atklāts vārds, un šis vārds bija patiesība – būs liels karš. Viņš saprata vārdu, un saprašana viņam nāca parādībā.
2 “Tad es, Daniēls, sēroju trīs nedēļas. 3 Es neēdu neko gardu, vīnam un gaļai pat nepieskāros, ar smaržu eļļu neziedos, līdz pagāja trīs nedēļas.
4 Pirmā mēneša divdesmit ceturtajā dienā es atrados pie lielās upes Hidekelas , 5 es skatījos, un redzi – kāds vīrs, tērpies linu drānās un apjozies ar tīra zelta jostu. 6 Viņa miesa bija kā no zeltaina topāza, viņa seja mirdzēja kā zibens, un viņa acis kā uguns lāpas, viņa rokas un kājas spīdēja kā spodrināts varš, un balss viņam – kā ļaužu pūlim. 7 Es, Daniēls, vienīgais redzēju šo parādību. Tie, kas bija ar mani, neko neredzēja, bet viņiem uznāca tik trakas bailes, ka tie bēga un paslēpās. 8 Es paliku viens un skatīju šo vareno parādību. Man zuda spēki, man noplaka spars, un es biju pilnīgi bez spēka. 9 Tad es dzirdēju viņu runājam, un, dzirdot viņa balsi, es kritu dziļā miegā – ar seju pie zemes.
10 Un, redzi, man pieskaras kāda roka! – man sāka drebēt rokas un ceļi. 11 Viņš teica: “Godātais Daniēl, apdomā, ko tev teikšu, un celies augšā, jo es esmu sūtīts pie tevis.” Kad viņš man to bija pateicis, es drebēdams cēlos augšā. 12 Viņš teica: “Nebīsties, Daniēl! Kopš pirmās dienas, kad tu nodevies ar prātu to saprast un zemojies savam Dievam, tavi vārdi tika uzklausīti, un tādēļ es nācu pie tevis, 13 bet divdesmit vienu dienu mani aizkavēja Persijas valsts varenais. Tad Mihaēls, viens no galvenajiem varenajiem, nāca man palīgā – ko es kavējos Persijas valstī. 14 Es atsteidzos tev paziņot, kas nākamā laikā notiks ar taviem ļaudīm, jo šī parādība ir par nākamo laiku.”
15 Kad viņš man to pateica, es nodūru acis un klusēju. 16 Tad šis, kurš bija līdzīgs cilvēka dēliem, pieskārās manām lūpām, un es atvēru muti un varēju runāt. Es sacīju tam, kurš stāvēja man priekšā: “Mans kungs, parādības brīdī mani pārņēma sāpes un es biju pilnīgi bez spēka – 17 kā lai nu es, mana kunga kalps, spēju runāt ar savu kungu? Es esmu bez spēka un bez elpas!”
18 Tad cilvēkam līdzīgais vēlreiz man pieskārās un stiprināja mani. 19 Viņš teica: “Nebīsties, godātais! Tev lai miers! Esi stiprs, pavisam stiprs!” Kamēr viņš ar mani runāja, es kļuvu arvien stiprāks un teicu: “Mans kungs, runā, jo tu mani stiprināji!” 20 Viņš teica: “Vai tu zini, kādēļ es atnācu pie tevis? Drīz es atgriezīšos cīnīties ar Persijas valsts vareno, un, kad būšu projām, atnāks joniešu varenais, 21 bet es tev stāstīšu, kas rakstīts Patiesības grāmatā. Un nav neviena, kas mani stiprina pret šiem, kā vien Mihaēls, jūsu varenais.
