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Home > Bible > Daniel > Chapter 10
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Daniel Chapter 10

Daniel having humbled himself by fasting and penance sees a vision, with which he is much terrified; but he is comforted by an angel.

English (Douay-Rheims)

1 In the third year of Cyrus, king of the Persians, a word was revealed to Daniel, surnamed Baltassar, and a true word, and great strength: and he understood the word: for there is need of understanding in a vision. 2 In those days I, Daniel, mourned the days of three weeks. 3 I ate no desirable bread, and neither flesh, nor wine, entered into my mouth, neither was I anointed with ointment: till the days of three weeks were accomplished.

4 And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, I was by the great river, which is the Tigris. 5 And I lifted up my eyes, and I saw: and behold a man clothed in linen, and his loins were girded with the finest gold: 6 And his body was like the chrysolite, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as a burning lamp: and his arms, and all downward even to the feet, like in appearance to glittering brass: and the voice of his word like the voice of a multitude. 7 And I, Daniel alone, saw the vision: for the men that were with me saw it not: but an exceeding great terror fell upon them, and they fled away, and hid themselves. 8 And I, being left alone, saw this great vision: and there remained no strength in me, and the appearance of my countenance was changed in me, and I fainted away, and retained no strength. 9 And I heard the voice of his words: and when I heard I lay in a consternation upon my face, and my face was close to the ground. 10 And behold a hand touched me, and lifted me up upon my knees, and upon the joints of my hands. 11 And he said to me: Daniel, thou man of desires, understand the words that I speak to thee, and stand upright: for I am sent now to thee. And when he had said this word to me, I stood trembling. 12 And he said to me: Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thy heart to understand, to afflict thyself in the sight of thy God, thy words have been heard: and I am come for thy words. 13 But the prince of the kingdom of the Persians resisted me one and twenty days: and behold Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, and I remained there by the king of the Persians. The prince, etc... That is, the angel guardian of Persia: who according to his office, seeking the spiritual good of the Persians was desirous that many of the Jews should remain among them. 14 But I am come to teach thee what things shall befall thy people in the latter days, for as yet the vision is for days.

15 And when he was speaking such words to me, I cast down my countenance to the ground, and held my peace. 16 And behold as it were the likeness of a son of man touched my lips: then I opened my mouth and spoke, and said to him that stood before me: O my lord, at the sight of thee my joints are loosed, and no strength hath remained in me. 17 And how can the servant of my lord speak with my lord? for no strength remaineth in me; moreover, my breath is stopped. 18 Therefore, he that looked like a man, touched me again, and strengthened me. 19 And he said: Fear not, O man of desires, peace be to thee: take courage, and be strong. And when he spoke to me, I grew strong, and I said: Speak, O my lord, for thou hast strengthened me. 20 And he said: Dost thou know wherefore I am come to thee? And now I will return, to fight against the prince of the Persians. When I went forth, there appeared the prince of the Greeks coming. 21 But I will tell thee what is set down in the scripture of truth: and none is my helper in all these things, but Michael your prince. Michael your prince... The guardian general of the church of God.

Latin (Clementine Vulgate)

1 Anno tertio Cyri regis Persarum, verbum revelatum est Danieli cognomento Baltassar, et verbum verum, et fortitudo magna: intellexitque sermonem: intelligentia enim est opus in visione. 2 In diebus illis ego Daniel lugebam trium hebdomadarum diebus: 3 panem desiderabilem non comedi, et caro et vinum non introierunt in os meum, sed neque unguento unctus sum, donec complerentur trium hebdomadarum dies.

4 Die autem vigesima et quarta mensis primi, eram juxta fluvium magnum, qui est Tigris. 5 Et levavi oculos meos, et vidi: et ecce vir unus vestitus lineis, et renes ejus accincti auro obrizo: 6 et corpus ejus quasi chrysolithus, et facies ejus velut species fulguris, et oculi ejus ut lampas ardens: et brachia ejus, et quæ deorsum sunt usque ad pedes, quasi species æris candentis: et vox sermonum ejus ut vox multitudinis. 7 Vidi autem ego Daniel solus visionem: porro viri qui erant mecum non viderunt, sed terror nimius irruit super eos, et fugerunt in absconditum. 8 Ego autem relictus solus vidi visionem grandem hanc: et non remansit in me fortitudo, sed et species mea immutata est in me, et emarcui, nec habui quidquam virium. 9 Et audivi vocem sermonum ejus: et audiens jacebam consternatus super faciem meam, et vultus meus hærebat terræ. 10 Et ecce manus tetigit me, et erexit me super genua mea, et super articulos manuum mearum. 11 Et dixit ad me: Daniel vir desideriorum, intellige verba quæ ego loquor ad te, et sta in gradu tuo: nunc enim sum missus ad te. Cumque dixisset mihi sermonem istum, steti tremens. 12 Et ait ad me: Noli metuere, Daniel: quia ex die primo, quo posuisti cor tuum ad intelligendum ut te affligeres in conspectu Dei tui, exaudita sunt verba tua: et ego veni propter sermones tuos. 13 Princeps autem regni Persarum restitit mihi viginti et uno diebus: et ecce Michaël, unus de principibus primis, venit in adjutorium meum, et ego remansi ibi juxta regem Persarum. 14 Veni autem ut docerem te quæ ventura sunt populo tuo in novissimis diebus, quoniam adhuc visio in dies.

15 Cumque loqueretur mihi hujuscemodi verbis, dejeci vultum meum ad terram, et tacui. 16 Et ecce quasi similitudo filii hominis tetigit labia mea: et aperiens os meum locutus sum, et dixi ad eum, qui stabat contra me: Domine mi, in visione tua dissolutæ sunt compages meæ, et nihil in me remansit virium. 17 Et quomodo poterit servus domini mei loqui cum domino meo? nihil enim in me remansit virium, sed et halitus meus intercluditur. 18 Rursum ergo tetigit me quasi visio hominis, et confortavit me, 19 et dixit: Noli timere, vir desideriorum: pax tibi: confortare, et esto robustus. Cumque loqueretur mecum, convalui, et dixi: Loquere, domine mi, quia confortasti me. 20 Et ait: Numquid scis quare venerim ad te? et nunc revertar ut prælier adversum principem Persarum. Cum ego egrederer, apparuit princeps Græcorum veniens. 21 Verumtamen annuntiabo tibi quod expressum est in scriptura veritatis: et nemo est adjutor meus in omnibus his, nisi Michaël princeps vester.

Copyright © 2008 by Kevin Knight. Dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

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