1. In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, a message was revealed to Daniel, who was named Belteshazzar. The message was true and was about a great conflict. He understood the message and had understanding of the vision.
2. In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three full weeks.
3. I didn’t eat any rich food, no meat or wine entered my mouth, and I didn’t put any oil on my body until the three weeks were over.
4. On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river, the Tigris,
5. I looked up, and there was a man dressed in linen, with a belt of gold from Uphaz around his waist.
6. His body was like topaz, his face like the brilliance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and feet like the gleam of polished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude.
7. Only I, Daniel, saw the vision. The men who were with me did not see it, but a great terror fell on them, and they ran and hid.
8. I was left alone, looking at this great vision. No strength was left in me; my face grew deathly pale, and I was powerless.
9. I heard the words he said, and when I heard them I fell into a deep sleep, with my face to the ground.