1. During Cyrus’ third year as king of Persia, Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, received a vision about a great war. It was a true message that Daniel understood.
2. At that time I, Daniel, had been very sad for three weeks.
3. I did not eat any fancy food or meat, or drink any wine, or use any perfumed oil for three weeks.
4. On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, I was standing beside the great Tigris River.
5. While standing there, I looked up and saw a man dressed in linen clothes with a belt of fine gold wrapped around his waist.
6. His body was like shiny yellow quartz. His face was bright like lightning, and his eyes were like fire. His arms and legs were shiny like polished bronze, and his voice sounded like the roar of a crowd.
7. I, Daniel, was the only person who saw the vision. The men with me did not see it, because they were so frightened that they ran away and hid.
8. So I was left alone, watching this great vision. I lost my strength, my face turned white like a dead person, and I was helpless.