1 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a thing was revealed unto Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar; and the thing was true, but the time appointed was long: and he understood the thing, and had understanding of the vision. 2 In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks. 3 I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled. 4 And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel; 5 Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz: 6 His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude. 7 And I Daniel alone saw the vision: for the men that were with me saw not the vision; but a great quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves. 8 Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength. 9 Yet heard I the voice of his words: and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground.
10 ¶ And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands. 11 And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling. 12 Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. 13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia. 14 Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days. 15 And when he had spoken such words unto me, I set my face toward the ground, and I became dumb. 16 And, behold, one like the similitude of the sons of men touched my lips: then I opened my mouth, and spake, and said unto him that stood before me, O my lord, by the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I have retained no strength. 17 For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord? for as for me, straightway there remained no strength in me, neither is there breath left in me. 18 Then there came again and touched me one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me, 19 And said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me. 20 Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia shall come. 21 But I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince.
رؤيا دانيال على نهر دجلة
1 في السَّنةِ الثَّالثَةِ مِنْ عَهدِ كورَشَ مَلِكِ فارِسَ كُشِفَتْ كَلِمَةٌ لِدانيالَ المُسَمَّى بَلطَشاصَّرَ، والكَلِمَةُ حَقٌّ وفَهمُها في مُنتَهى الصُّعوبَةِ، وكانَ فَهمُه لها في الرُّؤيا.
2 «في تِلكَ الأيّامِ، أنا دانيالُ، نُحْتُ ثَلاثَةَ أسابـيعَ، 3 لا آكلُ طَعاما شَهيًّا، ولا يَدخُلُ فَمي لَحْمٌ ولا خمرٌ، ولا أتَطَيَّبُ بِطيـبٍ إلى أنْ تَمَّتِ الأسابـيعُ الثَّلاثَةُ. 4 وفي اليومِ الرَّابِـعِ والعِشرينَ مِنَ الشَّهرِ الأوَّلِ كُنتُ على جانِبِ النَّهرِ العظيمِ الّذي هوَ دِجلَةُ، 5 فرَفَعْتُ عيني ورَأيتُ فإذا بِرَجُلٍ لابِسٍ كَتَّانا، وعلى حقَوَيهِ حِزامٌ مِنْ ذهَبِ أوفارَ، 6 وجسمُهُ كالزَّبَرْجَدِ ووجهُهُ كمَرْأى البَرْقِ، وعيناهُ كمِشعَلَي نارٍ، وذِراعاهُ ورِجلاهُ كمَنظَرِ النُّحاسِ الصَّقيلِ، وصوتُ أقوالِهِ كصوتِ جُمهورٍ. 7 فرَأيتُ الرُّؤيا، أنا دانيالُ وحدي، والرِّجالُ الّذينَ كانوا معي لم يرَوا الرُّؤيا، ولكنْ وقَعَت علَيهِم رِعْدَةٌ عظيمَةٌ فهَرَبوا مُختَبِئينَ. 8 فبَقِـيتُ أنا وحدي أرى هذِهِ الرُّؤيا العظيمَةَ، فلم تَبْقَ فيَّ قوَّةٌ، وتحَوَّلَت نَضارَتي فيَّ إلى ذُبولٍ، وفَقَدْتُ كُلَّ عَزْمٍ. 9 ولمَّا سَمِعْتُ صوتَ أقوالِهِ وقَعْتُ على وجهي في نومٍ عميقٍ، ووجهي مُلتَصِقٌ بالأرضِ. 10 فإذا بِيَدٍ لمَسَتْني وأقامَتْني على رُكْبَتَيَّ وعلى كَفَّيْ يَدَيَّ.
11 «وقالَ لي: يا دانيالُ، أيُّها الرَّجلُ المحبوبُ، إِفْهَمِ الأقوالَ الّتي أُكلِّمُكَ بِها، وانْتَصِبْ واقِفا، فالآنَ أُرسِلْتُ إليكَ. فعِندَما كلَّمَني بِهذا الكلامِ وقَفْتُ مُرتَعِدا. 12 فقالَ لي: لا تَخَفْ يا دانيالُ، فَمِنْ أوَّلِ يومٍ وجَّهْتَ فيهِ قلبَكَ للفَهْمِ ولإذلالِ نفْسِكَ أمامَ إلهِكَ، سَمِعَ اللهُ كلامَكَ وجِئْتُ أنا لأِجلِ ذلِكَ. 13 ووقَفَ في وجهي رئيسُ مَملَكةِ فارِسَ واحدا وعِشرينَ يوما، فجاءَ لِنصْرَتي ميخائيلُ، رئيسُ رُؤساءِ الملائِكةِ، فلم أُبطِـئْ هُناكَ في مَملكَةِ فارِسَ، 14 وإنَّما جِئتُ لأُبَيِّنَ لكَ ما يَحدُثُ لِشعبِكَ في الأيّامِ الآتيَةِ، لأِنَّ الرُّؤيا هيَ لِتِلكَ الأيّامِ.
15 «وبَينَما هوَ يتَكلَّمُ معي بِمِثلِ هذا الكلامِ جعَلْتُ وجهي إلى الأرضِ مُتألِّما، 16 فإذا بِشِبهِ إنسانٍ لمَسَ شفَتَيَّ، ففَتَحْتُ فَمي وتكلَّمْتُ وقُلْتُ لِلواقِفِ أمامي يا سيِّدي إنَّهُ مِنَ الرُّؤيا قدِ انْقَلَبَ ما في داخِلي ولم يَعُدْ لي عَزْمٌ، 17 فكيفَ أقدِرُ، أنا عبدُكَ يا سيِّدي، أنْ أُكلِّمَكَ وما بقيَ فيَّ نسَمَةٌ؟»
18 «فعادَ الّذي يُشبِهُ هيئَةَ إنسانٍ فلَمَسَني وقوَّاني. 19 وقالَ: لا تَخَفْ أيُّها الرَّجلُ المحبوبُ، سلامٌ علَيكَ. تَقَوَّ وتشَدَّدْ. ولمَّا كلَّمَني تَقَوَّيتُ وقُلتُ: تكلَّمْ يا سيِّدي لأِنَّكَ قوَّيتَني. 20 فقالَ: سأرجِـعُ لأُحارِبَ رئيسَ مَملَكةِ فارسَ، وبَعدَ ذهابـي يَجيءُ رئيسُ اليونانِ. والآنَ أَعَلِمْتَ لماذا جِئْتُ إليكَ؟ 21 جِئْتُ لأُِخبِرَكَ بِما هوَ مَرسومٌ في كتابِ الحَقِّ، ولا أحدَ يُساعِدُني على تَحقيقِهِ إلاَّ ميخائيلُ رئيسُ رُؤساءِ المَلائِكةِ.