Daniel 10:16-21

10:16 Then ¹  one who appeared to be a human being ²  was touching my lips. I opened my mouth and started to speak, saying to the one who was standing before me, “Sir, ³  due to the vision, anxiety has gripped me and I have no strength. 10:17 How, sir, am I able to speak with you? ⁴  My strength is gone, ⁵  and I am breathless.” 10:18 Then the one who appeared to be a human being touched me again ⁶  and strengthened me. 10:19 He said to me, “Don’t be afraid, you who are valued. ⁷  Peace be to you! Be strong! Be really strong!” When he spoke to me, I was strengthened. I said, “Sir, you may speak now, ⁸  for you have given me strength.” 10:20 He said, “Do you know why I have come to you? ⁹  Now I am about to return to engage in battle with the prince of Persia. When I go, the prince of Greece is coming. 10:21 However, I will first tell you what is written in a dependable book. ¹⁰  (There is no one who strengthens me against these princes, ¹¹  except Michael your ¹²  prince.

[10:16]  ¹ tn Heb “Behold.”

[10:16]  ² tc So most Hebrew MSS; one Hebrew MS along with the Dead Sea Scrolls and LXX read “something that looked like a man’s hand.”

[10:16]  ³ tn Heb “my lord,” here a title of polite address. Cf. v. 19.

[10:17]  ⁴ tn Heb “How is the servant of this my lord able to speak with this my lord?”

[10:17]  ⁵ tn Heb “does not stand.”

[10:18]  ⁶ tn Heb “He added and touched me.” The construction is a verbal hendiadys.

[10:19]  ⁷ tn Heb “treasured man.”

[10:19]  ⁸ tn Heb “my lord may speak.”

[10:20]  ⁹ sn The question is rhetorical, intended to encourage reflection on Daniel’s part.

[10:21]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “a book of truth.” Several English versions treat this as a title of some sort (cf. NIV, NCV, TEV, CEV, NLT), although the NAB’s rendering “the truthful book” regards “truth” as an attributive adjective, as does the present translation.

[10:21]  ¹¹ tn The word “princes” is supplied for clarity.

[10:21]  ¹² tn The pronoun is plural in Hebrew, suggesting that Michael is the angelic prince of Daniel and his people.