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底格里斯河邊的異象

10 波斯居魯士第三年,有話指示那稱為伯提沙撒但以理。這話是確實的,指着大戰爭;但以理明白這話,明白這異象。

那時,我—但以理悲傷了三個七日; 美味我沒有吃,酒和肉沒有入我的口,也沒有用油抹我的身,直到滿了三個七日。

正月二十四日,我在大河,就是底格里斯河邊, 舉目觀看,看哪,有一人身穿細麻衣,腰束烏法的純金腰帶。 他的身體如水蒼玉,面貌如閃電,眼目如火把,手臂和腳如明亮的銅,說話的聲音像眾人的聲音。 我—但以理一人看見這異象,跟我一起的人沒有看見,卻有極大的戰兢落在他們身上,他們就逃跑躲避, 只剩下我一人。我看見這大異象就渾身無力,面容變色,毫無氣力。 我聽見他說話的聲音;一聽見他說話的聲音,我就沉睡,臉伏於地。

10 看哪,有一隻手摸我,使我膝蓋和手掌戰抖。 11 他對我說:「蒙愛的但以理啊,要思想我對你所說的話,只管站起來,因為我現在奉差遣來到你這裏。」他對我說這話,我就戰戰兢兢地站起來。 12 他說:「但以理啊,不要懼怕!因為自從第一日你立志要明白,又在你 神面前刻苦自己,你的話已蒙應允;我就是因你的話而來。 13 波斯國的領袖攔阻了我二十一天。看哪,天使長[a]中的一位米迦勒來幫助我,因為我被留在波斯諸王那裏。 14 現在我來,要使你明白你百姓日後必遭遇的事,因為這異象關乎未來的日子。」 15 他向我這樣說,我就臉面朝地,啞口無聲。 16 看哪,有一位形狀像人的,摸我的嘴唇,我就開口說話,向那站在我面前的說:「我主啊,因這異象使我感到劇痛,毫無氣力。 17 我主的僕人怎能跟我主說話呢?我現在渾身無力,毫無氣息。」

18 有一位形狀像人的再一次摸我,使我有力量。 19 他說:「蒙愛的人哪,不要懼怕,願你平安!你要剛強!要剛強![b]」他一對我說話,我就覺得有力量,說:「我主請說,因你使我有力量。」 20 他說:「你知道我為甚麼到你這裏來嗎?現在我要回去與波斯的領袖爭戰,我去了之後,看哪,希臘的領袖必來。 21 但我要將那記錄在真理之書上的話告訴你。除了你們的天使米迦勒之外,沒有人幫助我抵擋他們。」

Footnotes

  1. 10.13 「天使長」:原文是「領袖之首」。
  2. 10.19 「你要剛強!要剛強!」:有古卷是「你要剛強壯膽!」

底格里斯河边的异象

10 波斯王塞鲁士执政第三年,但以理,又名伯提沙撒,得到启示。这启示是真实的,是关于一场大争战的事。但以理通过异象明白了启示的意思。

那时,我但以理悲伤了三个星期, 期间没有吃过美味,没有尝过酒肉,没有抹过膏油。 一月二十四日,我站在底格里斯河边, 举目观看,见有一个人身穿细麻衣,腰束纯金的带子, 身体如碧玉,面貌如闪电,眼睛如火炬,四肢如明亮的铜,声音如众人的呼喊。 只有我但以理看见了这异象,跟我在一起的人都没有看见,但他们极其恐惧,纷纷逃匿, 只剩下我一人观看这奇异的景象。我浑身无力,脸色苍白,精疲力尽。 接着,我听见他说话的声音,一听见他的声音,我便俯伏在地上昏睡过去。 10 忽然有一只手轻拍我,扶我用膝和手掌支撑起身体。 11 他对我说:“倍受眷爱的但以理啊,要留心听我说,站起来吧,因为我是奉命到你这里来的。”他说完这话,我便战战兢兢地站起来。 12 他说:“但以理啊,不要怕,从你在上帝面前谦卑地恳求明白这异象的第一天,你的祷告已蒙垂听。我是来答复你的。 13 波斯国的守护神拦阻我二十一日。由于我滞留在波斯诸王那里,天使长米迦勒便来帮助我。 14 我来是要使你明白将来你同胞的遭遇,因为这异象是关于将来的事。” 15 他对我说话时,我低着头,说不出话。 16 后来,有一位样子像人的用手摸我的嘴唇,我便开口对站在我面前的说:“我主啊,因为这异象,我痛苦不堪,毫无气力。 17 仆人我怎能跟我主说话?我现在浑身无力,没有气息。”

18 于是,那位样子像人的再次摸我,使我有力量。 19 他对我说:“倍受眷爱的人啊,不要怕,愿你平安!要刚强勇敢。”我听到他的话,便有了力量,于是对他说:“我主啊,请说,因为你使我有了力量。” 20 他说:“你知道我为什么要到你这里来吗?现在我要回去与波斯的守护神争战。我离开后,希腊的守护神就会来。 21 除了你们的守护天使米迦勒以外,谁也不能帮助我抵挡他们。我来是要把记录在真理书上的事告诉你。

An Angel Appears to Daniel

10 [a] In the third[b] year of King Cyrus of Persia a message was revealed to Daniel (who was also called Belteshazzar). This message was true and concerned a great war.[c] He understood the message and gained insight by the vision.

In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three whole weeks.[d] I ate no choice food, no meat or wine came to my lips,[e] nor did I anoint myself with oil[f] until the end of those three weeks.

On the twenty-fourth day of the first month[g] I was beside the great river, the Tigris.[h] I looked up[i] and saw a[j] man[k] clothed in linen;[l] around his waist was a belt made of gold from Ufaz.[m] His body resembled yellow jasper,[n] and his face had an appearance like lightning. His eyes were like blazing torches;[o] his arms and feet had the gleam of polished bronze. His voice[p] thundered forth like the sound of a large crowd.

Only I, Daniel, saw the vision; the men who were with me did not see it.[q] On the contrary, they were overcome with fright[r] and ran away to hide. I alone was left to see this great vision. My strength drained from[s] me, and my vigor disappeared;[t] I was without energy.[u] I listened to his voice,[v] and as I did so[w] I fell into a trance-like sleep with my face to the ground. 10 Then[x] a hand touched me and set me on my hands and knees.[y] 11 He said to me, “Daniel, you are of great value.[z] Understand the words that I am about to[aa] speak to you. So stand up,[ab] for I have now been sent to you.” When he said this[ac] to me, I stood up shaking. 12 Then he said to me, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel, for from the very first day you applied your mind[ad] to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard. I have come in response to your words. 13 However, the prince of the kingdom of Persia was opposing me for twenty-one days. But[ae] Michael, one of the leading princes, came to help me, because I was left there[af] with the kings of Persia. 14 Now I have come to help you understand what will happen to your people in future days, for the vision pertains to days to come.”[ag]

15 While he was saying this to me,[ah] I was flat on[ai] the ground and unable to speak. 16 Then[aj] one who appeared to be a human being[ak] was touching my lips. I opened my mouth and started to speak, saying to the one who was standing before me, “Sir,[al] due to the vision, anxiety has gripped me and I have no strength. 17 How, sir, am I able to speak with you?[am] My strength is gone,[an] and I am breathless.” 18 Then the one who appeared to be a human being touched me again[ao] and strengthened me. 19 He said to me, “Don’t be afraid, you who are highly valued.[ap] Peace be to you! Be strong! Be really strong!” When he spoke to me, I was strengthened. I said, “Sir, you may speak now,[aq] for you have given me strength.” 20 He said, “Do you know why I have come to you?[ar] Now I am about to return to engage in battle with the prince of Persia. When I go, the prince of Greece is coming. 21 However, I will first tell you what is written in a dependable book.[as] (There is no one who strengthens me against these princes,[at] except Michael your[au] prince.

Footnotes

  1. Daniel 10:1 sn This chapter begins the final unit in the book of Daniel, consisting of chapters 10-12. The traditional chapter divisions to some extent obscure the relationship of these chapters.
  2. Daniel 10:1 tc The LXX has “first.” sn Cyrus’ third year would have been ca. 536 b.c. Daniel would have been approximately eighty-four years old at this time.
  3. Daniel 10:1 tn The meaning of the Hebrew word צָבָא (tsavaʾ) is uncertain in this context. The word most often refers to an army or warfare. It may also mean “hard service,” and many commentators take that to be the sense here (i.e., “the service was great”). The present translation assumes the reference to be to the spiritual conflicts described, for example, in 10:16-11:1.
  4. Daniel 10:2 tn Heb “three weeks of days.” The inclusion of “days” here and in v. 3 is perhaps intended to call attention to the fact that these weeks are very different in nature from those of chap. 9, which are “weeks of years.”
  5. Daniel 10:3 tn Heb “mouth.”
  6. Daniel 10:3 sn Anointing oneself with oil (usually olive oil) was a common OT practice due to the severity of the Middle Eastern sun (cf. Ps 121:6). It was also associated with rejoicing (e.g., Prov 27:9) and was therefore usually not practiced during a period of mourning.
  7. Daniel 10:4 sn The first month would be the month of Nisan, during which Passover was observed.
  8. Daniel 10:4 tn The Hebrew text has חִדָּקֶל (hiddaqel). “Tigris” appears here in the LXX, since it is the Greek name for this river. Elsewhere in the OT “the great river” refers to the Euphrates (e.g., Gen 15:18; Josh 1:4), leading some interpreters to think that a mistake is involved in using the expression to refer to the Tigris. But it is doubtful that the expression had such a fixed and limited usage. The Syriac, however, does render the word here by “Euphrates” (Syr. perat) in keeping with biblical usage elsewhere.
  9. Daniel 10:5 tn Heb “I lifted up my eyes.”
  10. Daniel 10:5 tn Heb “one.” The Hebrew numerical adjective is used here like an English indefinite article.
  11. Daniel 10:5 sn The identity of the messenger is not specifically disclosed. Presumably he is an unnamed angel. Some interpreters identify him as Gabriel, but there is no adequate reason for doing so.
  12. Daniel 10:5 tn The Hebrew word בַּדִּים (baddim) is a plural of extension. See GKC 396-97 §124.a, b, c and Joüon 2:500 §136.c.
  13. Daniel 10:5 tn The location of this place and even the exact form of the Hebrew name אוּפָז (ʾufaz) are uncertain. Apparently it was a source for pure gold. (See Jer 10:9.) The Hebrew word פָּז (paz, “refined gold” or “pure gold”) is more common in the OT than אוּפָז, and some scholars emend the text of Dan 10:5 to read this word. Cf. also “Ophir” (1 Kgs 9:28; Isa 13:12; Job 22:24; 28:16).
  14. Daniel 10:6 tn The Hebrew word translated “yellow jasper” is תַּרשִׁישׁ (tarshish); it appears to be a semiprecious stone, but its exact identity is somewhat uncertain. It may be the yellow jasper, although this is conjectural (cf. NAB, NIV “chrysolite”; NASB, NRSV “beryl”).
  15. Daniel 10:6 tn Heb “torches of fire.”
  16. Daniel 10:6 tn Heb “The sound of his words” (cf. v. 9).
  17. Daniel 10:7 tn Heb “the vision.”
  18. Daniel 10:7 tn Heb “great trembling fell on them.”
  19. Daniel 10:8 tn Heb “did not remain in.”
  20. Daniel 10:8 tn Heb “was changed upon me for ruin.”
  21. Daniel 10:8 tn Heb “strength.”
  22. Daniel 10:9 tc Heb “I heard the sound of his words.” These words are absent in the LXX and the Syriac.
  23. Daniel 10:9 tn Heb “as I listened to the sound of his words.”
  24. Daniel 10:10 tn Heb “Behold.”
  25. Daniel 10:10 tc Theodotion lacks “and the palms of my hands.”tn Heb “on my knees and the palms of my hands.”
  26. Daniel 10:11 tn Or “a treasured person”; KJV “a man greatly beloved”; NASB “man of high esteem.”
  27. Daniel 10:11 tn The Hebrew participle is often used, as here, to refer to the imminent future.
  28. Daniel 10:11 tn Heb “stand upon your standing.”
  29. Daniel 10:11 tn Heb “spoke this word.”
  30. Daniel 10:12 tn Heb “gave your heart.”
  31. Daniel 10:13 tn Heb “and behold.”
  32. Daniel 10:13 tc The Greek version of Theodotion reads “I left him [i.e., Michael] there,” and this is followed by a number of English translations (cf. NAB, NRSV, NLT).
  33. Daniel 10:14 tn Heb “days.”
  34. Daniel 10:15 tn Heb “speaking to me according to these words.”
  35. Daniel 10:15 tn Heb “I placed my face toward.”
  36. Daniel 10:16 tn Heb “Behold.”
  37. Daniel 10:16 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.”
  38. Daniel 10:16 tn Heb “my lord,” here a title of polite address (cf. v. 19).
  39. Daniel 10:17 tn Heb “How is the servant of this my lord able to speak with this my lord?”
  40. Daniel 10:17 tn Heb “does not stand.”
  41. Daniel 10:18 tn Heb “He added and touched me.” The construction is a verbal hendiadys.
  42. Daniel 10:19 tn Heb “treasured man.”
  43. Daniel 10:19 tn Heb “my lord may speak.”
  44. Daniel 10:20 sn The question is rhetorical, intended to encourage reflection on Daniel’s part.
  45. Daniel 10:21 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.
  46. Daniel 10:21 tn The word “princes” is supplied for clarity.
  47. Daniel 10:21 tn The pronoun is plural in Hebrew, suggesting that Michael is the angelic prince of Daniel and his people.