2. When this vision came to me, I, Daniel, had been in mourning for three whole weeks.
3. All that time I had eaten no rich food. No meat or wine crossed my lips, and I used no fragrant lotions until those three weeks had passed.
4. On April 23, as I was standing on the bank of the great Tigris River,
5. I looked up and saw a man dressed in linen clothing, with a belt of pure gold around his waist.
6. His body looked like a precious gem. His face flashed like lightning, and his eyes flamed like torches. His arms and feet shone like polished bronze, and his voice roared like a vast multitude of people.
7. Only I, Daniel, saw this vision. The men with me saw nothing, but they were suddenly terrified and ran away to hide.
8. So I was left there all alone to see this amazing vision. My strength left me, my face grew deathly pale, and I felt very weak.
9. Then I heard the man speak, and when I heard the sound of his voice, I fainted and lay there with my face to the ground.