⁵ Now if you obey me fully^(A) and keep my covenant,^(B) then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession.^(C) Although the whole earth^(D) is mine,

¹⁹ And when you look up to the sky and see the sun,^(A) the moon and the stars^(B)—all the heavenly array^(C)—do not be enticed^(D) into bowing down to them and worshiping^(E) things the Lord your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven. ²⁰ But as for you, the Lord took you and brought you out of the iron-smelting furnace,^(F) out of Egypt,^(G) to be the people of his inheritance,^(H) as you now are.

¹³ But the prince^(A) of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael,^(B) one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. ¹⁴ Now I have come to explain^(C) to you what will happen to your people in the future,^(D) for the vision concerns a time yet to come.^(E)”

¹⁵ While he was saying this to me, I bowed with my face toward the ground and was speechless.^{(F) 16} Then one who looked like a man^[a] touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and began to speak.^(G) I said to the one standing before me, “I am overcome with anguish^(H) because of the vision, my lord, and I feel very weak. ¹⁷ How can I, your servant, talk with you, my lord? My strength is gone and I can hardly breathe.”^(I)

¹⁸ Again the one who looked like a man touched^(J) me and gave me strength.^{(K) 19} “Do not be afraid, you who are highly esteemed,”^(L) he said. “Peace!^(M) Be strong now; be strong.”^(N)

When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Speak, my lord, since you have given me strength.”^(O)

²⁰ So he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? Soon I will return to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I go, the prince of Greece^(P) will come; ²¹ but first I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth.^(Q) (No one supports me against them except Michael,^(R) your prince.

The End Times

12 “At that time Michael,^(A) the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress^(B) such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book^(C)—will be delivered.^(D)