1 It was the third year that Cyrus, the king of Persia, ruled over Babylonia. At that time I was living in Babylon. There the people called me Belteshazzar. A message came to me from God. It was true. It was about a great war. I had a vision that showed me what it meant.
2 At that time I was very sad for three weeks.
3 I didn't eat any rich food. No meat or wine touched my lips. I didn't use any lotions at all until the three weeks were over.
4 I was standing on the bank of the great Tigris River. It was the 24th day of the first month.
5 I looked up and saw a man who was dressed in linen clothes. A belt that was made out of the finest gold was around his waist.
6 His body gleamed like chrysolite. His face shone like lightning. His eyes were like flaming torches. His arms and legs were as bright as polished bronze. And his voice was like the sound of a large crowd.