墙上写字

伯沙撒王盛宴款待一千大臣,与他们一同饮酒。 王畅饮的时候,命人将先王尼布甲尼撒从耶路撒冷圣殿中掳来的金银器皿拿来,供他与大臣、王后和妃嫔用来饮酒。 于是,他们把从耶路撒冷上帝殿中掳来的金器拿来,王与大臣、王后和妃嫔便用这些器皿饮酒。 他们一边饮酒,一边颂赞金、银、铜、铁、木、石所造的神明。

突然,有人手的指头出现,在灯台对面王宫的粉墙上写字。王看见那只手在写字, 脸色骤变,惊恐万分,两腿发软,双膝颤抖。 他大声传令,召来巫师、占星家和占卜者,对这些巴比伦的智者说:“谁能读墙上的字,把意思告诉我,他必身穿紫袍,颈戴金链,在国中位居第三。” 王所有的智者进来后,竟无人能读懂或把意思告诉王。 伯沙撒王愈发恐惧,脸色苍白,他的大臣都不知所措。

10 太后听到王和大臣的喊声,便来到宴会厅,对王说:“愿王万岁!不要惊慌失色。 11 你国中有一个人,他有圣洁神明的灵。先王在世时,曾发现他有神明一样的灼见、悟性和智慧。先王尼布甲尼撒立他为术士、巫师、占星家和占卜者的首领。 12 他有非凡的心智、知识和悟性,能解梦、释谜、解惑。他叫但以理,先王给他取名叫伯提沙撒。现在可以把他召来,他必能解释这些字的意思。”

13 于是,但以理被带到王面前。王问他:“你就是先王从犹大掳来的但以理吗? 14 我听说你有神明的灵,有灼见、悟性和非凡的智慧。 15 我召智者和巫师来读这些字,为我解释字的意思,但他们都不能解释。 16 我听说你能释梦、解惑。你若能读出墙上的字,把意思告诉我,你必身穿紫袍、颈戴金链,在我的国中位居第三。”

17 但以理回答说:“你的礼物自己留着,你的赏赐可以给别人,不过我会为你读这些字,解释意思。 18 王啊,至高的上帝曾将国位、权力、尊荣、威严赐给你的先王尼布甲尼撒, 19 因为他有上帝所赐的大权,各族、各邦、各语种的人都在他面前战抖,充满恐惧。他操生杀大权,可随意擢升、罢黜。 20 但他变得心高气傲、刚愎自用、狂妄自大,因而被革除王位、剥去尊荣。 21 他从人群中被赶走,他的心变成兽心,他与野驴同住,像牛一样吃草,被天上的露水浸湿,直到他知道至高的上帝主宰世上万国,祂要把国赐给谁就赐给谁。

22 “伯沙撒啊,你是他的后裔,你虽然知道这一切事,仍不谦卑, 23 竟在天上的主面前自大,命人拿来祂殿里的器皿,供你和大臣、王后、妃嫔用来饮酒,并颂赞不能看、不能听、一无所知、用金、银、铜、铁、木、石所造的神明,却不尊崇赐你生命气息、掌管你一举一动的上帝。

24 “因此,上帝使指头出现,写下这些字, 25 就是‘弥尼,弥尼,提客勒,乌法珥新’。 26 这些字的意思是这样,弥尼——指上帝已经数算你国度的年日,使之到此为止; 27 提客勒——指你已经被放在秤上称了,发现分量不够; 28 乌法珥新[a]——指你的国要分裂,归给玛代人和波斯人。”

29 于是,伯沙撒下令给但以理穿上紫袍,戴上金项链,又宣告他在国中位居第三。 30 当夜,迦勒底王伯沙撒被杀。 31 玛代人大流士六十二岁时夺取了王权。

Footnotes

  1. 5:28 乌法珥新”亚兰文是“毗勒斯”,即“乌法珥新”的单数格式。

La escritura en la pared

El rey Belsasar ofreció un gran banquete a mil miembros de la nobleza, y bebió vino con ellos hasta emborracharse. 2-3 Mientras brindaban, Belsasar mandó que le trajeran las copas de oro y de plata que Nabucodonosor, su padre, había tomado del templo de Jerusalén. Y así se hizo. Le llevaron las copas, y en ellas bebieron el rey y sus nobles, junto con sus esposas y concubinas. Ya borrachos, se deshacían en alabanzas a los dioses de oro, plata, bronce, hierro, madera y piedra.

En ese momento, en la sala del palacio apareció una mano que, a la luz de las lámparas, escribía con el dedo sobre la parte blanca de la pared. Mientras el rey observaba la mano que escribía, el rostro le palideció del susto, las rodillas comenzaron a temblarle y apenas podía sostenerse. Mandó entonces que vinieran los hechiceros, astrólogos y adivinos, y a estos sabios babilonios les dijo:

―Al que lea lo que allí está escrito, y me diga lo que significa, lo vestiré de púrpura, le pondré una cadena de oro en el cuello y lo nombraré tercer gobernante del reino.

Todos los sabios del reino se presentaron, pero no pudieron descifrar lo escrito ni decirle al rey lo que significaba. Esto hizo que el rey Belsasar se asustara y palideciera más todavía. Los nobles, por su parte, se hallaban confundidos.

10 Al oír el alboroto que hacían el rey y sus nobles, la reina misma entró en la sala del banquete y exclamó:

―¡Que viva el rey para siempre! ¡Y no se alarme ni se ponga pálido! 11 En tu reino hay un hombre en quien reposa el espíritu de los santos dioses. Cuando vivía el rey Nabucodonosor, tu padre, se halló que ese hombre poseía sabiduría, inteligencia y gran percepción, semejantes a las de los dioses. Tu padre llegó a nombrar a ese hombre jefe de los magos, hechiceros, astrólogos y adivinos. 12 Y es que ese hombre tiene una mente aguda, amplios conocimientos, e inteligencia y capacidad para interpretar sueños, explicar misterios y resolver problemas difíciles. Llama a ese hombre, y él te dirá lo que significa ese escrito. Se llama Daniel, aunque tu padre le puso por nombre Beltsasar.

13 Daniel fue llevado a la presencia del rey, y este le preguntó:

―¿Así que tú eres Daniel, uno de los exiliados que mi padre trajo de Judá? 14 Me han contado que en ti reposa el espíritu de los dioses, y que posees gran agudeza e inteligencia, y una sabiduría sorprendente. 15 Los sabios y hechiceros se presentaron ante mí para leer esta escritura y decirme lo que significa, pero no pudieron descifrarla. 16 Según me han dicho, tú puedes dar interpretaciones y resolver problemas difíciles. Si logras descifrar e interpretar lo que allí está escrito, te vestiré de púrpura, te pondré una cadena de oro en el cuello y te nombraré tercer gobernante del reino.

17 ―Puedes quedarte con tus regalos, rey, o dárselos a otro —le respondió Daniel—. Yo voy a leerte lo que está escrito en la pared, y te explicaré lo que significa.

18 »El Dios Altísimo dio al rey Nabucodonosor, tu padre, grandeza, gloria, majestad y esplendor. 19 Gracias a la autoridad que Dios le dio, ante él temblaban de miedo todos los pueblos, naciones y gente de toda lengua. A quien él quería matar, lo mandaba matar; a quien quería perdonar, lo perdonaba; si quería ascender a alguien, lo ascendía; y, si quería humillarlo, lo humillaba. 20 Pero, cuando su corazón se volvió arrogante y orgulloso, se le arrebató el trono real y se le despojó de su gloria; 21 fue apartado de la gente y recibió la mente de un animal; vivió entre los asnos salvajes y se alimentó con pasto como el ganado; ¡el rocío de la noche empapaba su cuerpo! Todo esto le sucedió hasta que reconoció que el Dios Altísimo es el Soberano de todos los reinos del mundo, y que se los entrega a quien él quiere.

22 »Sin embargo, y a pesar de saber todo esto, tú, hijo de Nabucodonosor, no te has humillado. 23 Por el contrario, te has opuesto al Dios del cielo mandando traer de su templo las copas para que bebáis en ellas tú y tus nobles, vuestras esposas y concubinas. Te has deshecho en alabanzas a los dioses de oro, plata, hierro, madera y piedra, dioses que no pueden ver ni oír ni entender; en cambio, no has honrado al Dios en cuyas manos se hallan tu vida y tus acciones. 24 Por eso Dios ha enviado esa mano a escribir 25 lo que allí aparece: Mene, Mene, Téquel, Parsin.

26 »Pues bien, esto es lo que significan esas palabras:

»Mene: Dios ha contado los días de tu reino, y les ha puesto un límite.

27 »Téquel: Has sido puesto en la balanza, y no pesas lo que deberías pesar.

28 »Parsin: Tu reino se ha dividido, y ha sido entregado a medos y persas».

29 Entonces Belsasar ordenó que se vistiera a Daniel de púrpura, que se le pusiera una cadena de oro en el cuello y que se le nombrara tercer gobernante del reino. 30 Esa misma noche fue asesinado Belsasar, rey de los babilonios, y Darío el Persa se apoderó del reino. 31 Para entonces, Darío tenía sesenta y dos años.

The Mysterious Writing on the Wall

Belshazzar the king made a great festival for a thousand of his lords,[a] and in the presence of[b] the thousand lords he was drinking wine.[c] When he tasted the wine,[d] Belshazzar commanded that they bring the vessels of gold and silver that Nebuchadnezzar his predecessor[e] had taken from the temple that was in Jerusalem, so that the king and his lords,[f] his wives and his concubines may drink from them. Then they brought in the vessels of gold that they took from the temple, the house of God that was in Jerusalem, and the king and his lords,[g] his wives and his concubines drank from them. They drank the wine and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood and stone.[h]

Immediately[i] human fingers[j] appeared and they wrote opposite[k] the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the palace of the king, and the king was watching[l] the palm of the hand that was writing. Then his face changed and his thoughts terrified him, and his hip joints gave way[m] and his knees knocked together.[n] The king cried aloud[o] to bring in the conjurers,[p] the astrologers[q] and the diviners; the king spoke[r] and said to the wise men of Babylon, “Any man that can read this writing and can tell me its explanation will be clothed in purple and will have a necklace of gold hung around his neck and he will rule as third in authority in the kingdom.” Then all the wise men of the king came in, but they were not able to read the writing or to make known its explanation.[s] Then the king, Belshazzar, became greatly terrified, and his facial features[t] changed upon him, and his lords[u] were perplexed.

10 Because of the words of the king and his lords,[v] the queen came into the banqueting hall[w] and the queen spoke up[x] and said, “O king, live forever,[y] and let not your thoughts terrify you and do not let your facial expressions grow pale.[z] 11 There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him.[aa] And in the days of your predecessor,[ab] enlightenment and insight and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods was found in him; and, O king, Nebuchadnezzar your predecessor[ac] appointed him as chief of the magicians,[ad] the conjurers,[ae] the astrologers,[af] and the diviners. Your predecessor[ag] the king did this 12 because[ah] there was found in him an excellent spirit and understanding and insight for interpreting dreams and explaining riddles and solving riddles; that is, in Daniel whom the king named[ai] Belteshazzar. Now, let Daniel be called and he will tell the explanation.”[aj]

Daniel Deciphers and Interprets the Writing

13 Then Daniel was brought in before the king, and the king spoke[ak] and said to Daniel, “You are Daniel who are one of the exiles[al] of Judah[am] whom my predecessor,[an] the king, brought from Judah.[ao] 14 And I have heard that a spirit of the gods is in you and enlightenment and insight and excellent wisdom was found in you. 15 And now the wise men and the conjurers[ap] were brought in before me so that they could read this writing in order to make its explanation[aq] known to me, but they were not able to disclose the explanation[ar] of the matter. 16 But I have heard concerning you that you are able to produce interpretations[as] and to solve riddles; now if you are able to read the writing and to make known its explanation[at] to me, you will be clothed in purple and a necklace of gold will be placed around your neck and you will rule as third in command in the kingdom.”

17 Then Daniel answered and said before the king, “Let your gifts be for yourself or your rewards give to another; nevertheless, I will read the writing to the king and I will make known to him the explanation.[au] 18 O king,[av] the Most High God gave the kingdom and the greatness and the glory and the majesty to Nebuchadnezzar your predecessor.[aw] 19 And because of the greatness that he gave to him, all the peoples, the nations and languages trembled and feared before him; whomever he wanted he killed, and whomever he wanted he let live, and whomever he wanted he honored, and whomever he wanted he humbled. 20 But when[ax] his heart became arrogant and his spirit became hard so as to act proudly, he was deposed from the throne of his kingdom and the[ay] glory was taken away from him.[az] 21 And he was driven away from human society[ba] and his mind was made like the animals[bb] and his dwelling was with the wild asses; and he was given[bc] grass like oxen to eat, and with[bd] the dew of heaven his body was bathed, until he acknowledged that the Most High God is sovereign over the kingdom of humankind, and whoever[be] he wants he sets over it.

22 “But you his successor,[bf] Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart even though[bg] you knew all this. 23 And now you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven, and the vessels of his temple you have brought in before you, and you and your lords,[bh] your wives and your concubines, have been drinking wine from[bi] them, and you have praised the gods of silver, gold, bronze, iron, wood, and stone[bj] that do not see and do not hear and do not know, but the God who holds your life in his hand[bk] and all of your ways come from him,[bl] you have not honored. 24 So then the palm of the hand was sent out from his presence and this writing was inscribed.

25 “Now this was the writing that was inscribed: ‘Mene, Mene, Tekel and Parsin.’

26 “This is the explanation of the matter:[bm] ‘Mene’—God has numbered your kingdom and brought an end to it.

27 “‘Tekel’—you have been weighed on scales and you have been found wanting.[bn]

28 “‘Peres’—your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and Persians.’”

29 Then Belshazzar commanded, and they clothed Daniel with purple and placed a necklace of gold around his neck, and they made a proclamation concerning him that he would be the third ruler in authority in the kingdom. 30 That same night[bo] Belshazzar, the Chaldean king, was killed. 31 [bp] And Darius the Mede received the kingdom when he was about sixty-two years old.[bq]

Footnotes

  1. Daniel 5:1 Or “nobles”
  2. Daniel 5:1 Literally “to over against”
  3. Daniel 5:1 Or “the wine”
  4. Daniel 5:2 Literally “At the taste of the wine”
  5. Daniel 5:2 Literally “father”
  6. Daniel 5:2 Or “nobles”
  7. Daniel 5:3 Or “nobles”
  8. Daniel 5:4 All these metals have the definite article that does not have to be translated into English to retain the meaning
  9. Daniel 5:5 Literally “In its the hour”
  10. Daniel 5:5 Literally “fingers of the hand of a man”
  11. Daniel 5:5 Literally “to over against”
  12. Daniel 5:5 Or “gazing at”
  13. Daniel 5:6 Literally “the limbs of his hip became loose”
  14. Daniel 5:6 Literally “his knees this to this they knocked together”
  15. Daniel 5:7 Literally “with strength”
  16. Daniel 5:7 Or “enchanters”
  17. Daniel 5:7 Literally “Chaldeans”
  18. Daniel 5:7 Literally “answered”
  19. Daniel 5:8 Aramaic “the explanation/ interpretation”
  20. Daniel 5:9 Literally “shining of his face”
  21. Daniel 5:9 Or “nobles”
  22. Daniel 5:10 Or “nobles”
  23. Daniel 5:10 Literally “the house of the drinking”
  24. Daniel 5:10 Literally “answered”
  25. Daniel 5:10 Literally “to eternity”
  26. Daniel 5:10 Literally “change”
  27. Daniel 5:11 Literally “who the spirit of holy gods is in him”
  28. Daniel 5:11 Literally “father”
  29. Daniel 5:11 Literally “father”
  30. Daniel 5:11 Or “soothsayer-priests”
  31. Daniel 5:11 Or “enchanters”
  32. Daniel 5:11 Literally “Chaldeans”
  33. Daniel 5:11 Literally “father”
  34. Daniel 5:12 Literally “all of because that”
  35. Daniel 5:12 Literally “whom the king gave his name”
  36. Daniel 5:12 Or “interpretation”
  37. Daniel 5:13 Literally “answered”
  38. Daniel 5:13 Literally “who from sons of the exile”
  39. Daniel 5:13 Aramaic “Jehud”
  40. Daniel 5:13 Literally “father”
  41. Daniel 5:13 Aramaic “Jehud”
  42. Daniel 5:15 Or “enchanters”
  43. Daniel 5:15 Or “interpretation”
  44. Daniel 5:15 Or “interpretation”
  45. Daniel 5:16 Literally “to interpret interpretations”
  46. Daniel 5:16 Or “interpretation”
  47. Daniel 5:17 Or “interpretation”
  48. Daniel 5:18 Literally “You, O king”
  49. Daniel 5:18 Literally “father”
  50. Daniel 5:20 Literally “as that”
  51. Daniel 5:20 Or “his”
  52. Daniel 5:20 Literally “they took away”
  53. Daniel 5:21 Literally “from the sons of the humankind”
  54. Daniel 5:21 Aramaic “with the animals”
  55. Daniel 5:21 Literally “they gave him”
  56. Daniel 5:21 Aramaic “from”
  57. Daniel 5:21 Literally “to from that”
  58. Daniel 5:22 Literally “son”
  59. Daniel 5:22 Literally “all of because that”
  60. Daniel 5:23 Or “nobles”
  61. Daniel 5:23 Aramaic “with”
  62. Daniel 5:23 All the materials in this list have the definite article that does not have to be translated into English
  63. Daniel 5:23 Literally “who your breath is in his hand”
  64. Daniel 5:23 Literally “belong to him”
  65. Daniel 5:26 Or “word, message”
  66. Daniel 5:27 Or “deficient”
  67. Daniel 5:30 Literally “In it, in the night”
  68. Daniel 5:31 Daniel 5:31–6:28 in the English Bible is 6:1–29 in the Hebrew Bible
  69. Daniel 5:31 Literally “when a son of sixty and two years”

The Writing on the Wall

King Belshazzar(A) gave a great banquet(B) for a thousand of his nobles(C) and drank wine with them. While Belshazzar was drinking(D) his wine, he gave orders to bring in the gold and silver goblets(E) that Nebuchadnezzar his father[a] had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines(F) might drink from them.(G) So they brought in the gold goblets that had been taken from the temple of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines drank from them. As they drank the wine, they praised the gods(H) of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone.(I)

Suddenly the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand in the royal palace. The king watched the hand as it wrote. His face turned pale(J) and he was so frightened(K) that his legs became weak(L) and his knees were knocking.(M)

The king summoned the enchanters,(N) astrologers[b](O) and diviners.(P) Then he said to these wise(Q) men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this writing and tells me what it means will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around his neck,(R) and he will be made the third(S) highest ruler in the kingdom.”(T)

Then all the king’s wise men(U) came in, but they could not read the writing or tell the king what it meant.(V) So King Belshazzar became even more terrified(W) and his face grew more pale. His nobles were baffled.

10 The queen,[c] hearing the voices of the king and his nobles, came into the banquet hall. “May the king live forever!”(X) she said. “Don’t be alarmed! Don’t look so pale! 11 There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods(Y) in him. In the time of your father he was found to have insight and intelligence and wisdom(Z) like that of the gods.(AA) Your father, King Nebuchadnezzar, appointed him chief of the magicians, enchanters, astrologers and diviners.(AB) 12 He did this because Daniel, whom the king called Belteshazzar,(AC) was found to have a keen mind and knowledge and understanding, and also the ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles(AD) and solve difficult problems.(AE) Call for Daniel, and he will tell you what the writing means.(AF)

13 So Daniel was brought before the king, and the king said to him, “Are you Daniel, one of the exiles my father the king brought from Judah?(AG) 14 I have heard that the spirit of the gods(AH) is in you and that you have insight, intelligence and outstanding wisdom.(AI) 15 The wise men and enchanters were brought before me to read this writing and tell me what it means, but they could not explain it.(AJ) 16 Now I have heard that you are able to give interpretations and to solve difficult problems.(AK) If you can read this writing and tell me what it means, you will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around your neck,(AL) and you will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.”(AM)

17 Then Daniel answered the king, “You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else.(AN) Nevertheless, I will read the writing for the king and tell him what it means.

18 “Your Majesty, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar(AO) sovereignty and greatness and glory and splendor.(AP) 19 Because of the high position he gave him, all the nations and peoples of every language dreaded and feared him. Those the king wanted to put to death, he put to death;(AQ) those he wanted to spare, he spared; those he wanted to promote, he promoted; and those he wanted to humble, he humbled.(AR) 20 But when his heart became arrogant and hardened with pride,(AS) he was deposed from his royal throne(AT) and stripped(AU) of his glory.(AV) 21 He was driven away from people and given the mind of an animal; he lived with the wild donkeys and ate grass like the ox; and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until he acknowledged that the Most High God is sovereign(AW) over all kingdoms on earth and sets over them anyone he wishes.(AX)

22 “But you, Belshazzar, his son,[d] have not humbled(AY) yourself, though you knew all this. 23 Instead, you have set yourself up against(AZ) the Lord of heaven. You had the goblets from his temple brought to you, and you and your nobles, your wives(BA) and your concubines drank wine from them. You praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand.(BB) But you did not honor the God who holds in his hand your life(BC) and all your ways.(BD) 24 Therefore he sent the hand that wrote the inscription.

25 “This is the inscription that was written:

mene, mene, tekel, parsin

26 “Here is what these words mean:

Mene[e]: God has numbered the days(BE) of your reign and brought it to an end.(BF)

27 Tekel[f]: You have been weighed on the scales(BG) and found wanting.(BH)

28 Peres[g]: Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes(BI) and Persians.”(BJ)

29 Then at Belshazzar’s command, Daniel was clothed in purple, a gold chain was placed around his neck,(BK) and he was proclaimed the third highest ruler in the kingdom.(BL)

30 That very night Belshazzar,(BM) king(BN) of the Babylonians,[h] was slain,(BO) 31 and Darius(BP) the Mede(BQ) took over the kingdom, at the age of sixty-two.[i]

Footnotes

  1. Daniel 5:2 Or ancestor; or predecessor; also in verses 11, 13 and 18
  2. Daniel 5:7 Or Chaldeans; also in verse 11
  3. Daniel 5:10 Or queen mother
  4. Daniel 5:22 Or descendant; or successor
  5. Daniel 5:26 Mene can mean numbered or mina (a unit of money).
  6. Daniel 5:27 Tekel can mean weighed or shekel.
  7. Daniel 5:28 Peres (the singular of Parsin) can mean divided or Persia or a half mina or a half shekel.
  8. Daniel 5:30 Or Chaldeans
  9. Daniel 5:31 In Aramaic texts this verse (5:31) is numbered 6:1.