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Ang mga Sulat sa Pader

Minsan, si Haring Belsazar ay nagdaos ng malaking handaan para sa sanlibo niyang tagapamahala, at nakipag-inuman siya sa kanila. Nang lasing na si Haring Belsazar, ipinakuha niya ang mga sisidlang ginto at pilak na sinamsam ng ama niyang si Nebucadnezar sa Templo sa Jerusalem. Ipinakuha niya ang mga ito upang inuman niya at ng mga tagapamahala ng kaharian, ng kanyang mga asawa at mga asawang lingkod. Dinala naman sa bulwagang pinagdarausan ng handaan ang mga kagamitang ginto at pilak na sinamsam mula sa Templo ng Diyos sa Jerusalem, at ininuman nila ang mga ito. Habang sila'y nag-iinuman, pinupuri nila ang kanilang mga diyos na yari sa ginto, pilak, tanso, bakal, kahoy at bato.

Walang anu-ano'y lumitaw ang isang kamay ng tao at sumulat ito sa pader ng palasyo sa tapat ng lalagyan ng ilawan. Nakita ito ng hari, namutla siya, nangatog ang mga tuhod at nalugmok sa matinding takot. Sumigaw siya, “Dalhin dito ang mga enkantador, mga astrologo, at mga manghuhula.” Sinabi niya sa mga ito, “Sinumang makabasa at makapagpaliwanag sa nakasulat na ito ay bibihisan ko ng damit na kulay ube, kukuwintasan ko ng ginto, at gagawin kong ikatlo sa kapangyarihan sa buong kaharian.” Dumating lahat ang mga tagapayo ng hari ngunit isa ma'y walang makabasa o makapagpaliwanag sa kahulugan ng nakasulat sa pader. Lalong nabagabag at namutla ang hari. Litung-lito naman ang kanyang mga tagapamahala.

10 Ang inang reyna ni Haring Belsazar ay pumasok sa bulwagan nang marinig niya ang pag-uusap ng anak niyang hari at ng mga tagapamahala nito. Sinabi niya, “Mabuhay ang anak kong hari. Huwag kang mabagabag at mamutla sa takot. 11 Sa kaharian mo ay may isang taong kinakasihan ng espiritu ng mga banal na diyos. Noong panahon ng iyong amang si Nebucadnezar, nagpakita siya ng pambihirang katalinuhan, tulad ng katalinuhan ng mga diyos. Ang lalaking iyon ay hinirang noon ng iyong ama bilang pinuno ng mga salamangkero, mga enkantador, mga nakikipag-usap sa mga espiritu, at mga astrologo 12 dahil sa pambihira niyang talino sa pagpapaliwanag ng mga panaginip at ng mga palaisipan, at paglutas ng mabibigat na suliranin. Ang lalaking iyon ay si Daniel na tinawag ng hari na Beltesazar. Ipatawag mo siya at ipapaliwanag niya ito sa iyo.”

Ipinaliwanag ni Daniel ang Nakasulat sa Pader

13 Iniharap nga si Daniel sa hari. Sinabi nito kay Daniel, “Ikaw pala ang Daniel na kasama sa mga dinalang-bihag ng aking amang hari. 14 Nabalitaan kong sumasaiyo ang espiritu ng mga banal na diyos. Mayroon ka raw pambihirang talino at karunungan. 15 Ang sulat na ito ay ipinabasa ko na sa mga tagapayo at mga enkantador upang ipaliwanag sa akin, ngunit hindi nila ito nagawa. 16 Nabalitaan ko na marunong kang magpaliwanag ng mga panaginip at lumutas ng mga palaisipan. Ngayon, kung mababasa mo at maipapaliwanag ang sulat na ito, bibihisan kita ng damit na kulay ube, kukuwintasan kita ng ginto at gagawing ikatlo sa kapangyarihan sa aking kaharian.”

17 Sinabi ni Daniel sa hari, “Mahal na hari, huwag na po ninyo akong bigyan ng anuman; ibigay na lang po ninyo sa iba ang sinasabi ninyong gantimpala. Babasahin ko na lamang po at ipapaliwanag ang nakasulat.

18 “Mahal na hari, ang inyong amang si Nebucadnezar ay binigyan ng Kataas-taasang Diyos ng isang kaharian. Niloob ng Diyos na siya'y maging makapangyarihan at binigyan siya ng karangalan. 19 Dahil sa kapangyarihang iyon, lahat ng tao sa bawat bansa at wika ay nanginig at natakot sa harapan niya. Ipinapapatay niya ang gusto niyang ipapatay at inililigtas niya sa kamatayan ang nais niyang iligtas. Itinataas niya sa tungkulin ang gusto niyang itaas at ibinababâ naman ang gusto niyang ibaba. 20 Ngunit nang siya'y naging palalo, matigas ang ulo at pangahas, inalis siya sa pagiging hari at nawala ang kanyang karangalan. 21 Inihiwalay siya sa lipunan at nanirahang kasama ng maiilap na asno. Ang isip niya'y pinalitan ng isip ng hayop. Kumain siya ng damo, tulad ng mga baka. Sa labas siya natutulog at doo'y nababasa ng hamog. Ganyan ang kanyang kalagayan hanggang sa kilalanin niya na ang Kataas-taasang Diyos ang namamahala sa kaharian ng mga tao, at inilalagay niya sa trono ang sinumang nais niya.

22 “At bagaman alam ninyo ito, Haring Belsazar, hindi kayo nagpakumbaba. 23 Sa halip, nagmataas kayo sa harapan ng Panginoon ng kalangitan. Ipinakuha ninyo ang mga sisidlang mula sa kanyang Templo at ininuman ninyo at ng inyong mga tagapamahala, mga asawa at asawang lingkod. Bukod doon, sumamba kayo sa mga diyos ninyong yari sa ginto, pilak, tanso, bakal, kahoy at bato, mga diyos na hindi nakakakita, hindi nakakarinig ni nakakaunawa man. At ang Diyos na nagbibigay at nagtatakda ng inyong buhay ay hindi ninyo pinarangalan. 24 Kaya, ipinadala niya ang kamay na iyon at pinasulat sa dingding ng inyong palasyo.

25 “Ito ang nakasulat: Mene, Mene, Tekel, Parsin.[a] 26 Ito naman ang kahulugan: ‘Mene,’ nabibilang na ang araw ng iyong paghahari sapagkat wawakasan na ito ng Diyos. 27 ‘Tekel,’ tinimbang ka at napatunayang kulang. 28 ‘Peres,’ ang kaharian mo ay mahahati at ibibigay sa Media at Persia.”[b]

29 Iniutos ni Haring Belsazar na bihisan si Daniel ng damit na kulay ube at kuwintasan ng yari sa dalisay na ginto. Pagkatapos, ipinahayag niyang ito ang ikatlo sa kapangyarihan sa buong kaharian. 30 Nang gabi ring iyon, pinatay si Belsazar, ang hari ng Babilonia. 31 Ang kanyang kaharian ay kinuha ni Dario, hari ng Media na noo'y animnapu't dalawang taon na.

Footnotes

  1. Daniel 5:25 Mene, Mene, Tekel, Parsin: Sa literal ay Bilang, bilang, timbang, pagkakabahagi .
  2. Daniel 5:28 PERSIA: Sa wikang Aramaico, ang mga salitang “Persia” at “pagkakabahagi” ay magkasintunog.

Belshazzar’s Feast

King Belshaz′zar[a] made a great feast for a thousand of his lords, and drank wine in front of the thousand.

Belshaz′zar, when he tasted the wine, commanded that the vessels of gold and of silver which Nebuchadnez′zar his father had taken out of the temple in Jerusalem be brought, that the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them. Then they brought in the golden and silver vessels[b] which had been taken out of the temple, the house of God in Jerusalem; and the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines drank from them. They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.

The Writing on the Wall

Immediately the fingers of a man’s hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace, opposite the lampstand; and the king saw the hand as it wrote. Then the king’s color changed, and his thoughts alarmed him; his limbs gave way, and his knees knocked together. The king cried aloud to bring in the enchanters, the Chalde′ans, and the astrologers. The king said to the wise men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this writing, and shows me its interpretation, shall be clothed with purple, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.” Then all the king’s wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or make known to the king the interpretation. Then King Belshaz′zar was greatly alarmed, and his color changed; and his lords were perplexed.

10 The queen, because of the words of the king and his lords, came into the banqueting hall; and the queen said, “O king, live for ever! Let not your thoughts alarm you or your color change. 11 There is in your kingdom a man in whom is the spirit of the holy gods.[c] In the days of your father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, were found in him, and King Nebuchadnez′zar, your father, made him chief of the magicians, enchanters, Chalde′ans, and astrologers,[d] 12 because an excellent spirit, knowledge, and understanding to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve problems were found in this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshaz′zar. Now let Daniel be called, and he will show the interpretation.”

The Writing on the Wall Interpreted

13 Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king said to Daniel, “You are that Daniel, one of the exiles of Judah, whom the king my father brought from Judah. 14 I have heard of you that the spirit of the holy gods[e] is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you. 15 Now the wise men, the enchanters, have been brought in before me to read this writing and make known to me its interpretation; but they could not show the interpretation of the matter. 16 But I have heard that you can give interpretations and solve problems. Now if you can read the writing and make known to me its interpretation, you shall be clothed with purple, and have a chain of gold about your neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.”

17 Then Daniel answered before the king, “Let your gifts be for yourself, and give your rewards to another; nevertheless I will read the writing to the king and make known to him the interpretation. 18 O king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnez′zar your father kingship and greatness and glory and majesty; 19 and because of the greatness that he gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him; whom he would he slew, and whom he would he kept alive; whom he would he raised up, and whom he would he put down. 20 But when his heart was lifted up and his spirit was hardened so that he dealt proudly, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and his glory was taken from him; 21 he was driven from among men, and his mind was made like that of a beast, and his dwelling was with the wild asses; he was fed grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, until he knew that the Most High God rules the kingdom of men, and sets over it whom he will. 22 And you his son, Belshaz′zar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this, 23 but you have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven; and the vessels of his house have been brought in before you, and you and your lords, your wives, and your concubines have drunk wine from them; and you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see or hear or know, but the God in whose hand is your breath, and whose are all your ways, you have not honored.

24 “Then from his presence the hand was sent, and this writing was inscribed. 25 And this is the writing that was inscribed: mene, mene, tekel, and parsin. 26 This is the interpretation of the matter: mene, God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end; 27 tekel, you have been weighed in the balances and found wanting; 28 peres, your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.”

29 Then Belshaz′zar commanded, and Daniel was clothed with purple, a chain of gold was put about his neck, and proclamation was made concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.

30 That very night Belshaz′zar the Chalde′an king was slain. 31 And Darius the Mede[f] received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old.

Footnotes

  1. 5.1 Belshazzar: He was the son of Nabonidus and was never in fact king.
  2. Daniel 5:3 Theodotion Vg: Aramaic golden vessels
  3. Daniel 5:11 Or Spirit of the holy God
  4. Daniel 5:11 Aramaic repeats the king your father
  5. Daniel 5:14 Or Spirit of the holy God
  6. 5.31 Darius the Mede: Nothing is known in history of this person. The Persians, moreover, had already conquered the Medes before taking Babylon.

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.

Belshazzar’s Feast

Belshazzar the king [a]held a great (A)feast for one thousand of his nobles, and he was drinking wine in the presence of the thousand. When Belshazzar tasted the wine, he said to bring the gold and silver (B)vessels which Nebuchadnezzar his [b]father had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem, so that the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines might drink from them. Then they brought the gold vessels that had been taken out of the temple, the house of God which was in Jerusalem; and the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines drank from them. They (C)drank the wine and praised the gods of (D)gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone.

Suddenly the fingers of a man’s hand came out and began writing opposite the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace, and the king saw the [c]back of the hand that did the writing. Then the [d](E)splendor of the king’s face changed, and his thoughts alarmed him, and his (F)hip joints [e]went slack, and his (G)knees were knocking against each other. The king called out loudly to bring in the (H)conjurers, the [f]Chaldeans, and the diviners. The king answered and said to the wise men of Babylon, “Any man who can read this writing and declare its interpretation to me shall be (I)clothed with purple and have a (J)necklace of gold around his neck and rule with power as [g](K)third ruler in the kingdom.” Then all the king’s wise men came in, but (L)they could not read the writing or make known its interpretation to the king. Then King Belshazzar was greatly (M)alarmed, and the [h](N)splendor of his face changed further, and his nobles were perplexed.

10 The queen entered the banquet [i]hall because of the words of the king and his nobles; the queen answered and said, “(O)O king, live forever! Do not let your thoughts alarm you or the [j]splendor of your face be changed. 11 There is a (P)man in your kingdom in whom is [k]a (Q)spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of your father, illumination, insight, and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods were found in him. And King Nebuchadnezzar, your father, your father [l](R)the king, set him as chief of the [m]magicians, conjurers, [n]Chaldeans, and diviners. 12 This was because an (S)extraordinary spirit, knowledge and insight, interpretation of dreams, explanation of enigmas, and [o]solving of difficult problems were found in this Daniel, whom the king named (T)Belteshazzar. Let Daniel now be summoned, and he will declare the interpretation.”

Daniel Interprets the Writing on the Wall

13 Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king answered and said to Daniel, “Are you that Daniel who is one of the [p](U)exiles from Judah, whom my father the king (V)brought from Judah? 14 Now I have heard about you that [q]a spirit of the gods is in you, and that illumination, insight, and extraordinary wisdom have been found in you. 15 Just now the (W)wise men and the conjurers were brought in before me that they might read this writing and make its interpretation known to me, but they (X)could not declare the interpretation of the [r]message. 16 But I personally have heard about you, that you are able to give interpretations and [s]solve difficult problems. Now if you are able to read the writing and make its (Y)interpretation known to me, you will be (Z)clothed with purple and wear a necklace of gold around your neck, and you will rule with power as the [t]third ruler in the kingdom.”

17 Then Daniel answered and said before the king, “Let your (AA)gifts remain with you or give your rewards to someone else; however, I will read the writing to the king and make the interpretation known to him. 18 [u]O king, the (AB)Most High God (AC)granted the kingdom, (AD)grandeur, glory, and majesty to Nebuchadnezzar your father. 19 And because of the grandeur which He bestowed on him, all the peoples, nations, and men of every tongue feared and were in dread before him; (AE)whomever he wished he killed, and whomever he wished he kept alive, and whomever he wished he raised up, and whomever he wished he made low. 20 But when his heart was (AF)raised up and his spirit became so (AG)strong that he behaved arrogantly, he was (AH)deposed from his royal throne, and his glory was taken away from him. 21 He was also (AI)driven away from the sons of [v]men, and his heart was made like that of beasts, and his place of habitation was with the (AJ)wild donkeys. He was given grass to eat like cattle, and his body was drenched with the dew of the sky until he knew that the (AK)Most High God is the powerful ruler over the kingdom of mankind and that He sets up over it whomever He wishes. 22 Yet you, his [w]son, Belshazzar, have (AL)not made your heart lowly, [x]even though you knew all this, 23 but you have (AM)raised yourself up against the (AN)Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of His house before you, and you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines have been drinking wine from them; and you have praised the (AO)gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which do not see, hear, or know. But the God (AP)in whose hand are your life-breath and all your (AQ)ways, you have not honored. 24 Then the [y](AR)hand was sent from Him, and this writing was [z]inscribed.

25 “Now this is the writing that was [aa]inscribed: ‘[ab]MENĒ, [ac]MENĒ, [ad]TEKĒL, [ae]UPHARSIN.’ 26 This is the interpretation of the [af]message: ‘MENĒ’—God has numbered your kingdom and (AS)put an end to it. 27 ‘TEKĒL’—you have been (AT)weighed on the scales and found lacking. 28 ‘PERĒS’—your kingdom has been divided and given over to the (AU)Medes and [ag]Persians.”

29 Then Belshazzar said the word, and they (AV)clothed Daniel with purple and put a necklace of gold around his neck and issued a proclamation concerning him that he now would be the [ah]third powerful ruler in the kingdom.

30 That same night (AW)Belshazzar the Chaldean king was (AX)killed.

31 [ai]So (AY)Darius the Mede received the kingdom at about the age of sixty-two.

Footnotes

  1. Daniel 5:1 Lit made
  2. Daniel 5:2 Or forefather, so in ch
  3. Daniel 5:5 Or palm
  4. Daniel 5:6 Lit brightness changed for him
  5. Daniel 5:6 Lit became loosened
  6. Daniel 5:7 Or master astrologers
  7. Daniel 5:7 Or a triumvir
  8. Daniel 5:9 Lit brightness was changing upon him
  9. Daniel 5:10 Lit house
  10. Daniel 5:10 Lit brightness be changed
  11. Daniel 5:11 Or the Spirit of the holy God
  12. Daniel 5:11 Or O king
  13. Daniel 5:11 Or soothsayer priests
  14. Daniel 5:11 Or master astrologers
  15. Daniel 5:12 Lit loosening
  16. Daniel 5:13 Lit sons of the exile
  17. Daniel 5:14 Or possibly the Spirit of God
  18. Daniel 5:15 Lit word
  19. Daniel 5:16 Lit loosen
  20. Daniel 5:16 Or triumvir
  21. Daniel 5:18 Lit You, O king
  22. Daniel 5:21 Lit man
  23. Daniel 5:22 Or descendant
  24. Daniel 5:22 Lit inasmuch as you
  25. Daniel 5:24 Lit palm of the hand
  26. Daniel 5:24 Or signed, cf. 6:9-14
  27. Daniel 5:25 Or signed, cf. 6:9-14
  28. Daniel 5:25 Or a mina (50 shekels), from verb “to number”
  29. Daniel 5:25 Or a mina (50 shekels), from verb “to number”
  30. Daniel 5:25 Or a shekel, from verb “to weigh”
  31. Daniel 5:25 Or and half-shekels (sing: perēs), from verb “to divide”
  32. Daniel 5:26 Lit word
  33. Daniel 5:28 Aram: Pāras
  34. Daniel 5:29 Or triumvir
  35. Daniel 5:31 Ch 6:1 in Aram