但以理书 5
Chinese New Version (Simplified)
伯沙撒王大宴群臣
5 伯沙撒王为他的一千大臣大摆筵席，他和他们一同喝酒。 2 伯沙撒喝酒欢畅的时候，下令把他先祖尼布甲尼撒从耶路撒冷圣殿里掠取的金银器皿拿来，好让他和他的大臣、妻妾、妃嫔用这些器皿来喝酒。 3 于是人把从耶路撒冷圣殿里，就是 神的殿里，掠来的金器皿拿来；王和他的大臣、妻妾、妃嫔就用这些器皿来喝酒。 4 他们喝酒，赞美那些用金、银、铜、铁、木、石所做的神。
指头在墙上写字
5 当时，忽然有人手的指头出现，在王宫里灯台对面的粉墙上写字；王看见了那只正在写字的手掌， 6 就脸色大变，心意惊惶，两脚无力，双膝彼此相碰。 7 王大声呼叫，吩咐人把那些用法术的和迦勒底人，以及占星家都领进来；王对巴比伦的智慧人说：“谁能读这文字，又能向我解释它的意思，他必身穿紫袍，颈戴金炼，在国中掌权，位列第三。” 8 于是王所有的智慧人都进来，却不能读那文字，也不能把意思向王说明。 9 伯沙撒王就非常惊惶，脸色大变；他的大臣也都不知所措。
太后举荐但以理
10 太后因王和他的大臣所说的话，就进入宴会的大厅，对王说：“愿王万岁！你的心意不要惊惶，也不要脸色大变。 11 在你国中有一个人，他里面有圣神的灵；你先祖在世的日子，发现这人有灼见，有聪明，有智慧，好象神的智慧一样。你先祖尼布甲尼撒王，就是王的先祖，曾立他为术士、用法术的，以及迦勒底人和占星家的领袖。 12 这都因为在这但以理里面有美好的灵性，有知识，有聪明，能解梦，释谜语，能解答难题；这人尼布甲尼撒王曾给他起名叫伯提沙撒。现在可以把但以理召来，他必能解释墙上文字的意思。”
13 于是但以理被带到王面前，王问但以理说：“你就是我先王从犹大掳来的犹大人但以理吗？ 14 我听说你里面有神的灵，有灼见，有聪明，有高超的智慧。 15 现在智慧人和用法术的都被带到我面前了，我要他们读这文字，把文字的意思向我说明，可是他们都不能解释这文字的意思。 16 我听说你能解释异梦，也能解答难题。现在你若能读这文字，把它的意思向我说明，就必身穿紫袍，颈戴金炼，在国中掌权，位列第三。”
但以理直言责王
17 但以理在王面前回答说：“你的礼物可以归你自己，你的赏赐可以归给别人；我却要为王读这文字，也要把意思向王说明。 18 王啊！至高的 神曾把国位、权势、光荣和威严赐给你先祖尼布甲尼撒。 19 因 神所赐给他的权势，各国、各族和说各种语言的人，都在他面前战兢恐惧；他要杀谁，就杀谁；要谁活着，谁就可以活着；要提升谁，就提升谁；要贬低谁，就贬低谁。 20 但他心高气傲、妄自尊大的时候，就从国位上被赶下来，他的尊荣也被夺去。 21 他被赶逐，离开人群，他的心变如兽心，他和野驴同住，像牛一样吃草，身体被天露滴湿；等到他承认至高的 神在世人的国中掌权，他喜欢谁，就立谁执掌国权。 22 伯沙撒啊！你是他的子孙，你虽然知道这一切，你的心仍不谦卑， 23 竟高抬自己，敌对天上的主，使人把他殿中的器皿拿到你面前来，你和你的大臣、妻妾、妃嫔用这些器皿喝酒；你又赞美那些不能看见、不能听见、甚么都不能知道，用金、银、铜、铁、木、石所做的神，却没有把荣耀归给那手中有你的气息，和那掌管你一切命途的 神。 24 因此，有手从 神那里伸出来，写了这文字。
解释墙上文字的意义
25 “所写的文字是：‘弥尼，弥尼，提客勒，乌法珥新。’ 26 这文字的意思是这样：‘弥尼’就是 神已数算了你国度的年日，使国终止； 27 ‘提客勒’就是你被称在天平上，显出你的缺欠； 28 ‘毘勒斯’（“毘勒斯”即“乌法珥新”的单数式）就是你的国要分裂，归给玛代人和波斯人。”
29 于是伯沙撒下令，人就把紫袍给但以理穿上，把金炼戴在他的颈上，又宣告他在国中掌权，位列第三。
伯沙撒王被杀而亡国
30 当夜，迦勒底人的王伯沙撒被杀。 31 玛代人大利乌夺取了迦勒底国；那时他六十二岁。（本节在《马索拉文本》为6:1）
Daniel 5
New Catholic Bible
Belshazzar’s Banquet[a]
Chapter 5
The Writing on the Wall. 1 King Belshazzar hosted a magnificent banquet for a thousand of his nobles, and he was drinking wine in their presence. 2 Under the influence of the wine, he gave orders that the gold and silver vessels that his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple in Jerusalem were to be brought in so that the king, his nobles, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them.
3 Therefore, the gold and silver vessels that had been removed from the temple, the house of God in Jerusalem, were brought in, and the king, his nobles, his wives, and his concubines drank from them. 4 They drank their wine and praised their gods of gold and silver, of bronze and iron, of wood and stone.
5 Suddenly, the fingers of a human hand appeared and began to write on the plaster of the wall of the royal palace next to the lampstand, and the king watched the hand as it wrote. 6 Then the king turned pale, and his thoughts terrified him. His legs grew limp, and his knees began to knock.
7 Then the king shouted aloud, ordering the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers to be brought in. When they entered, he addressed the wise men of Babylon and said, “Whoever can read this writing and tell me its interpretation shall be clothed in purple, wear a gold chain around his neck, and rank third in the government of the kingdom.”
8 However, none of the king’s wise men could either read the writing or explain to the king what it meant. 9 Then King Belshazzar became greatly terrified. His face grew even more pale, and his lords were in a state of confusion.
10 When the queen heard the commotion made by the king and his lords, she came into the banqueting hall and said, “May Your Majesty live forever. Do not let your thoughts terrify you. Why should you look so pale? 11 In your kingdom there is a man who has within him the Spirit of the holy God. During your father’s lifetime this man was renowned for his enlightenment, insight, and godlike wisdom, and to such a degree that King Nebuchadnezzar, your father, appointed him as chief of the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and diviners.
12 “Therefore, since this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar, has a keen mind, and is endowed with knowledge and understanding and the ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve difficult problems, summon him. He will be able to give you the interpretation you seek.”
13 Then Daniel was brought into the king’s presence. The king said to him, “Are you the Daniel who was one of the Jewish exiles that my father the king brought from Judah? 14 I have been told that the Spirit of God is in you, and that you are renowned for your knowledge, understanding, and exceptional wisdom.
15 “Now the wise men and the enchanters have been brought in to me to read this writing and reveal its meaning to me, but they have been unable to interpret it. 16 Yet I have been told that you can give interpretations and solve problems. If you are able to read this writing and make known its interpretation, you shall be clothed in purple, have a chain of gold around your neck, and rank third in the government of the kingdom.”
17 Daniel Explains the Writing. Then Daniel replied to the king, “Your Majesty, keep the gifts for yourself or give them to someone else. However, I will read the writing to Your Majesty and make known to you its interpretation.
18 “O king, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar a kingdom with power, glory, and majesty. 19 He made him so powerful that the nations and peoples of every language trembled with fear before him. He killed those whom he wished to kill; he spared those whom he wished to spare; he honored those whom he wished to honor, and he degraded those whom he wished to degrade.
20 “However, when his heart became filled with pride and his spirit became hardened with arrogance, he was deposed from his kingly throne and stripped of his glory. 21 He was banished from human society, and his mind became like that of an animal. He was forced to live with the wild asses, he fed on grass like oxen, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until he learned that the Most High God has sovereignty over the kingdom of men and appoints whomever he wishes to rule it.
22 “Even though you, Belshazzar, his son, were aware of all this, you did not humble your heart. 23 You have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven. You ordered the vessels of his temple to be brought to you, and you, your nobles, your wives, and your concubines have drunk your wine from them. You have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze and iron, of wood and stone, that neither see, nor hear, nor have intelligence. But you have not glorified the God in whose hands are your breath of life and the entire course of your life.
24 “That is why he sent the hand that wrote the inscription. 25 The words inscribed are Mene, Tekel, and Peres.[b] This is what the words mean:
26 “Mene: God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end.
27 “Tekel: you have been weighed on the scales and been found wanting.
28 “Peres: your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and Persians.”
29 Then, at Belshazzar’s command, Daniel was clothed in purple, with a gold chain around his neck, and a proclamation was made declaring that Daniel would rank third in the government of the kingdom.
30 On that very night Belshazzar, the king of the Chaldeans, was slain.
Footnotes
- Daniel 5:1 If there was a historical Belshazzar, he was the son of Nabonidus, not of Nebuchadnezzar; in any case, he was not given an opportunity to ascend the throne, but simply substituted for his father until Babylon fell in 539 B.C. under the blows of Cyrus the Persian, who had first subdued the Medes. The text speaks of Darius the Mede (6:1), but the only Dariuses known to history were all Persians. It is not a matter of concern that the author mixes up overly vague historical memories. His purpose is a different one: to denounce once more the human pride that claims the right to laugh at God. On the figure of Belshazzar are imposed the characteristics of Antiochus IV, who sacked temples, profaned things holy, and had himself worshiped as a god, while haughtily controlling the destiny of human beings (see 1 Mac 1:16-64; 6:1-5; 2 Mac 3:1-40; 5:11-20; 9:2).
- Daniel 5:25 The words of the inscription are names of weights or monies, allowing the play on words in the interpretation.
Daniel 5
Complete Jewish Bible
5 Belshatzar the king gave a great banquet for a thousand of his lords, and in the presence of the thousand he was drinking wine. 2 While tasting the wine, Belshatzar ordered that the gold and silver vessels which his father N’vukhadnetzar had removed from the temple in Yerushalayim be brought; so that the king, his lords, his wives and his concubines could drink from them. 3 So they brought the gold vessels which had been removed from the sanctuary of the house of God in Yerushalayim; and the king, his lords, his wives and his concubines drank from them. 4 They drank their wine and praised their gods made of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood and stone.
5 Suddenly, the fingers of a human hand appeared and began writing on the plaster of the palace wall by the lampstand. When the king saw the palm of the hand that was writing, 6 the king’s face took on a different look. As frightening thoughts rose up within him, his hip joints gave way and his knees started knocking together. 7 The king cried out to bring in the exorcists, astrologers and diviners. The king said to the sages of Bavel, “Whoever can read this inscription and tell me what it means will be dressed in royal purple, wear a gold chain around his neck and be one of the three men ruling the kingdom.” 8 But although all the king’s sages came in, none could read the inscription or tell the king what it meant. 9 Then King Belshatzar became terrified; his face turned pale, and his lords were thrown into confusion.
10 At this point the queen mother, because of what the king and his lords were saying, entered the banquet hall. The queen mother said, “May the king live forever! Don’t be scared by your thoughts or let your face be so pale. 11 There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the spirit of the holy gods. In the days of your father, he was found to have light, discernment and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods. King N’vukhadnetzar your father — the king, your father — made him chief of the magicians, exorcists, astrologers and diviners; 12 because he was found to have an extraordinary spirit, knowledge, discernment, and the ability to interpret dreams, unlock mysteries and solve knotty problems. He is called Dani’el, but the king gave him the name Belt’shatzar. Now have Dani’el summoned, and he will tell you what this means.”
13 Dani’el was brought into the king’s presence. The king said to Dani’el, “Are you Dani’el, one of the exiles from Y’hudah whom the king my father brought out of Y’hudah? 14 I’ve heard about you that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that you have been found to have light, discernment and extraordinary wisdom. 15 Now the sages, the exorcists, were brought in to me so that they could read this inscription and tell me what it means, but they couldn’t interpret it for me. 16 However, I’ve heard that you can give interpretations and solve knotty problems. Now if you can read the inscription and tell me what it means, you will be dressed in royal purple, wear a gold chain around your neck and be one of the three men ruling the kingdom.”
17 Dani’el answered the king, “Keep your gifts, and give your rewards to someone else. However, I will read the inscription to the king and tell him what it means. 18 Your majesty, the Most High God gave N’vukhadnetzar your father the kingdom, as well as greatness, glory and majesty. 19 Because of the greatness he gave him, all the peoples, nations and languages trembled with fear before him. Anyone he wanted to, he put to death; anyone he wanted to, he kept alive; anyone he wanted to, he advanced; and anyone he wanted to, he humbled. 20 But when he grew proud and his spirit became hard, he began treating people arrogantly, so he was deposed from his royal throne, and his glory was taken away from him. 21 He was driven from human society, his heart was made like that of an animal, he lived with the wild donkeys, he was fed with grass like an ox, and his body was drenched with dew from the sky; until he learned that the Most High God rules in the human kingdom and sets up over it whomever he pleases. 22 But, Belshatzar, you, his son, have not humbled your heart, even though you knew all this. 23 Instead, you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven by having them bring you the vessels from his house; and you and your lords, your wives and your concubines drank wine from them; then you offered praise to your gods of silver, gold, bronze, iron, wood and stone, which can’t see, hear or know anything. Meanwhile, God, who holds your very breath in his hands, and to whom belongs everything you do, you have not glorified. 24 This is why he sent the hand to write this inscription; 25 and the inscription says, ‘M’ne! M’ne! T’kel ufarsin.’ [a] 26 This is what it means: ‘M’ne!’ — God has counted up your kingdom and brought it to an end. 27 ‘T’kel’ — you are weighed on the balance-scale and come up short. 28 ‘P’res’ — your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and Persians.”
29 Then Belshatzar gave the order; and they clothed Dani’el in royal purple, put a gold chain around his neck and proclaimed of him that he was to be one of the three men ruling the kingdom.
30 That very night Belshatzar, the king of the Kasdim, was killed.
Footnotes
- Daniel 5:25 M’ne — a maneh was a coin; Aramaic mena means “to count.” T’kel is Aramaic for shekel, a unit of weight; Aramaic tekilta means “you are weighed.” P’res (an Aramaic noun, plural parsin), is half a maneh; p’ris means “cut up, divided”; Paras is Persia. (The “f” in ufarsin is the Aramaic letter peh, sometimes pronounced “p” and sometimes, “f.”)
Chinese New Version (CNV). Copyright © 1976, 1992, 1999, 2001, 2005 by Worldwide Bible Society.
Copyright © 1998 by David H. Stern. All rights reserved.