The Writing on the Wall

5 King Belshazzar^(A) gave a great banquet^(B) for a thousand of his nobles^(C) and drank wine with them. ² 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) 3} 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. ⁴ As they drank the wine, they praised the gods^(H) of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone.^(I)

⁵ 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. ⁶ His face turned pale^(J) and he was so frightened^(K) that his legs became weak^(L) and his knees were knocking.^(M)

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?^{(A) 14} I have heard that the spirit of the gods^(B) is in you and that you have insight, intelligence and outstanding wisdom.^{(C) 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.^{(D) 16} Now I have heard that you are able to give interpretations and to solve difficult problems.^(E) 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,^(F) and you will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.”^(G)

¹⁷ Then Daniel answered the king, “You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else.^(H) 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^(I) sovereignty and greatness and glory and splendor.^{(J) 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;^(K) those he wanted to spare, he spared; those he wanted to promote, he promoted; and those he wanted to humble, he humbled.^{(L) 20} But when his heart became arrogant and hardened with pride,^(M) he was deposed from his royal throne^(N) and stripped^(O) of his glory.^{(P) 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^(Q) over all kingdoms on earth and sets over them anyone he wishes.^(R)

²² “But you, Belshazzar, his son,^[a] have not humbled^(S) yourself, though you knew all this. ²³ Instead, you have set yourself up against^(T) the Lord of heaven. You had the goblets from his temple brought to you, and you and your nobles, your wives^(U) 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.^(V) But you did not honor the God who holds in his hand your life^(W) and all your ways.^{(X) 24} Therefore he sent the hand that wrote the inscription.

²⁵ “This is the inscription that was written:

²⁶ “Here is what these words mean:

Psalm 98

A psalm.

¹⁰ Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.^{(A) 11} There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.^(B)

¹² “But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. ¹³ And so you will bear testimony to me.^{(C) 14} But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves.^{(D) 15} For I will give you^(E) words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. ¹⁶ You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends,^(F) and they will put some of you to death. ¹⁷ Everyone will hate you because of me.^{(G) 18} But not a hair of your head will perish.^{(H) 19} Stand firm, and you will win life.^(I)