但 以 理 書 5
Chinese Union Version (Simplified)
5 伯 沙 撒 王 为 他 的 一 千 大 臣 设 摆 盛 筵 ， 与 这 一 千 人 对 面 饮 酒 。
2 伯 沙 撒 欢 饮 之 间 ， 吩 咐 人 将 他 父 （ 或 译 ： 祖 ； 下 同 ） 尼 布 甲 尼 撒 从 耶 路 撒 冷 殿 中 所 掠 的 金 银 器 皿 拿 来 ， 王 与 大 臣 、 皇 后 、 妃 嫔 好 用 这 器 皿 饮 酒 。
3 於 是 他 们 把 耶 路 撒 冷 神 殿 库 房 中 所 掠 的 金 器 皿 拿 来 ， 王 和 大 臣 、 皇 后 、 妃 嫔 就 用 这 器 皿 饮 酒 。
4 他 们 饮 酒 ， 赞 美 金 、 银 、 铜 、 铁 、 木 、 石 所 造 的 神 。
5 当 时 ， 忽 有 人 的 指 头 显 出 ， 在 王 宫 与 灯 ? 相 对 的 粉 墙 上 写 字 。 王 看 见 写 字 的 指 头
6 就 变 了 脸 色 ， 心 意 惊 惶 ， 腰 骨 好 像 脱 节 ， 双 膝 彼 此 相 碰 ，
7 大 声 吩 咐 将 用 法 术 的 和 迦 勒 底 人 并 观 兆 的 领 进 来 ， 对 巴 比 伦 的 哲 士 说 ， 谁 能 读 这 文 字 ， 把 讲 解 告 诉 我 ， 他 必 身 穿 紫 袍 ， 项 带 金 炼 ， 在 我 国 中 位 列 第 三 。
8 於 是 王 的 一 切 哲 士 都 进 来 ， 却 不 能 读 那 文 字 ， 也 不 能 把 讲 解 告 诉 王 。
9 伯 沙 撒 王 就 甚 惊 惶 ， 脸 色 改 变 ， 他 的 大 臣 也 都 惊 奇 。
10 太 后 （ 或 译 ： 皇 后 ； 下 同 ） 因 王 和 他 大 臣 所 说 的 话 ， 就 进 入 宴 宫 ， 说 ： 愿 王 万 岁 ！ 你 心 意 不 要 惊 惶 ， 脸 面 不 要 变 色 。
11 在 你 国 中 有 一 人 ， 他 里 头 有 圣 神 的 灵 ， 你 父 在 世 的 日 子 ， 这 人 心 中 光 明 ， 又 有 聪 明 智 慧 ， 好 像 神 的 智 慧 。 你 父 尼 布 甲 尼 撒 王 ， 就 是 王 的 父 ， 立 他 为 术 士 、 用 法 术 的 ， 和 迦 勒 底 人 ， 并 观 兆 的 领 袖 。
12 在 他 里 头 有 美 好 的 灵 性 ， 又 有 知 识 聪 明 ， 能 圆 梦 ， 释 谜 语 ， 解 疑 惑 。 这 人 名 叫 但 以 理 ， 尼 布 甲 尼 撒 王 又 称 他 为 伯 提 沙 撒 ， 现 在 可 以 召 他 来 ， 他 必 解 明 这 意 思 。
13 但 以 理 就 被 领 到 王 前 。 王 问 但 以 理 说 ： 你 是 被 掳 之 犹 大 人 中 的 但 以 理 麽 ？ 就 是 我 父 王 从 犹 大 掳 来 的 麽 ？
14 我 听 说 你 里 头 有 神 的 灵 ， 心 中 光 明 ， 又 有 聪 明 和 美 好 的 智 慧 。
15 现 在 哲 士 和 用 法 术 的 都 领 到 我 面 前 ， 为 叫 他 们 读 这 文 字 ， 把 讲 解 告 诉 我 ， 无 奈 他 们 都 不 能 把 讲 解 说 出 来 。
16 我 听 说 你 善 於 讲 解 ， 能 解 疑 惑 ； 现 在 你 若 能 读 这 文 字 ， 把 讲 解 告 诉 我 ， 就 必 身 穿 紫 袍 ， 项 戴 金 炼 ， 在 我 国 中 位 列 第 三 。
17 但 以 理 在 王 面 前 回 答 说 ： 你 的 赠 品 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 ， 把 讲 解 告 诉 王 。
18 王 啊 ， 至 高 的 神 曾 将 国 位 、 大 权 、 荣 耀 、 威 严 赐 与 你 父 尼 布 甲 尼 撒 ；
19 因 神 所 赐 他 的 大 权 ， 各 方 、 各 国 、 各 族 的 人 都 在 他 面 前 战 兢 恐 惧 。 他 可 以 随 意 生 杀 ， 随 意 升 降 。
20 但 他 心 高 气 傲 ， 灵 也 刚 愎 ， 甚 至 行 事 狂 傲 ， 就 被 革 去 王 位 ， 夺 去 荣 耀 。
21 他 被 赶 出 离 开 世 人 ， 他 的 心 变 如 兽 心 ， 与 野 驴 同 居 ， 吃 草 如 牛 ， 身 被 天 露 滴 湿 ， 等 他 知 道 至 高 的 神 在 人 的 国 中 掌 权 ， 凭 自 己 的 意 旨 立 人 治 国 。
22 伯 沙 撒 啊 ， 你 是 他 的 儿 子 （ 或 译 ： 孙 子 ） ， 你 虽 知 道 这 一 切 ， 你 心 仍 不 自 卑 ，
23 竟 向 天 上 的 主 自 高 ， 使 人 将 他 殿 中 的 器 皿 拿 到 你 面 前 ， 你 和 大 臣 、 皇 后 、 妃 嫔 用 这 器 皿 饮 酒 。 你 又 赞 美 那 不 能 看 、 不 能 听 、 无 知 无 识 、 金 、 银 、 铜 、 铁 、 木 、 石 所 造 的 神 ， 却 没 有 将 荣 耀 归 与 那 手 中 有 你 气 息 ， 管 理 你 一 切 行 动 的 神 。
24 因 此 从 神 那 里 显 出 指 头 来 写 这 文 字 。
25 所 写 的 文 字 是 ： 弥 尼 ， 弥 尼 ， 提 客 勒 ， 乌 法 珥 新 。
26 讲 解 是 这 样 ： 弥 尼 ， 就 是 神 已 经 数 算 你 国 的 年 日 到 此 完 毕 。
27 提 客 勒 ， 就 是 你 被 称 在 天 平 里 ， 显 出 你 的 亏 欠 。
28 毗 勒 斯 （ 与 乌 法 珥 新 同 义 ） ， 就 是 你 的 国 分 裂 ， 归 与 玛 代 人 和 波 斯 人 。
29 伯 沙 撒 下 令 ， 人 就 把 紫 袍 给 但 以 理 穿 上 ， 把 金 炼 给 他 戴 在 颈 项 上 ， 又 传 令 使 他 在 国 中 位 列 第 三 。
30 当 夜 ， 迦 勒 底 王 伯 沙 撒 被 杀 。
31 玛 代 人 大 利 乌 年 六 十 二 岁 ， 取 了 迦 勒 底 国 。
Daniel 5
Contemporary English Version
King Belshazzar's Banquet
5 One evening, King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for a thousand of his highest officials, and he drank wine with them. 2 He got drunk and ordered his servants to bring in the gold and silver cups his father Nebuchadnezzar[a] had taken from the temple in Jerusalem. Belshazzar wanted the cups, so that he and all his wives and officials could drink from them.
3-4 (A) When the gold cups were brought in, everyone at the banquet drank from them and praised their idols made of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.
5 Suddenly a human hand was seen writing on the plaster wall of the palace. The hand was just behind the lampstand, and the king could see it writing. 6 He was so frightened that his face turned pale, his knees started shaking, and his legs became weak.
7 The king called in his advisors, who claimed they could talk with the spirits of the dead and understand the meanings found in the stars. He told them, “The man who can read this writing and tell me what it means will become the third most powerful man in my kingdom. He will wear robes of royal purple and a gold chain around his neck.”
8 All of King Belshazzar's highest officials came in, but not one of them could read the writing or tell what it meant, 9 and they were completely puzzled. Now the king was more afraid than ever before, and his face turned white as a ghost.
10 When the queen heard the king and his officials talking, she came in and said:
Your Majesty, I hope you live forever! Don't be afraid or look so pale. 11 In your kingdom there is a man who has been given special powers by the holy gods. When your father Nebuchadnezzar was king, this man was known to be as smart, intelligent, and wise as the gods themselves. Your father put him in charge of all who claimed they could talk with the spirits or understand the meanings in the stars or tell about the future. 12 He also changed the man's name from Daniel to Belteshazzar. Not only is he wise and intelligent, but he can explain dreams and riddles and solve difficult problems. Send for Daniel, and he will tell you what the writing means.
13 When Daniel was brought in, the king said:
So you are Daniel, one of the captives my father brought back from Judah! 14 I was told that the gods have given you special powers and that you are intelligent and very wise. 15 Neither my advisors nor the men who talk with the spirits of the dead could read this writing or tell me what it means. 16 But I have been told that you understand everything and that you can solve difficult problems. Now then, if you can read this writing and tell me what it means, you will become the third most powerful man in my kingdom. You will wear royal purple robes and have a gold chain around your neck.
17 Daniel answered:
Your Majesty, I will read the writing and tell you what it means. But you may keep your gifts or give them to someone else. 18 Sir, the Most High God made your father a great and powerful man and brought him much honor and glory. 19 God did such great things for him that people of all nations and races shook with fear.
Your father had the power of life or death over everyone, and he could honor or ruin anyone he chose. 20 But when he became proud and stubborn, his glorious kingdom was taken from him. 21 His mind became like that of an animal, and he was forced to stay away from people and live with wild donkeys. Your father ate grass like an ox, and he slept outside where his body was soaked with dew. He was forced to do this until he learned that the Most High God rules all kingdoms on earth and chooses their kings.
22 King Belshazzar, you knew all of this, but you still refused to honor the Lord who rules from heaven. 23 Instead, you turned against him and ordered the cups from his temple to be brought here, so that you and your wives and officials could drink wine from them. You praised idols made of silver, gold, bronze, iron, wood, and stone, even though they cannot see or hear or think. You refused to worship the God who gives you breath and controls everything you do. 24 That's why he sent the hand to write this message on the wall.
25-28 The words written there are mene, which means “numbered,” tekel, which means “weighed,” and parsin,[b] which means “divided.” God has numbered the days of your kingdom and has brought it to an end. He has weighed you on his balance scales, and you fall short of what it takes to be king. So God has divided your kingdom between the Medes and the Persians.
29 Belshazzar gave a command for Daniel to be made the third most powerful man in his kingdom and to be given a purple robe and a gold chain.
30 That same night, the king was killed. 31 Then Darius the Mede, who was 62 years old, took over his kingdom.
Footnotes
- 5.2 his father Nebuchadnezzar: Belshazzar was actually the son of King Nabonidus, who was from another family. But in ancient times, it was possible to refer to a previous king as the “father” of the present king.
- 5.25-28 mene … tekel … parsin: In the Aramaic text of verse 25, the words “mene, tekel, parsin,” are used, and in verses 26-28 the words “mene, tekel, peres” (the singular of “parsin”) are used. “Parsin” means “divided,” but “peres” can mean either “divided” or “Persia.”
Daniel 5
King James Version
5 Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand.
2 Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein.
3 Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them.
4 They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.
5 In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the king's palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.
6 Then the king's countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another.
7 The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. And the king spake, and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and shew me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.
8 Then came in all the king's wise men: but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof.
9 Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were astonied.
10 Now the queen by reason of the words of the king and his lords came into the banquet house: and the queen spake and said, O king, live for ever: let not thy thoughts trouble thee, nor let thy countenance be changed:
11 There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, I say, thy father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers;
12 Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will shew the interpretation.
13 Then was Daniel brought in before the king. And the king spake and said unto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel, which art of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Jewry?
14 I have even heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee.
15 And now the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing, and make known unto me the interpretation thereof: but they could not shew the interpretation of the thing:
16 And I have heard of thee, that thou canst make interpretations, and dissolve doubts: now if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom.
17 Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation.
18 O thou king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honour:
19 And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down.
20 But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him:
21 And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it whomsoever he will.
22 And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this;
23 But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified:
24 Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written.
25 And this is the writing that was written, Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin.
26 This is the interpretation of the thing: Mene; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it.
27 Tekel; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.
28 Peres; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.
29 Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with scarlet, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.
30 In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain.
31 And Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old.
Daniel 5
The Voice
A theme found throughout Scripture is that God humbles the proud and exalts the humble. Nebuchadnezzar is stronger than anyone else, and he knows it. He willingly accepts credit for all that has happened in his life, so God moves decisively to show how insignificant Nebuchadnezzar truly is. It takes little to reduce him to an animal-like state, a wild man living at the margins of humanity, his power and prestige eroded overnight. If one of the greatest kings in history degenerates so completely, what can be done to common folks? Seven years of living as an animal go by, however, and he comes to his senses. He recognizes the truth of who he is and who God is. That realization is his salvation.
5 1-2 A few decades later, the king, Belshazzar, held a state banquet and invited a thousand of his officials.
The regent stands in for the king and performs his duties while King Nabonidus spends 10 years campaigning abroad, that is, fighting to expand the kingdom. In this case, the regent is Nabonidus’ son Belshazzar.
As he was tasting the wine, he ordered servants to bring in the gold and silver vessels his predecessor Nebuchadnezzar had stolen from the temple in Jerusalem many years earlier. He wanted his officials to join him, his wives, and his concubines in drinking a royal toast from them. 3 A little later his servants returned carrying in the gold[a] vessels that had been taken from the temple, the house of the one True God in Jerusalem. The king, his officials, his wives, and his concubines began to drink from them. 4 As they drank the wine, they offered praise to their idols crafted in gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.
5 Suddenly the fingers of a hand—a human hand—appeared and began to write on the plaster of one of the palace walls lit by a nearby lampstand. The king stood transfixed, watching the hand as it wrote. 6 Then his face changed. He grew pale and began to feel sick. His thoughts frightened him: what was this strange vision? His legs felt weak and wobbly. His knees knocked together. 7 The king cried out to his servants, ordering them to bring in the enchanters, the Chaldean wise men, and the diviners.
Belshazzar (to Babylon’s wise men): A great reward awaits the first person who can read this writing and tell me what it means. He will be clothed in purple, wear a gold chain around his neck, and ascend in rank and privilege to be the third-highest-ranking ruler in the kingdom.
8 All the king’s purported wise men came forward to examine the wall, but no one could read the writing or tell the king what it meant. 9 When it became clear that none of his sages could help him, King Belshazzar became even more frightened. His face grew even paler, and his officials were dumbfounded.
10 Belshazzar’s mother, the queen, overheard some of the discussions between the king and his noble guests, so she entered the banquet hall.
Queen: Long live the king! Don’t let this strange incident frighten you or let your face grow pale. 11 Need I remind you that there is a gifted man in your kingdom who possesses the spirit of the holy gods. Years ago, in the time of your predecessor, King Nebuchadnezzar, he was discovered to have insight, understanding, and wisdom like that of the gods. That is why King Nebuchadnezzar put him in charge of the magicians, enchanters, Chaldean astrologers, and diviners in his kingdom. 12 This man Daniel, whom King Nebuchadnezzar named Belteshazzar, has special abilities, knowledge, and wisdom; he is able to interpret dreams, explain riddles and solve problems no one else can. Why don’t you call for Daniel? He will tell you what the writing means.
13-14 With no other options, Belshazzar gave the order, and Daniel was brought before him.
Belshazzar (to Daniel): Are you that Daniel I’ve heard so much about, one of the exiles brought here from Judah by my predecessor, King Nebuchadnezzar? I have been told that you possess the spirit of the holy gods—that you have insight, understanding, and exceptional wisdom. 15 Before you arrived, I had the wise men and enchanters brought before me to see if they could read this writing on the wall and tell me what it means, and not one of them was able to tell me. 16 But it has been reported to me directly that you can offer accurate interpretations and solve problems no one else can. Now I will offer you what I offered the others: if you can read this writing and tell me what it means, you will be clothed in purple, wear a gold chain around your neck, and ascend in rank and privilege to be the third-highest-ranking ruler in the kingdom.
Daniel: 17 Keep the gifts for yourself, or else award them to another. That is up to you. Still, I will agree to read the writing on the wall and tell you what it means.
18 O king, the Most High God gave sovereignty, greatness, honor, and splendor to your predecessor, Nebuchadnezzar. 19 God made him so great and powerful that all peoples, regardless of their heritage, nationality, or language, trembled in fear before him. He did as he pleased: executing or sparing, honoring or shaming anyone as he wished. 20 But there came a point when his heart was so proud and his spirit so haughty that he acted arrogantly; he lost his royal throne and was stripped of his royal honors. 21 He was driven away from all that is human, and he took on the base instincts of an animal; he lived in the company of wild donkeys and bent over to eat grass like the oxen; every night the dew of heaven fell heavy on his body and made him wet until he learned his lesson and acknowledged that the Most High God is the true sovereign over all earthly kingdoms, and He grants authority to anyone He wishes.
22 But even though you knew all this, you, Belshazzar, his descendant, have followed in his ways and not lived humbly. 23 On the contrary, you have risen up against the true Lord of heaven. By demanding that the sacred vessels from His temple be brought before you and having you, your officials, your wives, and your concubines drink from them, you have issued a challenge you cannot win. You have made toasts and offered praise to the idols crafted in silver and gold, bronze, iron, wood, and stone—idols which cannot see you, hear you, or know anything at all. And you have failed to honor in all you do the one True God who holds the breath of life in the palm of His hand and makes possible all your days. 24 He is the one who sent this hand and inscribed this message on the wall, 25 and this is what the inscription says: “MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN.”
The cryptic word play is short and sweet. MENE, MENE; TEKEL; PARSIN: Numbered, numbered (your days); weighed (deficiently); divided (your empire).
26 Here is what these words mean: MENE: God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end; 27 TEKEL: You have been weighed on the scales and found defective; 28 PERES: Your kingdom has been divided and handed over to the Medes and Persians.”
29 True to his word, Belshazzar gave the order and Daniel was clothed in purple, a gold chain was placed around his neck, and the king proclaimed that he ascend in rank and privilege to be the third-highest-ranking ruler in the kingdom.
30 That very night, under the cloak of darkness, Belshazzar, the Chaldean king of Babylonia, was killed. 31 Then Darius the Mede, in his 62nd year, gained control of the kingdom.
Footnotes
- 5:3 Other manuscripts add, “and silver.”
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The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.