Daniel 5
International Standard Version
Belshazzar’s Festival
5 King Belshazzar put on a great festival for a thousand of his officials. He joined all[a] one thousand of them in getting drunk. 2 Under the influence of wine, Belshazzar ordered that the gold and silver vessels his grandfather Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the Temple in Jerusalem be brought in so the king, his officials, his wives, and his mistresses[b] could drink from them. 3 As ordered, they brought in the gold vessels that had been taken from the sanctuary of God’s Temple in Jerusalem, and the king, his officials, his wives, and mistresses[c] drank from them. 4 As they drank the wine, they praised gods of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.
The Handwriting on the Wall
5 At that moment, humanlike fingers of a hand appeared near the lamp stand of the royal palace and wrote on the plaster of the wall. 6 While the king watched the back of the hand as it was writing, his facial expression changed. Utterly frightened, he lost control of his own bowels[d] and his knees knocked together.
7 The king cried out to bring in enchanters,[e] Chaldeans, and astrologers. He announced to the advisors[f] of Babylon, “Whoever can read this writing and tell me its meaning will be clothed in purple, have a gold chain placed around his neck, and will become the third highest ruler in the kingdom.”
8 Then all the king’s advisors came in, but they were unable to read the writing or tell the king what it meant. 9 So King Belshazzar became even more frightened, and his facial expression showed it. His officials also were thrown into confusion.
10 Hearing[g] the voices of the king and his officials, the queen entered the banquet hall. “Your majesty, live forever,” the queen said. “Don’t be frightened by your thoughts or allow your facial expression to show it. 11 There’s a man in your kingdom in whom dwells[h] the spirit of the holy gods. During your grandfather’s reign, he was found to have insight, intelligence, and wisdom, like that[i] of the gods. Your grandfather, King Nebuchadnezzar—your kingly predecessor—appointed him to be chief administrator over the magicians, enchanters,[j] Chaldeans, and astrologers, 12 because he was found to have an extraordinary spirit, knowledge, and understanding, along with an ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve difficult problems. His name is Daniel, whom the king renamed Belteshazzar. Call for Daniel, and he will reveal the meaning of the writing.”[k]
Daniel Interprets the Handwriting
13 Then Daniel was brought before the king. The king spoke up and told Daniel, “So you are Daniel, one of the Judean exiles whom my grandfather the king brought from Judah! 14 I’ve heard about you, that a spirit of the gods is in you and that you have insight, discernment, and extraordinary wisdom. 15 Take note that the advisors[l] and enchanters[m] were brought before me to read the writing and explain its meaning, but they were unable to do so.[n] 16 However, I’ve heard that you can provide meaning and interpretation, and that you can solve difficult problems. If you are able to read the writing and report its meaning, you will be clothed in purple, have a gold chain placed around your neck, and you will become the third highest ruler in the kingdom.”
17 At this, Daniel answered, speaking directly to[o] the king, “Let your gifts and rewards be given to someone else. However, I’ll read the writing for the king and tell him its meaning. 18 Your majesty, the Most High God gave your grandfather Nebuchadnezzar sovereignty, as well as greatness, glory, and splendor. 19 And because of the greatness that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages revered and feared him. He executed those whom he desired to execute, he spared those whom he wished to spare, he promoted those whom he desired to promote, and he humbled those whom he wished to humble. 20 But when he[p] became arrogant and his spirit hardened, he was removed from his royal throne and his glory was taken away from him. 21 He was driven away from human society[q] and given the mind of an animal. He lived with wild donkeys, ate grass like cattle, and his body was soaked with dew from the sky until he realized that the Most High God is sovereign over human kingdoms and places over them whomever he desires.
22 “But you, Belshazzar, his grandson, haven’t humbled yourself, even though you knew all of this.
23 “You’ve exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven.
“You’ve had the vessels from his Temple brought into your presence.
“And you, your officials, and your wives and mistresses drank wine from them.
“You praised gods of silver, gold, bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which can’t see, hear, or demonstrate knowledge.
“But you didn’t honor God, who holds in his power your very life and all your ways.
24 “Therefore, the hand[r] that wrote this inscription was sent from his presence. 25 This is the written inscription:
MENE, MENE, TEKEL and PARSIN
26 These are the meanings of the words:
MENE: God has audited[s] your kingdom—and has ended it.
27 TEKEL: You’ve been weighed on the scales—and you don’t measure up.[t]
28 PERES: Your kingdom has been divided—and will be given to the Medes and Persians.”
29 Then Belshazzar gave orders to clothe Daniel in purple, to place a chain of gold around his neck, and to proclaim him the third highest ruler of the kingdom.
30 That night Belshazzar, king of the Chaldeans, was killed, 31 [u]and Darius the Mede took over the kingdom at the age of 62.
Footnotes
- Daniel 5:1 The Aram. lacks all
- Daniel 5:2 Or concubines; i.e. secondary wives
- Daniel 5:3 Or concubines; i.e. secondary wives
- Daniel 5:6 Lit. frightened, the joints of his loins were loosened; i.e. an involuntary physiological response from terror
- Daniel 5:7 Or occult practitioners
- Daniel 5:7 Or the wise men
- Daniel 5:10 The Aram. lacks Hearing
- Daniel 5:11 The Aram. lacks dwells
- Daniel 5:11 Lit. like the wisdom
- Daniel 5:11 Or occult practitioners
- Daniel 5:12 The Aram. lacks of the writing
- Daniel 5:15 Lit. the wise men
- Daniel 5:15 Or occult practitioners
- Daniel 5:15 Lit. to tell the matter
- Daniel 5:17 Lit. speaking before
- Daniel 5:20 Lit. his heart
- Daniel 5:21 Lit. sons of the people
- Daniel 5:24 Lit. the palm of the hand
- Daniel 5:26 Lit. numbered
- Daniel 5:27 Lit. and found lacking
- Daniel 5:31 This v. is 6:1 in MT
Daniel 5
New King James Version
Belshazzar’s Feast
5 Belshazzar the king (A)made a great feast for a thousand of his lords, and drank wine in the presence of the thousand. 2 While he tasted the wine, Belshazzar gave the command to bring the gold and silver vessels (B)which his [a]father Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple which had been in Jerusalem, that the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them. 3 Then they brought the gold (C)vessels that had been taken from the temple of the house of God which had been in Jerusalem; and the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines drank from them. 4 They drank wine, (D)and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone.
5 (E)In the same hour the fingers of a man’s hand appeared and wrote opposite the lampstand on the plaster 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 changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his hips were loosened and his (F)knees knocked against each other. 7 (G)The king cried [b]aloud to bring in (H)the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. The king spoke, saying to the wise men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this writing, and tells me its interpretation, shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around his neck; (I)and he shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.” 8 Now all the king’s wise men came, (J)but they could not read the writing, or make known to the king its interpretation. 9 Then King Belshazzar was greatly (K)troubled, his countenance was changed, and his lords were [c]astonished.
10 The queen, because of the words of the king and his lords, came to the banquet hall. The queen spoke, saying, “O king, live forever! Do not let your thoughts trouble you, nor let your countenance change. 11 (L)There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the Spirit of the Holy God. And in the days of your [d]father, light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, were found in him; and King Nebuchadnezzar your [e]father—your father the king—made him chief of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers. 12 Inasmuch as an excellent spirit, knowledge, understanding, interpreting dreams, solving riddles, and [f]explaining enigmas were found in this Daniel, (M)whom the king named Belteshazzar, now let Daniel be called, and he will give the interpretation.”
The Writing on the Wall Explained
13 Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king spoke, and said to Daniel, “Are you that Daniel [g]who is one of the captives from Judah, whom my [h]father the king brought from Judah? 14 I have heard of you, that (N)the [i]Spirit of God is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you. 15 Now (O)the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing and make known to me its interpretation, but they could not give the interpretation of the thing. 16 And I have heard of you, that you can give interpretations and [j]explain enigmas. (P)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 around your neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.”
17 Then Daniel answered, and said before the king, “Let your gifts be for yourself, and give your rewards to another; yet I will read the writing to the king, and make known to him the interpretation. 18 O king, (Q)the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your [k]father a kingdom and majesty, glory and honor. 19 And because of the majesty that He gave him, (R)all peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him. Whomever he wished, he (S)executed; whomever he wished, he kept alive; whomever he wished, he set up; and whomever he wished, he put down. 20 (T)But when his heart was lifted up, and his spirit was hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him. 21 Then he was (U)driven from the sons of men, his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys. They fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, (V)till he [l]knew that the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men, and appoints over it whomever He chooses.
22 “But you his son, Belshazzar, (W)have not humbled your heart, although you knew all this. 23 (X)And you have [m]lifted yourself up against the Lord of heaven. They have brought the (Y)vessels of [n]His house 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, bronze and iron, wood and stone, (Z)which do not see or hear or know; and the God who holds your breath in His hand (AA)and owns all your ways, you have not glorified. 24 Then the [o]fingers of the hand were sent from Him, and this writing was written.
25 “And this is the inscription that was written:
[p]MENE, MENE, [q]TEKEL, [r]UPHARSIN.
26 This is the interpretation of each word. MENE: God has numbered your kingdom, and finished it; 27 TEKEL: (AB)You have been weighed in the balances, and found wanting; 28 PERES: Your kingdom has been divided, and given to the (AC)Medes and (AD)Persians.”[s] 29 Then Belshazzar gave the command, and they clothed Daniel with purple and put a chain of gold around his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him (AE)that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.
Belshazzar’s Fall
30 (AF)That very night Belshazzar, king of the Chaldeans, was slain. 31 (AG)And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old.
Footnotes
- Daniel 5:2 Or ancestor
- Daniel 5:7 Lit. with strength
- Daniel 5:9 perplexed
- Daniel 5:11 Or ancestor
- Daniel 5:11 Or ancestor
- Daniel 5:12 Lit. untying knots
- Daniel 5:13 Lit. who is of the sons of the captivity
- Daniel 5:13 Or ancestor
- Daniel 5:14 Or spirit of the gods
- Daniel 5:16 Lit. untie knots
- Daniel 5:18 Or ancestor
- Daniel 5:21 Recognized
- Daniel 5:23 Exalted
- Daniel 5:23 The temple
- Daniel 5:24 Lit. palm
- Daniel 5:25 Lit. a mina (50 shekels) from the verb “to number”
- Daniel 5:25 Lit. a shekel from the verb “to weigh”
- Daniel 5:25 Lit. and half-shekels from the verb “to divide”; pl. of Peres, v. 28
- Daniel 5:28 Aram. Paras, consonant with Peres
Daniel 5
Luther Bibel 1545
5 König Belsazer machte ein herrliches Mahl seinen tausend Gewaltigen und soff sich voll mit ihnen.
2 Und da er trunken war, hieß er die goldenen und silbernen Gefäße herbringen, die sein Vater Nebukadnezar aus dem Tempel zu Jerusalem weggenommen hatte, daß der König mit seinen Gewaltigen, mit seinen Weibern und mit seinen Kebsweibern daraus tränken.
3 Also wurden hergebracht die goldenen Gefäße, die aus dem Tempel, aus dem Hause Gottes zu Jerusalem, genommen waren; und der König, seine Gewaltigen, seine Weiber und Kebsweiber tranken daraus.
4 Und da sie so soffen, lobten sie die goldenen, silbernen, ehernen, eisernen, hölzernen und steinernen Götter.
5 Eben zu derselben Stunde gingen hervor Finger wie einer Menschenhand, die schrieben, gegenüber dem Leuchter, auf die getünchte Wand in dem königlichen Saal; und der König ward gewahr der Hand, die da schrieb.
6 Da entfärbte sich der König, und seine Gedanken erschreckten ihn, daß ihm die Lenden schütterten und die Beine zitterten.
7 Und der König rief überlaut, daß man die Weisen, Chaldäer und Wahrsager hereinbringen sollte. Und er ließ den Weisen zu Babel sagen: Welcher Mensch diese Schrift liest und sagen kann, was sie bedeute, der soll in Purpur gekleidet werden und eine goldene Kette am Halse tragen und der dritte Herr sein in meinem Königreiche.
8 Da wurden alle Weisen des Königs hereingebracht; aber sie konnten weder die Schrift lesen noch die Deutung dem König anzeigen.
9 Darüber erschrak der König Belsazer noch härter und verlor ganz seine Farbe; und seinen Gewaltigen ward bange.
10 Da ging die Königin um solcher Sache des Königs und seiner Gewaltigen willen hinein in den Saal und sprach: Der König lebe ewiglich! Laß dich deine Gedanken nicht so erschrecken und entfärbe dich nicht also!
11 Es ist ein Mann in deinem Königreich, der den Geist der heiligen Götter hat. Denn zu deines Vaters Zeit ward bei ihm Erleuchtung gefunden, Klugheit und Weisheit, wie der Götter Weisheit ist; und dein Vater, König Nebukadnezar, setzte ihn über die Sternseher, Weisen, Chaldäer und Wahrsager,
12 darum daß ein hoher Geist bei ihm gefunden ward, dazu Verstand und Klugheit, Träume zu deuten, dunkle Sprüche zu erraten und verborgene Sachen zu offenbaren: nämlich Daniel, den der König ließ Beltsazar nennen. So rufe man nun Daniel; der wird sagen, was es bedeutet.
13 Da ward Daniel hinein vor den König gebracht. Und der König sprach zu Daniel: Bist du der Daniel, der Gefangenen einer aus Juda, die der König, mein Vater aus Juda hergebracht hat?
14 Ich habe von dir hören sagen, daß du den Geist der Götter hast und Erleuchtung, Verstand und hohe Weisheit bei dir gefunden sei.
15 Nun habe ich vor mich fordern lassen die Klugen und Weisen, daß sie mir diese Schrift lesen und anzeigen sollen, was sie bedeutet: und sie können mir nicht sagen, was solches bedeutet.
16 Von dir aber höre ich, daß du könnest Deutungen geben und das Verborgene offenbaren. Kannst du nun die Schrift lesen und mir anzeigen, was sie bedeutet, so sollst du mit Purpur gekleidet werden und eine golden Kette an deinem Halse tragen und der dritte Herr sein in meinem Königreiche.
17 Da fing Daniel an und redete vor dem König: Behalte deine Gaben selbst und gib dein Geschenk einem andern; ich will dennoch die Schrift dem König lesen und anzeigen, was sie bedeutet.
18 Herr König, Gott der Höchste hat deinem Vater, Nebukadnezar, Königreich, Macht, Ehre und Herrlichkeit gegeben.
19 Und vor solcher Macht, die ihm gegeben war, fürchteten sich vor ihm alle Völker, Leute und Zungen. Er tötete wen er wollte; er ließ leben, wen er wollte; er erhöhte, wen er wollte; er demütigt, wen er wollte.
20 Da sich aber sein Herz erhob und er stolz und hochmütig ward, ward er vom königlichen Stuhl gestoßen und verlor seine Ehre
21 und ward verstoßen von den Leuten hinweg, und sein Herz ward gleich den Tieren, und er mußte bei dem Wild laufen und fraß Gras wie Ochsen, und sein Leib lag unterm Tau des Himmels, und er ward naß, bis daß er lernte, daß Gott der Höchste Gewalt hat über der Menschen Königreiche und gibt sie, wem er will.
22 Und du, Belsazer, sein Sohn, hast dein Herz nicht gedemütigt, ob du wohl solches alles weißt,
23 sondern hast dich wider den HERRN des Himmels erhoben, und die Gefäße seines Hauses hat man vor dich bringen müssen, und du, deine Gewaltigen, deine Weiber und deine Kebsweiber habt daraus getrunken, dazu die silbernen, goldenen, ehernen, eisernen, hölzernen und steinernen Götter gelobt, die weder sehen noch hören noch fühlen; den Gott aber, der deinen Odem und alle deine Wege in seiner Hand hat, hast du nicht geehrt.
24 Darum ist von ihm gesandt diese Hand und diese Schrift, die da verzeichnet steht.
25 Das aber ist die Schrift, allda verzeichnet: Mene, mene, Tekel, U-pharsin.
26 Und sie bedeutet dies: Mene, das ist Gott hat dein Königreich gezählt und vollendet.
27 Tekel, das ist: man hat dich in einer Waage gewogen und zu leicht gefunden.
28 Peres, das ist: dein Königreich ist zerteilt und den Medern und Persern gegeben.
29 Da befahl Belsazer, daß man Daniel mit Purpur kleiden sollte und ihm eine goldene Kette an den Hals geben, und ließ ihm verkündigen, daß er der dritte Herr sei im Königreich.
30 Aber in derselben Nacht ward der Chaldäer König Belsazer getötet.
31 Und Darius aus Medien nahm das Reich ein, da er zweiundsechzig Jahre alt war.
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Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 1545 by Public Domain