Daniel 5
New American Standard Bible
Belshazzar’s Feast
5 Belshazzar the king [a]held a great (A)feast for a thousand of his nobles, and he was drinking wine in the presence of the thousand. 2 [b]While he tasted the wine, Belshazzar gave orders to bring the gold and silver (B)vessels which his [c]father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem, so that the king and his nobles, his wives, and his concubines could drink out of them. 3 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 out of them. 4 They (C)drank the wine and praised the gods of (D)gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone.
5 Suddenly the fingers of a human hand emerged and began writing opposite the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace, and the king saw the back of the hand that did the writing. 6 Then the king’s [d](E)face became pale and his thoughts alarmed him, and his (F)hip joints [e]loosened and his (G)knees began knocking together. 7 The king called aloud to bring in the (H)sorcerers, the [f]Chaldeans, and the diviners. The king began speaking and said to the wise men of Babylon, “Anyone who can read this inscription and explain its interpretation to me shall be (I)clothed with purple and have a (J)necklace of gold around his neck, and have authority as (K)third ruler in the kingdom.” 8 Then all the king’s wise men came in, but (L)they could not read the inscription or make known its interpretation to the king. 9 Then King Belshazzar was greatly (M)alarmed, his [g](N)face grew even more pale, and his nobles were perplexed.
10 The queen entered the banquet [h]hall because of the words of the king and his nobles; the queen began to speak and said, “(O)O king, live forever! Do not let your thoughts alarm you or your [i]face be pale. 11 There is a (P)man in your kingdom in whom is [j]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 [k](R)the king—appointed him chief of the soothsayer priests, sorcerers, Chaldeans, and diviners. 12 This was because an (S)extraordinary spirit, knowledge and insight, interpretation of dreams, explanation of riddles, and 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 Handwriting on the Wall
13 Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king began speaking and said to Daniel, “Are you that Daniel who is one of the [l](U)exiles from Judah, whom my father the king (V)brought from Judah? 14 Now I have heard about you that [m]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 sorcerers were brought in before me to read this inscription and make its interpretation known to me, but they (X)could not declare the interpretation of the [n]message. 16 But I personally have heard about you, that you are able to give interpretations and solve difficult problems. Now if you are able to read the inscription 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 have authority as the third ruler in the kingdom.”
17 Then Daniel replied and said before the king, “[o]Keep your (AA)gifts for yourself or give your rewards to someone else; however, I will read the inscription to the king and make the interpretation known to him. 18 [p]O king, the (AB)Most High God (AC)granted [q]sovereignty, (AD)greatness, honor, and majesty to Nebuchadnezzar your father. 19 Now because of the greatness which He granted him, all the peoples, nations, and populations of all [r]languages trembled and feared in his presence; (AE)whomever he wished, he killed, and whomever he wished, he spared alive; and whomever he wished he elevated, and whomever he wished he humbled. 20 But when his heart [s]was (AF)arrogant and his spirit became so [t](AG)overbearing that he behaved presumptuously, he was (AH)deposed from his royal throne, and his dignity was taken away from him. 21 He was also (AI)driven away from [u]mankind, and his heart was made like that of animals, and his dwelling place was with the (AJ)wild donkeys. He was given grass to eat like cattle, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until he recognized that the (AK)Most High God is ruler over the realm of mankind, and that He sets over it whomever He wishes. 22 Yet you, his [v]son, Belshazzar, have (AL)not humbled your heart, even though you knew all this, 23 but you have (AM)risen 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 out of them; and you have praised the (AO)gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see, nor hear, nor understand. But the God (AP)in whose hand are your life-breath and all your (AQ)ways, you have not glorified. 24 Then the [w](AR)hand was sent from Him and this inscription was written out.
25 “Now this is the inscription that was written:
26 This is the interpretation of the [ab]message: ‘Mene’—God has numbered your kingdom and (AS)put an end to it. 27 ‘Tekel’—you have been (AT)weighed on the scales and found deficient. 28 ‘[ac]Peres’—your kingdom has been divided and given to the (AU)Medes and [ad]Persians.”
29 Then Belshazzar gave orders, 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 had authority as the third ruler in the kingdom.
30 That same night (AW)Belshazzar the Chaldean king was (AX)killed. 31 [ae]So (AY)Darius the Mede received the kingdom at about the age of sixty-two.
Footnotes
- Daniel 5:1 Lit made
- Daniel 5:2 Or Under the influence of the wine
- Daniel 5:2 Or forefather, and so throughout the ch
- Daniel 5:6 Lit brightness changed for him
- Daniel 5:6 Or shook
- Daniel 5:7 I.e., probably master astrologers, diviners, etc., and so throughout the ch
- Daniel 5:9 Lit brightness was changing upon him
- Daniel 5:10 Lit house
- Daniel 5:10 Lit brightness be changed
- Daniel 5:11 Or possibly the Spirit of the holy God
- Daniel 5:11 Or O king
- Daniel 5:13 Lit sons of the exile
- Daniel 5:14 Or possibly the Spirit of God
- Daniel 5:15 Lit word
- Daniel 5:17 Lit Let...be for
- Daniel 5:18 Lit You, O king
- Daniel 5:18 Or the kingdom
- Daniel 5:19 Lit tongues
- Daniel 5:20 Lit rose up
- Daniel 5:20 Lit strong
- Daniel 5:21 Lit the sons of mankind
- Daniel 5:22 Or descendant
- Daniel 5:24 Lit palm of the hand
- Daniel 5:25 Or a mina (50 shekels) from verb “to count”
- Daniel 5:25 Or a mina (50 shekels) from verb “to count”
- Daniel 5:25 Or a shekel from verb “to weigh”
- Daniel 5:25 Or and half-shekels (singular: peres) from verb “to divide”
- Daniel 5:26 Lit word
- Daniel 5:28 Or half-shekel from verb “to divide”
- Daniel 5:28 Aram: Paras
- Daniel 5:31 Ch 6:1 in Aram
Daniel 5
Biblia del Jubileo
5 El rey Belsasar hizo un gran banquete a mil de sus príncipes, y contra todos mil bebía vino.
2 Belsasar, con el gusto del vino, mandó que trajeran los vasos de oro y de plata que Nabucodonosor su padre había traído del Templo de Jerusalén; para que bebieran con ellos el rey y sus príncipes, sus mujeres y sus concubinas.
3 Entonces fueron traídos los vasos de oro que habían traído del Templo de la Casa de Dios que estaba en Jerusalén, y bebieron con ellos el rey y sus príncipes, sus mujeres y sus concubinas.
4 Bebieron vino, y alabaron a los dioses de oro y de plata, de bronce, de hierro, de madera, y de piedra.
5 En aquella misma hora salieron unos dedos de una mano de hombre, y escribían delante del candelero sobre lo encalado de la pared del palacio real, y el rey veía la palma de la mano que escribía.
6 Entonces el rey se demudó de su color, y sus pensamientos lo turbaron, y se desataron las ceñiduras de sus lomos, y sus rodillas se batían la una con la otra.
7 El rey clamó en alta voz que hicieran venir magos, caldeos, y adivinos. Habló el rey, y dijo a los sabios de Babilonia: Cualquiera que leyere esta escritura, y me mostrare su declaración, será vestido de púrpura, y tendrá collar de oro a su cuello; y en el reino se enseñoreará el tercero.
8 Entonces fueron introducidos todos los sabios del rey, y no pudieron leer la escritura, ni mostrar al rey su declaración.
9 Entonces el rey Belsasar estuvo muy turbado, y se le mudaron sus colores y se alteraron sus príncipes.
10 La reina, por las palabras del rey y de sus príncipes, entró a la sala del banquete. Habló la reina, y dijo: Rey, para siempre vive, no te asombren tus pensamientos, ni tus colores se demuden;
11 en tu reino hay un varón, en el cual mora el espíritu del santo Dios; y en los días de tu padre se halló en él lumbre e inteligencia y sabiduría, como conocimiento de Dios, al cual el rey Nabucodonosor, tu padre, constituyó príncipe sobre todos los magos, astrólogos, caldeos, y adivinos: así hizo el rey tu padre,
12 por cuanto fue hallado en él mayor espíritu, conocimiento, y entendimiento, declarando sueños, desatando preguntas, y soltando dudas, es a saber, en Daniel; al cual el rey puso por nombre Beltasar. Llámese, pues, ahora a Daniel, y él te mostrará la declaración.
13 Entonces Daniel fue traído delante del rey. Y habló el rey, y dijo a Daniel: ¿Eres tú aquel Daniel de los hijos de la cautividad de Judá, que mi padre trajo de Judea?
14 Yo he oído de ti que el espíritu del santo Dios está en ti, y que en ti se halló lumbre, entendimiento y mayor sabiduría.
15 Y ahora fueron traídos delante de mí, sabios, astrólogos, que leyeran esta escritura, y me mostraran su declaración, pero no han podido mostrar la declaración del negocio.
16 Yo pues he oído de ti que puedes declarar las dudas, y desatar dificultades. Si ahora pudieres leer esta escritura, y mostrarme su declaración, serás vestido de púrpura, y collar de oro será puesto en tu cuello, y en el reino serás el tercer señor.
17 Entonces Daniel respondió, y dijo delante del rey: Tus dones sean para ti, y tus presentes dalos a otro. La escritura yo la leeré al rey, y le mostraré la declaración.
18 El Altísimo Dios, oh rey, dio a Nabucodonosor tu padre el reino, y la grandeza, y la gloria, y la hermosura:
19 y por la grandeza que le dio, todos los pueblos, naciones, y lenguas, temblaban y temían delante de él. A los que él quería mataba, y a los que quería daba vida; a los que quería engrandecía, y a los que quería humillaba.
20 Mas cuando su corazón se ensoberbeció, y su espíritu se endureció en altivez, fue depuesto del trono de su reino, y traspasaron de él la gloria.
21 Y fue echado de entre los hijos de los hombres; y su corazón fue puesto con las bestias, y con los asnos monteses fue su morada. Hierba le hicieron comer, como a buey, y su cuerpo fue bañado con el rocío del cielo, hasta que conoció que el Altísimo Dios se enseñorea del reino de los hombres, y que pondrá sobre él al que quisiere.
22 Y tú, su hijo Belsasar, no has humillado tu corazón, sabiendo todo esto;
23 y contra el Señor del cielo te has ensoberbecido, e hiciste traer delante de ti los vasos de su Casa, y tú y tus príncipes, tus mujeres y tus concubinas, bebisteis vino en ellos: además de esto, a dioses de plata, de oro, de bronce, de hierro, de madera, y de piedra, que ni ven, ni oyen, ni saben, diste alabanza; y al Dios en cuya mano está tu alma, y cuyos son todos tus caminos, nunca honraste.
24 Entonces de su presencia fue enviada la palma de la mano que esculpió esta escritura.
25 Y la escritura que esculpió es: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPARSIN.
26 La declaración del negocio es: MENE: Contó Dios tu reino, y lo ha rematado.
27 TEKEL: Pesado has sido en balanza, y fuiste hallado falto.
28 PERES: Tu reino ha sido roto, y es dado a los medos y a los persas.
29 Entonces, mandándolo Belsasar, vistieron a Daniel de púrpura, y en su cuello fue puesto un collar de oro, y pregonaron de él que fuera el tercer señor en el reino.
30 La misma noche fue muerto Belsasar, rey de los caldeos.
31 Y Darío de Media tomó el reino, siendo de sesenta y dos años.
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