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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

  1. Daniel 5:2 Or ancestor
  2. Daniel 5:7 Lit. with strength
  3. Daniel 5:9 perplexed
  4. Daniel 5:11 Or ancestor
  5. Daniel 5:11 Or ancestor
  6. Daniel 5:12 Lit. untying knots
  7. Daniel 5:13 Lit. who is of the sons of the captivity
  8. Daniel 5:13 Or ancestor
  9. Daniel 5:14 Or spirit of the gods
  10. Daniel 5:16 Lit. untie knots
  11. Daniel 5:18 Or ancestor
  12. Daniel 5:21 Recognized
  13. Daniel 5:23 Exalted
  14. Daniel 5:23 The temple
  15. Daniel 5:24 Lit. palm
  16. Daniel 5:25 Lit. a mina (50 shekels) from the verb “to number”
  17. Daniel 5:25 Lit. a shekel from the verb “to weigh”
  18. Daniel 5:25 Lit. and half-shekels from the verb “to divide”; pl. of Peres, v. 28
  19. Daniel 5:28 Aram. Paras, consonant with Peres
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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:

‘[x]Mene, [y]Mene, [z]Tekel, [aa]Upharsin.’

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

  1. Daniel 5:1 Lit made
  2. Daniel 5:2 Or Under the influence of the wine
  3. Daniel 5:2 Or forefather, and so throughout the ch
  4. Daniel 5:6 Lit brightness changed for him
  5. Daniel 5:6 Or shook
  6. Daniel 5:7 I.e., probably master astrologers, diviners, etc., and so throughout the ch
  7. Daniel 5:9 Lit brightness was changing upon him
  8. Daniel 5:10 Lit house
  9. Daniel 5:10 Lit brightness be changed
  10. Daniel 5:11 Or possibly the Spirit of the holy God
  11. Daniel 5:11 Or O king
  12. Daniel 5:13 Lit sons of the exile
  13. Daniel 5:14 Or possibly the Spirit of God
  14. Daniel 5:15 Lit word
  15. Daniel 5:17 Lit Let...be for
  16. Daniel 5:18 Lit You, O king
  17. Daniel 5:18 Or the kingdom
  18. Daniel 5:19 Lit tongues
  19. Daniel 5:20 Lit rose up
  20. Daniel 5:20 Lit strong
  21. Daniel 5:21 Lit the sons of mankind
  22. Daniel 5:22 Or descendant
  23. Daniel 5:24 Lit palm of the hand
  24. Daniel 5:25 Or a mina (50 shekels) from verb “to count”
  25. Daniel 5:25 Or a mina (50 shekels) from verb “to count”
  26. Daniel 5:25 Or a shekel from verb “to weigh”
  27. Daniel 5:25 Or and half-shekels (singular: peres) from verb “to divide”
  28. Daniel 5:26 Lit word
  29. Daniel 5:28 Or half-shekel from verb “to divide”
  30. Daniel 5:28 Aram: Paras
  31. Daniel 5:31 Ch 6:1 in Aram
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Danyeri 5
Endagaano Enkadde nʼEndagaano Empya

Ekiwandiiko ku Kisenge

5 (A)Kabaka Berusazza n’agabula embaga nnene eri abakungu be lukumi, ne banywa omwenge naye. 2 (B)Awo Berusazza, yali ng’anywa omwenge, n’atumya ebikompe ebya zaabu n’ebya ffeeza, Nebukadduneeza kitaawe bye yaggya mu yeekaalu mu Yerusaalemi, ye n’abakungu be, n’abakyala be n’abazaana be babinyweremu. 3 Era ne baleeta ebikompe ebya zaabu n’ebya ffeeza ebyaggyibwa mu yeekaalu ya Katonda mu Yerusaalemi, kabaka n’abakungu be, n’abakyala be n’abazaana be ne babinyweramu. 4 (C)Ne banywa omwenge ne batandika okutendereza bakatonda aba zaabu n’aba ffeeza, n’ab’ebikomo, n’ab’ekyuma, n’ab’emiti n’ab’amayinja.

5 Mu kiseera ekyo ne walabika engalo z’omukono gw’omuntu ne ziwandiika ku kisenge okuliraana ettaala mu lubiri lwa kabaka; kabaka n’alaba ekibatu ky’omukono nga kiwandiika. 6 (D)Entunula ye n’ekyuka, n’atya nnyo, n’amaviivi ge ne gakubagana n’amagulu ge ne galemererwa okumuwanirira.

7 (E)Kabaka n’alagira mu ddoboozi ery’omwanguka baleete abafumu, n’Abakaludaaya, n’abalaguzi. Kabaka n’agamba abasajja abagezigezi abo ab’e Babulooni nti, “Omuntu yenna anaasoma ekiwandiiko ekyo, n’antegeeza amakulu gaakyo, alyambazibwa engoye ez’effulungu era alyambazibwa omukuufu ogwa zaabu mu bulago, era aliba mukulu owa waggulu ow’ekifo ekyokusatu mu bwakabaka.”

8 (F)Awo abasajja ba kabaka abagezigezi bonna ne bajja, naye ne balemwa okusoma ekiwandiiko ekyo newaakubadde okutegeeza kabaka amakulu gaakyo. 9 (G)Kabaka Berusazza ne yeeyongera nnyo okweraliikirira, n’entunula ye ne yeeyongera okukyuka; n’abakungu be amagezi ne gababula.

10 (H)Awo muka kabaka bwe yawulira ebigambo ebyatuuka ku kabaka n’abakungu be, n’agenda mu kisenge ekinene embaga mwe yali n’ayogera nti, “Ayi kabaka, owangaale! Leka kweraliikirira, so tokeŋŋentererwa. 11 (I)Waliwo omusajja mu bwakabaka bwo alimu omwoyo gwa bakatonda abatukuvu. Mu mirembe gya kitaawo yasangibwa okuba n’okutegeera, n’amagezi, ng’aga bakatonda, era Kabaka Nebukadduneeza kitaawo, n’amufuula omukulu w’abasawo, n’abafumu, n’Abakaludaaya, n’abalaguzi. 12 (J)Omusajja oyo Danyeri, kabaka gwe yatuuma Berutesazza, yasangibwa ng’alina omwoyo ogw’okutegeera, n’okumanya, n’okulootolola ebirooto, n’okubikkula ebigambo eby’ekyama, n’okutta ebibuuzo ebizibu ennyo. Kale Danyeri ayitibwe, anaakutegeeza amakulu g’ekiwandiiko.”

13 (K)Awo Danyeri n’aleetebwa mu maaso ga kabaka, kabaka n’amubuuza nti, “Ggwe Danyeri, omu ku abo abaaleetebwa kabaka kitange mu buwaŋŋanguse okuva mu Yuda? 14 Bantegeezezza ng’omwoyo wa bakatonda abatukuvu ali mu ggwe, era olaba ebitalabibwa bantu abaabulijjo, otegeera era oli w’amagezi amasukkirivu. 15 Abasajja abagezigezi, n’abafumu baaleeteddwa mu maaso gange basome ekiwandiiko ekyo era bantegeeze n’amakulu gaakyo, naye balemeddwa okukinnyonnyola. 16 Naye ntegeezeddwa, ng’oyinza okunnyonnyola amakulu g’ebigambo ebizibu. Kaakano bw’ononsomera ekiwandiiko ekyo, era n’ontegeeza n’amakulu gaakyo, onooyambazibwa engoye ez’effulungu n’omukuufu ogwa zaabu mu bulago, era oliba mukulu owookusatu mu bwakabaka.”

17 (L)Awo Danyeri n’addamu kabaka nti, “Ebirabo byo byeterekere, n’empeera yo ogiwe omuntu omulala. Naye nzija kukusomera ekiwandiiko era nkutegeeze n’amakulu gaakyo.

18 (M)“Katonda Ali Waggulu Ennyo yawa Nebukadduneeza kitaawo obwakabaka, n’obuyinza, n’ekitiibwa n’obukulu, ayi kabaka; 19 (N)era olw’obuyinza bwe yamuwa, abantu bonna n’amawanga gonna n’abantu ab’ennimi zonna baamutyanga era ne bakankana mu maaso ge. Abo kabaka be yayagalanga battibwe, battibwanga; n’abo be yasonyiwanga, baasonyiyibwanga; n’abo be yayagalanga okugulumiza bagulumizibwanga, n’abo be yayagalanga okutoowaza, baatoowazibwanga. 20 (O)Naye omutima gwe bwe gwegulumiza ne gukakanyala olw’amalala ge, yaggyibwa ku ntebe ye ey’obwakabaka, n’ekitiibwa kye ne kimuggyibwako. 21 (P)N’agobebwa mu bantu, n’ebirowoozo bye ne biwaanyisibwa n’aba ng’ensolo ey’omu nsiko, n’abeera wamu n’endogoyi ez’omu nsiko, n’alya omuddo ng’ente, n’omubiri gwe ne gutoba omusulo ogw’eggulu, okutuusa lwe yategeera nga Katonda Ali Waggulu Ennyo, y’afuga obwakabaka bw’abantu, era y’ateekawo buli gw’asiima.

22 (Q)“Naye ggwe mutabani we, Berusazza, teweetoowazizza mu mutima newaakubadde ng’ebyo byonna wabimanya. 23 (R)Weegulumizizza eri Mukama w’eggulu; ebikompe ebyaggyibwa mu yeekaalu ye, obitumizzaayo; era ggwe, n’abakungu bo, n’abakyala bo, n’abazaana bo mubinywereddemu omwenge, n’oluvannyuma ne mutandika okutendereza bakatonda aba ffeeza, n’aba zaabu, n’ab’ebikomo, n’ab’ebyuma, n’ab’emiti, n’ab’amayinja abatayinza kulaba newaakubadde okuwulira newaakubadde okutegeera. Naye Katonda oyo alina omukka gwo mu ngalo ze, era amanyi engeri zo zonna, tomugulumizizza. 24 Kale kyeyavudde akusindikira omukono ogwawandiise ebigambo ebyo.

25 “Era ebigambo ebyawandiikiddwa bye bino nti:

Mene, Mene, Tekel, Ufarsin.

26 (S)“N’amakulu gaabyo ge gano:

“Mene:[a] Katonda akendezezza ennaku z’obwakabaka bwo era abukomezza.

27 (T)“Tekel:[b] Opimiddwa ku minzaani, era osangiddwa ng’obulako;

28 (U)“Peres:[c] Obwakabaka bwo bugabanyiziddwamu, era buweereddwa Abameedi n’Abaperusi.”

29 Awo amangwago Berusazza n’alagira Danyeri ayambazibwe engoye ez’effulungu, era bamwambaze omukuufu ogwa zaabu, era n’ekiragiro ne kiyita nga bw’ali omukulembeze owookusatu mu bwakabaka.

30 (V)Ekiro ekyo Berusazza kabaka w’Abakaludaaya n’attibwa. 31 (W)Daliyo Omumeedi n’alya obwakabaka nga wa myaka nkaaga mu ebiri.

Footnotes

  1. 5:26 MENE kiyinza okutegeeza nti kubalibwa
  2. 5:27 TEKEL kiyinza okutegeeza nti kupimibwa ku minzaani
  3. 5:28 PERES kiyinza okutegeeza nti kugabanyaamu
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