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Daniel 5
Legacy Standard Bible

Belshazzar’s Feast

5 Belshazzar the king [a]held a great (A)feast for one thousand of his nobles, and he was drinking wine in the presence of the thousand. 2 When Belshazzar tasted the wine, he said to bring the gold and silver (B)vessels which Nebuchadnezzar his [b]father had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem, so that the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines might drink from 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 from 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 man’s hand came out and began writing opposite the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace, and the king saw the [c]back of the hand that did the writing. 6 Then the [d](E)splendor of the king’s face changed, and his thoughts alarmed him, and his (F)hip joints [e]went slack, and his (G)knees were knocking against each other. 7 The king called out loudly to bring in the (H)conjurers, the [f]Chaldeans, and the diviners. The king answered and said to the wise men of Babylon, “Any man who can read this writing and declare its interpretation to me shall be (I)clothed with purple and have a (J)necklace of gold around his neck and rule with power as [g](K)third ruler in the kingdom.” 8 Then all the king’s wise men came in, but (L)they could not read the writing or make known its interpretation to the king. 9 Then King Belshazzar was greatly (M)alarmed, and the [h](N)splendor of his face changed further, and his nobles were perplexed.

10 The queen entered the banquet [i]hall because of the words of the king and his nobles; the queen answered and said, “(O)O king, live forever! Do not let your thoughts alarm you or the [j]splendor of your face be changed. 11 There is a (P)man in your kingdom in whom is [k]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 [l](R)the king, set him as chief of the [m]magicians, conjurers, [n]Chaldeans, and diviners. 12 This was because an (S)extraordinary spirit, knowledge and insight, interpretation of dreams, explanation of enigmas, and [o]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 Writing on the Wall

13 Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king answered and said to Daniel, “Are you that Daniel who is one of the [p](U)exiles from Judah, whom my father the king (V)brought from Judah? 14 Now I have heard about you that [q]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 conjurers were brought in before me that they might read this writing and make its interpretation known to me, but they (X)could not declare the interpretation of the [r]message. 16 But I personally have heard about you, that you are able to give interpretations and [s]solve difficult problems. Now if you are able to read the writing 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 rule with power as the [t]third ruler in the kingdom.”

17 Then Daniel answered and said before the king, “Let your (AA)gifts remain with you or give your rewards to someone else; however, I will read the writing to the king and make the interpretation known to him. 18 [u]O king, the (AB)Most High God (AC)granted the kingdom, (AD)grandeur, glory, and majesty to Nebuchadnezzar your father. 19 And because of the grandeur which He bestowed on him, all the peoples, nations, and men of every tongue feared and were in dread before him; (AE)whomever he wished he killed, and whomever he wished he kept alive, and whomever he wished he raised up, and whomever he wished he made low. 20 But when his heart was (AF)raised up and his spirit became so (AG)strong that he behaved arrogantly, he was (AH)deposed from his royal throne, and his glory was taken away from him. 21 He was also (AI)driven away from the sons of [v]men, and his heart was made like that of beasts, and his place of habitation was with the (AJ)wild donkeys. He was given grass to eat like cattle, and his body was drenched with the dew of the sky until he knew that the (AK)Most High God is the powerful ruler over the kingdom of mankind and that He sets up over it whomever He wishes. 22 Yet you, his [w]son, Belshazzar, have (AL)not made your heart lowly, [x]even though you knew all this, 23 but you have (AM)raised yourself 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 from them; and you have praised the (AO)gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which do not see, hear, or know. But the God (AP)in whose hand are your life-breath and all your (AQ)ways, you have not honored. 24 Then the [y](AR)hand was sent from Him, and this writing was [z]inscribed.

25 “Now this is the writing that was [aa]inscribed: ‘[ab]MENE, [ac]MENE, [ad]TEKEL, [ae]UPHARSIN.’ 26 This is the interpretation of the [af]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 lacking. 28 ‘PERES’—your kingdom has been divided and given over to the (AU)Medes and [ag]Persians.”

29 Then Belshazzar said the word, 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 would be the [ah]third powerful ruler in the kingdom.

30 That same night (AW)Belshazzar the Chaldean king was (AX)killed.

31 [ai]So (AY)Darius the Mede received the kingdom at about the age of sixty-two.

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Footnotes

  1. Daniel 5:1 Lit made
  2. Daniel 5:2 Or forefather, so in ch
  3. Daniel 5:5 Or palm
  4. Daniel 5:6 Lit brightness changed for him
  5. Daniel 5:6 Lit became loosened
  6. Daniel 5:7 Or master astrologers
  7. Daniel 5:7 Or a triumvir
  8. Daniel 5:9 Lit brightness was changing upon him
  9. Daniel 5:10 Lit house
  10. Daniel 5:10 Lit brightness be changed
  11. Daniel 5:11 Or the Spirit of the holy God
  12. Daniel 5:11 Or O king
  13. Daniel 5:11 Or soothsayer priests
  14. Daniel 5:11 Or master astrologers
  15. Daniel 5:12 Lit loosening
  16. Daniel 5:13 Lit sons of the exile
  17. Daniel 5:14 Or possibly the Spirit of God
  18. Daniel 5:15 Lit word
  19. Daniel 5:16 Lit loosen
  20. Daniel 5:16 Or triumvir
  21. Daniel 5:18 Lit You, O king
  22. Daniel 5:21 Lit man
  23. Daniel 5:22 Or descendant
  24. Daniel 5:22 Lit inasmuch as you
  25. Daniel 5:24 Lit palm of the hand
  26. Daniel 5:24 Or signed, cf. 6:9-14
  27. Daniel 5:25 Or signed, cf. 6:9-14
  28. Daniel 5:25 Or a mina (50 shekels), from verb “to number”
  29. Daniel 5:25 Or a mina (50 shekels), from verb “to number”
  30. Daniel 5:25 Or a shekel, from verb “to weigh”
  31. Daniel 5:25 Or and half-shekels (sing: peres), from verb “to divide”
  32. Daniel 5:26 Lit word
  33. Daniel 5:28 Aram: Paras
  34. Daniel 5:29 Or triumvir
  35. Daniel 5:31 Ch 6:1 in Aram
Listen to Daniel 5
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Daniel 5
New American Standard Bible 1995

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 When Belshazzar tasted the wine, he gave orders to bring the gold and silver (B)vessels which Nebuchadnezzar his [b]father had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem, so that the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines might drink from 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 from 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 man’s hand emerged and began writing opposite the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace, and the king saw the [c]back of the hand that did the writing. 6 Then the king’s [d](E)face grew pale and his thoughts alarmed him, and his (F)hip joints went slack and his (G)knees began knocking together. 7 The king called aloud to bring in the (H)conjurers, the [e]Chaldeans and the diviners. The king spoke and said to the wise men of Babylon, “Any man 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 [f](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 paler, 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 spoke 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 [l]magicians, conjurers, [m]Chaldeans and diviners. 12 This was because an (S)extraordinary spirit, knowledge and insight, interpretation of dreams, explanation of enigmas 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 Handwriting on the Wall

13 Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king spoke and said to Daniel, “Are you that Daniel who is one of the [n](U)exiles from Judah, whom my father the king (V)brought from Judah? 14 Now I have heard about you that [o]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 conjurers were brought in before me that they might read this inscription and make its interpretation known to me, but they (X)could not declare the interpretation of the [p]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 [q]third ruler in the kingdom.”

17 Then Daniel answered and said before the king, “[r]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 [s]O king, the (AB)Most High God (AC)granted [t]sovereignty, (AD)grandeur, glory and majesty to Nebuchadnezzar your father. 19 Because of the grandeur which He bestowed on him, all the peoples, nations and men of every [u]language feared and trembled before him; (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 was (AF)lifted up and his spirit became so [v](AG)proud that he behaved arrogantly, he was (AH)deposed from his royal throne and his glory was taken away from him. 21 He was also (AI)driven away from [w]mankind, and his heart was made like that of beasts, 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 [x]son, Belshazzar, have (AL)not humbled your heart, [y]even though you knew all this, 23 but you have (AM)exalted yourself 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 from them; and you have praised the (AO)gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which do not see, hear or understand. But the God (AP)in whose hand are your life-breath and all your (AQ)ways, you have not glorified. 24 Then the [z](AR)hand was sent from Him and this inscription was written out.

25 “Now this is the inscription that was written out: ‘[aa]MENĒ, [ab]MENĒ, [ac]TEKĒL, [ad]UPHARSIN.’ 26 This is the interpretation of the [ae]message: ‘MENĒ’—God has numbered your kingdom and (AS)put an end to it. 27 ‘TEKĒL’—you have been (AT)weighed on the scales and found deficient. 28 ‘PERĒS’—your kingdom has been divided and given over to the (AU)Medes and [af]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 [ag]third ruler in the kingdom.

30 That same night (AW)Belshazzar the Chaldean king was (AX)slain. 31 [ah]So (AY)Darius the Mede received the kingdom at about the age of sixty-two.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Daniel 5:1 Lit made
  2. Daniel 5:2 Or forefather, and so throughout the ch
  3. Daniel 5:5 Or palm
  4. Daniel 5:6 Lit brightness changed for him
  5. Daniel 5:7 Or master astrologers
  6. Daniel 5:7 Or a triumvir
  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 5:11 Or soothsayer priests
  13. Daniel 5:11 Or master astrologers
  14. Daniel 5:13 Lit sons of the exile
  15. Daniel 5:14 Or possibly the Spirit of God
  16. Daniel 5:15 Lit word
  17. Daniel 5:16 Or triumvir
  18. Daniel 5:17 Lit Let...be for
  19. Daniel 5:18 Lit You, O king
  20. Daniel 5:18 Or the kingdom
  21. Daniel 5:19 Lit tongue
  22. Daniel 5:20 Lit strong
  23. Daniel 5:21 Lit the sons of man
  24. Daniel 5:22 Or descendant
  25. Daniel 5:22 Lit inasmuch as you
  26. Daniel 5:24 Lit palm of the hand
  27. Daniel 5:25 Or a mina (50 shekels) from verb “to number”
  28. Daniel 5:25 Or a mina (50 shekels) from verb “to number”
  29. Daniel 5:25 Or a shekel from verb “to weigh”
  30. Daniel 5:25 Or and half-shekels (sing: peres) from verb “to divide”
  31. Daniel 5:26 Lit word
  32. Daniel 5:28 Aram: Pāras
  33. Daniel 5:29 Or triumvir
  34. Daniel 5:31 Ch 6:1 in Aram
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New American Standard Bible 1995 (NASB1995)

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