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Daniel 5:13-29
New American Standard Bible

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 [a](A)exiles from Judah, whom my father the king (B)brought from Judah? 14 Now I have heard about you that [b]a spirit of the gods is in you, and that illumination, insight, and extraordinary wisdom have been found in you. 15 Just now the (C)wise men and the sorcerers were brought in before me to read this inscription and make its interpretation known to me, but they (D)could not declare the interpretation of the [c]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 (E)interpretation known to me, you will be (F)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, “[d]Keep your (G)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 [e]O king, the (H)Most High God (I)granted [f]sovereignty, (J)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 [g]languages trembled and feared in his presence; (K)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 [h]was (L)arrogant and his spirit became so [i](M)overbearing that he behaved presumptuously, he was (N)deposed from his royal throne, and his dignity was taken away from him. 21 He was also (O)driven away from [j]mankind, and his heart was made like that of animals, and his dwelling place was with the (P)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 (Q)Most High God is ruler over the realm of mankind, and that He sets over it whomever He wishes. 22 Yet you, his [k]son, Belshazzar, have (R)not humbled your heart, even though you knew all this, 23 but you have (S)risen up against the (T)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 (U)gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see, nor hear, nor understand. But the God (V)in whose hand are your life-breath and all your (W)ways, you have not glorified. 24 Then the [l](X)hand was sent from Him and this inscription was written out.

25 “Now this is the inscription that was written:

‘[m]Mene, [n]Mene, [o]Tekel, [p]Upharsin.’

26 This is the interpretation of the [q]message: ‘Mene’—God has numbered your kingdom and (Y)put an end to it. 27 ‘Tekel’—you have been (Z)weighed on the scales and found deficient. 28 ‘[r]Peres’—your kingdom has been divided and given to the (AA)Medes and [s]Persians.”

29 Then Belshazzar gave orders, and they (AB)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.

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Footnotes

  1. Daniel 5:13 Lit sons of the exile
  2. Daniel 5:14 Or possibly the Spirit of God
  3. Daniel 5:15 Lit word
  4. Daniel 5:17 Lit Let...be for
  5. Daniel 5:18 Lit You, O king
  6. Daniel 5:18 Or the kingdom
  7. Daniel 5:19 Lit tongues
  8. Daniel 5:20 Lit rose up
  9. Daniel 5:20 Lit strong
  10. Daniel 5:21 Lit the sons of mankind
  11. Daniel 5:22 Or descendant
  12. Daniel 5:24 Lit palm of the hand
  13. Daniel 5:25 Or a mina (50 shekels) from verb “to count”
  14. Daniel 5:25 Or a mina (50 shekels) from verb “to count”
  15. Daniel 5:25 Or a shekel from verb “to weigh”
  16. Daniel 5:25 Or and half-shekels (singular: peres) from verb “to divide”
  17. Daniel 5:26 Lit word
  18. Daniel 5:28 Or half-shekel from verb “to divide”
  19. Daniel 5:28 Aram: Paras
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Daniel 5:13-29
New International Version

13 So Daniel was brought before the king, and the king said to him, “Are you Daniel, one of the exiles my father the king brought from Judah?(A) 14 I have heard that the spirit of the gods(B) is in you and that you have insight, intelligence and outstanding wisdom.(C) 15 The wise men and enchanters were brought before me to read this writing and tell me what it means, but they could not explain it.(D) 16 Now I have heard that you are able to give interpretations and to solve difficult problems.(E) If you can read this writing and tell me what it means, you will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around your neck,(F) and you will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.”(G)

17 Then Daniel answered the king, “You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else.(H) Nevertheless, I will read the writing for the king and tell him what it means.

18 “Your Majesty, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar(I) sovereignty and greatness and glory and splendor.(J) 19 Because of the high position he gave him, all the nations and peoples of every language dreaded and feared him. Those the king wanted to put to death, he put to death;(K) those he wanted to spare, he spared; those he wanted to promote, he promoted; and those he wanted to humble, he humbled.(L) 20 But when his heart became arrogant and hardened with pride,(M) he was deposed from his royal throne(N) and stripped(O) of his glory.(P) 21 He was driven away from people and given the mind of an animal; he lived with the wild donkeys and ate grass like the ox; and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until he acknowledged that the Most High God is sovereign(Q) over all kingdoms on earth and sets over them anyone he wishes.(R)

22 “But you, Belshazzar, his son,[a] have not humbled(S) yourself, though you knew all this. 23 Instead, you have set yourself up against(T) the Lord of heaven. You had the goblets from his temple brought to you, and you and your nobles, your wives(U) and your concubines drank wine from them. You praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand.(V) But you did not honor the God who holds in his hand your life(W) and all your ways.(X) 24 Therefore he sent the hand that wrote the inscription.

25 “This is the inscription that was written:

mene, mene, tekel, parsin

26 “Here is what these words mean:

Mene[b]: God has numbered the days(Y) of your reign and brought it to an end.(Z)

27 Tekel[c]: You have been weighed on the scales(AA) and found wanting.(AB)

28 Peres[d]: Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes(AC) and Persians.”(AD)

29 Then at Belshazzar’s command, Daniel was clothed in purple, a gold chain was placed around his neck,(AE) and he was proclaimed the third highest ruler in the kingdom.(AF)

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Footnotes

  1. Daniel 5:22 Or descendant; or successor
  2. Daniel 5:26 Mene can mean numbered or mina (a unit of money).
  3. Daniel 5:27 Tekel can mean weighed or shekel.
  4. Daniel 5:28 Peres (the singular of Parsin) can mean divided or Persia or a half mina or a half shekel.
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