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: ‘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 ‘[ac]Perēs’—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.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 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: perēs) from verb “to divide”
- Daniel 5:26 Lit word
- Daniel 5:28 Or half-shekel from verb “to divide”
- Daniel 5:28 Aram: Pāras
- Daniel 5:31 Ch 6:1 in Aram
Daniel 5
Revised Standard Version
Belshazzar’s Feast
5 King Belshaz′zar made a great feast for a thousand of his lords, and drank wine in front of the thousand.
2 Belshaz′zar, when he tasted the wine, commanded that the vessels of gold and of silver which Nebuchadnez′zar his father had taken out of the temple in Jerusalem be brought, that the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them. 3 Then they brought in the golden and silver vessels[a] which had been taken out of the temple, the house of God in Jerusalem; and the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines drank from them. 4 They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.
The Writing on the Wall
5 Immediately the fingers of a man’s hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace, opposite the lampstand; and the king saw the hand as it wrote. 6 Then the king’s color changed, and his thoughts alarmed him; his limbs gave way, and his knees knocked together. 7 The king cried aloud to bring in the enchanters, the Chalde′ans, and the astrologers. The king said to the wise men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this writing, and shows me its interpretation, shall be clothed with purple, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.” 8 Then all the king’s wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or make known to the king the interpretation. 9 Then King Belshaz′zar was greatly alarmed, and his color changed; and his lords were perplexed.
10 The queen, because of the words of the king and his lords, came into the banqueting hall; and the queen said, “O king, live for ever! Let not your thoughts alarm you or your color change. 11 There is in your kingdom a man in whom is the spirit of the holy gods.[b] In the days of your father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, were found in him, and King Nebuchadnez′zar, your father, made him chief of the magicians, enchanters, Chalde′ans, and astrologers,[c] 12 because an excellent spirit, knowledge, and understanding to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve problems were found in this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshaz′zar. Now let Daniel be called, and he will show the interpretation.”
The Writing on the Wall Interpreted
13 Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king said to Daniel, “You are that Daniel, one of the exiles of Judah, whom the king my father brought from Judah. 14 I have heard of you that the spirit of the holy gods[d] is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you. 15 Now the wise men, the enchanters, have been brought in before me to read this writing and make known to me its interpretation; but they could not show the interpretation of the matter. 16 But I have heard that you can give interpretations and solve problems. 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 about your neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.”
17 Then Daniel answered before the king, “Let your gifts be for yourself, and give your rewards to another; nevertheless I will read the writing to the king and make known to him the interpretation. 18 O king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnez′zar your father kingship and greatness and glory and majesty; 19 and because of the greatness that he gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him; whom he would he slew, and whom he would he kept alive; whom he would he raised up, and whom he would he put down. 20 But when his heart was lifted up and his spirit was hardened so that he dealt proudly, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and his glory was taken from him; 21 he was driven from among men, and his mind was made like that of a beast, and his dwelling was with the wild asses; he was fed grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, until he knew that the Most High God rules the kingdom of men, and sets over it whom he will. 22 And you his son, Belshaz′zar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this, 23 but you have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven; and the vessels of his house have been brought in 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, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see or hear or know, but the God in whose hand is your breath, and whose are all your ways, you have not honored.
24 “Then from his presence the hand was sent, and this writing was inscribed. 25 And this is the writing that was inscribed: mene, mene, tekel, and parsin. 26 This is the interpretation of the matter: mene, God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end; 27 tekel, you have been weighed in the balances and found wanting; 28 peres, your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.”
29 Then Belshaz′zar commanded, and Daniel was clothed with purple, a chain of gold was put about his neck, and proclamation was made concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.
30 That very night Belshaz′zar the Chalde′an king was slain. 31 And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Daniel 5:3 Theodotion Vg: Aramaic golden vessels
- Daniel 5:11 Or Spirit of the holy God
- Daniel 5:11 Aramaic repeats the king your father
- Daniel 5:14 Or Spirit of the holy God
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Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.