Daniel 5:10-29

10The queen entered the banquet 1hall because of the words of the king and his nobles; the queen spoke and said, “2O king, live forever! Do not let your thoughts alarm you or your 3face be pale. 11There is a 4man in your kingdom in whom is 5a 6spirit 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 78the king, appointed him chief of the 9magicians, conjurers, 10Chaldeans and diviners. 12This was because an 11extraordinary spirit, knowledge and insight, interpretation of dreams, explanation of enigmas and solving of difficult problems were found in this Daniel, whom the king named 12Belteshazzar. Let Daniel now be summoned and he will declare the interpretation.”

13Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king spoke and said to Daniel, “Are you that Daniel who is one of the 1314exiles from Judah, whom my father the king 15brought from Judah? 14Now I have heard about you that 16a spirit of the gods is in you, and that illumination, insight and extraordinary wisdom have been found in you. 15Just now the 17wise men and the conjurers were brought in before me that they might read this inscription and make its interpretation known to me, but they 18could not declare the interpretation of the 19message. 16But 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 20interpretation known to me, you will be 21clothed with purple and wear a necklace of gold around your neck, and you will have authority as the 22third ruler in the kingdom.”

17Then Daniel answered and said before the king, “23Keep your 24gifts 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. 1825O king, the 26Most High God 27granted 28sovereignty, 29grandeur, glory and majesty to Nebuchadnezzar your father. 19Because of the grandeur which He bestowed on him, all the peoples, nations and men of every 30language feared and trembled before him; 31whomever he wished he killed and whomever he wished he spared alive; and whomever he wished he elevated and whomever he wished he humbled. 20But when his heart was 32lifted up and his spirit became so 3334proud that he behaved arrogantly, he was 35deposed from his royal throne and his glory was taken away from him. 21He was also 36driven away from 37mankind, and his heart was made like that of beasts, and his dwelling place was with the 38wild donkeys. He was given grass to eat like cattle, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven until he recognized that the 39Most High God is ruler over the realm of mankind and that He sets over it whomever He wishes. 22Yet you, his 40son, Belshazzar, have 41not humbled your heart, 42even though you knew all this, 23but you have 43exalted yourself against the 44Lord 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 45gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which do not see, hear or understand. But the God 46in whose hand are your life-breath and all your 47ways, you have not glorified. 24Then the 4849hand was sent from Him and this inscription was written out.

25“Now this is the inscription that was written out: ‘50Menē, 51Menē, 52Tekēl, 53Upharsin.’ 26This is the interpretation of the 54message: ‘Menē’--God has numbered your kingdom and 55put an end to it. 27‘Tekēl’--you have been 56weighed on the scales and found deficient. 28‘Perēs’--your kingdom has been divided and given over to the 57Medes and 58Persians.”

29Then Belshazzar gave orders, and they 59clothed 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 60third ruler in the kingdom.