Daniel 5:4-29

4They 1drank the wine and praised the gods of 2gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone.

5Suddenly 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 3back of the hand that did the writing. 6Then the king’s 45face grew pale and his thoughts alarmed him, and his 6hip joints went slack and his 7knees began knocking together. 7The king called aloud to bring in the 8conjurers, the 9Chaldeans 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 10clothed with purple and have a 11necklace of gold around his neck, and have authority as 1213third ruler in the kingdom.” 8Then all the king’s wise men came in, but 14they could not read the inscription or make known its interpretation to the king. 9Then King Belshazzar was greatly 15alarmed, his 1617face grew even paler, and his nobles were perplexed.

10The queen entered the banquet 18hall because of the words of the king and his nobles; the queen spoke and said, “19O king, live forever! Do not let your thoughts alarm you or your 20face be pale. 11There is a 21man in your kingdom in whom is 22a 23spirit 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 2425the king, appointed him chief of the 26magicians, conjurers, 27Chaldeans and diviners. 12This was because an 28extraordinary spirit, knowledge and insight, interpretation of dreams, explanation of enigmas and solving of difficult problems were found in this Daniel, whom the king named 29Belteshazzar. 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 3031exiles from Judah, whom my father the king 32brought from Judah? 14Now I have heard about you that 33a spirit of the gods is in you, and that illumination, insight and extraordinary wisdom have been found in you. 15Just now the 34wise men and the conjurers were brought in before me that they might read this inscription and make its interpretation known to me, but they 35could not declare the interpretation of the 36message. 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 37interpretation known to me, you will be 38clothed with purple and wear a necklace of gold around your neck, and you will have authority as the 39third ruler in the kingdom.”

17Then Daniel answered and said before the king, “40Keep your 41gifts 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. 1842O king, the 43Most High God 44granted 45sovereignty, 46grandeur, glory and majesty to Nebuchadnezzar your father. 19Because of the grandeur which He bestowed on him, all the peoples, nations and men of every 47language feared and trembled before him; 48whomever 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 49lifted up and his spirit became so 5051proud that he behaved arrogantly, he was 52deposed from his royal throne and his glory was taken away from him. 21He was also 53driven away from 54mankind, and his heart was made like that of beasts, and his dwelling place was with the 55wild donkeys. He was given grass to eat like cattle, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven until he recognized that the 56Most High God is ruler over the realm of mankind and that He sets over it whomever He wishes. 22Yet you, his 57son, Belshazzar, have 58not humbled your heart, 59even though you knew all this, 23but you have 60exalted yourself against the 61Lord 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 62gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which do not see, hear or understand. But the God 63in whose hand are your life-breath and all your 64ways, you have not glorified. 24Then the 6566hand was sent from Him and this inscription was written out.

25“Now this is the inscription that was written out: ‘67Menē, 68Menē, 69Tekēl, 70Upharsin.’ 26This is the interpretation of the 71message: ‘Menē’--God has numbered your kingdom and 72put an end to it. 27‘Tekēl’--you have been 73weighed on the scales and found deficient. 28‘Perēs’--your kingdom has been divided and given over to the 74Medes and 75Persians.”

29Then Belshazzar gave orders, and they 76clothed 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 77third ruler in the kingdom.