Daniel 5:5-28

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 1back of the hand that did the writing. 6Then the king’s 23face grew pale and his thoughts alarmed him, and his 4hip joints went slack and his 5knees began knocking together. 7The king called aloud to bring in the 6conjurers, the 7Chaldeans 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 8clothed with purple and have a 9necklace of gold around his neck, and have authority as 1011third ruler in the kingdom.” 8Then all the king’s wise men came in, but 12they could not read the inscription or make known its interpretation to the king. 9Then King Belshazzar was greatly 13alarmed, his 1415face grew even paler, and his nobles were perplexed.

10The queen entered the banquet 16hall because of the words of the king and his nobles; the queen spoke and said, “17O king, live forever! Do not let your thoughts alarm you or your 18face be pale. 11There is a 19man in your kingdom in whom is 20a 21spirit 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 2223the king, appointed him chief of the 24magicians, conjurers, 25Chaldeans and diviners. 12This was because an 26extraordinary spirit, knowledge and insight, interpretation of dreams, explanation of enigmas and solving of difficult problems were found in this Daniel, whom the king named 27Belteshazzar. 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 2829exiles from Judah, whom my father the king 30brought from Judah? 14Now I have heard about you that 31a spirit of the gods is in you, and that illumination, insight and extraordinary wisdom have been found in you. 15Just now the 32wise men and the conjurers were brought in before me that they might read this inscription and make its interpretation known to me, but they 33could not declare the interpretation of the 34message. 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 35interpretation known to me, you will be 36clothed with purple and wear a necklace of gold around your neck, and you will have authority as the 37third ruler in the kingdom.”

17Then Daniel answered and said before the king, “38Keep your 39gifts 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. 1840O king, the 41Most High God 42granted 43sovereignty, 44grandeur, glory and majesty to Nebuchadnezzar your father. 19Because of the grandeur which He bestowed on him, all the peoples, nations and men of every 45language feared and trembled before him; 46whomever 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 47lifted up and his spirit became so 4849proud that he behaved arrogantly, he was 50deposed from his royal throne and his glory was taken away from him. 21He was also 51driven away from 52mankind, and his heart was made like that of beasts, and his dwelling place was with the 53wild donkeys. He was given grass to eat like cattle, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven until he recognized that the 54Most High God is ruler over the realm of mankind and that He sets over it whomever He wishes. 22Yet you, his 55son, Belshazzar, have 56not humbled your heart, 57even though you knew all this, 23but you have 58exalted yourself against the 59Lord 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 60gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which do not see, hear or understand. But the God 61in whose hand are your life-breath and all your 62ways, you have not glorified. 24Then the 6364hand was sent from Him and this inscription was written out.

25“Now this is the inscription that was written out: ‘65Menē, 66Menē, 67Tekēl, 68Upharsin.’ 26This is the interpretation of the 69message: ‘Menē’--God has numbered your kingdom and 70put an end to it. 27‘Tekēl’--you have been 71weighed on the scales and found deficient. 28‘Perēs’--your kingdom has been divided and given over to the 72Medes and 73Persians.”