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 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. 6Then the king’s 34face became pale and his thoughts alarmed him, and his 5hip joints 6loosened and his 7knees began knocking together. 7The king called aloud to bring in the 8sorcerers, the 9Chaldeans, 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 10clothed with purple and have a 11necklace of gold around his neck, and have authority as 12third ruler in the kingdom.” 8Then all the king’s wise men came in, but 13they could not read the inscription or make known its interpretation to the king. 9Then King Belshazzar was greatly 14alarmed, his 1516face grew even more pale, and his nobles were perplexed.

10The queen entered the banquet 17hall because of the words of the king and his nobles; the queen began to speak and said, “18O king, live forever! Do not let your thoughts alarm you or your 19face be pale. 11There is a 20man in your kingdom in whom is 21a 22spirit 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 2324the king--appointed him chief of the soothsayer priests, sorcerers, Chaldeans, and diviners. 12This was because an 25extraordinary spirit, knowledge and insight, interpretation of dreams, explanation of riddles, and solving of difficult problems were found in this Daniel, whom the king named 26Belteshazzar. Let Daniel now be summoned and he will declare the interpretation.”

13Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king began speaking and said to Daniel, “Are you that Daniel who is one of the 2728exiles from Judah, whom my father the king 29brought from Judah? 14Now I have heard about you that 30a spirit of the gods is in you, and that illumination, insight, and extraordinary wisdom have been found in you. 15Just now the 31wise men and the sorcerers were brought in before me to read this inscription and make its interpretation known to me, but they 32could not declare the interpretation of the 33message. 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 34interpretation known to me, you will be 35clothed with purple and wear a necklace of gold around your neck, and you will have authority as the third ruler in the kingdom.”

17Then Daniel replied and said before the king, “36Keep your 37gifts 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. 1838O king, the 39Most High God 40granted 41sovereignty, 42greatness, honor, and majesty to Nebuchadnezzar your father. 19Now because of the greatness which He granted him, all the peoples, nations, and populations of all 43languages trembled and feared in his presence; 44whomever 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 45was 46arrogant and his spirit became so 4748overbearing that he behaved presumptuously, he was 49deposed from his royal throne, and his dignity was taken away from him. 21He was also 50driven away from 51mankind, and his heart was made like that of animals, and his dwelling place was with the 52wild donkeys. He was given grass to eat like cattle, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until he recognized that the 53Most High God is ruler over the realm of mankind, and that He sets over it whomever He wishes. 22Yet you, his 54son, Belshazzar, have 55not humbled your heart, even though you knew all this, 23but you have 56risen up against the 57Lord 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 58gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see, nor hear, nor understand. But the God 59in whose hand are your life-breath and all your 60ways, you have not glorified. 24Then the 6162hand was sent from Him and this inscription was written out.

25“Now this is the inscription that was written: ‘63Menē, 64Menē, 65Tekēl, 66Upharsin.’ 26This is the interpretation of the 67message: ‘Menē’--God has numbered your kingdom and 68put an end to it. 27‘Tekēl’--you have been 69weighed on the scales and found deficient. 28‘70Perēs’--your kingdom has been divided and given to the 71Medes and 72Persians.”

29Then Belshazzar gave orders, and they 73clothed 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.