Daniel 5:5-28

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 12face became pale and his thoughts alarmed him, and his 3hip joints 4loosened and his 5knees began knocking together. 7The king called aloud to bring in the 6sorcerers, the 7Chaldeans, 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 8clothed with purple and have a 9necklace of gold around his neck, and have authority as 10third ruler in the kingdom.” 8Then all the king’s wise men came in, but 11they could not read the inscription or make known its interpretation to the king. 9Then King Belshazzar was greatly 12alarmed, his 1314face grew even more pale, and his nobles were perplexed.

10The queen entered the banquet 15hall because of the words of the king and his nobles; the queen began to speak and said, “16O king, live forever! Do not let your thoughts alarm you or your 17face be pale. 11There is a 18man in your kingdom in whom is 19a 20spirit 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 2122the king--appointed him chief of the soothsayer priests, sorcerers, Chaldeans, and diviners. 12This was because an 23extraordinary spirit, knowledge and insight, interpretation of dreams, explanation of riddles, and solving of difficult problems were found in this Daniel, whom the king named 24Belteshazzar. 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 2526exiles from Judah, whom my father the king 27brought from Judah? 14Now I have heard about you that 28a spirit of the gods is in you, and that illumination, insight, and extraordinary wisdom have been found in you. 15Just now the 29wise men and the sorcerers were brought in before me to read this inscription and make its interpretation known to me, but they 30could not declare the interpretation of the 31message. 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 32interpretation known to me, you will be 33clothed 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, “34Keep your 35gifts 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. 1836O king, the 37Most High God 38granted 39sovereignty, 40greatness, honor, and majesty to Nebuchadnezzar your father. 19Now because of the greatness which He granted him, all the peoples, nations, and populations of all 41languages trembled and feared in his presence; 42whomever 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 43was 44arrogant and his spirit became so 4546overbearing that he behaved presumptuously, he was 47deposed from his royal throne, and his dignity was taken away from him. 21He was also 48driven away from 49mankind, and his heart was made like that of animals, and his dwelling place was with the 50wild donkeys. He was given grass to eat like cattle, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until he recognized that the 51Most High God is ruler over the realm of mankind, and that He sets over it whomever He wishes. 22Yet you, his 52son, Belshazzar, have 53not humbled your heart, even though you knew all this, 23but you have 54risen up against the 55Lord 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 56gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see, nor hear, nor understand. But the God 57in whose hand are your life-breath and all your 58ways, you have not glorified. 24Then the 5960hand was sent from Him and this inscription was written out.

25“Now this is the inscription that was written: ‘61Menē, 62Menē, 63Tekēl, 64Upharsin.’ 26This is the interpretation of the 65message: ‘Menē’--God has numbered your kingdom and 66put an end to it. 27‘Tekēl’--you have been 67weighed on the scales and found deficient. 28‘68Perēs’--your kingdom has been divided and given to the 69Medes and 70Persians.”