Daniel 5:7-29

7The king called aloud to bring in the 1sorcerers, the 2Chaldeans, 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 3clothed with purple and have a 4necklace of gold around his neck, and have authority as 5third ruler in the kingdom.” 8Then all the king’s wise men came in, but 6they could not read the inscription or make known its interpretation to the king. 9Then King Belshazzar was greatly 7alarmed, his 89face grew even more pale, and his nobles were perplexed.

10The queen entered the banquet 10hall because of the words of the king and his nobles; the queen began to speak and said, “11O king, live forever! Do not let your thoughts alarm you or your 12face be pale. 11There is a 13man in your kingdom in whom is 14a 15spirit 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 1617the king--appointed him chief of the soothsayer priests, sorcerers, Chaldeans, and diviners. 12This was because an 18extraordinary spirit, knowledge and insight, interpretation of dreams, explanation of riddles, and solving of difficult problems were found in this Daniel, whom the king named 19Belteshazzar. 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 2021exiles from Judah, whom my father the king 22brought from Judah? 14Now I have heard about you that 23a spirit of the gods is in you, and that illumination, insight, and extraordinary wisdom have been found in you. 15Just now the 24wise men and the sorcerers were brought in before me to read this inscription and make its interpretation known to me, but they 25could not declare the interpretation of the 26message. 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 27interpretation known to me, you will be 28clothed 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, “29Keep your 30gifts 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. 1831O king, the 32Most High God 33granted 34sovereignty, 35greatness, honor, and majesty to Nebuchadnezzar your father. 19Now because of the greatness which He granted him, all the peoples, nations, and populations of all 36languages trembled and feared in his presence; 37whomever 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 38was 39arrogant and his spirit became so 4041overbearing that he behaved presumptuously, he was 42deposed from his royal throne, and his dignity was taken away from him. 21He was also 43driven away from 44mankind, and his heart was made like that of animals, and his dwelling place was with the 45wild donkeys. He was given grass to eat like cattle, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until he recognized that the 46Most High God is ruler over the realm of mankind, and that He sets over it whomever He wishes. 22Yet you, his 47son, Belshazzar, have 48not humbled your heart, even though you knew all this, 23but you have 49risen up against the 50Lord 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 51gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see, nor hear, nor understand. But the God 52in whose hand are your life-breath and all your 53ways, you have not glorified. 24Then the 5455hand was sent from Him and this inscription was written out.

25“Now this is the inscription that was written: ‘56Menē, 57Menē, 58Tekēl, 59Upharsin.’ 26This is the interpretation of the 60message: ‘Menē’--God has numbered your kingdom and 61put an end to it. 27‘Tekēl’--you have been 62weighed on the scales and found deficient. 28‘63Perēs’--your kingdom has been divided and given to the 64Medes and 65Persians.”

29Then Belshazzar gave orders, and they 66clothed 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.