BibleStudyIt - Daniel 5 | Bible Study It

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Belshazzar's big party ^{[ a ]}

5 King Belshazzar gave a big party for 1,000 important people in his country. He drank wine with all of them. ² When he had drunk a lot of wine, he spoke to his servants. He commanded them to bring the valuable gold and silver cups, so that the people could drink from them. His father, King Nebuchadnezzar, had taken those cups from God's temple in Jerusalem. King Belshazzar wanted to drink from them, as well as his important friends, his wives and his other women. ³ So his servants brought the gold and silver cups that had come from God's temple in Jerusalem. Then the king, his wives, his other women and all the important people drank wine from those cups. ⁴ While they drank the wine, they praised their gods. Their gods were idols that were made from gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood and stone.

A hand writes on the wall

⁵ While they were doing that, the fingers of a human hand appeared. They wrote on the wall of the king's palace, near the light that stood in the room. The king watched the hand while it wrote. ⁶ When he saw it, his face became white. He was very afraid. His knees shook and his legs became weak.

⁷ The king called for his enchanters, his wise men and his diviners to come. ^{[ b ]} When they arrived, the king said to them, ‘Who can read these words? Who can tell me what they mean? Whoever can do that, I will make him great. I will put valuable purple clothes on him and he will have a gold chain around his neck. I will make him the third ruler in the kingdom.’ ^{[ c ]}

⁸ Then all the king's wise men came in, but they could not read the words. They could not tell the king what the words meant. ⁹ So King Belshazzar became even more afraid. His face became even whiter. His officers did not know what to do.

The queen tells Belshazzar about Daniel ^{[ d ]}

¹⁰ The king's mother heard the voices of the king and his officers. So she came into the room where they were having the party. She said to the king, ‘King, live for ever! Do not be afraid. Do not shake with fear! ¹¹ There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him. When your father was alive, this man showed that he was very wise, like the gods. He could understand secret things. Your father, Nebuchadnezzar, made him the leader of all the magicians, wise men, enchanters and diviners. ¹² His name was Daniel, but the king called him Belteshazzar. He was very clever and he knew many things. He could explain what dreams mean. He could find the answer to difficult problems. Send somebody to bring Daniel here. He will tell you what these words mean.’

Belshazzar asks Daniel to explain the message

¹³ So they brought Daniel to stand in front of the king. The king said to him, ‘Are you one of the men that my father, the king, brought here from Judah? Is your name Daniel? ¹⁴ I have heard that the spirit of the gods is in you. You are very wise and clever. I have heard that you understand many things. ¹⁵ I told my wise men and enchanters to read these words. I asked them to tell me what the words mean. But they could not explain the message to me. ¹⁶ I have heard that you can tell people what their dreams mean. And I have heard that you can find the answer to difficult problems. So can you read these words? Can you tell me what they mean? If you can do that, then I will put valuable purple clothes on you. You will have a gold chain around your neck. You will become the third ruler in the kingdom.’

Daniel warns the king

¹⁷ Then Daniel answered the king, ‘You can keep your gifts for yourself. You can make someone else important. But I will read the words for the king, and I will tell him what they mean. ¹⁸ I tell you this, King Belshazzar. The powerful God who rules over everything gave authority to your father, Nebuchadnezzar, to rule as king. God made him very great and very famous, so that he ruled with power. People respected him as a great king. ¹⁹ Because God made him so great, the people in every nation, who spoke every language, were very afraid of him. If he wanted to kill someone, he could kill them. And if he wanted to save someone, he could let them live. If he wanted to make someone important, he did that. And if he wanted to make someone poor, he did that too. ²⁰ But he became very proud and he boasted about his power. So God took away his kingdom. People did not respect him any longer as king. ²¹ They chased him away from his home. His mind became like an animal's mind. He lived with the wild donkeys. He ate grass like cows do. Dew from the sky made his body wet. He lived in that way until he understood that the powerful God above rules over human kingdoms. God gives authority to rule to anyone that he chooses.

²² King Belshazzar, you are Nebuchadnezzar's son, and you knew all that. But you did not become humble. ²³ You thought that you were greater than the Lord of heaven. So you told your servants to bring the valuable cups that belong to God's temple. You yourself, your wives, your other women and your important friends drank wine from those cups. You praised your gods that were made from silver, gold, bronze, iron, wood and stone. Those are idols that cannot see or hear. They cannot understand anything. But you worshipped them instead of the true God. He is the God who gives life to you. He has power over everything that you do. ²⁴ Because of that, God sent the hand that wrote this message.

²⁵ These are the words:

Mene, Mene, Tekel and Parsin.

²⁶ This is what the words mean:

Mene means “counted”. It shows that God has counted the days of your kingdom. Now these days are finished. Your kingdom has come to an end.

²⁷ Tekel means “weighed”. It shows that God has weighed you. But the scales show that you are too light.

²⁸ Peres means “separate”. ^{[ e ]} It shows that God has cut your kingdom into two separate parts. He has given it to the people from Media and Persia.’

²⁹ When Belshazzar heard that, he caused his servants to put purple clothes on Daniel. They put a gold chain round his neck to show that he was an important person. The king told everyone that Daniel had become the third ruler in the kingdom.

³⁰ That same night, Belshazzar, the king of the Babylonians, died. His enemies killed him. ³¹ Then Darius from Media received power as king. He was 62 years old.

Footnotes

5:1 Nebuchadnezzar had died. Now Belshazzar was the king. He ruled under the authority of Nabonidus, but Nabonidus did not live in Babylon.
5:7 An enchanter tries to make things happen by speaking magic words.
5:7 Belshazzar was probably the second ruler, under the authority of Nabonidus.
5:10 This queen was probably Belshazzar's mother, or Nabonidus's wife. She knew things about Daniel that the king did not know.
5:28 Parsin and Peres are the same word. Peres is for one (singular) and Parsin is for many (plural). Peres also sounds like Persia . Persia was the country that we call Iran today.

The Writing on the Wall

5 King Belshazzar gave a big party for 1000 of his officials. The king was drinking wine with them. ² As Belshazzar was drinking his wine, he ordered his servants to bring the gold and silver cups. His grandfather ^{[ a ]} Nebuchadnezzar had taken these cups from the Temple in Jerusalem. King Belshazzar wanted his royal people, his wives, and his slave women to drink from those cups. ³ So they brought the gold cups that had been taken from the Temple of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his officials, his wives, and his women slaves drank from them. ⁴ As they were drinking, they gave praise to their idol gods, which were only statues made from gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.

⁵ Suddenly, a person’s hand appeared and began writing on the wall. The fingers scratched words into the plaster on the wall, near the lampstand in the king’s palace. The king was watching the hand as it wrote.

⁶ King Belshazzar was very afraid. His face became white from fear, and his knees were shaking and knocking together. He could not stand up because his legs were too weak. ⁷ The king called for the men of magic and the Chaldeans to be brought to him. He said to these wise men, “I will give a reward to anyone who can read this writing and explain to me what it means. I will give him purple robes ^{[ b ]} to wear and will put a gold chain around his neck. I will make him the third highest ruler in the kingdom.”

⁸ So all the king’s wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or understand what it meant. ⁹ King Belshazzar’s officials were confused, and the king became even more afraid and worried. His face was white from fear.

¹⁰ Then the king’s mother came into the place where the party was. She had heard the voices of the king and his royal officials. She said, “King, may you live forever! Don’t be afraid! Don’t let your face be so white with fear! ¹¹ There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him. In the days of your father, this man showed that he could understand secrets. He showed that he was very smart and very wise. He showed that he was like the gods in these things. Your grandfather, King Nebuchadnezzar, put this man in charge of all the wise men. He ruled over all the men of magic and the Chaldeans. ¹² The man I am talking about is named Daniel. The king gave him the name Belteshazzar. He is very smart and he knows many things. He could interpret dreams, explain secrets, and find the answer to very hard problems. Call for Daniel, he will tell you what the writing on the wall means.”

¹³ So they brought Daniel to the king and he asked, “Is your name Daniel, one of the captives my father the king brought here from Judah? ¹⁴ I have heard that the spirit of the gods is in you and that you understand secrets and are very smart and very wise. ¹⁵ The wise men and the men of magic were brought to me to read this writing on the wall. I wanted them to explain to me what it means, but they could not explain it. ¹⁶ I have heard that you are able to explain what things mean, and that you can find the answer to very hard problems. If you can read this writing on the wall and explain to me what it means, this is what I will do for you: I will give you purple robes to wear and will put a gold chain around your neck. Then you will become the third highest ruler in the kingdom.”

¹⁷ Then Daniel answered the king, “King Belshazzar, you can keep your gifts for yourself, or you can give them to someone else. But I will still read the writing on the wall for you and explain what it means.

¹⁸ “King, God Most High made your grandfather Nebuchadnezzar a very great and powerful king and gave him great wealth. ¹⁹ People from many nations and language groups were very afraid of Nebuchadnezzar because God made him a very powerful king. Nebuchadnezzar killed whoever he wanted and let those who pleased him live. If he wanted to make people important, he made them important. If he wanted to bring them down, he brought them down.

²⁰ “But Nebuchadnezzar became proud and stubborn, so his power was taken away from him. He was taken off his royal throne and stripped of his glory. ²¹ Then Nebuchadnezzar was forced to go away from people. His mind became like the mind of an animal. He lived with the wild donkeys and ate grass like an ox. He became wet with dew. These things happened to him until he learned his lesson. He learned that God Most High rules over human kingdoms, and he gives them to whoever he wants.

²² “But Belshazzar, you already knew this. You are Nebuchadnezzar’s grandson, ^{[ c ]} but still you have not made yourself humble. ²³ No, you did not become humble. Instead, you have turned against the Lord of heaven. You ordered the drinking cups from his Temple to be brought to you. Then you and your royal officials, your wives, and your slave women drank wine from those cups. You gave praise to the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone. They are not really gods; they cannot see or hear or understand anything. But you did not give honor to the God who has the power over your life and everything you do. ²⁴ So because of that, God sent the hand that wrote on the wall. ²⁵ These are the words that were written on the wall:

mene, mene, tekel, uparsin .

²⁶ “This is what these words mean:

Mene ^{[ d ]} :
God has counted the days until your kingdom will end.
²⁷ Tekel ^{[ e ]} :
You have been weighed on the scales and found not good enough.
²⁸ Uparsin ^{[ f ]} :
Your kingdom is being taken from you.
It will be divided among the Medes and Persians.”

²⁹ Then Belshazzar gave an order for Daniel to be dressed in purple clothes. A gold chain was put around his neck, and he was appointed the third highest ruler in the kingdom. ³⁰ That very same night, Belshazzar, king of the Babylonians, was killed. ³¹ A man named Darius the Mede became the new king. Darius was about 62 years old.

Footnotes

Daniel 5:2 grandfather Or “father.” It is uncertain that Belshazzar was really Nebuchadnezzar’s grandson. Here, the word “father” might only mean “the previous king.” Also in verses 11, 18.
Daniel 5:7 purple robes These clothes showed that a person was rich and powerful, like a king. Also in verses 16, 29.
Daniel 5:22 grandson Or “son.” This does not necessarily mean they were from the same family. It might only mean that Belshazzar was one of the kings of Babylon after Nebuchadnezzar was king.
Daniel 5:26 Mene A weight, like the Hebrew word “mina.” This is like the word “to count.”
Daniel 5:27 Tekel A weight, like the Hebrew word “shekel.” This word is like the word meaning “to weigh.”
Daniel 5:28 Uparsin Literally, “ peres ,” a weight. This word is like the word meaning “to divide” or “to split.” It is also like the name of the country of Persia.

5 Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand.

² Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein.

³ Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them.

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

⁵ In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the king's palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.

⁶ Then the king's countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another.

⁷ The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. And the king spake, and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and shew me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.

⁸ Then came in all the king's wise men: but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof.

⁹ Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were astonied.

¹⁰ Now the queen by reason of the words of the king and his lords came into the banquet house: and the queen spake and said, O king, live for ever: let not thy thoughts trouble thee, nor let thy countenance be changed:

¹¹ There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, I say, thy father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers;

¹² Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will shew the interpretation.

¹³ Then was Daniel brought in before the king. And the king spake and said unto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel, which art of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Jewry?

¹⁴ I have even heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee.

¹⁵ And now the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing, and make known unto me the interpretation thereof: but they could not shew the interpretation of the thing:

¹⁶ And I have heard of thee, that thou canst make interpretations, and dissolve doubts: now if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom.

¹⁷ Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation.

¹⁸ O thou king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honour:

¹⁹ And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down.

²⁰ But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him:

²¹ And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it whomsoever he will.

²² And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this;

²³ But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified:

²⁴ Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written.

²⁵ And this is the writing that was written, Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin .

²⁶ This is the interpretation of the thing: Mene ; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it.

²⁷ Tekel ; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.

²⁸ Peres ; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.

²⁹ Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with scarlet, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.

³⁰ In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain.

³¹ And Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old.

Belshazzar’s Feast

5 Belshazzar the king ^{[ a ]} held a great ^{( A )} feast for a thousand of his nobles, and he was drinking wine in the presence of the thousand. ² ^{[ b ]} While he tasted the wine, Belshazzar gave orders to bring the gold and silver ^{( B )} vessels which his ^{[ c ]} father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem, so that the king and his nobles, his wives, and his concubines could drink out of them. ³ Then they brought the gold vessels that had been taken out of the temple, the house of God which was in Jerusalem; and the king and his nobles, his wives, and his concubines drank out of them. ⁴ They ^{( C )} drank the wine and praised the gods of ^{( D )} gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone.

⁵ Suddenly 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. ⁶ Then the king’s ^{[ d ]} ^{( E )} face became pale and his thoughts alarmed him, and his ^{( F )} hip joints ^{[ e ]} loosened and his ^{( G )} knees began knocking together. ⁷ The king called aloud to bring in the ^{( H )} sorcerers, the ^{[ f ]} Chaldeans, 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 ^{( I )} clothed with purple and have a ^{( J )} necklace of gold around his neck, and have authority as ^{( K )} third ruler in the kingdom.” ⁸ Then all the king’s wise men came in, but ^{( L )} they could not read the inscription or make known its interpretation to the king. ⁹ Then King Belshazzar was greatly ^{( M )} alarmed, his ^{[ g ]} ^{( N )} face grew even more pale, and his nobles were perplexed.

¹⁰ The queen entered the banquet ^{[ h ]} hall because of the words of the king and his nobles; the queen began to speak and said, “ ^{( O )} O king, live forever! Do not let your thoughts alarm you or your ^{[ i ]} face be pale. ¹¹ There is a ^{( P )} man in your kingdom in whom is ^{[ j ]} a ^{( Q )} spirit 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 ^{[ k ]} ^{( R )} the king—appointed him chief of the soothsayer priests, sorcerers, Chaldeans, and diviners. ¹² This was because an ^{( S )} extraordinary spirit, knowledge and insight, interpretation of dreams, explanation of riddles, and solving of difficult problems were found in this Daniel, whom the king named ^{( T )} Belteshazzar. Let Daniel now be summoned and he will declare the interpretation.”

Daniel Interprets the Handwriting on the Wall

¹³ Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king began speaking and said to Daniel, “Are you that Daniel who is one of the ^{[ l ]} ^{( U )} exiles from Judah, whom my father the king ^{( V )} brought from Judah? ¹⁴ Now I have heard about you that ^{[ m ]} a spirit of the gods is in you, and that illumination, insight, and extraordinary wisdom have been found in you. ¹⁵ Just now the ^{( W )} wise men and the sorcerers were brought in before me to read this inscription and make its interpretation known to me, but they ^{( X )} could not declare the interpretation of the ^{[ n ]} message. ¹⁶ But 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 ^{( Y )} interpretation known to me, you will be ^{( Z )} clothed with purple and wear a necklace of gold around your neck, and you will have authority as the third ruler in the kingdom.”

¹⁷ Then Daniel replied and said before the king, “ ^{[ o ]} Keep your ^{( AA )} gifts 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. ¹⁸ ^{[ p ]} O king, the ^{( AB )} Most High God ^{( AC )} granted ^{[ q ]} sovereignty, ^{( AD )} greatness, honor, and majesty to Nebuchadnezzar your father. ¹⁹ Now because of the greatness which He granted him, all the peoples, nations, and populations of all ^{[ r ]} languages trembled and feared in his presence; ^{( AE )} whomever he wished, he killed, and whomever he wished, he spared alive; and whomever he wished he elevated, and whomever he wished he humbled. ²⁰ But when his heart ^{[ s ]} was ^{( AF )} arrogant and his spirit became so ^{[ t ]} ^{( AG )} overbearing that he behaved presumptuously, he was ^{( AH )} deposed from his royal throne, and his dignity was taken away from him. ²¹ He was also ^{( AI )} driven away from ^{[ u ]} mankind, and his heart was made like that of animals, and his dwelling place was with the ^{( AJ )} wild donkeys. He was given grass to eat like cattle, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until he recognized that the ^{( AK )} Most High God is ruler over the realm of mankind, and that He sets over it whomever He wishes. ²² Yet you, his ^{[ v ]} son, Belshazzar, have ^{( AL )} not humbled your heart, even though you knew all this, ²³ but you have ^{( AM )} risen up against the ^{( AN )} Lord 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 ^{( AO )} gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see, nor hear, nor understand. But the God ^{( AP )} in whose hand are your life-breath and all your ^{( AQ )} ways, you have not glorified. ²⁴ Then the ^{[ w ]} ^{( AR )} hand was sent from Him and this inscription was written out.

²⁵ “Now this is the inscription that was written:

‘ ^{[ x ]} Menē , ^{[ y ]} Menē , ^{[ z ]} Tekēl , ^{[ aa ]} Upharsin .’

²⁶ This is the interpretation of the ^{[ ab ]} message: ‘ Menē ’—God has numbered your kingdom and ^{( AS )} put an end to it. ²⁷ ‘ Tekēl ’—you have been ^{( AT )} weighed on the scales and found deficient. ²⁸ ‘ ^{[ ac ]} Perēs ’—your kingdom has been divided and given to the ^{( AU )} Medes and ^{[ ad ]} Persians.”

²⁹ Then Belshazzar gave orders, and they ^{( AV )} clothed 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.

³⁰ That same night ^{( AW )} Belshazzar the Chaldean king was ^{( AX )} killed. ³¹ ^{[ ae ]} So ^{( AY )} Darius the Mede received the kingdom at about the age of sixty-two.

Footnotes

Daniel 5:1 Lit made
Daniel 5:2 Or Under the influence of the wine
Daniel 5:2 Or forefather , and so throughout the ch
Daniel 5:6 Lit brightness changed for him
Daniel 5:6 Or shook
Daniel 5:7 I.e., probably master astrologers, diviners, etc., and so throughout the ch
Daniel 5:9 Lit brightness was changing upon him
Daniel 5:10 Lit house
Daniel 5:10 Lit brightness be changed
Daniel 5:11 Or possibly the Spirit of the holy God
Daniel 5:11 Or O king
Daniel 5:13 Lit sons of the exile
Daniel 5:14 Or possibly the Spirit of God
Daniel 5:15 Lit word
Daniel 5:17 Lit Let...be for
Daniel 5:18 Lit You, O king
Daniel 5:18 Or the kingdom
Daniel 5:19 Lit tongues
Daniel 5:20 Lit rose up
Daniel 5:20 Lit strong
Daniel 5:21 Lit the sons of mankind
Daniel 5:22 Or descendant
Daniel 5:24 Lit palm of the hand
Daniel 5:25 Or a mina (50 shekels) from verb “to count”
Daniel 5:25 Or a mina (50 shekels) from verb “to count”
Daniel 5:25 Or a shekel from verb “to weigh”
Daniel 5:25 Or and half-shekels (singular: perēs ) from verb “to divide”
Daniel 5:26 Lit word
Daniel 5:28 Or half-shekel from verb “to divide”
Daniel 5:28 Aram: Pāras
Daniel 5:31 Ch 6:1 in Aram

The Writing on the Wall

5 King Belshazzar ^{( A )} gave a great banquet ^{( B )} for a thousand of his nobles ^{( C )} and drank wine with them. ² While Belshazzar was drinking ^{( D )} his wine, he gave orders to bring in the gold and silver goblets ^{( E )} that Nebuchadnezzar his father ^{[ a ]} had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines ^{( F )} might drink from them. ^{( G )} ³ So they brought in the gold goblets that had been taken from the temple of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines drank from them. ⁴ As they drank the wine, they praised the gods ^{( H )} of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone. ^{( I )}

⁵ Suddenly the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand in the royal palace. The king watched the hand as it wrote. ⁶ His face turned pale ^{( J )} and he was so frightened ^{( K )} that his legs became weak ^{( L )} and his knees were knocking. ^{( M )}

⁷ The king summoned the enchanters, ^{( N )} astrologers ^{[ b ]} ^{( O )} and diviners. ^{( P )} Then he said to these wise ^{( Q )} men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this writing and tells me what it means will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around his neck, ^{( R )} and he will be made the third ^{( S )} highest ruler in the kingdom.” ^{( T )}

⁸ Then all the king’s wise men ^{( U )} came in, but they could not read the writing or tell the king what it meant. ^{( V )} ⁹ So King Belshazzar became even more terrified ^{( W )} and his face grew more pale. His nobles were baffled.

¹⁰ The queen, ^{[ c ]} hearing the voices of the king and his nobles, came into the banquet hall. “May the king live forever!” ^{( X )} she said. “Don’t be alarmed! Don’t look so pale! ¹¹ There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods ^{( Y )} in him. In the time of your father he was found to have insight and intelligence and wisdom ^{( Z )} like that of the gods. ^{( AA )} Your father, King Nebuchadnezzar, appointed him chief of the magicians, enchanters, astrologers and diviners. ^{( AB )} ¹² He did this because Daniel, whom the king called Belteshazzar, ^{( AC )} was found to have a keen mind and knowledge and understanding, and also the ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles ^{( AD )} and solve difficult problems. ^{( AE )} Call for Daniel, and he will tell you what the writing means. ^{( AF )} ”

¹³ So Daniel was brought before the king, and the king said to him, “Are you Daniel, one of the exiles my father the king brought from Judah? ^{( AG )} ¹⁴ I have heard that the spirit of the gods ^{( AH )} is in you and that you have insight, intelligence and outstanding wisdom. ^{( AI )} ¹⁵ The wise men and enchanters were brought before me to read this writing and tell me what it means, but they could not explain it. ^{( AJ )} ¹⁶ Now I have heard that you are able to give interpretations and to solve difficult problems. ^{( AK )} If you can read this writing and tell me what it means, you will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around your neck, ^{( AL )} and you will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.” ^{( AM )}

¹⁷ Then Daniel answered the king, “You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else. ^{( AN )} Nevertheless, I will read the writing for the king and tell him what it means.

¹⁸ “Your Majesty, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar ^{( AO )} sovereignty and greatness and glory and splendor. ^{( AP )} ¹⁹ Because of the high position he gave him, all the nations and peoples of every language dreaded and feared him. Those the king wanted to put to death, he put to death; ^{( AQ )} those he wanted to spare, he spared; those he wanted to promote, he promoted; and those he wanted to humble, he humbled. ^{( AR )} ²⁰ But when his heart became arrogant and hardened with pride, ^{( AS )} he was deposed from his royal throne ^{( AT )} and stripped ^{( AU )} of his glory. ^{( AV )} ²¹ He was driven away from people and given the mind of an animal; he lived with the wild donkeys and ate grass like the ox; and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until he acknowledged that the Most High God is sovereign ^{( AW )} over all kingdoms on earth and sets over them anyone he wishes. ^{( AX )}

²² “But you, Belshazzar, his son, ^{[ d ]} have not humbled ^{( AY )} yourself, though you knew all this. ²³ Instead, you have set yourself up against ^{( AZ )} the Lord of heaven. You had the goblets from his temple brought to you, and you and your nobles, your wives ^{( BA )} and your concubines drank wine from them. You praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. ^{( BB )} But you did not honor the God who holds in his hand your life ^{( BC )} and all your ways. ^{( BD )} ²⁴ Therefore he sent the hand that wrote the inscription.

²⁵ “This is the inscription that was written:

mene, mene, tekel, parsin

²⁶ “Here is what these words mean:

Mene ^{[ e ]} : God has numbered the days ^{( BE )} of your reign and brought it to an end. ^{( BF )}

²⁷ Tekel ^{[ f ]} : You have been weighed on the scales ^{( BG )} and found wanting. ^{( BH )}

²⁸ Peres ^{[ g ]} : Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes ^{( BI )} and Persians.” ^{( BJ )}

²⁹ Then at Belshazzar’s command, Daniel was clothed in purple, a gold chain was placed around his neck, ^{( BK )} and he was proclaimed the third highest ruler in the kingdom. ^{( BL )}

³⁰ That very night Belshazzar, ^{( BM )} king ^{( BN )} of the Babylonians, ^{[ h ]} was slain, ^{( BO )} ³¹ and Darius ^{( BP )} the Mede ^{( BQ )} took over the kingdom, at the age of sixty-two. ^{[ i ]}

Footnotes

Daniel 5:2 Or ancestor ; or predecessor ; also in verses 11, 13 and 18
Daniel 5:7 Or Chaldeans ; also in verse 11
Daniel 5:10 Or queen mother
Daniel 5:22 Or descendant ; or successor
Daniel 5:26 Mene can mean numbered or mina (a unit of money).
Daniel 5:27 Tekel can mean weighed or shekel.
Daniel 5:28 Peres (the singular of Parsin ) can mean divided or Persia or a half mina or a half shekel.
Daniel 5:30 Or Chaldeans
Daniel 5:31 In Aramaic texts this verse (5:31) is numbered 6:1.

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Table of Contents

Belshazzar's big party ^{[ a ]}

A hand writes on the wall

The queen tells Belshazzar about Daniel ^{[ d ]}

Belshazzar asks Daniel to explain the message

Daniel warns the king

Footnotes

The Writing on the Wall

Footnotes

Belshazzar’s Feast

Daniel Interprets the Handwriting on the Wall

Footnotes

Cross references

The Writing on the Wall

Footnotes

Cross references

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BibleStudyIt Daniel 5

Daniel 5's Chapter Tabs Scroll past these tabs to continue or click on one of them to navigate out of this webpage.

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Your Private Notes

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Belshazzar's big party [ a ]

A hand writes on the wall

The queen tells Belshazzar about Daniel [ d ]

Belshazzar asks Daniel to explain the message

Daniel warns the king

Footnotes

The Writing on the Wall

Footnotes

Belshazzar’s Feast

Daniel Interprets the Handwriting on the Wall

Footnotes

Cross references

The Writing on the Wall

Footnotes

Cross references

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Daniel 5's Chapter Tabs
Scroll past these tabs to continue or click on one of them to navigate out of this webpage.

Belshazzar's big party ^{[ a ]}

The queen tells Belshazzar about Daniel ^{[ d ]}