Daniel 5

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

2 Belshazzar, while 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 (Yerushalayim); 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 (Elah) which was at Jerusalem (Yerushalayim); and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them.

4 They drank wine, and praised the gods (elohim) 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 opposite 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 (Bavel), “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 nobles were astonied.

10 Now the queen, by reason of the words of the king and his nobles, came into the banquet house; and the queen spake and said, “O king, live forever! Let not your thoughts trouble you, nor let your countenance be changed.

11 There is a man in your kingdom, in whom is the Spirit (Ruach) of the Holy God; and in the days of your father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the God (Elahin), was found in him; whom the King Nebuchadnezzar your father, the king, I say, your 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, “Are you that Daniel, which art of the children of the captivity of Judah (Yehudah), whom the king my father brought out of Judah (Yehudah)?

14 I have even heard of you, that the Spirit of God (Ruach Elahin) is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in you.

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 you, that you canst make interpretations, and dissolve doubts; now if you canst read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof, you shalt be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about your neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom.”

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

18 O you king, the 6dMost High God (Elaha Illaahi) gave Nebuchadnezzar your father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honor.

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 (Elaha Illaahi) ruled in the kingdom of men, and that He appointeth over it whomsoever He will.

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

23 But hast lifted up yourself against Adon of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before you, and you, and your lords, your wives, and your concubines, have drunk wine in them; and you have praised the gods (elah) of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know; and the God (Elah) in whose hand your breath is, and whose are all your ways, have you not glorified;

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

25 And this is the inscription that was written: Mene! Mene! Teqel, Ufarsin.

26 This is the interpretation of the message: Mene: God (Elah) hath numbered your kingdom, and finished it;

27 Teqel: You are weighed in the balances, and art found wanting;

28 Peres: Your 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.