Daniel 5

Belshazzar’s Great Feast

1King Belshazzar made a great feast for one thousand of his nobles, and before the thousand he drank wine. 2While tasting the wine, Belshazzar commanded that the gold and silver vessels that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken from the temple in Jerusalem be brought, so that the king, his nobles, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them. 3Then they brought the gold vessels that had been taken from the temple, the house of God in Jerusalem, and the king, his nobles, his wives, and his concubines drank from them. 4They drank wine and praised gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.

The Writing on the Wall

5At that moment fingers of a human hand came out and wrote opposite the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace, and the king saw the palm of the hand that was writing. 6Then the king’s color changed, and his thoughts terrified him. The joints of his hips loosened, and his knees knocked against one another. 7The king called loudly to bring in the enchanters, Chaldeans, and diviners. The king answered and said to the wise men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this writing and declares its interpretation to me shall be clothed in purple, have a chain of gold around his neck, and rule as third in the kingdom.” 8Then all the king’s wise men came in, but they were not able to read the writing or make its interpretation known to the king. 9Then King Belshazzar was greatly terrified, his color changed, and his nobles were perplexed.

The Queen Remembers Daniel

10The queen, because of the words of the king and his nobles, came into the banquet house. The queen answered and said, “O king, live forever! Do not let your thoughts terrify you or your color change. 11There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the spirit of the holy gods. In the days of your father, illumination, insight, and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods were found in him. King Nebuchadnezzar your father appointed him chief of the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and diviners—your father the king— 12because an extraordinary spirit, knowledge, insight, interpretation of dreams, explanation of riddles, and solving of difficulties were found in Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar. Now let Daniel be called, and he will declare the interpretation.”

Daniel Refuses the King’s Gifts

13Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king answered and said to Daniel, “Are you Daniel, one of the exiles of Judah whom the king my father brought from Judah? 14I have heard concerning you that the spirit of the gods is in you and that illumination, insight, and extraordinary wisdom are found in you. 15Now the wise men, the enchanters, were brought in before me to read this writing and make its interpretation known to me, but they were not able to declare the interpretation of the matter. 16But I have heard concerning you that you are able to give interpretations and solve difficulties. Now if you are able to read the writing and make its interpretation known to me, you shall be clothed in purple, have a chain of gold around your neck, and rule as third in the kingdom.” 17Then Daniel answered and said before the king, “Let your gifts be for yourself, and give your rewards to another. Nevertheless, I will read the writing to the king and make the interpretation known to him.

Daniel Reminds Belshazzar of Nebuchadnezzar

18“O king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father kingdom, greatness, glory, and majesty. 19Because of the greatness that he gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him. Whomever he wished he killed, and whomever he wished he kept alive; whomever he wished he raised up, and whomever he wished he humbled. 20But when his heart was lifted up and his spirit became strong in arrogance, he was brought down from his royal throne, and his glory was removed from him. 21He was driven from the children of humanity, his heart was made like that of an animal, and his dwelling was with wild donkeys. He was fed grass like cattle, and his body was wet with the dew of the heavens, until he knew that the Most High God rules over the kingdom of humanity and appoints over it whomever he wills.

You Have Not Humbled Your Heart

22“But you, Belshazzar his son, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this. 23Instead, you have lifted yourself up against the Lord of the heavens. The vessels of his house were brought before you, and you, your nobles, your wives, and your concubines drank wine from them. You praised gods of silver and gold, bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see or hear or know. But the God in whose hand is your breath and to whom belong all your ways you have not honored. 24Therefore from his presence the palm of the hand was sent, and this writing was inscribed.

Mene, Mene, Tekel, Parsin

25“And this is the writing that was inscribed:

MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN. 26This is the interpretation of the matter:

MENE—God has numbered your kingdom and brought it to an end. 27TEKEL—you have been weighed in the balances and found lacking. 28PERES—your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and Persians.”

Belshazzar Is Killed

29Then Belshazzar commanded, and they clothed Daniel in purple, put a chain of gold around his neck, and proclaimed concerning him that he should rule as third in the kingdom. 30That very night Belshazzar the Chaldean king was killed. 31And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old.