Daniel 5 – New American Standard Bible 2020 (NASB20)

Belshazzar’s Feast

1 Belshazzar ^H1113 the king ^H4430 [fn]held ^H5648 a great ^H7229 feast ^H3900 for a thousand ^H506 of his nobles ^H7261, and he was drinking ^H8355 wine ^H2562 in the presence ^H6903 of the thousand ^H506.

2 [fn]While he tasted ^H2942 the wine ^H2562, Belshazzar ^H1113 gave ^H560 orders ^H560 to bring ^H858 the gold ^H1722 and silver ^H3702 vessels ^H3984 which ^H1768 his [fn]father ^H2 Nebuchadnezzar ^H5020 had taken ^H5312 out ^H5312 of the temple ^H1965 which ^H1768 was in Jerusalem ^H3390, so that the king ^H4430 and his nobles ^H7261, his wives ^H7695, and his concubines ^H3904 could drink ^H8355 out of them. 3 Then ^H116 they brought ^H858 the gold ^H1722 vessels ^H3984 that had been taken ^H5312 out ^H5312 of the temple ^H1965, the house ^H1005 of God ^H426 which ^H1768 was in Jerusalem ^H3390; and the king ^H4430 and his nobles ^H7261, his wives ^H7695, and his concubines ^H3904 drank ^H8355 out of them. 4 They drank ^H8355 the wine ^H2562 and praised ^H7624 the gods ^H426 of gold ^H1722 and silver ^H3702, of bronze ^H5174, iron ^H6523, wood ^H636, and stone ^H69.

5 Suddenly ^H8160 the fingers ^H677 of a human ^H606 hand ^H3028 emerged ^H5312 and began writing ^H3790 opposite ^H6903 the lampstand ^H5043 on the plaster ^H1528 of the wall ^H3797 of the king’s ^H4430 palace ^H1965, and the king ^H4430 saw ^H2370 the back ^H6447 of the hand ^H3028 that did the writing ^H3790. 6 Then ^H116 the king’s ^H4430 [fn]face ^H2122 became ^H8133 pale ^H8133 and his thoughts ^H7476 alarmed ^H927 him, and his hip ^H2783 joints ^H7001 [fn]loosened ^H8271 and his knees ^H755 began knocking ^H5368 together ^H1668. 7 The king ^H4430 called ^H7123 aloud ^H2429 to bring ^H5954 in ^H5954 the sorcerers ^H826, the [fn]Chaldeans ^H3779, and the diviners ^H1505. The king ^H4430 began ^H6032 speaking ^H6032 and said ^H560 to the wise ^H2445 men ^H2445 of Babylon ^H895, “Anyone ^H3606 H606 who ^H1768 can read ^H7123 this ^H1836 inscription ^H3792 and explain ^H2324 its interpretation ^H6591 to me shall be clothed ^H3848 with purple ^H711 and have a necklace ^H2002 of gold ^H1722 around ^H5922 his neck ^H6676, and have ^H7981 authority ^H7981 as third ^H8523 ruler in the kingdom ^H4437.” 8 Then ^H116 all ^H3606 the king’s ^H4430 wise ^H2445 men ^H2445 came ^H5954 in ^H5954, but they could ^H3546 not read ^H7123 the inscription ^H3792 or make ^H3046 known ^H3046 its interpretation ^H6591 to the king ^H4430. 9 Then ^H116 King ^H4430 Belshazzar ^H1113 was greatly ^H7690 alarmed ^H927, his [fn]face ^H2122 grew ^H8133 even more pale ^H8133, and his nobles ^H7261 were perplexed ^H7672.

10 The queen ^H4433 entered ^H5954 the banquet ^H4961 [fn]hall ^H1005 because ^H6903 of the words ^H4406 of the king ^H4430 and his nobles ^H7261; the queen ^H4433 began ^H6032 to ^H6032 speak ^H6032 and said ^H560, “O king ^H4430, live ^H2418 forever ^H5957! Do not let your thoughts ^H7476 alarm ^H927 you or your [fn]face ^H2122 be pale ^H8133. 11 There ^H383 is ^H383 a man ^H1400 in your kingdom ^H4437 in whom ^H1768 is [fn]a spirit ^H7308 of the holy ^H6922 gods ^H426; and in the days ^H3118 of your father ^H2, illumination ^H5094, insight ^H7924, and wisdom ^H2452 like the wisdom ^H2452 of the gods ^H426 were found ^H7912 in him. And King ^H4430 Nebuchadnezzar ^H5020, your father ^H2—your father ^H2 [fn]the king ^H4430—appointed ^H6966 him chief ^H7229 of the soothsayer ^H2749 priests ^H2749, sorcerers ^H826, Chaldeans ^H3779, and diviners ^H1505. 12 This was because ^H6903 H1768 an extraordinary ^H3493 spirit ^H7308, knowledge ^H4486 and insight ^H7924, interpretation ^H6590 of dreams ^H2493, explanation ^H263 of riddles ^H280, and solving ^H8271 of difficult ^H7001 problems ^H7001 were found ^H7912 in this Daniel ^H1841, whom ^H1768 the king ^H4430 named ^H8036 Belteshazzar ^H1096. Let Daniel ^H1841 now ^H3705 be summoned ^H7123 and he will declare ^H2324 the interpretation ^H6591.”

Daniel Interprets the Handwriting on the Wall

13 Then ^H116 Daniel ^H1841 was brought ^H5954 in ^H5954 before ^H6925 the king ^H4430. The king ^H4430 began ^H6032 speaking ^H6032 and said ^H560 to Daniel ^H1841, “Are you that Daniel ^H1841 who ^H1768 is one of the [fn]exiles ^H1123 H1547 from Judah ^H3061, whom ^H1768 my father ^H2 the king ^H4430 brought ^H858 from Judah ^H3061?

14 Now I have heard ^H8086 about ^H5922 you that [fn]a spirit ^H7308 of the gods ^H426 is in you, and that illumination ^H5094, insight ^H7924, and extraordinary ^H3493 wisdom ^H2452 have been found ^H7912 in you. 15 Just now ^H3705 the wise ^H2445 men ^H2445 and the sorcerers ^H826 were brought ^H5954 in ^H5954 before ^H6925 me to read ^H7123 this ^H1836 inscription ^H3792 and make ^H3046 its interpretation ^H6591 known ^H3046 to me, but they could ^H3546 not declare ^H2324 the interpretation ^H6591 of the [fn]message ^H4406. 16 But I personally ^H576 have heard ^H8086 about ^H5922 you, that you are able ^H3202 to give ^H6590 interpretations ^H6590 and solve ^H8271 difficult ^H7001 problems ^H7001. Now ^H3705 if ^H2006 you are able ^H3202 to read ^H7123 the inscription ^H3792 and make ^H3046 its interpretation ^H6591 known ^H3046 to me, you will be clothed ^H3848 with purple ^H711 and wear a necklace ^H2002 of gold ^H1722 around ^H5922 your neck ^H6676, and you will have ^H7981 authority ^H7981 as the third ^H8531 ruler in the kingdom ^H4437.”

17 Then ^H116 Daniel ^H1841 replied ^H6032 and said ^H560 before ^H6925 the king ^H4430, “[fn]Keep your gifts ^H4978 for yourself or give ^H3052 your rewards ^H5023 to someone ^H321 else ^H321; however ^H1297, I will read ^H7123 the inscription ^H3792 to the king ^H4430 and make ^H3046 the interpretation ^H6591 known ^H3046 to him. 18 [fn]O king ^H4430, the Most ^H5943 High ^H5943 God ^H426 granted ^H3052 [fn]sovereignty ^H4437, greatness ^H7238, honor ^H3367, and majesty ^H1923 to Nebuchadnezzar ^H5020 your father ^H2. 19 Now because ^H4481 of the greatness ^H7238 which ^H1768 He granted ^H3052 him, all ^H3606 the peoples ^H5972, nations ^H524, and populations of all [fn]languages ^H3961 trembled ^H2112 and feared ^H1763 in his presence ^H6925; whomever ^H1768 he wished ^H6634, he killed ^H6992, and whomever ^H1768 he wished ^H6634, he spared ^H2418 alive ^H2418; and whomever ^H1768 he wished ^H6634 he elevated ^H7313, and whomever ^H1768 he wished ^H6634 he humbled ^H8214. 20 But when ^H1768 his heart ^H3825 [fn]was arrogant ^H7313 and his spirit ^H7308 became ^H8631 so [fn]overbearing ^H8631 that he behaved ^H2103 presumptuously ^H2103, he was deposed ^H5182 from his royal ^H4437 throne ^H3764, and his dignity ^H3367 was taken ^H5709 away ^H5709 from him. 21 He was also driven ^H2957 away ^H2957 from [fn]mankind ^H606, and his heart ^H3825 was made ^H7739 like ^H5974 H7739 that of animals ^H2423, and his dwelling ^H4070 place ^H4070 was with the wild ^H6167 donkeys ^H6167. He was given ^H2939 grass ^H6212 to ^H2939 eat ^H2939 like cattle ^H8450, and his body ^H1655 was drenched ^H6647 with the dew ^H2920 of heaven ^H8065, until ^H5705 H1768 he recognized ^H3046 that the Most ^H5943 High ^H5943 God ^H426 is ruler ^H7990 over the realm ^H4437 of mankind ^H606, and that He sets ^H6966 over ^H5922 it whomever ^H4479 H1768 He wishes ^H6634. 22 Yet you, his [fn]son ^H1247, Belshazzar ^H1113, have not humbled ^H8214 your heart ^H3825, even ^H1768 though ^H6903 you knew ^H3046 all ^H3606 this ^H1836, 23 but you have risen ^H7313 up against ^H5922 the Lord ^H4756 of heaven ^H8065; and they have brought ^H858 the vessels ^H3984 of His house ^H1005 before ^H6925 you, and you and your nobles ^H7261, your wives ^H7695, and your concubines ^H3904 have been drinking ^H8355 wine ^H2562 out of them; and you have praised ^H7624 the gods ^H426 of silver ^H3702 and gold ^H1722, of bronze ^H5174, iron ^H6523, wood ^H636, and stone ^H69, which ^H1768 do not see ^H7200, nor ^H3809 hear ^H8086, nor ^H3809 understand ^H3046. But the God ^H426 in whose ^H1768 hand ^H3028 are your life-breath ^H5396 and all your ways ^H735, you have not glorified ^H1922. 24 Then ^H116 the [fn]hand ^H3028 was sent ^H7972 from Him and this ^H1836 inscription ^H3792 was written ^H7560 out.

25 “Now this ^H1836 is the inscription ^H3792 that was written ^H7560:

‘[fn]MENE ^H4484, [fn]MENE ^H4484, [fn]TEKEL ^H8625, [fn]UPHARSIN ^H6537.’

26 This ^H1836 is the interpretation ^H6591 of the [fn]message ^H4406: ‘MENE ^H4484’—God ^H426 has numbered ^H4483 your kingdom ^H4437 and put ^H8000 an ^H8000 end ^H8000 to ^H8000 it. 27 ‘TEKEL ^H8625’—you have been weighed ^H8625 on the scales ^H3977 and found ^H7912 deficient ^H2627. 28 ‘[fn]PERES ^H6537’—your kingdom ^H4437 has been ^H6537 divided ^H6537 and given ^H3052 to the Medes ^H4076 and [fn]Persians ^H6540.”

29 Then ^H116 Belshazzar ^H1113 gave ^H560 orders ^H560, and they clothed ^H3848 Daniel ^H1841 with purple ^H711 and put a necklace ^H2002 of gold ^H1722 around ^H5922 his neck ^H6676, and issued ^H3745 a ^H3745 proclamation ^H3745 concerning ^H5922 him that he now had ^H1934 authority ^H7990 as the third ^H8531 ruler in the kingdom ^H4437.

30 That same night ^H3916 Belshazzar ^H1113 the Chaldean ^H3779 king ^H4430 was killed ^H6992. 31 [fn]So Darius ^H1868 the Mede ^H4077 received ^H6902 the kingdom ^H4437 at about the age ^H1247 H8140 of sixty-two ^H8361 H8648.