Daniel 5

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1. 1King Belshazzar threw a massive banquet for 1,000 of his nobles, and he drank wine right along with them.
2. 2As the wine flowed, Belshazzar ordered his servants to bring out the gold and silver cups that his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem. He wanted to use them so he, his nobles, his wives, and his concubines could drink from them.
3. 3So they brought out the gold cups that had been taken from the temple of God in Jerusalem, and the king, his nobles, his wives, and his concubines all drank from them.
4. 4As they drank wine, they praised the gods of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.
5. 5Suddenly, the fingers of a human hand appeared and began writing on the plaster wall of the palace, near the lampstand. The king saw the part of the hand that wrote.
6. 6The color drained from the king's face, and his thoughts troubled him. His legs went weak, and his knees knocked together.
7. 7The king shouted for the astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers to be brought in. He announced to the wise men of Babylon, 'Whoever can read this writing and tell me what it means will be clothed in scarlet, given a gold chain for his neck, and made the third ruler in the kingdom.'
8. 8All the king's wise men came in, but none of them could read the writing or explain what it meant.
9. 9Then King Belshazzar was greatly troubled, his face turned pale, and his nobles were astonished.
10. 10Because of the words of the king and his lords, the queen came into the banquet hall. The queen said, “King, live forever! Do not let your thoughts trouble you, and do not let your face be changed.”
11. 11There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him. In the days of your father, light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, were found in him. King Nebuchadnezzar, your father—the king, I say, your father—made him master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and fortune tellers.
12. 12This man Daniel, whom the king renamed Belteshazzar, has an extraordinary spirit. He has knowledge, insight, and the ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve impossible problems. Send for Daniel, and he will tell you what the writing means."
13. 13So Daniel was brought before the king. The king asked him, "Are you the Daniel who was brought here from Judah as one of the captives my father the king took from that land?
14. 14I've heard that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that you have brilliant insight and extraordinary wisdom.
15. 15My wise men and enchanters were brought in to read this writing and explain it to me, but they couldn't do it.
16. 16I have heard that you can interpret and settle doubts. Now, if you can read the writing and tell me what it means, you will be clothed in scarlet, wear a gold chain around your neck, and become the third ruler in the kingdom.
17. 17Daniel answered the king, "Keep your gifts and give your rewards to someone else. But I will read the writing for you and tell you what it means.
18. 18Your Majesty, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar his kingdom, along with greatness, glory, and honor.
19. 19Because of the greatness God gave him, people of every nation and language trembled in fear before him. He killed whoever he wanted, spared whoever he wanted, promoted whoever he wanted, and brought down whoever he wanted.
20. 20But when his heart became arrogant and his mind hardened in pride, he was removed from his royal throne, and they took his glory from him.
21. 21He was driven away from human society. His mind became like an animal's, and he lived among the wild donkeys. He ate grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven — until he finally acknowledged that the Most High God rules over all human kingdoms and places over them whoever he chooses.
22. 22But you, Belshazzar, his son — you knew all of this, and still you refused to humble yourself.
23. 23Instead, you set yourself up against the Lord of heaven. You had the cups from his temple brought to you, and you and your nobles, your wives, and your concubines drank wine from them. You praised gods made of silver, gold, bronze, iron, wood, and stone—gods that can't see, hear, or know anything. But you have not glorified the God who holds your breath in his hand and owns all your ways.
24. 24That is why God sent the hand, and that is why this message was written.
25. 25Here is what was written: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.
26. 26And here is what it means: MENE — God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end.
27. 27TEKEL — you have been weighed on the scales and found wanting.
28. 28PERES — your kingdom has been divided and handed over to the Medes and Persians."
29. 29Belshazzar gave the order, and they dressed Daniel in scarlet, put a gold chain around his neck, and publicly proclaimed him the third ruler in the kingdom.
30. 30That very night, Belshazzar, king of the Chaldeans, was killed.
31. 31Darius the Mede took over the kingdom. He was about 62 years old.