CHAPTER 5
Many years later King
Belshazzar
held
a great
feast
for a thousand
of his nobles,
and he drank
wine
with
them.
Under the influence of the wine,
Belshazzar
gave orders
to bring
in the gold
and silver
vessels
that
Nebuchadnezzar
his father
had taken
from
the temple
in Jerusalem,
so that the king
could drink
from them,
along with his nobles,
his wives,
and his concubines.
Thus
they brought in
the gold
vessels
that
had been taken
from
the temple,
the house
of God
in Jerusalem,
and the king
drank
from them,
along with his nobles,
his wives,
and his concubines.
As they drank
the wine,
they praised
their gods
of gold
and silver,
bronze
and iron,
wood
and stone.
At
that moment
the fingers
of
a human
hand
appeared
and wrote
on
the plaster
of
the wall,
near
the lampstand
in
the royal
palace.
As the king
watched
the hand
that
was writing,
his face
grew pale
and his thoughts
so alarmed him
that his hips
gave way
and his knees
knocked together.
The king
called out for
the enchanters,
astrologers,
and diviners
to be brought in,
and he
said
to these wise men
of Babylon,
“Whoever
reads
this
inscription
and tells me
its interpretation
will be clothed
in purple
and have a gold
chain
placed around
his neck,
and he will be made the third
highest ruler
in the kingdom."
So
all
the king’s
wise men
came in,
but they could
not
read
the inscription
or interpret it
for him.
Then
King
Belshazzar
became even more
terrified,
his face
grew even more pale,
and his nobles
were bewildered.
Hearing
the outcry
of the king
and his nobles,
the queen
entered
the banquet
hall.
“O king,
may you live
forever,”
she said.
“Do not
let your thoughts
terrify you,
or your face
grow pale.
There is
a man
in your kingdom
who
has the spirit
of the holy
gods in him.
In the days
of your father
he was found
to have insight,
intelligence,
and wisdom
like that
of the gods.
Your father,
King
Nebuchadnezzar,
appointed
him chief
of the magicians,
enchanters,
astrologers,
and diviners.
Your own father,
the king,
did this
because
Daniel,
the one
he
named
Belteshazzar,
was found
to have an extraordinary
spirit,
as well as knowledge,
understanding,
and the ability to interpret
dreams,
explain
riddles,
and solve
difficult problems.
Summon
Daniel,
therefore,
and he will give you
the interpretation."
So
Daniel
was brought
before
the king,
who
asked
him,
“Are you
Daniel,
one
of
the exiles
my father
the king
brought
from
Judah?
I have heard
that
the spirit
of the gods
is in you,
and that you have insight,
intelligence,
and extraordinary
wisdom.
Now
the wise men
and enchanters
were brought
before me
to read
this
inscription
and interpret it
for me,
but they could
not
give
its
interpretation.
But
I have heard
about you,
that
you are able
to give interpretations
and solve
difficult problems.
Therefore,
if
you can
read
this inscription
and give
me its interpretation,
you will be clothed
in purple
and have a gold
chain
placed around
your neck,
and you will be made the third
highest ruler
in the kingdom."
In response,
Daniel
said
to the king,
“You may keep
your gifts
for yourself
and give
your rewards
to someone else.
Nevertheless,
I will read
the inscription
for the king
and interpret it
for him.
As for you,
O king,
the Most High
God
gave
your father
Nebuchadnezzar
sovereignty
and greatness,
glory
and honor.
Because of
the greatness
that
He bestowed
on him,
all
peoples,
nations,
and men of every language
trembled
in fear
before him.
He killed
whom he wished
and kept alive
whom
he wished;
he exalted
whom
he wished
and humbled
whom
he wished.
But when
his heart
was exalted
and his spirit
hardened
in pride,
he was deposed
from
his royal
throne,
and his glory
was taken
from him.
He was driven away
from
mankind,
and his mind
was like
that of a beast.
He lived
with
the wild donkeys
and ate
grass
like cattle,
and his body
was drenched
with the dew
of heaven
until
he acknowledged
that
the Most High
God
is ruler
over the kingdom
of mankind,
and He sets
over it
whom
He wishes.
Instead, you have exalted
yourself against
the Lord
of heaven.
The vessels
from
His house
were brought
to you,
and as you
drank
wine from them
with your nobles,
wives,
and concubines,
you praised
gods
of silver
and gold,
bronze
and iron,
wood
and stone,
which
cannot
see
or
hear
or
understand.
But you have failed to
glorify
the God
who holds
in His hand
your very breath
and all
your ways.
And this
is the interpretation
of the message:
MENE
means that God
has numbered
the days of your reign
and brought it to an end.
Then
Belshazzar
gave the command,
and they clothed
Daniel
in purple,
placed a gold
chain
around
his neck,
and proclaimed
him
the third highest
ruler
in the kingdom.