[1] King Belshaz'zar made a great feast for a thousand of his lords, and
drank wine in front of the thousand. [2] Belshaz'zar, when he tasted the
wine, commanded that the vessels of gold and of silver which
Nebuchadnez'zar his father had taken out of the temple in Jerusalem be
brought, that the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines might
drink from them. [3] Then they brought in the golden and silver vessels
which had been taken out of the temple, the house of God in Jerusalem; and
the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines drank from them. [4]
They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron,
wood, and stone. [5] Immediately the fingers of a man's hand appeared and
wrote on the plaster of the wall of the king's palace, opposite the
lampstand; and the king saw the hand as it wrote. [6] Then the king's color
changed, and his thoughts alarmed him; his limbs gave way, and his knees
knocked together. [7] The king cried aloud to bring in the enchanters, the
Chalde'ans, and the astrologers. The king said to the wise men of Babylon,
"Whoever reads this writing, and shows me its interpretation, shall be
clothed with purple, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be
the third ruler in the kingdom." [8] Then all the king's wise men came in,
but they could not read the writing or make known to the king the
interpretation. [9] Then King Belshaz'zar was greatly alarmed, and his
color changed; and his lords were perplexed. [10] The queen, because of the
words of the king and his lords, came into the banqueting hall; and the
queen said, "O king, live for ever! Let not your thoughts alarm you or your
color change. [11] There is in your kingdom a man in whom is the spirit of
the holy gods. In the days of your father light and understanding and
wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, were found in him, and King
Nebuchadnez'zar, your father, made him chief of the magicians, enchanters,
Chalde'ans, and astrologers, [12] because an excellent spirit, knowledge,
and understanding to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve problems
were found in this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshaz'zar. Now let
Daniel be called, and he will show the interpretation." [13] Then Daniel
was brought in before the king. The king said to Daniel, "You are that
Daniel, one of the exiles of Judah, whom the king my father brought from
Judah. [14] I have heard of you that the spirit of the holy gods is in you,
and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you.
[15] Now the wise men, the enchanters, have been brought in before me to
read this writing and make known to me its interpretation; but they could
not show the interpretation of the matter. [16] But I have heard that you
can give interpretations and solve problems. Now if you can read the
writing and make known to me its interpretation, you shall be clothed with
purple, and have a chain of gold about your neck, and shall be the third
ruler in the kingdom. [17] Then Daniel answered 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 known to him the interpretation.
[18] O king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnez'zar your father kingship
and greatness and glory and majesty; [19] and because of the greatness that
he gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before
him; whom he would he slew, and whom he would he kept alive; whom he would
he raised up, and whom he would he put down. [20] But when his heart was
lifted up and his spirit was hardened so that he dealt proudly, he was
deposed from his kingly throne, and his glory was taken from him; [21] he
was driven from among men, and his mind was made like that of a beast, and
his dwelling was with the wild asses; he was fed grass like an ox, and his
body was wet with the dew of heaven, until he knew that the Most High God
rules the kingdom of men, and sets over it whom he will. [22] And you his
son, Belshaz'zar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this,
[23] but you have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven; and the
vessels of his house have been brought in before you, and you and your
lords, your wives, and your concubines have drunk wine from them; and you
have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone,
which do not see or hear or know, but the God in whose hand is your breath,
and whose are all your ways, you have not honored. [24] "Then from his
presence the hand was sent, and this writing was inscribed. [25] And this
is the writing that was inscribed: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, and PARSIN. [26] This
is the interpretation of the matter: MENE, God has numbered the days of
your kingdom and brought it to an end; [27] TEKEL, you have been weighed in
the balances and found wanting; [28] PERES, your kingdom is divided and
given to the Medes and Persians." [29] Then Belshaz'zar commanded, and
Daniel was clothed with purple, a chain of gold was put about his neck, and
proclamation was made concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in
the kingdom. [30] That very night Belshaz'zar the Chalde'an king was slain.
[31] And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years
old.