[1] Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and
drank wine before the thousand. [2] Belshazzar, while he tasted the wine,
commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which Nebuchadnezzar his
father had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king
and his lords, his wives and his concubines, might drink therefrom. [3]
Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of
the house of God which was at 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 of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.
[5] In the same hour came forth the fingers of a man`s hand, and wrote over
against the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the king`s palace: and
the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. [6] Then the king`s face was
changed in him, and his thoughts troubled him; and the joints of his loins
were loosed, and his knees struck one against another. [7] The king cried
aloud to bring in the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. The
king spoke and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whoever shall read this
writing, and show me the interpretation of it, 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 came in all the king`s wise men; but they
could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation.
[9] Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his face was changed in
him, and his lords were perplexed. [10] [Now] the queen by reason of the
words of the king and his lords came into the banquet house: the queen
spoke and said, O king, live forever; don`t let your thoughts trouble you,
nor let your face be changed. [11] There is a man in your kingdom, in whom
is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of your father light and
understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, were found in him;
and the king Nebuchadnezzar your father, the king, [I say], your father,
made him master of the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and soothsayers;
[12] because an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding,
interpreting of dreams, and showing of dark sentences, and dissolving of
doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar.
Now let Daniel be called, and he will show the interpretation. [13] Then
was Daniel brought in before the king. The king spoke and said to Daniel,
Are you that Daniel, who are of the children of the captivity of Judah,
whom the king my father brought out of Judah? [14] I have heard of you,
that the spirit of the 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, that they should read this writing, and
make known to me the interpretation of it; but they could not show the
interpretation of the thing. [16] But I have heard of you, that you can
give interpretations, and dissolve doubts; now if you can read the writing,
and make known to me the interpretation of it, 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 to yourself, and give your rewards to another; nevertheless I will
read the writing to the king, and make known to him the interpretation.
[18] You king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father the
kingdom, and greatness, and glory, and majesty: [19] and because of the
greatness that he gave him, all the peoples, nations, and languages
trembled and feared before him: whom he would he killed, and whom he would
he kept alive; and 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 they took
his glory from him: [21] and he was driven from the sons of men, and his
heart was made like the animals`, and his dwelling was with the wild
donkeys; he was fed with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew
of the sky; until he knew that the Most High God rules in the kingdom of
men, and that he sets up over it whoever he will. [22] You his son,
Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this, [23] but
have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought
the vessels of his house 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 brass, iron, wood, and stone, which don`t see, nor
hear, nor know; and the God in whose hand your breath is, and whose are all
your ways, you have not glorified. [24] Then was the part of the hand sent
from before him, and this writing was inscribed. [25] This is the writing
that was inscribed: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. [26] This is the
interpretation of the thing: MENE; God has numbered your kingdom, and
brought it to an end; [27] TEKEL; you are weighed in the balances, and are
found wanting. [28] PERES; your kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes
and Persians. [29] Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with
purple, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made proclamation
concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom. [30] In
that night Belshazzar the Chaldean King was slain. [31] Darius the Mede
received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old.
