Daniel 5:10-28
10The queen, ▼▼Or queen mother; twice in this verse
because of the words of the king and his lords, came into the banqueting hall, and the queen declared, b“O king, live forever! Let not your thoughts alarm you cor your color change. 11There is a man in your kingdom din whom is the spirit of the holy gods. ▼▼Or Spirit of the holy God
In the days of your father, flight and understanding and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods were found in him, and King Nebuchadnezzar, your father—your father the king— gmade him chief of the magicians, henchanters, Chaldeans, and astrologers, 12 ibecause an excellent spirit, knowledge, and junderstanding kto interpret dreams, explain riddles, and lsolve problems were found in this Daniel, mwhom the king named Belteshazzar. Now let Daniel be called, and he will show the interpretation.” Daniel Interprets the Handwriting
13Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king answered and said to Daniel, “You are that Daniel, one of nthe exiles of Judah, whom the king my father brought from Judah. 14I have heard of you that othe spirit of the gods ▼▼Or Spirit of God
is in you, and that qlight and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you. 15Now rthe wise men, the senchanters, have been brought in before me to read this writing and make known to me its interpretation, but tthey could not show the interpretation of the matter. 16 uBut I have heard that you can give interpretations and vsolve problems. wNow if you can read the writing and make known to me its interpretation, xyou shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around your neck and yshall be the third ruler in the kingdom.” 17Then Daniel answered and said before the king, z“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. 18O king, the aaMost High God abgave acNebuchadnezzar your father adkingship and greatness and glory and majesty. 19And because of the greatness that he gave him, aeall peoples, nations, and languages aftrembled and feared before him. Whom he would, he killed, and whom he would, he kept alive; whom he would, he raised up, and whom he would, he humbled. 20But agwhen his heart was lifted up and his spirit was hardened so that he dealt proudly, ahhe was brought down from his kingly throne, and his glory was taken from him. 21 aiHe was driven from among the children of mankind, and his mind was made like that of a beast, and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys. He was fed grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, ajuntil he knew that the akMost High God rules the kingdom of mankind and sets over it whom he will. 22And you his son, ▼
▼Or successor
amBelshazzar, anhave not humbled your heart, though you knew all this, 23but you have lifted up yourself against aothe Lord of heaven. And apthe 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. aqAnd you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see or hear or know, arbut the God in whose hand is your breath, and aswhose are all your ways, atyou have not honored. 24“Then from his presence authe hand was sent, and this writing was inscribed. 25And this is the writing that was inscribed: Mene, Mene, Tekel, and Parsin. 26This is the interpretation of the matter: Mene, God has numbered ▼ the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end; 27Tekel, awyou have been weighed ▼ in the balances and found wanting; 28Peres, your kingdom is divided and given to aythe Medes and azPersians.” ▼
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