NASB — Daniel 5 — KJV

Belshazzar’s Feast

1 Belshazzar° the king° Iheld° a great° afeast° for a thousand° of his nobles°, and he was drinking° wine° in the presence° of the thousand°. 2 When Belshazzar° tasted° the wine°, he gave° orders° to bring° the gold° and silver° avessels° which° Nebuchadnezzar° his Ifather° had taken° out of the temple° which° [was] in Jerusalem°, so that the king° and his nobles°, his wives° and his concubines° might drink° from them. 3 Then° they brought° the gold° vessels° that had been taken° out of the temple°, the house° of God° which° [was] in Jerusalem°; and the king° and his nobles°, his wives° and his concubines° drank° from them. 4 They adrank° the wine° and praised° the gods° of bgold° and silver°, of bronze°, iron°, wood° and stone°.

[1] ILit made aEs 1:3; Is 22:12-14
[2] IOr forefather, and so throughout the ch a2K 24:13; 25:15; Ezr 1:7-11; Dn 1:2
[4] aIs 42:8; Dn 5:23; Rv 9:20 bPs 115:4; 135:15; Is 40:19, 20; Dn 3:1; Hab 2:19

5 ¶ Suddenly° the fingers° of a man’s° hand° emerged° and began writing° opposite° the lampstand° on the plaster° of the wall° of the king’s° palace°, and the king° saw° the Iback° of the hand° that did the writing°. 6 Then° the king’s° Iaface° grew° pale° and his thoughts° alarmed° him, and his bhip° joints° went° slack° and his cknees° began knocking° together°. 7 The king° called° aloud° to bring° in the aconjurers°, the IChaldeans° and the diviners°. The king° spoke° and said° to the wise° men° of Babylon°, “Any° man° who° can read° this° inscription° and explain° its interpretation° to me shall be bclothed° with purple° and [have] a cnecklace° of gold° around° his neck°, and have° authority° as IIdthird° [ruler] in the kingdom°.” 8 Then° all° the king’s° wise° men° came° in, but athey could° not read° the inscription° or make° known° its interpretation° to the king°. 9 Then° King° Belshazzar° was greatly° aalarmed°, his Ibface° grew° [even] paler°, and his nobles° were perplexed°.

[5] IOr palm
[6] ILit brightness changed for him aDn 5:9, 10; 7:28 bPs 69:23 cEzk 7:17; 21:7; Na 2:10
[7] IOr master astrologers IIOr a triumvir aIs 44:25; 47:13; Dn 4:6, 7; 5:11, 15 bGn 41:42-44; Dn 5:16, 29 cEzk 16:11 dDn 2:48; 5:16, 29; 6:2, 3
[8] aGn 41:8; Dn 2:27; 4:7; 5:15
[9] ILit brightness was changing upon him aJb 18:11; Is 21:2-4; Jr 6:24; Dn 2:1; 5:6 bIs 13:6-8

10 ¶ The queen° entered° the banquet° Ihall° because° of the words° of the king° and his nobles°; the queen° spoke° and said°, “aO king°, live° forever°! Do not let your thoughts° alarm° you or your IIface° be pale°. 11 There° is a aman° in your kingdom° in whom° is Ia bspirit° of the holy° gods°; and in the days° of your father°, illumination°, insight° and wisdom° like the wisdom° of the gods° were found° in him. And King° Nebuchadnezzar°, your father°, your father° IIcthe king°, appointed° him chief° of the IIImagicians°, conjurers°, IVChaldeans° [and] diviners°. 12 [This was] because°°° an aextraordinary° spirit°, knowledge° and insight°, interpretation° of dreams°, explanation° of enigmas° and solving° of difficult° problems° were found° in this Daniel°, whom° the king° named° bBelteshazzar°. Let Daniel° now° be summoned° and he will declare° the interpretation°.”

[10] ILit house IILit brightness be changed aDn 3:9; 6:6
[11] IOr possibly the Spirit of the holy God IIOr O king IIIOr soothsayer priests IVOr master astrologers aGn 41:11-15; Dn 2:47 bDn 4:8, 9, 18; 5:14 cDn 2:48
[12] aDn 5:14; 6:3 bDn 1:7; 4:8

Daniel Interprets Handwriting on the Wall

13 ¶ Then° Daniel° was brought° in before° the king°. The king° spoke° and said° to Daniel°, “Are you that Daniel° who° is one of the Iaexiles°° from Judah°, whom° my father° the king° bbrought° from Judah°? 14 Now I have heard° about° you that Ia spirit° of the gods° is in you, and that illumination°, insight° and extraordinary° wisdom° have been found° in you. 15 Just now° the awise° men° [and] the conjurers° were brought° in before° me that they might read° this° inscription° and make° its interpretation° known° to me, but they bcould° not declare° the interpretation° of the Imessage°. 16 But I personally° have heard° about° you, that you are able° to give° interpretations° and solve° difficult° problems°. Now° if° you are able° to read° the inscription° and make° its ainterpretation° known° to me, you will be bclothed° with purple° and [wear] a necklace° of gold° around° your neck°, and you will have° authority° as the Ithird° [ruler] in the kingdom°.”

[13] ILit sons of the exile aEzr 4:1; 6:16, 19, 20; Dn 2:25; 6:13 bDn 1:1, 2
[14] IOr possibly the Spirit of God
[15] ILit word aDn 5:7 bIs 47:12f; Dn 5:8
[16] IOr triumvir aGn 40:8 bDn 5:7, 29

17 ¶ Then° Daniel° answered° and said° before° the king°, “IKeep your agifts° for yourself or give° your rewards° to someone° else°; however°, I will read° the inscription° to the king° and make° the interpretation° known° to him. 18 IO king°, the aMost° High° God° bgranted° IIsovereignty°, cgrandeur°, glory° and majesty° to Nebuchadnezzar° your father°. 19 Because° of the grandeur° which° He bestowed° on him, all° the peoples°, nations° and [men of every] Ilanguage° feared° and trembled° before° him; awhomever° he wished° he killed° and whomever° he wished° he spared° alive°; and whomever° he wished° he elevated° and whomever° he wished° he humbled°. 20 But when° his heart° was alifted° up and his spirit° became° so Ibproud° that he behaved° arrogantly°, he was cdeposed° from his royal° throne° and [his] glory° was taken° away° from him. 21 He was also adriven° away° from Imankind°, and his heart° was made° like°° [that of] beasts°, and his dwelling° place° [was] with the bwild° donkeys°. He was given° grass° to eat° like cattle°, and his body° was drenched° with the dew° of heaven° until°° he recognized° that the cMost° High° God° is ruler° over the realm° of mankind° and [that] He sets° over° it whomever°° He wishes°. 22 Yet you, his Ison°, Belshazzar°, have anot humbled° your heart°, IIeven° though° you knew° all° this°, 23 but you have aexalted° yourself against° the bLord° of heaven°; and they have brought° the vessels° of His house° before° you, and you and your nobles°, your wives° and your concubines° have been drinking° wine° from them; and you have praised° the cgods° of silver° and gold°, of bronze°, iron°, wood° and stone°, which° do not see°, hear° or understand°. But the God° din whose° hand° are your life-breath° and all your eways°, you have not glorified°. 24 Then° the Iahand° was sent° from Him and this° inscription° was written° out.

[17] ILit Let...be for a2K 5:16
[18] ILit You, O king IIOr the kingdom aDn 4:2; 5:21 bDn 2:37, 38; 4:17 cJr 25:9; 27:5-7
[19] ILit tongue aDn 2:12, 13; 3:6; 11:3, 16, 36
[20] ILit strong aEx 9:17; Jb 15:25; Is 14:13-15; Dn 4:30, 31 b2K 17:14; 2Ch 36:13 cJb 40:11, 12; Jr 13:18
[21] ILit the sons of man aJb 30:3-7; Dn 4:32, 33 bJb 39:5-8 cEx 9:14-16; Ps 83:17, 18; Ezk 17:24; Dn 4:17, 34, 35
[22] IOr descendant IILit inasmuch as you aEx 10:3; 2Ch 33:23; 36:12
[23] a2K 14:10; Is 2:12; 37:23; Jr 50:29; Dn 5:3, 4 bDn 4:37 cPs 115:4-8; Is 37:19; Hab 2:18, 19 dJb 12:10 eJb 31:4; Ps 139:3; Pv 20:24; Jr 10:23
[24] ILit palm of the hand aDn 5:5

25 ¶ “Now this° is the inscription° that was written° out: ‘IMENĒ°, IMENĒ°, IITEKĒL°, IIIUPHARSIN°.’ 26 This° is the interpretation° of the Imessage°: ‘MENĒ°’—God° has numbered° your kingdom° and aput° an end° to it. 27 ‘TEKĒL°’—you have been aweighed° on the scales° and found° deficient°. 28 ‘PERĒS°’—your kingdom° has been° divided° and given° over to the aMedes° and IPersians°.”

[25] IOr a mina (50 shekels) from verb “to number” IIOr a shekel from verb “to weigh” IIIOr and half-shekels (sing: peres) from verb “to divide”
[26] ILit word aIs 13:6, 17-19; Jr 50:41-43
[27] aJb 31:6; Ps 62:9
[28] IAram: Pāras aIs 13:17; 21:2; 45:1, 2; Dn 5:31; 6:8, 28; Ac 2:9

29 ¶ Then° Belshazzar° gave° orders°, and they aclothed° Daniel° with purple° and [put] a necklace° of gold° around° his neck°, and issued° a proclamation° concerning° him that he [now] had° authority° as the Ithird° [ruler] in the kingdom°.

[29] IOr triumvir aDn 5:7, 16

30 ¶ That same night° aBelshazzar° the Chaldean° king° was bslain°. 31 ISo aDarius° the Mede° received° the kingdom° at about the age°° of sixty-two°°.

[30] aDn 5:1, 2 bIs 21:4-9; 47:9; Jr 51:11, 31, 39, 57
[31] ICh 6:1 in Aram aDn 6:1; 9:1


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Belshazzar's impious feast.

1 ¶ Belshazzarº the kingº madeºª a greatº feastº to a thousandº of his lords,º and drankºª wineº beforeº the thousand.º 2 Belshazzar,º whiles he tastedº the wine,º commandedºª to bringºª the goldenº and silverº vesselsº which² his fatherº Nebuchadnezzarº had taken¹ª out² ofº the templeº which² [was] in Jerusalem;º that the king,º and his princes,º his wives,º and his concubines,º might drinkºª therein. 3 Thenº they broughtºª the goldenº vesselsº that² were taken¹ª out² ofº the templeº of² the houseº of Godº which² [was] at Jerusalem;º and the king,º and his princes,º his wives,º and his concubines,º drankºª in them. 4 They drankºª wine,º and praisedºª the godsº of gold,º and of silver,º of brass,º of iron,º of wood,º and of stone.º

[1] Gn 40:20; Es 1:3; Is 21:4; 22:12, 14; Jr 51:39, 57; Na 1:10; Mk 6:21.
[2] 2S 9:7; 2K 8:25; 24:13; 25:15; 2Ch 11:20; 15:16; 36:10, 18; Ezr 1:7; Jr 27:7, 16; 52:19; Dn 1:2; 5:4, 11, 13, 18, 23.
[4] Jg 16:23; Ps 115:4; 135:15; Is 40:19; 42:8, 17; 46:6; Jr 10:4; Dn 3:1, 8; 4:37; 5:23; Ho 2:8; Hab 2:19; Ac 17:29; 19:24; Rv 9:20.

A handwriting, unknown to the magicians, troubleth the king.

5 ¶ In the same hourº came forthºª fingersº of² a man'sº hand,º and wroteºª over againstº the candlestickº uponº the plaisterº of² the wallº of² the king'sº palace:º and the kingº sawºª the partº of the handº that² wrote.ºª 6 Thenº the king'sº countenanceº was changed,ºª and his thoughtsº troubledºª him, so that the jointsº of his loinsº were loosed,ºª and his kneesº smoteºª oneº against another.º 7 The kingº criedºª aloudº to bring¹ª in² the astrologers,º the Chaldeans,º and the soothsayers.ºª [And] the kingº spake,ºª and saidºª to the wiseº [men] of Babylon,º Whosoeverºº² shall readºª thisº writing,º and shewºª me the interpretationº thereof, shall be clothedºª with scarlet,º and [have] a chainº of² goldº aboutº his neck,º and shall be the third¹ rulerºª² in the kingdom.º 8 Thenº came¹ª in² allº the king'sº wiseº [men]: but they couldºª notº readºª the writing,º nor make knownºª to the kingº the interpretationº thereof. 9 Thenº was kingº Belshazzarº greatlyº troubled,ºª and his countenanceº was changedºª in² him,¹ and his lordsº were astonied.ºª

[5] Jb 20:5; Ps 78:30; Pv 29:1; Dn 4:31, 33; 5:8, 15, 24; Lk 12:19; Col 2:14; 1Th 5:2; Rv 20:12.
[6] Jb 15:20; 20:19; Ps 69:23; 73:18; Is 5:27; 13:7; 21:2, 3; 35:3; Ezk 7:17; 21:7; Dn 2:1; 3:19; 4:5, 19; 5:9, 10; 7:28; Na 2:10; He 12:12.
[7] Gn 41:8, 42; Nu 22:7, 17; 24:11; 1S 17:25; Es 3:1; 10:2; Pv 1:9; So 1:10; Is 44:25; 47:13; Ezk 16:11; Dn 2:2, 6, 48; 4:6, 14; 5:16, 29; 6:2.
[8] Gn 41:8; Is 47:9, 12; Dn 2:27; 4:7.
[9] Jb 18:11; Ps 18:14; 48:6; Is 13:6; 21:2; Jr 6:24; 30:6; Dn 2:1; 5:6; 10:8; Mt 2:3; Rv 6:15.

At the commendation of the queen, Daniel is brought.

10 ¶ [Now] the queen,º by reason¹ of² the wordsº of the kingº and his lords,º cameºª into the banquetº house:º [and] the queenº spakeºª and said,ºª O king,º liveºª for ever:º let notº thy thoughtsº troubleºª thee, nor² let thy countenanceº be changed:ºª 11 There isº a manº in thy kingdom,º in whom² [is] the spiritº of the holyº gods;º and in the daysº of thy fatherº lightº and understandingº and wisdom,º like the wisdomº of the gods,º was foundºª in him; whom the kingº Nebuchadnezzarº thy father,º the king,º [I say], thy father,º madeºª masterº of the magicians,º astrologers,º Chaldeans,º [and] soothsayers;ºª 12 Forasmuch asºº² an excellentº spirit,º and knowledge,º and understanding,º interpreting¹ª² of dreams,º and shewingº of hard sentences,º and dissolvingºª of doubts,º were foundºª in the same Daniel,º whom² the kingº namedººª Belteshazzar:º nowº let Danielº be called,ºª and he will shewºª the interpretation.º 13 Thenº was Danielº brought inºª beforeº the king.º [And] the kingº spakeºª and saidºª unto Daniel,º [Art] thouº that² Daniel,º which² [art] ofº the childrenº of the captivityº of² Judah,º whom² the kingº my fatherº brought¹ª out² ofº Jewry?º 14 I have even heardºª of² thee, that² the spiritº of the godsº [is] in thee,¹ and [that] lightº and understandingº and excellentº wisdomº is foundºª in thee. 15 And nowº the wiseº [men], the astrologers,º have been brought¹ª in² beforeº me, that² they should readºª thisº writing,º and make knownºª unto me the interpretationº thereof: but they couldºª notº shewºª the interpretationº of the thing:º 16 And Iº have heardºª of² thee,¹ that² thou canstºª makeºª interpretations,º and dissolveºª doubts:º nowº ifº thou canstºª readºª the writing,º and make knownºª to me the interpretationº thereof, thou shalt be clothedºª with scarlet,º and [have] a chainº of² goldº aboutº thy neck,º and shalt be the third¹ rulerºª² in the kingdom.º

[10] Gn 35:17; 1S 4:20; 1K 1:31; Jb 13:4; 21:34; Dn 2:4; 3:9; 6:6, 21.
[11] Gn 41:11; 2S 14:17; Dn 2:11, 47, 48; 4:8, 9, 18; 5:2; Ac 12:22; 14:11; 16:16; Rv 3:9.
[12] 1K 10:1; 2Ch 9:1; Ps 16:3; Pv 12:26; 17:27; Dn 1:7; 4:8, 19; 5:14, 16; 6:3; Col 1:29.
[13] Ezr 4:1; 6:16, 19; 10:7, 16; Dn 1:21; 2:25, 48; 5:2, 11, 18; 6:13; 8:1, 27; Jn 7:1, 3.
[14] Dn 5:11.
[15] Is 29:10; 47:12; Dn 2:3; 5:7.
[16] Gn 40:8; Dn 5:7; Ac 8:18.

He, reproving the king of pride and idolatry,

17 ¶ Thenº Danielº answeredºª and saidºª beforeº the king,º Let thy giftsº beºª to thyself, and giveºª thy rewardsº to another;º yetº I will readºª the writingº unto the king,º and make knownºª to him the interpretation.º 18 O thouº king,º the most highº Godº gaveºª Nebuchadnezzarº thy fatherº a kingdom,º and majesty,º and glory,º and honour:º 19 And forº the majestyº that² he gaveºª him, allº people,º nations,º and languages,º trembledººª and fearedºª beforeº² him:¹ whom² he wouldººªª he slew;ººªª and whom² he wouldººªª he kept alive;ººªª and whom² he wouldººªª he set up;ººªª and whom² he wouldººªª he put down.ººªª 20 But when² his heartº was lifted up,ºª and his mindº hardenedºª in pride,ºª he was deposedºª fromº his kinglyº throne,º and they tookºª his gloryº from² him:¹ 21 And he was drivenºª fromº the sonsº of men;º and his heartº was madeºª likeº the beasts,º and his dwellingº [was] with² the wild asses:º they fedºª him with grassº like oxen,º and his bodyº was wetºª with the dewº² of heaven;º tillº² he knewºª that² the most highº Godº ruledº in the kingdomº of men,º and [that] he appointethºª overº it whomsoeverº² he will.ºª 22 And thouº his son,º O Belshazzar,º hast notº humbledºª thine heart,º thoughº²² thou knewestºª allº this;º 23 But hast lifted up¹ª thyself² againstº the Lordº of heaven;º and they have broughtºª the vesselsº of² his houseº beforeº thee, and thou,º and thy lords,º thy wives,º and thy concubines,º have drunkºª wineº in them; and thou hast praisedºª the godsº of silver,º and gold,º of brass,º iron,º wood,º and stone,º which² seeºª not,º norº hear,ºª norº know:ºª and the Godº in whose² handº thy breathº [is], and whose [are] allº thy ways,º hast thou notº glorified:ºª 24 Thenº was the partº of² the handº sentºª fromº² him;¹ and thisº writingº was written.ºª

[17] Gn 14:23; 2K 3:13; 5:16, 26; Ps 119:46; Dn 2:6; 5:29; Ac 8:20.
[18] Dt 32:8; Ps 7:17; 9:2; 47:2; 92:8; Lm 3:35, 38; Dn 2:37; 3:17; 4:17, 22, 32; 6:22; Ac 7:48; 26:13, 19.
[19] Pv 16:14; Jr 25:9; 27:5; Dn 2:12; 3:4, 6, 20, 29; 4:22; Hab 2:5; Jn 19:11; Ro 13:1.
[20] Ex 9:17; 18:11; 1S 6:6; 2K 17:14; 2Ch 36:13; Jb 15:25; 40:11; Pv 16:5, 18; Is 14:12; 47:1; Jr 13:18; 19:15; 48:18; Ezk 30:6; Dn 4:30, 37; Lk 1:51; 18:14; He 3:13.
[21] Ex 9:14; Jb 30:3; Ps 83:17; Ezk 17:24; Dn 4:17, 25, 32, 35, 37.
[22] Ex 10:3; 2Ch 33:23; 36:12; Ps 119:46; Is 26:10; Dn 5:18; Mt 14:4; 21:32; Lk 12:47; Jn 13:17; Ac 4:8; 5:29; Jm 4:6, 17; 1P 5:5.
[23] Gn 2:7; 14:19; Jg 16:23; 1S 5:1; 2K 14:10; Jb 12:10; 31:4; 34:14; Ps 104:29; 115:4, 16; 135:15; 139:3; 146:4; Pv 20:24; Is 2:12; 33:10; 37:19, 23; 42:5; 46:6; Jr 10:23; 50:29; Ezk 28:2, 5, 17; 31:10; Dn 4:37; 5:2, 3; Hab 2:4, 18; Ac 17:25, 28; Ro 1:21; 1Co 8:4; 1Ti 3:6; He 4:13; Rv 13:5.
[24] Dn 5:5.

readeth and interpreteth the writing.

25 ¶ And thisº [is] the writingº that² was written,ºª MENE,ºª MENE,ºª TEKEL,ºª UPHARSIN.ºª 26 Thisº [is] the interpretationº of the thing:º MENE;ºª Godº hath numberedºª thy kingdom,º and finishedºª it. 27 TEKEL;ºª Thou art weighedºª in the balances,º and art foundºª wanting.º 28 PERES;ºª Thy kingdomº is divided,ºª and givenºª to the Medesº and Persians.º 29 Thenº commandedºª Belshazzar,º and they clothedºª Danielº with scarlet,º and [put] a chainº of² goldº aboutº his neck,º and made a proclamationºª concerningº him, that² he should beºª the thirdº rulerº in the kingdom.º

[25] Dn 5:25.
[26] Jb 14:14; Is 13:1; 21:1; 47:1; Jr 25:11; 27:7; 50:1; Dn 9:2; Ac 15:18.
[27] Jb 31:6; Ps 62:9; Jr 6:30; Ezk 22:18; Mt 22:11; 1Co 3:13.
[28] Is 13:17; 21:2; 45:1; Dn 5:31; 6:28; 8:3, 20; 9:1.
[29] Dn 5:7, 16.

The monarchy is translated to the Medes.

30 ¶ In that nightº was Belshazzarº the kingº of the Chaldeansº slain.ºª 31 And Dariusº the Medianº tookºª the kingdom,º [being] about threescoreº and twoº yearsº old.º

[30] Is 21:4; 47:9; Jr 51:11, 31, 39, 57; Dn 5:1.
[31] Dn 6:1; 9:1.


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