|
|
|
|
1. King Belshazzar gave a big party for 1000 of his officials. The king was drinking wine with them.
|
1. Belshazzar H1113 the king H4430 made H5648 a great H7229 feast H3900 to a thousand H506 of his lords H7261 , and drank H8355 wine H2562 before H6903 the thousand H506 .
|
|
2. As Belshazzar was drinking his wine, he ordered his servants to bring the gold and silver cups. His grandfather Nebuchadnezzar had taken these cups from the Temple in Jerusalem. King Belshazzar wanted his royal people, his wives, and his slave women to drink from those cups.
|
2. Belshazzar H1113 , while he tasted H2942 the wine H2562 , commanded H560 to bring H858 the golden H1722 and silver H3702 vessels H3984 which H1768 his father H2 Nebuchadnezzar H5020 had taken out H5312 of H4481 the temple H1965 which H1768 was in Jerusalem H3390 ; that the king H4430 , and his princes H7261 , his wives H7695 , and his concubines H3904 , might drink H8355 therein.
|
|
3. So they brought the gold cups that had been taken from the Temple of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his officials, his wives, and his women slaves drank from them.
|
3. Then H116 they brought H858 the golden H1722 vessels H3984 that H1768 were taken out H5312 of H4481 the temple H1965 of H1768 the house H1005 of God H426 which H1768 was at Jerusalem H3390 ; and the king H4430 , and his princes H7261 , his wives H7695 , and his concubines H3904 , drank H8355 in them.
|
|
4. As they were drinking, they gave praise to their idol gods, which were only statues made from gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.
|
4. They drank H8355 wine H2562 , and praised H7624 the gods H426 of gold H1722 , and of silver H3702 , of brass H5174 , of iron H6523 , of wood H636 , and of stone H69 .
|
|
5. Suddenly, a person's hand appeared and began writing on the wall. The fingers scratched words into the plaster on the wall, near the lampstand in the king's palace. The king was watching the hand as it wrote.
|
5. In the same hour H8160 came forth H5312 fingers H677 of H1768 a man H606 's hand H3028 , and wrote H3790 over against H6903 the candlestick H5043 upon H5922 the plaster H1528 of H1768 the wall H3797 of H1768 the king H4430 's palace H1965 : and the king H4430 saw H2370 the part H6447 of the hand H3028 that H1768 wrote H3790 .
|
|
6. King Belshazzar was very afraid. His face became white from fear, and his knees were shaking and knocking together. He could not stand up because his legs were too weak.
|
6. Then H116 the king H4430 's countenance H2122 was changed H8133 , and his thoughts H7476 troubled H927 him , so that the joints H7001 of his loins H2783 were loosed H8271 , and his knees H755 smote H5368 one H1668 against another H1668 .
|
|
7. The king called for the men of magic and the Chaldeans to be brought to him. He said to these wise men, "I will give a reward to anyone who can read this writing and explain to me what it means. I will give him purple robes to wear and will put a gold chain around his neck. I will make him the third highest ruler in the kingdom."
|
7. The king H4430 cried H7123 aloud H2429 to bring in H5924 the astrologers H826 , the Chaldeans H3779 , and the soothsayers H1505 . And the king H4430 spoke H6032 , and said H560 to the wise H2445 men of Babylon H895 , Whosoever H3606 H606 H1768 shall read H7123 this H1836 writing H3792 , and show H2324 me the interpretation H6591 thereof , shall be clothed H3848 with scarlet H711 , and have a chain H2002 of H1768 gold H1722 about H5922 his neck H6676 , and shall be the third ruler H7981 H8523 in the kingdom H4437 .
|
|
8. So all the king's wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or understand what it meant.
|
8. Then H116 came in H5954 all H3606 the king H4430 's wise H2445 men : but they could H3546 not H3809 read H7123 the writing H3792 , nor make known H3046 to the king H4430 the interpretation H6591 thereof.
|
|
9. King Belshazzar's officials were confused, and the king became even more afraid and worried. His face was white from fear.
|
9. Then H116 was king H4430 Belshazzar H1113 greatly H7690 troubled H927 , and his countenance H2122 was changed H8133 in H5922 him , and his lords H7261 were astonished H7672 .
|
|
10. Then the king's mother came into the place where the party was. She had heard the voices of the king and his royal officials. She said, "King, may you live forever! Don't be afraid! Don't let your face be so white with fear!
|
10. Now the queen H4433 , by reason of H6903 the words H4406 of the king H4430 and his lords H7261 , came H5954 into the banquet H4961 house H1005 : and the queen H4433 spoke H6032 and said H560 , O king H4430 , live H2418 forever H5957 : let not H409 thy thoughts H7476 trouble H927 thee, nor H409 let thy countenance H2122 be changed H8133 :
|
|
11. There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him. In the days of your father, this man showed that he could understand secrets. He showed that he was very smart and very wise. He showed that he was like the gods in these things. Your grandfather, King Nebuchadnezzar, put this man in charge of all the wise men. He ruled over all the men of magic and the Chaldeans.
|
11. There is H383 a man H1400 in thy kingdom H4437 , in whom H1768 is the spirit H7308 of the holy H6922 gods H426 ; and in the days H3118 of thy father H2 light H5094 and understanding H7924 and wisdom H2452 , like the wisdom H2452 of the gods H426 , was found H7912 in him ; whom the king H4430 Nebuchadnezzar H5020 thy father H2 , the king H4430 , I say , thy father H2 , made H6966 master H7229 of the magicians H2749 , astrologers H826 , Chaldeans H3779 , and soothsayers H1505 ;
|
|
12. The man I am talking about is named Daniel. The king gave him the name Belteshazzar. He is very smart and he knows many things. He could interpret dreams, explain secrets, and answer very hard problems. Call for Daniel, he will tell you what the writing on the wall means."
|
12. Forasmuch as H3606 H6903 H1768 an excellent H3493 spirit H7308 , and knowledge H4486 , and understanding H7924 , interpreting H6591 of dreams H2493 , and showing H263 of hard sentences H280 , and dissolving H8271 of doubts H7001 , were found H7912 in the same Daniel H1841 , whom H1768 the king H4430 named H7761 H8036 Belteshazzar H1096 : now H3705 let Daniel H1841 be called H7123 , and he will show H2324 the interpretation H6591 .
|
|
13. So they brought Daniel to the king and he asked, "Is your name Daniel, one of the captives my father the king brought here from Judah?
|
13. Then H116 was Daniel H1841 brought in H5954 before H6925 the king H4430 . And the king H4430 spoke H6032 and said H560 unto Daniel H1841 , Art thou H607 that H1932 Daniel H1841 , which H1768 art of H4481 the children H1123 of the captivity H1547 of H1768 Judah H3061 , whom H1768 the king H4430 my father H2 brought out H858 of H4481 Jewry H3061 ?
|
|
14. I have heard that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that you understand secrets and are very smart and very wise.
|
14. I have even heard H8086 of H5922 thee, that H1768 the spirit H7308 of the gods H426 is in thee , and that light H5094 and understanding H7924 and excellent H3493 wisdom H2452 is found H7912 in thee.
|
|
15. The wise men and the men of magic were brought to me to read this writing on the wall. I wanted them to explain to me what it means, but they could not explain it.
|
15. And now H3705 the wise H2445 men , the astrologers H826 , have been brought in H5954 before H6925 me, that H1768 they should read H7123 this H1836 writing H3792 , and make known H3046 unto me the interpretation H6591 thereof : but they could H3546 not H3809 show H2324 the interpretation H6591 of the thing H4406 :
|
|
16. I have heard that you are able to explain what things mean, and that you can find the answer to very hard problems. If you can read this writing on the wall and explain to me what it means, this is what I will do for you: I will give you purple robes to wear and will put a gold chain around your neck. Then you will become the third highest ruler in the kingdom."
|
16. And I H576 have heard H8086 of H5922 thee, that H1768 thou canst H3202 make H6590 interpretations H6591 , and dissolve H8271 doubts H7001 : now H3705 if H2006 thou canst H3202 read H7123 the writing H3792 , and make known H3046 to me the interpretation H6591 thereof , thou shalt be clothed H3848 with scarlet H711 , and have a chain H2002 of H1768 gold H1722 about H5922 thy neck H6676 , and shalt be the third ruler H7981 H8531 in the kingdom H4437 .
|
|
17. Then Daniel answered the king, "King Belshazzar, you can keep your gifts for yourself, or you can give them to someone else. But I will still read the writing on the wall for you and explain what it means.
|
17. Then H116 Daniel H1841 answered H6032 and said H560 before H6925 the king H4430 , Let thy gifts H4978 be H1934 to thyself , and give H3052 thy rewards H5023 to another H321 ; yet H1297 I will read H7123 the writing H3792 unto the king H4430 , and make known H3046 to him the interpretation H6591 .
|
|
18. "King, God Most High made your grandfather Nebuchadnezzar a very great and powerful king and gave him great wealth.
|
18. O thou H607 king H4430 , the most high H5943 God H426 gave H3052 Nebuchadnezzar H5020 thy father H2 a kingdom H4437 , and majesty H7238 , and glory H3367 , and honor H1923 :
|
|
19. People from many nations and language groups were very afraid of Nebuchadnezzar because God made him a very powerful king. Nebuchadnezzar killed whoever he wanted and let those who pleased him live. If he wanted to make people important, he made them important. If he wanted to bring them down, he brought them down.
|
19. And for H4481 the majesty H7238 that H1768 he gave H3052 him, all H3606 people H5972 , nations H524 , and languages H3961 , trembled H1934 H2112 and feared H1763 before H4481 H6925 him: whom H1768 he would H1934 H6634 he slew H1934 H6992 ; and whom H1768 he would H1934 H6634 he kept alive H1934 H2418 ; and whom H1768 he would H1934 H6634 he set up H1934 H7313 ; and whom H1768 he would H1934 H6634 he put down H1934 H8214 .
|
|
20. "But Nebuchadnezzar became proud and stubborn, so his power was taken away from him. He was taken off his royal throne and stripped of his glory.
|
20. But when H1768 his heart H3825 was lifted up H7313 , and his mind H7308 hardened H8631 in pride H2103 , he was deposed H5182 from H4481 his kingly H4437 throne H3764 , and they took H5709 his glory H3367 from H4481 him:
|
|
21. Then Nebuchadnezzar was forced to go away from people. His mind became like the mind of an animal. He lived with the wild donkeys and ate grass like a cow. He became wet with dew. These things happened to him until he learned his lesson. He learned that God Most High rules over human kingdoms, and he gives them to whoever he wants.
|
21. And he was driven H2957 from H4481 the sons H1123 of men H606 ; and his heart H3825 was made H7739 like H5974 the beasts H2423 , and his dwelling H4070 was with H5974 the wild asses H6167 : they fed H2939 him with grass H6211 like oxen H8450 , and his body H1655 was wet H6647 with the dew H4481 H2920 of heaven H8065 ; till H5705 H1768 he knew H3046 that H1768 the most high H5943 God H426 ruled H7990 in the kingdom H4437 of men H606 , and that he appointeth H6966 over H5922 it whomsoever H4479 H1768 he will H6634 .
|
|
22. "But Belshazzar, you already knew this. You are Nebuchadnezzar's grandson, but still you have not made yourself humble.
|
22. And thou H607 his son H1247 , O Belshazzar H1113 , hast not H3809 humbled H8214 thine heart H3825 , though H3606 H6903 H1768 thou knewest H3046 all H3606 this H1836 ;
|
|
23. No, you did not become humble. Instead, you have turned against the Lord of heaven. You ordered the drinking cups from the Lord's Temple to be brought to you. Then you and your royal officials, your wives, and your slave women drank wine from those cups. You gave praise to the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone. They are not really gods; they cannot see or hear or understand anything. But you did not give honor to the God who has the power over your life and everything you do.
|
23. But hast lifted up thyself H7313 against H5922 the Lord H4756 of heaven H8065 ; and they have brought H858 the vessels H3984 of H1768 his house H1005 before H6925 thee , and thou H607 , and thy lords H7261 , thy wives H7695 , and thy concubines H3904 , have drunk H8355 wine H2562 in them ; and thou hast praised H7624 the gods H426 of silver H3702 , and gold H1722 , of brass H5174 , iron H6523 , wood H636 , and stone H69 , which H1768 see H2370 not H3809 , nor H3809 hear H8086 , nor H3809 know H3046 : and the God H426 in whose H1768 hand H3028 thy breath H5396 is , and whose are all H3606 thy ways H735 , hast thou not H3809 glorified H1922 :
|
|
24. So because of that, God sent the hand that wrote on the wall.
|
24. Then H116 was the part H6447 of H1768 the hand H3028 sent H7972 from H4481 H6925 him ; and this H1836 writing H3792 was written H7560 .
|
|
25. These are the words that were written on the wall: Mene, Mene, Tekel, Uparsin.
|
25. And this H1836 is the writing H3792 that H1768 was written H7560 , MENE H4484 , MENE H4484 , TEKEL H8625 , UPHARSIN H6537 .
|
|
26. "This is what these words mean: Mene: God has counted the days until your kingdom will end.
|
26. This H1836 is the interpretation H6591 of the thing H4406 : MENE H4484 ; God H426 hath numbered H4483 thy kingdom H4437 , and finished H8000 it.
|
|
27. Tekel: You have been weighed on the scales and found not good enough.
|
27. TEKEL H8625 ; Thou art weighed H8625 in the balances H3977 , and art found H7912 wanting H2627 .
|
|
28. Uparsin: Your kingdom is being taken from you. It will be divided among the Medes and Persians."
|
28. PERES H6537 ; Thy kingdom H4437 is divided H6537 , and given H3052 to the Medes H4076 and Persians H6540 .
|
|
29. Then Belshazzar gave an order for Daniel to be dressed in purple clothes. A gold chain was put around his neck, and he was appointed the third highest ruler in the kingdom.
|
29. Then H116 commanded H560 Belshazzar H1113 , and they clothed H3848 Daniel H1841 with scarlet H711 , and put a chain H2002 of H1768 gold H1722 about H5922 his neck H6676 , and made a proclamation H3745 concerning H5922 him, that H1768 he should be H1934 the third H8531 ruler H7990 in the kingdom H4437 .
|
|
30. That very same night, Belshazzar, king of the Babylonians, was killed.
|
30. In that night H3916 was Belshazzar H1113 the king H4430 of the Chaldeans H3779 slain H6992 .
|
|
31. A man named Darius the Mede became the new king. Darius was about 62 years old.
|
31. And Darius H1868 the Median H4077 took H6902 the kingdom H4437 , being about threescore H8361 and two H8648 years H8140 old H1247 .
|