5:1 King Belshaz'zar made a great feast for a thousand of his lords, and drank wine in front of the thousand.
5:1 King Belshazzar made a great festival for a thousand of his lords, and he was drinking wine in the presence of the thousand.

5:2 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.
5:2 Under the influence of the wine, Belshazzar commanded that they bring in the vessels of gold and silver that his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them.

5:3 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.
5:3 So they brought in the vessels of gold and silver that 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.

5:4 They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.
5:4 They drank the wine and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.

5:5 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.
5:5 Immediately the fingers of a human hand appeared and began writing on the plaster of the wall of the royal palace, next to the lampstand. The king was watching the hand as it wrote.

5:6 Then the king's color changed, and his thoughts alarmed him; his limbs gave way, and his knees knocked together.
5:6 Then the king's face turned pale, and his thoughts terrified him. His limbs gave way, and his knees knocked together.

5:7 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."
5:7 The king cried aloud to bring in the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the diviners; and the king said to the wise men of Babylon, "Whoever can read this writing and tell me its interpretation shall be clothed in purple, have a chain of gold around his neck, and rank third in the kingdom."

5:8 Then all the king's wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or make known to the king the interpretation.
5:8 Then all the king's wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or tell the king the interpretation.

5:9 Then King Belshaz'zar was greatly alarmed, and his color changed; and his lords were perplexed.
5:9 Then King Belshazzar became greatly terrified and his face turned pale, and his lords were perplexed.

5:10 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.
5:10 The queen, when she heard the discussion of the king and his lords, came into the banqueting hall. The queen said, "O king, live forever! Do not let your thoughts terrify you or your face grow pale.

5:11 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,
5:11 There is a man in your kingdom who is endowed with a spirit of the holy gods. In the days of your father he was found to have enlightenment, understanding, and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods. Your father, King Nebuchadnezzar, made him chief of the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and diviners,

5:12 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."
5:12 because an excellent spirit, knowledge, and understanding to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve problems were found in this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar. Now let Daniel be called, and he will give the interpretation."

5:13 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.
5:13 Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king said to Daniel, "So you are Daniel, one of the exiles of Judah, whom my father the king brought from Judah?

5:14 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.
5:14 I have heard of you that a spirit of the gods is in you, and that enlightenment, understanding, and excellent wisdom are found in you.

5:15 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.
5:15 Now the wise men, the enchanters, have been brought in before me to read this writing and tell me its interpretation, but they were not able to give the interpretation of the matter.

5:16 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.
5:16 But I have heard that you can give interpretations and solve problems. Now if you are able to read the writing and tell me its interpretation, you shall be clothed in purple, have a chain of gold around your neck, and rank third in the kingdom."

5:17 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.
5:17 Then Daniel answered in the presence of the king, "Let your gifts be for yourself, or give your rewards to someone else! Nevertheless I will read the writing to the king and let him know the interpretation.

5:18 O king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnez'zar your father kingship and greatness and glory and majesty;
5:18 O king, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar kingship, greatness, glory, and majesty.

5:19 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.
5:19 And because of the greatness that he gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him. He killed those he wanted to kill, kept alive those he wanted to keep alive, honored those he wanted to honor, and degraded those he wanted to degrade.

5:20 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;
5:20 But when his heart was lifted up and his spirit was hardened so that he acted proudly, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and his glory was stripped from him.

5:21 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.
5:21 He was driven from human society, and his mind was made like that of an animal. His dwelling was with the wild asses, he was fed grass like oxen, and his body was bathed with the dew of heaven, until he learned that the Most High God has sovereignty over the kingdom of mortals, and sets over it whomever he will.

5:22 And you his son, Belshaz'zar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this,
5:22 And you, Belshazzar his son, have not humbled your heart, even though you knew all this!

5:23 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.
5:23 You have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven! The vessels of his temple have been brought in before you, and you and your lords, your wives and your concubines have been drinking wine from them. 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 power is your very breath, and to whom belong all your ways, you have not honored.

5:24 "Then from his presence the hand was sent, and this writing was inscribed.
5:24 "So from his presence the hand was sent and this writing was inscribed.

5:25 And this is the writing that was inscribed: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, and PARSIN.
5:25 And this is the writing that was inscribed: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, and PARSIN.

5:26 This is the interpretation of the matter: MENE, God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end;
5:26 This is the interpretation of the matter: MENE, God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end;

5:27 TEKEL, you have been weighed in the balances and found wanting;
5:27 TEKEL, you have been weighed on the scales and found wanting;

5:28 PERES, your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians."
5:28 PERES, your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians."

5:29 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.
5:29 Then Belshazzar gave the command, and Daniel was clothed in purple, a chain of gold was put around his neck, and a proclamation was made concerning him that he should rank third in the kingdom.

5:30 That very night Belshaz'zar the Chalde'an king was slain.
5:30 That very night Belshazzar, the Chaldean king, was killed.

5:31 And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old.
5:31 And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old.