Daniel 5

1 Later, King [ruler, monarch] Belshazzar [son of Nebuchadnezzar] held a great [abundant, lavish] feast [banquet, celebration] for a thousand [a large group, multitude] of his nobles [lords, high-ranking officials], and he drank [consumed, imbibed] wine [fermented drink] with them [in their presence, before the thousand]. word study 2 Under the influence [intoxication, inebriation] of the wine [fermented drink], Belshazzar [the king of Babylon] gave orders [commands, decrees] to bring in the gold [precious metal] and silver [valuable metal] vessels [utensils, sacred objects] that Nebuchadnezzar [the previous king] his father had taken [plundered, seized] from the temple [sacred building, place of worship] in Jerusalem [the holy city, capital of Judah], so that the king [ruler, monarch] could drink [consume, indulge] from them, along with his nobles [lords, high-ranking officials], his wives [consorts, queens], and his concubines [mistresses, female companions]. word study 3 Thus they brought in the gold [precious, highly valued] vessels [utensils, temple items] that had been taken from the temple [house of worship, sacred place], the house [dwelling place, sanctuary] of God [the one true deity, Almighty] in Jerusalem [city of peace, holy city], and the king [monarch, ruler] drank from them, along with his nobles [high-ranking officials, lords], his wives [consorts, queens], and his concubines [female companions, mistresses]. word study 4 As they drank [consumed, imbibed] the wine [fermented drink, intoxicating beverage], they praised [extolled, glorified] their gods [idols, false deities] of gold [precious metal, valuable treasure] and silver [valuable resource, wealth], bronze [copper alloy, strong material] and iron [strong metal, sturdy], wood [natural resource, building material] and stone [rock, idol-making material]. word study 5 At that [same, brief] moment [a brief instant] the fingers [digits, ʼetsbaʻ] of a human [man’s] hand appeared and wrote [to put thoughts into written form] on the plaster [lime] of the wall [a physical barrier], near the lampstand [a light] in the royal [king’s] palace [a large public building]. As the king [a ruler] watched [saw] the hand that was writing [putting thoughts into form], word study 6 his face [pale, changed in countenance] grew pale and his thoughts [troubled, dismayed] so alarmed him that his hips [loins, seat of strength] gave way and his knees [joints that bend] knocked [smote, struck] together. word study 7 The king [ruler, monarch] called out for the enchanters [magicians, sorcerers], astrologers [stargazers, seers], and diviners [soothsayers, fortune-tellers] to be brought in, and he said to these wise [intelligent, discerning] men of Babylon, “Whoever reads [interprets, deciphers] this inscription [written decree, message] and tells me its interpretation [explanation, meaning] will be clothed in purple [royal attire, luxurious robe] and have a gold [valuable, precious] chain placed around his neck, and he will be made the third [next in rank, high in authority] highest ruler [leader, governor] in the kingdom [domain, territory].” word study 8 So [then, at that time] all [everything, the entirety] the king’s [ruler, monarch] wise [intelligent, discerning] men [experts, advisors] came in [entered, assembled], but they could not [were unable, lacked the power] read [interpret, understand] the inscription [written decree, message] or [nor] interpret [explain, reveal] it [the meaning, the significance] for him [to the king, for his understanding]. word study 9 Then King [ruler, monarch] Belshazzar became even more [greatly, exceedingly] terrified [to hasten or terrify], his face [countenance, appearance] grew even more [changed in him, altered] pale [without splendor, lacking brightness], and his nobles [lords, high-ranking officials] were [perplexed, confused, astonished] bewildered [at a loss, unsure of what to do]. word study 10 Hearing the outcry [loud cry, urgent call] of the king [the ruler] and his nobles [high-ranking officials, lords], the queen [the female ruler] entered [came into, approached] the banquet hall [house of feasting, grand dining room]. “O king [the monarch], may you live [have life, thrive] forever [for perpetuity, eternally]!” she said. “Do not let your thoughts [mental conceptions, ideas] terrify [hasten, frighten] you, or your face [countenance, expression] grow pale [change, lose splendor]. word study 11 There is a man [a certain one, a person of great wisdom] in your kingdom who has the spirit [the divine breath] of the holy [set apart, consecrated] gods [divine beings, heavenly powers] in him. In the days [a period of time, an era] of your father [ancestor, predecessor] he was found [discovered, revealed] to have insight [understanding, discernment], intelligence [wisdom, knowledge], and wisdom [sound judgment, godly understanding] like that of the gods [divine wisdom, heavenly insight]. Your father [parent, ancestor], King Nebuchadnezzar [a powerful ruler, a king of Babylon], appointed him chief [leader, ruler] of the magicians [those who practice sorcery], enchanters [those who cast spells], astrologers [those who study the stars, Chaldeans], and diviners [those who seek to know the future, soothsayers]. Your own father [your predecessor, your ancestor], the king [the ruler, the monarch], word study 12 did this because Daniel, the one he named [with a new identity] Belteshazzar, was found [discovered, revealed] to have an extraordinary [excellent, preeminent] spirit, as well as knowledge [insight], understanding [discernment, wisdom], and the ability to interpret [explain, unravel] dreams [visions, revelations], explain [declare, solve] riddles [enigmas, puzzles], and solve [loosen, unravel] difficult [complex, perplexing] problems [mysteries, knots]. Summon Daniel, therefore, and he will give you the interpretation [explanation, revelation].” word study 13 So Daniel [the prophet, God’s judge] was brought before the king [the ruler, monarch], who asked him, “Are you Daniel [that Daniel, the one known], one of the exiles [captives, prisoners] my father [ancestral ruler] the king [sovereign] brought from Judah [the tribe, the land of praise]? word study 14 I have heard [been informed, learned] that the spirit [the divine breath] of the gods [heathen deities, false gods] is in you, and that you have insight [illumination], intelligence [discernment], and extraordinary [preeminent, excellent] wisdom [spiritual understanding]. word study 15 Now [at this time, currently] the wise men [intelligent, discerning, having good judgment] and enchanters [conjurers, magicians, using secret arts] were brought before me [into my presence, to appear before me] to read [to call out loud, proclaim] this inscription [written decree, message] and interpret [to explain, make known] it for me, but they could not [were unable, lacked the power] give [to show, declare] its interpretation [meaning, explanation, the explanation or meaning of something]. word study 16 But I have heard about you, that you are able [to give insightful explanations] to give interpretations [make known the meaning] and solve [loose, unravel] difficult problems [knots, puzzling enigmas]. Therefore, if you can read [call out, proclaim] this inscription [written decree] and give me its interpretation [explanation, unveiling of the meaning], you will be clothed [wrapped, adorned] in purple [a deep, rich color] and have a gold [valuable, precious] chain [necklace] placed around your neck [the back of the neck], and you will be made the third [one of three, a position of high authority] highest ruler [one who has control, exercises power] in the kingdom [the territory, domain, or realm].” word study 17 In response [then, at that time], Daniel [the prophet, God’s messenger] said to the king [ruler, monarch], “You may keep your gifts [rewards, offerings] for yourself and give your rewards [generous gifts, largess] to someone else [another, a different person]. Nevertheless [but, in spite of this], I will read [call out loud, proclaim] the inscription [written decree, message] for the king and interpret [explain, make known] it for him [reveal its meaning, provide understanding]. word study 18 As for you, O [supreme ruler] king, the Most High [Elyon, sovereign God] God gave your father [parent, ancestor] Nebuchadnezzar [the king of Babylon] sovereignty [kingdom, dominion] and greatness [magnificence, majesty], glory [honor, splendor] and honor [esteem, dignity]. word study 19 Because of the greatness [majesty, supreme authority] that He bestowed on him, the people [nations, communities] of every nation [tribe, language group] and language [tongue, dialect] trembled in fear [were afraid, shook with terror] before him. He killed [slew, put to death] whom he wished [wanted, was pleased to] and kept alive [spared, allowed to live] whom he wished [wanted, was pleased to]; he exalted [raised up, lifted] whom he wished [wanted, was pleased to] and humbled [brought low, made humble] whom he wished [wanted, was pleased to]. word study 20 But when his heart [inner self, thoughts and feelings] became arrogant [lifted up, puffed up with pride] and his spirit [mind, emotions] was hardened [made strong, stubborn] with pride [acting proudly, being arrogant], he was deposed [removed, put down] from his royal [kingly] throne [seat of power], and his glory [honor, esteem] was taken [removed, passed away] from him. word study 21 He was driven away [expelled, chased] from mankind [human society, people], and his mind [heart, inner self] was like that of a beast [animal, creature]. He lived with the wild donkeys [onagers, free animals] and ate grass like an ox [cattle, livestock], and his body [physical form] was drenched [soaked, wet] with the dew of heaven [heavenly moisture, divine blessing] until he acknowledged [recognized, understood] that the Most High God [Elyon, supreme ruler] rules over the kingdom of mankind [human kingdoms, earthly realms], setting over it whom He wishes [chooses, appoints]. word study 22 But you [as a descendant] his son, O Belshazzar [king of Babylon], have not [failed to, been unwilling to] humbled [brought low, made humble] your heart [inner self, thoughts and feelings], even though you knew [were aware of, had knowledge of] all [everything, the entirety] this [these things, the circumstances]. word study 23 Instead, you have exalted [lifted up, arrogantly defied] yourself against the Lord [Mara, the supreme Master] of heaven [the sky and the spiritual realm]. The vessels [utensils, sacred cups] from His house [the temple, God’s dwelling place] were brought to you, and as you drank wine [intoxicating beverage] from them with your nobles [high-ranking officials, lords], wives, and concubines [secondary wives, slave wives], you praised your gods [idols, false deities] of silver [valuable metal] and gold [precious treasure], bronze [copper alloy] and iron [strong metal], wood [natural resource] and stone [rock, idol material], which cannot see [are blind, unaware] or hear [are deaf, unresponsive] or understand [are ignorant, lacking knowledge]. But you have failed to glorify [honor, magnify] the God who holds in His hand [has complete control over] your very breath [spirit, life force] and all your ways [paths, decisions]. word study 24 Therefore [at that time, then] He sent [dispatched, caused to go] the hand that wrote [inscribed, recorded] the inscription [written decree, message]. word study 25 Now this [therefore, as a result] is the inscription [writing, written decree] that was written: MENE [mina, a unit of weight], MENE, TEKEL [to weigh, a shekel], PARSIN [to divide, split into parts]. word study 26 And this [therefore, as a result] is the interpretation [explanation, meaning] of the message: MENE [numbered, counted] means that God [Eloah, the one true God] has numbered [reckoned, appointed] the days of your reign [kingdom, rule] and brought it to an end [finished, completed]. word study 27 TEKEL [weighed, to measure worth] means that you have been weighed [evaluated, assessed] on the scales [balance, instrument of judgment] and found [discovered, determined] deficient [lacking, wanting, to be insufficient]. word study 28 PERES [divided, split apart] means that your kingdom [realm, territory] has been divided [cut up, severed] and given [handed over, delivered] over to the Medes [people of Media, a region in central Asia] and Persians [inhabitants of Persia, an ancient Eastern country].” word study 29 Then Belshazzar [the king of Babylon] gave the command, and they clothed Daniel [the prophet, God’s messenger] in purple [a deep, rich color], placed a gold [valuable, precious] chain [a necklace] around his neck [the back of the neck, a place of strength and burden], and proclaimed him [publicly declared, announced] the third [one of three, a position of authority] highest ruler [having authority, a leader] in the kingdom [the territory, the realm of the king]. word study 30 That very [same, identical] night [of darkness and judgment] Belshazzar [the king of Babylon, son of Nebuchadnezzar] king [ruler, monarch] of the Chaldeans [a people skilled in astrology and wisdom] was slain [killed, put to death, to slay or kill], word study 31 and Darius the Mede [Median] received [took, was given] the kingdom [rule, authority] at the age of [being about] sixty-two [threescore and two, sixty and two]. word study