New King James Version

English Standard Version

Belshazzar’s Feast

Belshazzar the king made a great feast for a thousand of his lords, and drank wine in the presence of the thousand.

1

The Handwriting on the Wall

King Belshazzar made a great feast for a thousand of his lords and drank wine in front of the thousand.

2

While he tasted the wine, Belshazzar gave the command to bring the gold and silver vessels which his [a]father Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple which had been in Jerusalem, that the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them.

2

Belshazzar, when he tasted the wine, commanded that the vessels of gold and of silver that Nebuchadnezzar his fathera 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.

3

Then they brought the gold vessels that had been taken from the temple of the house of God which had been in Jerusalem; and the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines drank from them.

3

Then they brought in the golden vessels 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.

4

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

4

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

5

In the same hour the fingers of a man’s hand appeared and wrote opposite the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace; and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.

5

Immediately the fingers of a human 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.

6

Then the king’s countenance changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his hips were loosened and his knees knocked against each other.

6

Then the king’s color changed, and his thoughts alarmed him; his limbs gave way, and his knees knocked together.

7

The king cried [b]aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. The king spoke, saying to the wise men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this writing, and tells me its interpretation, shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around his neck; and he shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.”

7

The king called loudly to bring in the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers. The king declaredb 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 around his neck and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.”

8

Now all the king’s wise men came, but they could not read the writing, or make known to the king its interpretation.

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.

9

Then King Belshazzar was greatly troubled, his countenance was changed, and his lords were [c]astonished.

9

Then King Belshazzar was greatly alarmed, and his color changed, and his lords were perplexed.

10

The queen, because of the words of the king and his lords, came to the banquet hall. The queen spoke, saying, “O king, live forever! Do not let your thoughts trouble you, nor let your countenance change.

10

The queen,c because of the words of the king and his lords, came into the banqueting hall, and the queen declared, “O king, live forever! Let not your thoughts alarm you or your color change.

11

There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the Spirit of the Holy God. And in the days of your [d]father, light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, were found in him; and King Nebuchadnezzar your [e]father — your father the king — made him chief of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers.

11

There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the spirit of the holy gods.d In the days of your father, light and understanding and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods were found in him, and King Nebuchadnezzar, your father — your father the king — made him chief of the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and astrologers,

12

Inasmuch as an excellent spirit, knowledge, understanding, interpreting dreams, solving riddles, and [f]explaining enigmas were found in this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar, now let Daniel be called, and he will give the interpretation.”

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 show the interpretation.”

13

The Writing on the Wall Explained

Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king spoke, and said to Daniel, “Are you that Daniel [g]who is one of the captives from Judah, whom my [h]father the king brought from Judah?

13

Daniel Interprets the Handwriting

Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king answered and said to Daniel, “You are that Daniel, one of the exiles of Judah, whom the king my father brought from Judah.

14

I have heard of you, that the [i]Spirit of God is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you.

14

I have heard of you that the spirit of the godse is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you.

15

Now the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing and make known to me its interpretation, but they could not give the interpretation of the thing.

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.

16

And I have heard of you, that you can give interpretations and [j]explain enigmas. 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 around your neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.”

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 around your neck and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.”

17

Then Daniel answered, and said before the king, “Let your gifts be for yourself, and give your rewards to another; yet I will read the writing to the king, and make known to him the interpretation.

17

Then Daniel answered and said 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.

18

O king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your [k]father a kingdom and majesty, glory and honor.

18

O king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father kingship and greatness and glory and majesty.

19

And because of the majesty that He gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him. Whomever he wished, he executed; whomever he wished, he kept alive; whomever he wished, he set up; and whomever he wished, he put down.

19

And because of the greatness that he gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages trembled 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.

20

But when his heart was lifted up, and his spirit was hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him.

20

But when his heart was lifted up and his spirit was hardened so that he dealt proudly, he was brought down from his kingly throne, and his glory was taken from him.

21

Then he was driven from the sons of men, his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys. They fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till he [l]knew that the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men, and appoints over it whomever He chooses.

21

He 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, until he knew that the Most High God rules the kingdom of mankind and sets over it whom he will.

22

“But you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, although you knew all this.

22

And you his son,f Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this,

23

And you have [m]lifted yourself up against the Lord of heaven. They have brought the vessels of [n]His house 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, bronze and iron, wood and stone, which do not see or hear or know; and the God who holds your breath in His hand and owns all your ways, you have not glorified.

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.

24

Then the [o]fingers of the hand were sent from Him, and this writing was written.

24

“Then from his presence the hand was sent, and this writing was inscribed.

25

“And this is the inscription that was written:
[p]MENE, MENE, [q]TEKEL, [r]UPHARSIN.

25

And this is the writing that was inscribed: Mene, Mene, Tekel, and Parsin.

26

This is the interpretation of each word. MENE: God has numbered your kingdom, and finished it;

26

This is the interpretation of the matter: Mene, God has numberedg the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end;

27

TEKEL: You have been weighed in the balances, and found wanting;

27

Tekel, you have been weighedh in the balances and found wanting;

28

PERES: Your kingdom has been divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.”[s]

28

Peres, your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.”i

29

Then Belshazzar gave the command, and they clothed Daniel with purple and put a chain of gold around his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.

29

Then Belshazzar gave the command, and Daniel was clothed with purple, a chain of gold was put around his neck, and a proclamation was made about him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.

30

Belshazzar’s Fall

That very night Belshazzar, king of the Chaldeans, was slain.

30

That very night Belshazzar the Chaldean king was killed.

31

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

31

j And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old.

Parallel

New King James Version

English Standard Version

Daniel 5

Daniel 5