2
When Belshazzartasted the wine, he gaveorders to bring the gold and silvervesselswhichNebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the templewhich was in Jerusalem, so that the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines might drink from them.
3
Then they brought the goldvessels that had been taken out of the temple, the house of Godwhich was in Jerusalem; and the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubinesdrank from them.
5
Suddenly the fingers of a man'shandemerged and began writingopposite the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the king'spalace, and the kingsaw the back of the hand that did the writing.
7
The kingcalledaloud to bring in the conjurers, the Chaldeans and the diviners. The kingspoke and said to the wisemen of Babylon, "Anymanwho can readthisinscription and explain its interpretation to me shall be clothed with purple and have a necklace of goldaround his neck, and haveauthority as third ruler in the kingdom."
10
The queenentered the banquethallbecause of the words of the king and his nobles; the queenspoke and said, "O king, liveforever! Do not let your thoughtsalarm you or your face be pale.
11
"There is a man in your kingdom in whom is a spirit of the holygods; and in the days of your father, illumination, insight and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods were found in him. And KingNebuchadnezzar, your father, your father the king, appointed him chief of the magicians, conjurers, Chaldeans and diviners.
12
"This was because** an extraordinaryspirit, knowledge and insight, interpretation of dreams, explanation of enigmas and solving of difficultproblems were found in this Daniel, whom the kingnamedBelteshazzar. Let Danielnow be summoned and he will declare the interpretation."
13
ThenDaniel was brought in before the king. The kingspoke and said to Daniel, "Are you that Danielwho is one of the exiles* from Judah, whom my father the kingbrought from Judah?
15
"Just now the wisemen and the conjurers were brought in before me that they might readthisinscription and make its interpretationknown to me, but they could not declare the interpretation of the message.
16
"But I personally have heardabout you, that you are able to giveinterpretations and solvedifficultproblems. Nowif you are able to read the inscription and make its interpretationknown to me, you will be clothed with purple and wear a necklace of goldaround your neck, and you will haveauthority as the third ruler in the kingdom."
17
ThenDanielanswered and saidbefore the king, "Keep your gifts for yourself or give your rewards to someoneelse; however, I will read the inscription to the king and make the interpretationknown to him.
19
"Because of the grandeurwhich He bestowed on him, all the peoples, nations and men of every languagefeared and trembledbefore him; whomever he wished he killed and whomever he wished he sparedalive; and whomever he wished he elevated and whomever he wished he humbled.
20
"But when his heart was lifted up and his spiritbecame so proud that he behavedarrogantly, he was deposed from his royalthrone and his glory was takenaway from him.
21
"He was also drivenaway from mankind, and his heart was madelike that of beasts, and his dwellingplace was with the wilddonkeys. He was givengrass to eat like cattle, and his body was drenched with the dew of heavenuntil* he recognized that the MostHighGod is ruler over the realm of mankind and that He setsover it whomever* He wishes.
23
but you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of His housebefore you, and you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines have been drinkingwine from them; and you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which do not see, hear or understand. But the God in whosehand are your life-breath and all your ways, you have not glorified.
29
ThenBelshazzargaveorders, and they clothedDaniel with purple and put a necklace of goldaround his neck, and issued a proclamationconcerning him that he now hadauthority as the third ruler in the kingdom.