| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | Berean Study Bible |
| 1[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 1Later, King Belshazzar held a great feast for a thousand of his nobles, and he drank wine with them. |
| 2[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 2Under the influence of the wine, Belshazzar gave orders to bring in the gold and silver vessels that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king could drink from them, along with his nobles, his wives, and his concubines. |
| 3[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 3Thus they brought in the gold vessels that had been taken from the temple, the house of God in Jerusalem, and the king drank from them, along with his nobles, his wives, and his concubines. |
| 4[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 4As they drank the wine, they praised their gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone. |
| 5[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 5At that moment the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand in the royal palace. As the king watched the hand that was writing, |
| 6[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 6his face grew pale and his thoughts so alarmed him that his hips gave way and his knees knocked together. |
| 7[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 7The king called out for the enchanters, astrologers, and diviners to be brought in, and he said to these wise men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this inscription and tells me its interpretation will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around his neck, and he will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.” |
| 8[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 8So all the king’s wise men came in, but they could not read the inscription or interpret it for him. |
| 9[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 9Then King Belshazzar became even more terrified, his face grew even more pale, and his nobles were bewildered. |
| 10[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 10Hearing the outcry of the king and his nobles, the queen entered the banquet hall. “O king, may you live forever!” she said. “Do not let your thoughts terrify you, or your face grow pale. |
| 11[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 11There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him. In the days of your father he was found to have insight, intelligence, and wisdom like that of the gods. Your father, King Nebuchadnezzar, appointed him chief of the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and diviners. Your own father, the king, |
| 12[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 12did this because Daniel, the one he named Belteshazzar, was found to have an extraordinary spirit, as well as knowledge, understanding, and the ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve difficult problems. Summon Daniel, therefore, and he will give you the interpretation.” |
| 13[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 13So Daniel was brought before the king, who asked him, “Are you Daniel, one of the exiles my father the king brought from Judah? |
| 14[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 14I have heard that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that you have insight, intelligence, and extraordinary wisdom. |
| 15[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 15Now the wise men and enchanters were brought before me to read this inscription and interpret it for me, but they could not give its interpretation. |
| 16[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 16But I have heard about you, that you are able to give interpretations and solve difficult problems. Therefore, if you can read this inscription and give me its interpretation, you will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around your neck, and you will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.” |
| 17[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 17In response, Daniel said to the king, “You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else. Nevertheless, I will read the inscription for the king and interpret it for him. |
| 18[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 18As for you, O king, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar sovereignty and greatness, glory and honor. |
| 19[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 19Because of the greatness that He bestowed on him, the people of every nation and language trembled in fear before him. He killed whom he wished and kept alive whom he wished; he exalted whom he wished and humbled whom he wished. |
| 20[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 20But when his heart became arrogant and his spirit was hardened with pride, he was deposed from his royal throne, and his glory was taken from him. |
| 21[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 21He was driven away from mankind, and his mind was like that of a beast. He lived with the wild donkeys and ate grass like an ox, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven until he acknowledged that the Most High God rules over the kingdom of mankind, setting over it whom He wishes. |
| 22[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 22But you his son, O Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, even though you knew all this. |
| 23[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 23Instead, you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven. The vessels from His house were brought to you, and as you drank wine from them with your nobles, wives, and concubines, you praised your gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. But you have failed to glorify the God who holds in His hand your very breath and all your ways. |
| 24[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 24Therefore He sent the hand that wrote the inscription. |
| 25[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 25Now this is the inscription that was written: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN. |
| 26[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 26And this is the interpretation of the message: MENE means that God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end. |
| 27[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 27TEKEL means that you have been weighed on the scales and found deficient. |
| 28[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 28PERES means that your kingdom has been divided and given over to the Medes and Persians.” |
| 29[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 29Then Belshazzar gave the command, and they clothed Daniel in purple, placed a gold chain around his neck, and proclaimed him the third highest ruler in the kingdom. |
| 30[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 30That very night Belshazzar king of the Chaldeans was slain, |
| 31[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 31and Darius the Mede received the kingdom at the age of sixty-two. |
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