1King Belshazzar, (after he had succeeded his father, Nebuchadnezzar, as king of Babylon) made a great banquet for a thousand of his lords, and drank wine with them. 2While Belshazzar was drinking his wine, he commanded that they bring the gold and silver vessels (goblets) which his father, Nebuchadnezzar, had taken out of the Temple in Jerusalem; so that he, his guests, their wives, and concubines, might drink from them. 3So they brought the gold drinking vessels that had been taken from the house of God at Jerusalem; and the king and all his guests drank from them, 4While they praised their gods of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.

5Then, in the same hour, the fingers of a man's hand suddenly appeared and wrote upon the plaster of the palace wall across from the lampstand; and Belshazzar watched as the hand wrote. 6And the expression and color of the king's face abruptly changed, and he was so unnerved that his hip joints and muscles went slack; and his knees knocked together. 7Then he shouted to bring in the astrologers, Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. And he told these wise men of Babylon, “Whoever can read this writing and tell me what it says, shall be arrayed in scarlet, with a gold chain about his neck, and shall be the third highest ruler in my kingdom.” 8Then all the king's wise men rushed in; but none could read the writing, or tell the king what it meant.

9So then King Belshazzar became even more disturbed, and his face grew more pale; and his nobles were equally perplexed. 10Then the queen mother, when she heard this outcry, rushed into the banquet hall; and said, “O king, live forever; do not let this disturb you to the point of losing your composure. 11There is a man in your kingdom, in whom the Spirit of the holy God is; and in the days of your father, light, understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him, such that King Nebuchadnezzar, your father, appointed him head of all the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers; 12He did this because an excellent spirit of knowledge, understanding, interpreting of dreams, and solving of hard problems and riddles, was found in this same Daniel, whom your father named Belteshazzar. Now let Daniel be called, and he will tell you what this means.”

13So then Daniel was brought before the king. And the king said to Daniel, “Are you that Daniel, who is of the descendants of the captivity of Judah, whom my father brought out of Jewry? 14I have heard that the Spirit of the gods is in you, and that you have insight, understanding and excellent wisdom. 15The wise men and astrologers were brought before me to read this writing, and to tell me its interpretation; but they could not interpret or explain it. 16And I have heard that you can make interpretations, and resolve difficult issues; now, if you can read the writing, and interpret it, you shall be clothed in purple robes, with a gold chain about your neck, and shall be the third most powerful ruler in the kingdom.”

17Then Daniel replied to the king, “You may keep your gifts, and give your rewards to another; but I will read the writing to the king, and tell you what it means. 18Your majesty, the Most High God gave your father, Nebuchadnezzar, a kingdom, majesty, glory, and honor; 19And because of that majesty that He gave him, nations, and people of all languages, trembled with dread before him. He killed or spared whomever he wanted; and elevated or humbled men as he saw fit. 20But when he became arrogant, and hardened in pride, his throne, and all his glory was taken from him. 21And he was driven away from people; and was given the mind of an animal, and he dwelt among the wild donkeys; and ate grass like an ox, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven; until he learned that the Most High God ruled in the kingdoms of men, and that He appoints over them whomever He wishes. 22And you, his son, O Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, even though you knew all this; 23But, instead, you have lifted yourself up against the LORD of heaven; and had the vessels of His house brought before you; and you, your guests, your wives, and concubines, have drunk wine in them; while you praised your gods of silver, gold, bronze, iron, wood, and stone – gods that cannot see, nor hear, nor know; and the God Who holds your every breath and your destiny, you have not acknowledged or honored. 24Therefore that part of the hand was sent from Him, to inscribe this writing. 25And this is what was written, ‘MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.’ 26And this what these words mean: MENE - God has numbered the days of your reign, and ended it. 27TEKEL - You have been weighed on the scales, and found wanting. 28PERES - Your kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.”

29Then at Belshazzar’s command, Daniel was clothed with robes, with a gold chain about his neck, and was proclaimed to be the third most powerful ruler in the kingdom. 30And that very night, King Belshazzar was slain. 31And Darius, the Mede, took the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old.