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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"><title>Daniel 5 Amplified Bible</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; 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and the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines drank from them. <span class="reftext"><a href="/daniel/5-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span>They drank the wine and praised the gods of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone. <p class="paragraph"><span class="reftext"><a href="/daniel/5-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span>Suddenly the fingers of a man’s hand appeared and began writing opposite the lampstand on [a well-lit area of] the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace, and the king saw the part of the hand that did the writing. <span class="reftext"><a href="/daniel/5-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span>Then the king’s face grew pale, and his thoughts alarmed him; the joints <i>and</i> muscles of his hips <i>and</i> back weakened and his knees began knocking together. <span class="reftext"><a href="/daniel/5-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span>The king called aloud to bring in the enchanters (Magi), the Chaldeans [who were master astrologers] and the diviners. The king said to the wise men of Babylon, “Whoever can read this writing and explain its interpretation to me shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold put around his neck, and have authority as the <span class="fn"><a href="#fn">[d]</a></span>third <i>ruler</i> in the kingdom.” <span class="reftext"><a href="/daniel/5-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span>Then all the king’s wise men came in, but they could not <span class="fn"><a href="#fn">[e]</a></span>read the writing or reveal to the king its interpretation. <span class="reftext"><a href="/daniel/5-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span>Then King Belshazzar was greatly perplexed, his face became even paler, and his nobles were bewildered <i>and</i> alarmed. <p class="paragraph"><span class="reftext"><a href="/daniel/5-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>Now the queen [mother], overhearing the [excited] words of the king and his nobles, came into the banquet area. The queen [mother] spoke and said, “O king, live forever! Do not be alarmed at your thoughts or let your face be changed. <span class="reftext"><a href="/daniel/5-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span>There is a man in your kingdom in whom is <span class="fn"><a href="#fn">[f]</a></span>a spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of your father, illumination, understanding and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods were found in him. And <span class="fn"><a href="#fn">[g]</a></span>King Nebuchadnezzar, your father--your father the king, appointed him chief of the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans and diviners. <span class="reftext"><a href="/daniel/5-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span>It was because an extraordinary spirit, knowledge and insight, the ability to interpret dreams, clarify riddles, and solve complex problems were found in this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar. Now let Daniel be called and he will give the interpretation.” <p class="hdg">Daniel Interprets Handwriting on the Wall</p><p class="paragraph"><span class="reftext"><a href="/daniel/5-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span>Then Daniel was brought in before the king. And the king said to Daniel, “Are you that Daniel who is one of the sons of the exiles of Judah, whom my father the king brought from Judah? <span class="reftext"><a href="/daniel/5-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span>I have heard of you, that a spirit of the gods is in you, and that illumination, insight, and extraordinary wisdom have been found in you. <span class="reftext"><a href="/daniel/5-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span>Now the wise men and the enchanters, were brought in before me so that they might read this writing and reveal its meaning to me, but they could not give the interpretation of the message. <span class="reftext"><a href="/daniel/5-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span>But I personally have heard about you, that you are able to make interpretations and solve complex problems. Now if you are able to read the writing and reveal its interpretation to me, you shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold put around your neck, and you shall have authority as the third <i>ruler</i> in the kingdom.” <p class="paragraph"><span class="reftext"><a href="/daniel/5-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span>Then Daniel answered and said before the king, “Keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else; however, I will read the writing to the king and reveal the interpretation to him. <span class="reftext"><a href="/daniel/5-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span>O king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father a kingdom and greatness and glory and majesty; <span class="reftext"><a href="/daniel/5-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span>and because of the greatness that He gave him, all the peoples, nations, and <i>speakers of every</i> language trembled and feared him. Whomever he wished he killed, and whomever he wished he kept alive; whomever he wished he promoted and whomever he wished he humbled. <span class="reftext"><a href="/daniel/5-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span>But when his heart was lifted up and his spirit became so proud that he behaved arrogantly, he was deposed from his royal throne and his glory was taken away from him. <span class="reftext"><a href="/daniel/5-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span>He was also driven from mankind, and his mind was made like that of an animal, and his dwelling place was with the wild donkeys. He was given grass to eat like cattle, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven until he came to know [without any doubt] that the Most High God rules over the kingdom of mankind and He appoints it to whomever He wills. <span class="reftext"><a href="/daniel/5-22.htm"><b>22</b></a></span>And you, his <span class="fn"><a href="#fn">[h]</a></span>son, O Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart (mind), even though you knew all this. <span class="reftext"><a href="/daniel/5-23.htm"><b>23</b></a></span>And you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven, and the vessels of His house have been brought before you, and you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines have been drinking 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 understand. But the God who holds in His hand your breath of life and your ways you have not honored <i>and</i> glorified [but have dishonored and defied]. <span class="reftext"><a href="/daniel/5-24.htm"><b>24</b></a></span>Then the hand was sent from the presence [of the Most High God], and this inscription was written: <p class="paragraph"><span class="reftext"><a href="/daniel/5-25.htm"><b>25</b></a></span>“This is the <span class="fn"><a href="#fn">[i]</a></span>inscription that was written, ‘MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN [numbered, numbered, weighed, and divided].’ <span class="reftext"><a href="/daniel/5-26.htm"><b>26</b></a></span>This is the interpretation of the message: ‘MENE’--God has numbered the days of your kingdom and put an end to it; <span class="reftext"><a href="/daniel/5-27.htm"><b>27</b></a></span>‘TEKEL’--you have been weighed on the scales [of righteousness] and found deficient; <span class="reftext"><a href="/daniel/5-28.htm"><b>28</b></a></span>‘<span class="fn"><a href="#fn">[j]</a></span>PERES’--<span class="fn"><a href="#fn">[k]</a></span>your kingdom has been divided and given over to the Medes and <span class="fn"><a href="#fn">[l]</a></span>Persians.” <p class="paragraph"><span class="reftext"><a href="/daniel/5-29.htm"><b>29</b></a></span>Then Belshazzar gave the command, and Daniel was clothed with purple and a chain of gold was put around his neck, and a proclamation concerning him was issued [declaring] that he now had authority as the third <i>ruler</i> in the kingdom. <p class="paragraph"><span class="reftext"><a href="/daniel/5-30.htm"><b>30</b></a></span>During that same <span class="fn"><a href="#fn">[m]</a></span>night Belshazzar the [last] Chaldean king was slain [by troops of the <span class="fn"><a href="#fn">[n]</a></span>invading army]. <span class="reftext"><a href="/daniel/5-31.htm"><b>31</b></a></span>So <span class="fn"><a href="#fn">[o]</a></span>Darius the Mede received the kingdom; he was about the age of sixty-two.<A name="fn"></a></p><br /><br /><span class="footnotesbot">[a]</span> <span class="fnverse">2</span> This Aramaic word (see note 2:4) may also mean “ancestor” (see vv 11, 13, 18).<br><span class="footnotesbot">[b]</span> <span class="fnverse">2</span> Gold utensils had been used in the temple building itself, and silver utensils had originally been stored in the “treasuries of the house of God” (2 Chr 5:1).<br><span class="footnotesbot">[c]</span> <span class="fnverse">2</span> See note Gen 22:24.<br><span class="footnotesbot">[d]</span> <span class="fnverse">7</span> Nabonidus was first, Belshazzar, his son, was second.<br><span class="footnotesbot">[e]</span> <span class="fnverse">8</span> In light of what Daniel says in v 25, it is hard to escape the conclusion that for some reason the letters were unreadable to the <i>wise men.</i> The ancient rabbis speculated that the words were written in some kind of code that had to be deciphered. Among the suggestions were reversing the order of the letters (e.g. ENM for MENE etc.) and an elaborate puzzle in which the letters of each word were separated and spread out to form three senseless words: “MMTUS NNKFE EELRN” (“M...N...E” etc.).<br><span class="footnotesbot">[f]</span> <span class="fnverse">11</span> Or possibly <i>the Spirit of the Holy God,</i> and so throughout the chapter.<br><span class="footnotesbot">[g]</span> <span class="fnverse">11</span> Twenty-three years have passed since Nebuchadnezzar’s death in 562 B.C.<br><span class="footnotesbot">[h]</span> <span class="fnverse">22</span> The Aramaic (see note 2:4) word may also mean “grandson” or “descendant.”<br><span class="footnotesbot">[i]</span> <span class="fnverse">25</span> These words are ordinary Aramaic from that time, so some commentators have speculated that the <i>wise men</i> recognized them but just could not put them into orderly sentences. Yet here Daniel seems to clearly “read” the words simply by pronouncing them in Aramaic (cf note v 8). His <i>interpretation</i> (vv 26-28) goes far beyond what the simple words mean by themselves.<br><span class="footnotesbot">[j]</span> <span class="fnverse">28</span> The singular of UPHARSIN (see v 25).<br><span class="footnotesbot">[k]</span> <span class="fnverse">28</span> Foretold in Is 21:2, 5, 9.<br><span class="footnotesbot">[l]</span> <span class="fnverse">28</span> Aram <i>Paras</i>.<br><span class="footnotesbot">[m]</span> <span class="fnverse">30</span> The 16th of Tishri (October 12, 539 B.C).<br><span class="footnotesbot">[n]</span> <span class="fnverse">30</span> The Persian army had been outside the walls of Babylon for some time, but waited until this time of national feasting before invading.<br><span class="footnotesbot">[o]</span> <span class="fnverse">31</span> Some scholars believe “Darius” may be a title rather than a proper name and in this context refers either to Cyrus the Great, king of Persia, who conquered Babylon or (more likely) to Gubaru, Cyrus’ commander who led the nighttime attack on the city and was appointed governor of the Babylonian territories.<br></div><br /><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">Amplified Bible Copyright © 2015<br>by The Lockman Foundation<br>All rights reserved <a href="http://www.lockman.org">www.lockman.org</a><br><br><a href="/">Bible Hub</a><br>                                                                                                                                <span class="p"><br /><br /></span></div></div></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="../daniel/4.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Daniel 4"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Daniel 4" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="../daniel/6.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Daniel 6"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Daniel 6" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div align="center"><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhchapnoad.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>