Daniel Interprets the Handwriting

Daniel 5

13 Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king answered and said to Daniel, "You are that Daniel, one of i the exiles of Judah, whom the king my father brought from Judah. 14 I have heard of you that b the spirit of the gods 1 is in you, and that c light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you. 15 Now j the wise men, the k enchanters, have been brought in before me to read this writing and make known to me its interpretation, but l they could not show the interpretation of the matter. 16 m But I have heard that you can give interpretations and n solve problems. o Now if you can read the writing and make known to me its interpretation, o you shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around your neck and p shall be the third ruler in the kingdom."

17 Then Daniel answered and said before the king, q "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 r Most High God s gave t Nebuchadnezzar your father u kingship and greatness and glory and majesty. 19 And because of the greatness that he gave him, v all peoples, nations, and languages w 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 x when his heart was lifted up and his spirit was hardened so that he dealt proudly, y he was brought down from his kingly throne, and his glory was taken from him. 21 z 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, z until he knew that the r Most High God rules the kingdom of mankind and sets over it whom he will. 22 And you his son, 2 a Belshazzar, b have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this, 23 but you have lifted up yourself against c the Lord of heaven. And d 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. e And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see or hear or know, f but the God in whose hand is your breath, and g whose are all your ways, h you have not honored.

24 "Then from his presence i the hand was sent, and this writing was inscribed. 25 And this is the writing that was inscribed: Mene, Mene, Tekel, and Parsin. 26 This is the interpretation of the matter: Mene, God has numbered 3 the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end; 27 Tekel, j you have been weighed 4 in the balances and found wanting; 28 Peres, your kingdom is divided and given to k the Medes and l Persians." 5

29 Then a Belshazzar gave the command, and Daniel m 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 n That very night a Belshazzar the o Chaldean king was killed. 31 6 And p Darius k the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old.

  1. Cross References
    Daniel 2:25
    Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste and said thus to him: "I have found among the exiles from Judah a man who will make known to the king the interpretation.
  2. Cross References
    Daniel 5:11
    There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the spirit of the holy gods. 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.
  3. Cross References
    Daniel 5:11
    There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the spirit of the holy gods. 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.
  4. Cross References
    Daniel 5:7
    The king called loudly to bring in the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers. The king declared 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.
  5. Cross References
    Daniel 2:2
    Then the king commanded that the magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans be summoned to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king.
    Daniel 4:6
    So I made a decree that all the wise men of Babylon should be brought before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream.
  6. Cross References
    Daniel 5:8
    Then all the king's wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or make known to the king the interpretation.
  7. Cross References
    Daniel 2:26
    The king declared to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, "Are you able to make known to me the dream that I have seen and its interpretation?
  8. Cross References
    Daniel 5:12
    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.
  9. Cross References
    Daniel 5:7
    The king called loudly to bring in the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers. The king declared 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.
    Daniel 5:29
    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.
  10. Cross References
    Daniel 5:7
    The king called loudly to bring in the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers. The king declared 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.
    Daniel 5:29
    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.
  11. Cross References
    Daniel 5:7
    The king called loudly to bring in the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers. The king declared 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.
    Daniel 5:29
    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.
  12. Cross References
    2 Kings 5:16
    But he said, "As the Lord lives, before whom I stand, I will receive none." And he urged him to take it, but he refused.
  13. Cross References
    Daniel 3:26
    Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the burning fiery furnace; he declared, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here!" Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the fire.
    Daniel 4:2
    It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me.
  14. Cross References
    Daniel 2:37
    You, O king, the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, and the might, and the glory.
    Daniel 4:22
    It is you, O king, who have grown and become strong. Your greatness has grown and reaches to heaven, and your dominion to the ends of the earth.
  15. Cross References
    Daniel 5:2
    Belshazzar, when he tasted the wine, commanded that the vessels of gold and of silver that Nebuchadnezzar his father 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.
  16. Cross References
    Daniel 4:36
    At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me.
  17. Cross References
    Daniel 3:4
    And the herald proclaimed aloud, "You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages.
  18. Cross References
    Daniel 6:26
    I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God, enduring forever; his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end.
  19. Cross References
    Daniel 4:30 - 31
    And the king answered and said, "Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?
    Ezekiel 31:10 - 11
    Therefore thus says the Lord God : Because it towered high and set its top among the clouds, and its heart was proud of its height.
  20. Cross References
    Daniel 2:21
    He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.
  21. Cross References
    Daniel 4:25
    That you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. You shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.
    Daniel 4:32
    And you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.
  22. Cross References
    Daniel 4:25
    That you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. You shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.
    Daniel 4:32
    And you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.
  23. Cross References
    Daniel 5:18
    O king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father kingship and greatness and glory and majesty.
  24. Cross References
    Daniel 5:1
    King Belshazzar made a great feast for a thousand of his lords and drank wine in front of the thousand.
  25. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 33:23
    And he did not humble himself before the Lord, as Manasseh his father had humbled himself, but this Amon incurred guilt more and more.
  26. Cross References
    Daniel 4:37
    Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.
  27. Cross References
    Daniel 5:3
    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.
    Daniel 1:2
    And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the vessels of the house of God. And he brought them to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, and placed the vessels in the treasury of his god.
  28. Cross References
    Daniel 5:4
    They drank wine and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.
  29. Cross References
    Job 12:10
    In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.
  30. Cross References
    Jeremiah 10:23
    I know, O Lord, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps.
  31. Cross References
    Acts 12:23
    Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last.
    Revelation 16:9
    They were scorched by the fierce heat, and they cursed the name of God who had power over these plagues. They did not repent and give him glory.
  32. Cross References
    Daniel 5:5
    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.
  33. Cross References
    Job 31:6
    (Let me be weighed in a just balance, and let God know my integrity!)
    Psalms 62:9
    Those of low estate are but a breath; those of high estate are a delusion; in the balances they go up; they are together lighter than a breath.
  34. Cross References
    Daniel 5:31
    And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old.
    Daniel 9:1
    In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, by descent a Mede, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans -
    Isaiah 13:17
    Behold, I am stirring up the Medes against them, who have no regard for silver and do not delight in gold.
    Isaiah 21:2
    A stern vision is told to me; the traitor betrays, and the destroyer destroys. Go up, O Elam; lay siege, O Media; all the sighing she has caused I bring to an end.
    Jeremiah 51:28
    Prepare the nations for war against her, the kings of the Medes, with their governors and deputies, and every land under their dominion.
  35. Cross References
    Daniel 6:28
    So this Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
  36. Cross References
    Daniel 5:22
    And you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this.
  37. Cross References
    Daniel 5:7
    The king called loudly to bring in the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers. The king declared 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.
    Daniel 5:16
    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.
  38. Cross References
    Jeremiah 50:24
    I set a snare for you and you were taken, O Babylon, and you did not know it; you were found and caught, because you opposed the Lord.
    Jeremiah 51:31
    One runner runs to meet another, and one messenger to meet another, to tell the king of Babylon that his city is taken on every side.
    Jeremiah 51:39
    While they are inflamed I will prepare them a feast and make them drunk, that they may become merry, then sleep a perpetual sleep and not wake, declares the Lord.
    Jeremiah 51:57
    I will make drunk her officials and her wise men, her governors, her commanders, and her warriors; they shall sleep a perpetual sleep and not wake, declares the King, whose name is the Lord of hosts.
  39. Cross References
    Daniel 5:22
    And you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this.
  40. Cross References
    Daniel 9:1
    In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, by descent a Mede, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans -
  41. Cross References
    Daniel 9:1
    In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, by descent a Mede, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans -
  42. Cross References
    Daniel 5:28
    Peres, your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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