The Writing on the Wall Explained

13 Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king spoke, and said to Daniel, “Are you that Daniel 6who is one of the captives from Judah, whom my 7father the king brought from Judah? 14 I have heard of you, that nthe 8Spirit of God is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you. 15 Now othe wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing and make known to me its interpretation, but they could not give the interpretation of the thing. 16 And I have heard of you, that you can give interpretations and 9explain enigmas. pNow 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.”

17 Then Daniel answered, and said before the king, “Let your gifts be for yourself, and give your rewards to another; yet I will read the writing to the king, and make known to him the interpretation. 18 O king, qthe Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your 1father a kingdom and majesty, glory and honor. 19 And because of the majesty that He gave him, rall peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him. Whomever he wished, he sexecuted; whomever he wished, he kept alive; whomever he wished, he set up; and whomever he wished, he put down. 20 tBut when his heart was lifted up, and his spirit was hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him. 21 Then he was udriven from the sons of men, his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys. They fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, vtill he 2knew that the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men, and appoints over it whomever He chooses.

22 “But you his son, Belshazzar, whave not humbled your heart, although you knew all this. 23 xAnd you have 3lifted yourself up against the Lord of heaven. They have brought the yvessels of 4His house before you, and you and your lords, your wives and your concubines, have drunk wine from them. And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, zwhich do not see or hear or know; and the God who holds your breath in His hand aand owns all your ways, you have not glorified. 24 Then the 5fingers of the hand were sent from Him, and this writing was written.

25 “And this is the inscription that was written:

6MENE, MENE, 7TEKEL, 8UPHARSIN

26 This is the interpretation of each word. Mene: God has numbered your kingdom, and finished it; 27 Tekel: bYou have been weighed in the balances, and found wanting; 28 Peres: Your kingdom has been divided, and given to the cMedes and dPersians.” 9