^5:25“This is the writing that was inscribed: MENE, MENE,⁵¹ TEQEL, and PHARSIN.⁵²^5:26This is the interpretation of the words:⁵³ As for mene⁵⁴—God has numbered your kingdom’s days and brought it to an end. ^5:27As for teqel—you are weighed on the balances and found to be lacking. ^5:28As for peres⁵⁵—your kingdom is divided and given over to the Medes and Persians.”

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Footnotes

51 The Greek version of Theodotion lacks the repetition of מְנֵא (méne’, cf. ).
52 The Aramaic word is plural. Theodotion has the singular (cf. “peres”).
53 Or “word” or “event.” See מִלָּה.
54 The Aramaic term מְנֵא (méne’) is a noun referring to a measure of weight. The linkage here to the verb “to number” (Aram. מְנָה, ménah) is a case of paronomasia rather than strict etymology. So also with תְּקֵל (téqel) and פַרְסִין (farsin). In the latter case there is an obvious wordplay with the name “Persian.”
55 Peres (פְּרֵס) is the singular form of פַרְסִין (pharsin) in v. 25.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

And this is the writing that was inscribed: Mene, Mene, Tekel, and Parsin. This is the interpretation of the matter: Mene, God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end; Tekel, you have been weighed in the balances and found wanting; Peres, your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.”

NIVNew International Version (2011)

“This is the inscription that was written:

mene, mene, tekel, parsin

“Here is what these words mean:

Mene: God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end.

Tekel: You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting.

Peres: Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.”

CSBChristian Standard Bible

“This is the writing that was inscribed: Mene, Mene, Tekel, and Parsin. This is the interpretation of the message:

‘Mene’ means that God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end.

‘Tekel’ means that you have been weighed on the balance and found deficient.

‘Peres’ means that your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and Persians.”

NLTNew Living Translation

“This is the message that was written: Mene, Mene, Tekel, and Parsin. This is what these words mean:

Mene means ‘numbered’—God has numbered the days of your reign and has brought it to an end.

Tekel means ‘weighed’—you have been weighed on the balances and have not measured up.

Parsin means ‘divided’—your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and Persians.”

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

“Now this was the writing that was inscribed: ‘Mene, Mene, Tekel and Parsin.’

“This is the explanation of the matter: ‘Mene’—God has numbered your kingdom and brought an end to it.

“ ‘Tekel’—you have been weighed on scales and you have been found wanting.

“ ‘Peres’—your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and Persians.’ ”

KJV 1900King James Version

And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it. TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.

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