Belshazzar’s Feast

1  בֵּלְשַׁאצַּ֣ר (Belshazzar) מַלְכָּ֗א (the king) עֲבַד֙ (made) לְחֶ֣ם (a feast) רַ֔ב (great) לְרַבְרְבָנ֖וֹהִי (for his nobles), אֲלַ֑ף (a thousand) וְלָקֳבֵ֥ל (and before) אַלְפָּ֖א (the thousand) חַמְרָ֥א (wine) שָׁתֵֽה׃ (he was drinking). 2  בֵּלְשַׁאצַּ֞ר (Belshazzar), אֲמַ֣ר׀ (commanded) בִּטְעֵ֣ם (during the tasting) חַמְרָ֗א (of the wine), לְהַיְתָיָה֙ (to bring) לְמָאנֵי֙ (the vessels) דַּהֲבָ֣א (of gold) וְכַסְפָּ֔א (and silver) דִּ֤י (that) הַנְפֵּק֙ (had taken) נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּ֣ר (Nebuchadnezzar) אֲב֔וּהִי (his father) מִן־ (from) הֵיכְלָ֖א (the temple) דִּ֣י (that was) בִירוּשְׁלֶ֑ם (in Jerusalem); וְיִשְׁתּ֣וֹן (so that they might drink) בְּה֗וֹן (from them) מַלְכָּא֙ (the king), וְרַבְרְבָנ֔וֹהִי (and his lords), שֵׁגְלָתֵ֖הּ (his wives), וּלְחֵנָתֵֽהּ׃ (and his concubines).

3  בֵּאדַ֗יִן (So) הַיְתִיו֙ (they brought) מָאנֵ֣י (the vessels) דַהֲבָ֔א (of gold) דִּ֣י (that) הַנְפִּ֗קוּ (had been taken) מִן־ (from) הֵֽיכְלָ֛א (the temple) דִּֽי־ (of) בֵ֥ית (the house) אֱלָהָ֖א (of God) דִּ֣י (that was) בִירֽוּשְׁלֶ֑ם (in Jerusalem); וְאִשְׁתִּ֣יו (and they drank) בְּה֗וֹן (from them) מַלְכָּא֙ (the king), וְרַבְרְבָנ֔וֹהִי (and his lords), שֵׁגְלָתֵ֖הּ (his wives), וּלְחֵנָתֵֽהּ׃ (and his concubines), 4  אִשְׁתִּ֖יו (They drank) חַמְרָ֑א (wine), וְ֠שַׁבַּחוּ (and praised) לֵֽאלָהֵ֞י (the gods) דַּהֲבָ֧א (of gold), וְכַסְפָּ֛א (and silver), נְחָשָׁ֥א (bronze), פַרְזְלָ֖א (and iron), אָעָ֥א (wood), וְאַבְנָֽא׃ (and stone).

The Handwriting on the Wall

5  בַּהּ־ (At) שַׁעֲתָ֗ה (that moment) נְפַקוּ (appeared) אֶצְבְּעָן֙ (the fingers) דִּ֣י (of) יַד־ (the hand), אֱנָ֔שׁ (of a man) וְכָֽתְבָן֙ (and they were writing) לָקֳבֵ֣ל (over against) נֶבְרַשְׁתָּ֔א (of the lampstand) עַל־ (upon) גִּירָ֕א (the plaster) דִּֽי־ (-) כְתַ֥ל (of the wall) הֵיכְלָ֖א (of the palace), דִּ֣י (of) מַלְכָּ֑א (the king) וּמַלְכָּ֣א (and the king) חָזֵ֔ה (saw) פַּ֥ס (the palm) יְדָ֖ה (of the hand) דִּ֥י (that) כָתְבָֽה׃ (was writing). 6  אֱדַ֤יִן (Then) מַלְכָּא֙ (the king) זִיוֺ֣הִי (his countenance) שְׁנ֔וֹהִי (changed about him), וְרַעיֹנֹ֖הִי (and his thoughts) יְבַהֲלוּנֵּ֑הּ (troubled him) וְקִטְרֵ֤י (so that the joints) חַרְצֵהּ֙ (of his hips) מִשְׁתָּרַ֔יִן (were loosened), וְאַ֨רְכֻבָּתֵ֔הּ (and his knees) דָּ֥א (this) לְדָ֖א (against this) נָֽקְשָֽׁן׃ (knocked).

7  קָרֵ֤א (Called out) מַלְכָּא֙ (the king) בְּחַ֔יִל (with strength) לְהֶֽעָלָה֙ (to bring in) לְאָ֣שְׁפַיָּ֔א (the enchanters), כַּשְׂדָּיֵא (the astrologers), וְגָזְרַיָּ֑א (and the diviners). עָנֵ֨ה (Spoke), מַלְכָּ֜א (the king) וְאָמַ֣ר׀ (and said) לְחַכִּימֵ֣י (to the wise men) בָבֶ֗ל (of Babylon), דִּ֣י (-) כָל־ (Any) אֱ֠נָשׁ (man) דִּֽי־ (who) יִקְרֵ֞ה (can read) כְּתָבָ֣ה (the writing), דְנָ֗ה (this) וּפִשְׁרֵהּ֙ (and its interpretation) יְחַוִּנַּ֔נִי (show to me) אַרְגְּוָנָ֣א (with purple), יִלְבַּ֗שׁ (he shall be clothed) וְהַמּוֹנְכָא (and a chain) דִֽי־ (of) דַהֲבָא֙ (gold) עַֽל־ (shall be around) צַוְּארֵ֔הּ (his neck), וְתַלְתִּ֥י (and as the third) בְמַלְכוּתָ֖א (in kingdom) יִשְׁלַֽט׃ס (he shall rule).

8  אֱדַ֙יִן֙ (Then) עָלֲלִין (came in) כֹּ֖ל (all) חַכִּימֵ֣י (the wise men) מַלְכָּ֑א (of the king) וְלָֽא־ (not) כָהֲלִ֤ין (were they able) כְּתָבָא֙ (the writing), לְמִקְרֵ֔א (to read) וּפִשְׁרָא (or its interpretation) לְהוֹדָעָ֥ה (to make known) לְמַלְכָּֽא׃ (to the king). 9  אֱ֠דַיִן (Then) מַלְכָּ֤א (King) בֵלְשַׁאצַּר֙ (Belshazzar) שַׂגִּ֣יא (greatly) מִתְבָּהַ֔ל (was dismayed), וְזִיוֺ֖הִי (and his countenance) שָׁנַ֣יִן (was changed) עֲל֑וֹהִי (about him) וְרַבְרְבָנ֖וֹהִי (so that his nobles) מִֽשְׁתַּבְּשִֽׁין׃ (were perplexed).

10  מַלְכְּתָ֕א (The queen), לָקֳבֵ֨ל (because) מִלֵּ֤י (of the words) מַלְכָּא֙ (of the king) וְרַבְרְבָנ֔וֹהִי (and his nobles), לְבֵ֥ית (to the house); מִשְׁתְּיָ֖א (of the banquet) עַלֲלַת (came) עֲנָ֨ת (answered) מַלְכְּתָ֜א (the queen) וַאֲמֶ֗רֶת (and said), מַלְכָּא֙ (O king), לְעָלְמִ֣ין (forever)! חֱיִ֔י (May you live) אַֽל־ (do not) יְבַהֲלוּךְ֙ (let trouble you) רַעְיוֹנָ֔ךְ (your thoughts) וְזִיוָ֖יךְ (and your countenance) אַל־ (do not) יִשְׁתַּנּֽוֹ׃ (let change). 11  אִיתַ֨י (There is) גְּבַ֜ר (a man) בְּמַלְכוּתָ֗ךְ (in your kingdom), דִּ֠י (for whom) ר֣וּחַ (the Spirit) אֱלָהִ֣ין (of the gods); קַדִּישִׁין֮ (holy) בֵּהּ֒ (is in him) וּבְיוֹמֵ֣י (and in the days) אֲב֗וּךְ (of your father) נַהִיר֧וּ (light) וְשָׂכְלְתָנ֛וּ (and insight) וְחָכְמָ֥ה (and wisdom), כְּחָכְמַת־ (like the wisdom) אֱלָהִ֖ין (of the gods), הִשְׁתְּכַ֣חַת (were found) בֵּ֑הּ (in him)

וּמַלְכָּ֤א (and King) נְבֻֽכַדְנֶצַּר֙ (Nebuchadnezzar) אֲב֔וּךְ (your father), רַ֧ב (chief) חַרְטֻמִּ֣ין (of the magicians), אָֽשְׁפִ֗ין (enchanters), כַּשְׂדָּאִין֙ (Chaldeans), גָּזְרִ֔ין (and diviners); הֲקִימֵ֖הּ (appointed him) אֲב֥וּךְ (your father), מַלְכָּֽא׃ (the king), 12  כָּל־ (all) קֳבֵ֡ל (because) דִּ֣י (that) ר֣וּחַ׀ (a spirit), יַתִּירָ֡ה (excellent) וּמַנְדַּ֡ע (and knowledge), וְשָׂכְלְתָנ֡וּ (and understanding), מְפַשַּׁ֣ר (the interpreting) חֶלְמִין֩ (of dreams), וַֽאַֽחֲוָיַ֨ת (and the solution) אֲחִידָ֜ן (of riddles), וּמְשָׁרֵ֣א (and explaining) קִטְרִ֗ין (enigmas), הִשְׁתְּכַ֤חַת (were found) בֵּהּ֙ (in him) בְּדָ֣נִיֵּ֔אל (in this Daniel), דִּֽי־ (whom) מַלְכָּ֥א (the king) שָׂם־ (had set) שְׁמֵ֖הּ (as his name) בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּ֑ר (Belteshazzar). כְּעַ֛ן (Now) דָּנִיֵּ֥אל (Daniel) יִתְקְרֵ֖י (let be called), וּפִשְׁרָ֥ה (and the interpretation) יְהַֽחֲוֵֽה׃פ (he will show).

Daniel Interprets the Handwriting

13  בֵּאדַ֙יִן֙ (Then) דָּֽנִיֵּ֔אל (Daniel) הֻעַ֖ל (was brought in) קֳדָ֣ם (before) מַלְכָּ֑א (the king). עָנֵ֨ה (Answered) מַלְכָּ֜א (the king) וְאָמַ֣ר (and said) לְדָנִיֵּ֗אל (to Daniel), אַנְתָּה (Are you) ה֤וּא (he) דָנִיֵּאל֙ (the Daniel), דִּֽי־ (who is) מִן־ (from) בְּנֵ֤י (the sons) גָלוּתָא֙ (of captivity) דִּ֣י (-) יְה֔וּד (of Judah), דִּ֥י (whom) הַיְתִ֛י (brought) מַלְכָּ֥א (the king) אַ֖בִי (my father) מִן־ (from) יְהֽוּד׃ (Judah)? 14  וְשִׁמְעֵ֣ת (And I have heard) עֲלַיִךְ (about you) דִּ֛י (that) ר֥וּחַ (the spirit) אֱלָהִ֖ין (of the gods) בָּ֑ךְ (is in you) וְנַהִיר֧וּ (and light) וְשָׂכְלְתָנ֛וּ (and understanding) וְחָכְמָ֥ה (and wisdom) יַתִּירָ֖ה (excellent) הִשְׁתְּכַ֥חַת (are found) בָּֽךְ׃ (in you).

15  וּכְעַ֞ן (And) הֻעַ֣לּוּ (have been brought) קָֽדָמַ֗י (before me) חַכִּֽימַיָּא֙ (the wise men) אָֽשְׁפַיָּ֔א (the enchanters), דִּֽי־ (that) כְתָבָ֤ה (the writing), דְנָה֙ (this) יִקְר֔וֹן (they might read) וּפִשְׁרֵ֖הּ (and its interpretation) לְהוֹדָעֻתַ֑נִי (make known to me) וְלָֽא־ (not) כָהֲלִ֥ין (are they able) פְּשַֽׁר־ (the interpretation) מִלְּתָ֖א (of the matter) לְהַחֲוָיָֽה׃ (to show). 16  וַאֲנָה֙ (And I) שִׁמְעֵ֣ת (have heard) עֲלַיִךְ (about you) דִּֽי־ (that) תוּכַל (you are able) פִּשְׁרִ֛ין (interpretations), לְמִפְשַׁ֖ר (to give) וְקִטְרִ֣ין (and knots); לְמִשְׁרֵ֑א (to loosen) כְּעַ֡ן (now) הֵן֩ (if) תּוּכַל (you are able) כְּתָבָ֜א (this writing), לְמִקְרֵ֗א (to read) וּפִשְׁרֵהּ֙ (and its interpretation) לְהוֹדָ֣עֻתַ֔נִי (to make known to me) אַרְגְּוָנָ֣א (in purple), תִלְבַּ֗שׁ (you will be clothed) וְהַמּוֹנְכָא (and a chain) דִֽי־ (of) דַהֲבָא֙ (gold) עַֽל־ (shall be around) צַוְּארָ֔ךְ (your neck), וְתַלְתָּ֥א (and as the third) בְמַלְכוּתָ֖א (in the kingdom) תִּשְׁלַֽט׃פ (you shall rule).

17  בֵּאדַ֜יִן (Then) עָנֵ֣ה (answered) דָנִיֵּ֗אל (Daniel) וְאָמַר֙ (and said) קֳדָ֣ם (before) מַלְכָּ֔א (the king), מַתְּנָתָךְ֙ (Your gifts) לָ֣ךְ (for yourself) לֶֽהֶוְיָ֔ן (let them be) וּנְבָ֥זְבְּיָתָ֖ךְ (and your rewards) לְאָחֳרָ֣ן (to another); הַ֑ב (may you give) בְּרַ֗ם (nevertheless) כְּתָבָא֙ (the writing) אֶקְרֵ֣א (I will read) לְמַלְכָּ֔א (to the king), וּפִשְׁרָ֖א (and the interpretation) אֲהוֹדְעִנֵּֽהּ׃ (I will make known to him). 18  אַנְתָּה (You) מַלְכָּ֑א (O king), אֱלָהָא֙ (God) עִלָּיָא (the Most High) מַלְכוּתָ֤א (the kingdom), וּרְבוּתָא֙ (and the majesty), וִיקָרָ֣א (and the glory), וְהַדְרָ֔ה (and the honor); יְהַ֖ב (gave) לִנְבֻכַדְנֶצַּ֥ר (to Nebuchadnezzar) אֲבֽוּךְ׃ (your father). 19  וּמִן־ (And because) רְבוּתָא֙ (of the majesty) דִּ֣י (that) יְהַב־ (He gave) לֵ֔הּ (to him) כֹּ֣ל (all) עַֽמְמַיָּ֗א (peoples), אֻמַיָּא֙ (nations), וְלִשָּׁ֣נַיָּ֔א (and languages), הֲו֛וֹ (came to be) זָאֲעִין (trembling) וְדָחֲלִ֖ין (and fearful) מִן־ (from) קֳדָמ֑וֹהִי (before him) דִּֽי־ (Whomever) הֲוָ֨ה (he would be) צָבֵ֜א (willing) הֲוָ֣א (he would be) קָטֵ֗ל (slaying); וְדִֽי־ (and whomever) הֲוָ֤ה (he would be) צָבֵא֙ (willing) הֲוָ֣ה (he would be) מַחֵ֔א (keeping alive); וְדִֽי־ (and whomever) הֲוָ֤ה (he would be) צָבֵא֙ (willing) הֲוָ֣ה (he would be) מָרִ֔ים (raising up); וְדִֽי־ (and whomever) הֲוָ֥ה (he would be) צָבֵ֖א (willing) הֲוָ֥ה (he would be) מַשְׁפִּֽיל׃ (bringing low).

20  וּכְדִי֙ (And when) רִ֣ם (was lifted up), לִבְבֵ֔הּ (his heart) וְרוּחֵ֖הּ (and his spirit) תִּֽקְפַ֣ת (was hardened) לַהֲזָדָ֑ה (to be proud), הָנְחַת֙ (he was brought down) מִן־ (from) כָּרְסֵ֣א (the throne), מַלְכוּתֵ֔הּ (of his kingship) וִֽיקָרָ֖ה (and his glory) הֶעְדִּ֥יוּ (they took away) מִנֵּֽהּ׃ (from him). 21  וּמִן־ (And away from) בְּנֵי֩ (the sons) אֲנָשָׁ֨א (of men); טְרִ֜יד (he was driven) וְלִבְבֵ֣הּ׀ (and his heart) עִם־ (with) חֵיוְתָ֣א (the beast), שְׁוִי (was made like) וְעִם־ (and with) עֲרָֽדַיָּא֙ (the wild donkeys); מְדוֹרֵ֔הּ (was his dwelling) עִשְׂבָּ֤א (grass) כְתוֹרִין֙ (like oxen), יְטַ֣עֲמוּנֵּ֔הּ (they fed him) וּמִטַּ֥ל (and with the dew of) שְׁמַיָּ֖א (heaven); גִּשְׁמֵ֣הּ (his body) יִצְטַבַּ֑ע (became wet) עַ֣ד (until) דִּֽי־ (that) יְדַ֗ע (he came to know) דִּֽי־ (that) שַׁלִּ֞יט (is ruling) אֱלָהָ֤א (God) עִלָּיָא (Most High) בְּמַלְכ֣וּת (over the kingdom) אֲנָשָׁ֔א (of men), וּלְמַן־ (and whomever) דִּ֥י (that) יִצְבֵּ֖ה (He chooses). יְהָקֵ֥ים (He establishes) עֲלַיֵהּ׃ (over it).

22  וְאַנְתָּה (And you) בְּרֵהּ֙ (his son), בֵּלְשַׁאצַּ֔ר (O Belshazzar), לָ֥א (not) הַשְׁפֵּ֖לְתְּ (have you humbled) לִבְבָ֑ךְ (your heart), כָּל־ (all) קֳבֵ֕ל (even) דִּ֥י (though) כָל־ (all) דְּנָ֖ה (of this); יְדַֽעְתָּ׃ (you knew). 23  וְעַ֣ל (And against) מָרֵֽא־ (the Lord) שְׁמַיָּ֣א׀ (of heaven); הִתְרוֹמַ֡מְתָּ (you have lifted yourself up) וּלְמָֽאנַיָּ֨א (and the vessels) דִֽי־ (-) בַיְתֵ֜הּ (of His house) הַיְתִ֣יו (they have brought) קָדָמַיִךְ (before you) וְאַנְתָּה (and you), וְרַבְרְבָנַיִךְ (and your nobles), שֵֽׁגְלָתָ֣ךְ (your wives), וּלְחֵנָתָךְ֮ (and your concubines), חַמְרָא֮ (wine) שָׁתַ֣יִן (have been drinking) בְּהוֹן֒ (from them) וְלֵֽאלָהֵ֣י (and to the gods) כַסְפָּֽא־ (of silver), וְ֠דַהֲבָא (and gold), נְחָשָׁ֨א (bronze), פַרְזְלָ֜א (and iron), אָעָ֣א (wood), וְאַבְנָ֗א (and stone), דִּ֠י (which) לָֽא־ (not), חָזַ֧יִן (do see) וְלָא־ (and not) שָׁמְעִ֛ין (hear), וְלָ֥א (and not) יָדְעִ֖ין (have knowledge). שַׁבַּ֑חְתָּ (You have given praise) וְלֵֽאלָהָ֞א (and to the God) דִּֽי־ (in whose) נִשְׁמְתָ֥ךְ (is your breath) בִּידֵ֛הּ (hand) וְכָל־ (and all) אֹרְחָתָ֥ךְ (your ways), לֵ֖הּ (are to Him) לָ֥א (not) הַדַּֽרְתָּ׃ (have you shown honor). 24  בֵּאדַ֙יִן֙ (Then) מִן־ (from) קֳדָמ֔וֹהִי (before Him) שְׁלִ֖יַחַ (were sent) פַּסָּ֣א (the fingers) דִֽי־ (-) יְדָ֑א (of the hand) וּכְתָבָ֥א (and the inscription) דְנָ֖ה (this) רְשִֽׁים׃ (was written).

25  וּדְנָ֥ה (And this is) כְתָבָ֖א (the inscription) דִּ֣י (that) רְשִׁ֑ים (was written),

מְנֵ֥א (MENE) מְנֵ֖א (MENE), תְּקֵ֥ל (TEKEL), וּפַרְסִֽין׃ (and PARSIN).

26  דְּנָ֖ה (This is) פְּשַֽׁר־ (the interpretation) מִלְּתָ֑א (of each word);

מְנֵ֕א (MENE)— מְנָֽה־ (has numbered) אֱלָהָ֥א (God) מַלְכוּתָ֖ךְ (your kingdom), וְהַשְׁלְמַֽהּ׃ (and brought it to an end).

27  תְּקֵ֑ל (TEKEL)— תְּקִ֥ילְתָּה (you have been weighed) בְמֹֽאזַנְיָ֖א (in the balances), וְהִשְׁתְּכַ֥חַתְּ (and found) חַסִּֽיר׃ (lacking).

28  פְּרֵ֑ס (PERES)— פְּרִיסַת֙ (has been divided) מַלְכוּתָ֔ךְ (your kingdom), וִיהִיבַ֖ת (and given) לְמָדַ֥י (to the Mede) וּפָרָֽס׃ (and Persian).

29  בֵּאדַ֣יִן׀ (Then) אֲמַ֣ר (commanded) בֵּלְשַׁאצַּ֗ר (Belshazzar), וְהַלְבִּ֤ישׁוּ (and they clothed) לְדָֽנִיֵּאל֙ (Daniel) אַרְגְּוָנָ֔א (in purple), וְהַמּוֹנְכָא (and a chain) דִֽי־ (of) דַהֲבָ֖א (gold) עַֽל־ (around) צַוְּארֵ֑הּ (his neck), וְהַכְרִ֣זֽוּ (and proclaimed) עֲל֔וֹהִי (concerning him) דִּֽי־ (that) לֶהֱוֵ֥א (he should be) שַׁלִּ֛יט (the ruler) תַּלְתָּ֖א (third) בְּמַלְכוּתָֽא׃ (in the kingdom).

30  בֵּ֚הּ (That) בְּלֵ֣ילְיָ֔א (night) קְטִ֕יל (was slain). בֵּלְאשַׁצַּ֖ר (Belshazzar) מַלְכָּ֥א (king of) כַשְׂדָּיָא׃פ (the Chaldeans) 31  וְדָרְיָ֙וֶשׁ֙ (and Darius) מָֽדָיאָ֔ (the Mede) קַבֵּ֖ל (received) מַלְכוּתָ֑א (the kingdom), כְּבַ֥ר (a son) שְׁנִ֖ין (of years) שִׁתִּ֥ין (sixty) וְתַרְתֵּֽין׃ (and two).