◄ Daniel 5 ►
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1[Many years later] King Belshazzar held a great feast for a thousand of his nobles, and he drank wine with them. 1בֵּלְשַׁאצַּ֣ר מַלְכָּ֗א עֲבַד֙ לְחֶ֣ם רַ֔ב לְרַבְרְבָנ֖וֹהִי אֲלַ֑ף וְלָקֳבֵ֥ל אַלְפָּ֖א חַמְרָ֥א שָׁתֵֽה׃
2Under the influence of the wine, Belshazzar gave orders to bring in the gold and silver vessels that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king could drink from them, along with his nobles, his wives, and his concubines. 2בֵּלְשַׁאצַּ֞ר אֲמַ֣ר ׀ בִּטְעֵ֣ם חַמְרָ֗א לְהַיְתָיָה֙ לְמָאנֵי֙ דַּהֲבָ֣א וְכַסְפָּ֔א דִּ֤י הַנְפֵּק֙ נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּ֣ר אֲב֔וּהִי מִן־ הֵיכְלָ֖א דִּ֣י בִירוּשְׁלֶ֑ם וְיִשְׁתּ֣וֹן בְּה֗וֹן מַלְכָּא֙ וְרַבְרְבָנ֔וֹהִי שֵׁגְלָתֵ֖הּ וּלְחֵנָתֵֽהּ׃
3Thus they brought in the gold vessels that had been taken from the temple, the house of God in Jerusalem, and the king drank from them, along with his nobles, his wives, and his concubines. 3בֵּאדַ֗יִן הַיְתִיו֙ מָאנֵ֣י דַהֲבָ֔א דִּ֣י הַנְפִּ֗קוּ מִן־ הֵֽיכְלָ֛א דִּֽי־ בֵ֥ית אֱלָהָ֖א דִּ֣י בִירֽוּשְׁלֶ֑ם וְאִשְׁתִּ֣יו בְּה֗וֹן מַלְכָּא֙ וְרַבְרְבָנ֔וֹהִי שֵׁגְלָתֵ֖הּ וּלְחֵנָתֵֽהּ׃
4As they drank the wine, they praised their gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone. 4אִשְׁתִּ֖יו חַמְרָ֑א וְ֠שַׁבַּחוּ לֵֽאלָהֵ֞י דַּהֲבָ֧א וְכַסְפָּ֛א נְחָשָׁ֥א פַרְזְלָ֖א אָעָ֥א וְאַבְנָֽא׃
5At that moment the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand in the royal palace. As the king watched the hand that was writing, 5בַּהּ־ שַׁעֲתָ֗ה [נפקו] (נְפַ֙קָה֙) אֶצְבְּעָן֙ דִּ֣י יַד־ אֱנָ֔שׁ וְכָֽתְבָן֙ לָקֳבֵ֣ל נֶבְרַשְׁתָּ֔א עַל־ גִּירָ֕א דִּֽי־ כְתַ֥ל הֵיכְלָ֖א דִּ֣י מַלְכָּ֑א וּמַלְכָּ֣א חָזֵ֔ה פַּ֥ס יְדָ֖ה דִּ֥י כָתְבָֽה׃
6his face grew pale and his thoughts so alarmed him that his hips gave way and his knees knocked together. 6אֱדַ֤יִן מַלְכָּא֙ זִיוֺ֣הִי שְׁנ֔וֹהִי וְרַעיֹנֹ֖הִי‪‬ יְבַהֲלוּנֵּ֑הּ וְקִטְרֵ֤י חַרְצֵהּ֙ מִשְׁתָּרַ֔יִן וְאַ֨רְכֻבָּתֵ֔הּ דָּ֥א לְדָ֖א נָֽקְשָֽׁן׃
7The king called out for the enchanters, astrologers, and diviners to be brought in, and he said to these wise men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this inscription and tells me its interpretation will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around his neck, and he will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.” 7קָרֵ֤א מַלְכָּא֙ בְּחַ֔יִל לְהֶֽעָלָה֙ לְאָ֣שְׁפַיָּ֔א [כשדיא] (כַּשְׂדָּאֵ֖י) וְגָזְרַיָּ֑א עָנֵ֨ה מַלְכָּ֜א וְאָמַ֣ר ׀ לְחַכִּימֵ֣י בָבֶ֗ל דִּ֣י כָל־ אֱ֠נָשׁ דִּֽי־ יִקְרֵ֞ה כְּתָבָ֣ה דְנָ֗ה וּפִשְׁרֵהּ֙ יְחַוִּנַּ֔נִי אַרְגְּוָנָ֣א יִלְבַּ֗שׁ [והמונכא] (וְהַֽמְנִיכָ֤א‪‬) דִֽי־ דַהֲבָא֙ עַֽל־ צַוְּארֵ֔הּ וְתַלְתִּ֥י בְמַלְכוּתָ֖א יִשְׁלַֽט׃ ס
8So all the king’s wise men came in, but they could not read the inscription or interpret it for [him]. 8אֱדַ֙יִן֙ [עללין] (עָֽלִּ֔ין) כֹּ֖ל חַכִּימֵ֣י מַלְכָּ֑א וְלָֽא־ כָהֲלִ֤ין כְּתָבָא֙ לְמִקְרֵ֔א [ופשרא] (וּפִשְׁרֵ֖הּ) לְהוֹדָעָ֥ה לְמַלְכָּֽא׃
9Then King Belshazzar became even more terrified, his face grew even more pale, and his nobles were bewildered. 9אֱ֠דַיִן מַלְכָּ֤א בֵלְשַׁאצַּר֙ שַׂגִּ֣יא מִתְבָּהַ֔ל וְזִיוֺ֖הִי שָׁנַ֣יִן עֲל֑וֹהִי וְרַבְרְבָנ֖וֹהִי מִֽשְׁתַּבְּשִֽׁין׃
10Hearing the outcry of the king and his nobles, the queen entered the banquet hall. “O king, may you live forever,” she said. “Do not let your thoughts terrify you, or your face grow pale. 10מַלְכְּתָ֕א לָקֳבֵ֨ל מִלֵּ֤י מַלְכָּא֙ וְרַבְרְבָנ֔וֹהִי לְבֵ֥ית מִשְׁתְּיָ֖א [עללת] (עַלַּ֑ת) עֲנָ֨ת מַלְכְּתָ֜א וַאֲמֶ֗רֶת מַלְכָּא֙ לְעָלְמִ֣ין חֱיִ֔י אַֽל־ יְבַהֲלוּךְ֙ רַעְיוֹנָ֔ךְ וְזִיוָ֖יךְ אַל־ יִשְׁתַּנּֽוֹ׃
11There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him. In the days of your father he was found to have insight, intelligence, and wisdom like [that] of the gods. Your father, King Nebuchadnezzar, appointed him chief of the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, [and] diviners. Your own father, the king, 11אִיתַ֨י גְּבַ֜ר בְּמַלְכוּתָ֗ךְ דִּ֠י ר֣וּחַ אֱלָהִ֣ין קַדִּישִׁין֮ בֵּהּ֒ וּבְיוֹמֵ֣י אֲב֗וּךְ נַהִיר֧וּ וְשָׂכְלְתָנ֛וּ וְחָכְמָ֥ה כְּחָכְמַת־ אֱלָהִ֖ין הִשְׁתְּכַ֣חַת בֵּ֑הּ וּמַלְכָּ֤א נְבֻֽכַדְנֶצַּר֙ אֲב֔וּךְ רַ֧ב חַרְטֻמִּ֣ין אָֽשְׁפִ֗ין כַּשְׂדָּאִין֙ גָּזְרִ֔ין הֲקִימֵ֖הּ אֲב֥וּךְ מַלְכָּֽא׃
12did this because Daniel, the one [he] named Belteshazzar, was found to have an extraordinary spirit, as well as knowledge, understanding, and the ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve difficult problems. Summon Daniel, therefore, and he will give you the interpretation.” 12כָּל־ קֳבֵ֡ל דִּ֣י ר֣וּחַ ׀ יַתִּירָ֡ה וּמַנְדַּ֡ע וְשָׂכְלְתָנ֡וּ מְפַשַּׁ֣ר חֶלְמִין֩ וַֽאַֽחֲוָיַ֨ת אֲחִידָ֜ן וּמְשָׁרֵ֣א קִטְרִ֗ין הִשְׁתְּכַ֤חַת בֵּהּ֙ בְּדָ֣נִיֵּ֔אל דִּֽי־ מַלְכָּ֥א שָׂם־ שְׁמֵ֖הּ בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּ֑ר כְּעַ֛ן דָּנִיֵּ֥אל יִתְקְרֵ֖י וּפִשְׁרָ֥ה יְהַֽחֲוֵֽה׃ פ
13So Daniel was brought before the king, [who] asked him, “Are you Daniel, one of the exiles my father the king brought from Judah? 13בֵּאדַ֙יִן֙ דָּֽנִיֵּ֔אל הֻעַ֖ל קֳדָ֣ם מַלְכָּ֑א עָנֵ֨ה מַלְכָּ֜א וְאָמַ֣ר לְדָנִיֵּ֗אל [אנתה־] (אַנְתְּ־) ה֤וּא דָנִיֵּאל֙ דִּֽי־ מִן־ בְּנֵ֤י גָלוּתָא֙ דִּ֣י יְה֔וּד דִּ֥י הַיְתִ֛י מַלְכָּ֥א אַ֖בִי מִן־ יְהֽוּד׃
14I have heard that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that you have insight, intelligence, and extraordinary wisdom. 14וְשִׁמְעֵ֣ת [עליך] (עֲלָ֔ךְ) דִּ֛י ר֥וּחַ אֱלָהִ֖ין בָּ֑ךְ וְנַהִיר֧וּ וְשָׂכְלְתָנ֛וּ וְחָכְמָ֥ה יַתִּירָ֖ה הִשְׁתְּכַ֥חַת בָּֽךְ׃
15Now the wise men and enchanters were brought before me to read this inscription and interpret it for me, but they could not give its interpretation. 15וּכְעַ֞ן הֻעַ֣לּוּ קָֽדָמַ֗י חַכִּֽימַיָּא֙ אָֽשְׁפַיָּ֔א דִּֽי־ כְתָבָ֤ה דְנָה֙ יִקְר֔וֹן וּפִשְׁרֵ֖הּ לְהוֹדָעֻתַ֑נִי וְלָֽא־ כָהֲלִ֥ין פְּשַֽׁר־ מִלְּתָ֖א לְהַחֲוָיָֽה׃
16But I have heard about you, that you are able to give interpretations and solve difficult problems. Therefore, if you can read this inscription and give me its interpretation, you will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around your neck, and you will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.” 16וַאֲנָה֙ שִׁמְעֵ֣ת [עליך] (עֲלָ֔ךְ) דִּֽי־ [תוכל] (תִיכּ֥וּל‪‬) פִּשְׁרִ֛ין לְמִפְשַׁ֖ר וְקִטְרִ֣ין לְמִשְׁרֵ֑א כְּעַ֡ן הֵן֩ [תוכל] (תִּכ֨וּל) כְּתָבָ֜א לְמִקְרֵ֗א וּפִשְׁרֵהּ֙ לְהוֹדָ֣עֻתַ֔נִי אַרְגְּוָנָ֣א תִלְבַּ֗שׁ [והמונכא] (וְהַֽמְנִיכָ֤א‪‬) דִֽי־ דַהֲבָא֙ עַֽל־ צַוְּארָ֔ךְ וְתַלְתָּ֥א בְמַלְכוּתָ֖א תִּשְׁלַֽט׃ פ
17In response, Daniel said to the king, “You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else. Nevertheless, I will read the inscription for the king and interpret it for him. 17בֵּאדַ֜יִן עָנֵ֣ה דָנִיֵּ֗אל וְאָמַר֙ קֳדָ֣ם מַלְכָּ֔א מַתְּנָתָךְ֙ לָ֣ךְ לֶֽהֶוְיָ֔ן וּנְבָ֥זְבְּיָתָ֖ךְ לְאָחֳרָ֣ן הַ֑ב בְּרַ֗ם כְּתָבָא֙ אֶקְרֵ֣א לְמַלְכָּ֔א וּפִשְׁרָ֖א אֲהוֹדְעִנֵּֽהּ׃
18As for you, O king, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar sovereignty and greatness, glory and honor. 18[אנתה] (אַ֖נְתְּ) מַלְכָּ֑א אֱלָהָא֙ [עליא] (עִלָּאָ֔ה) מַלְכוּתָ֤א וּרְבוּתָא֙ וִיקָרָ֣א וְהַדְרָ֔ה יְהַ֖ב לִנְבֻכַדְנֶצַּ֥ר אֲבֽוּךְ׃
19Because of the greatness that He bestowed on him, all peoples, nations, and [men of every] language trembled in fear before him. He killed whom he wished and kept alive whom he wished; he exalted whom he wished and humbled whom he wished. 19וּמִן־ רְבוּתָא֙ דִּ֣י יְהַב־ לֵ֔הּ כֹּ֣ל עַֽמְמַיָּ֗א אֻמַיָּא֙ וְלִשָּׁ֣נַיָּ֔א הֲו֛וֹ [זאעין] (זָיְעִ֥ין) וְדָחֲלִ֖ין מִן־ קֳדָמ֑וֹהִי דִּֽי־ הֲוָ֨ה צָבֵ֜א הֲוָ֣א קָטֵ֗ל וְדִֽי־ הֲוָ֤ה צָבֵא֙ הֲוָ֣ה מַחֵ֔א וְדִֽי־ הֲוָ֤ה צָבֵא֙ הֲוָ֣ה מָרִ֔ים וְדִֽי־ הֲוָ֥ה צָבֵ֖א הֲוָ֥ה מַשְׁפִּֽיל׃
20But when his heart was exalted and his spirit hardened in pride, he was deposed from his royal throne, and his glory was taken from him. 20וּכְדִי֙ רִ֣ם לִבְבֵ֔הּ וְרוּחֵ֖הּ תִּֽקְפַ֣ת לַהֲזָדָ֑ה הָנְחַת֙ מִן־ כָּרְסֵ֣א מַלְכוּתֵ֔הּ וִֽיקָרָ֖ה הֶעְדִּ֥יוּ מִנֵּֽהּ׃
21He was driven away from mankind, and his mind was like [that of] a beast. He lived with the wild donkeys and ate grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven until he acknowledged that the Most High God is ruler over the kingdom of mankind, and He sets over it whom He wishes. 21וּמִן־ בְּנֵי֩ אֲנָשָׁ֨א טְרִ֜יד וְלִבְבֵ֣הּ ׀ עִם־ חֵיוְתָ֣א [שוי] (שַׁוִּ֗יְו‪‬) וְעִם־ עֲרָֽדַיָּא֙ מְדוֹרֵ֔הּ עִשְׂבָּ֤א כְתוֹרִין֙ יְטַ֣עֲמוּנֵּ֔הּ וּמִטַּ֥ל שְׁמַיָּ֖א גִּשְׁמֵ֣הּ יִצְטַבַּ֑ע עַ֣ד דִּֽי־ יְדַ֗ע דִּֽי־ שַׁלִּ֞יט אֱלָהָ֤א [עליא] (עִלָּאָה֙) בְּמַלְכ֣וּת אֲנָשָׁ֔א וּלְמַן־ דִּ֥י יִצְבֵּ֖ה יְהָקֵ֥ים [עליה] (עֲלַֽהּ׃)
22But you his son, O Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, even though you knew all this. 22[ואנתה] (וְאַ֤נְתְּ) בְּרֵהּ֙ בֵּלְשַׁאצַּ֔ר לָ֥א הַשְׁפֵּ֖לְתְּ לִבְבָ֑ךְ כָּל־ קֳבֵ֕ל דִּ֥י כָל־ דְּנָ֖ה יְדַֽעְתָּ׃
23Instead, you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven. The vessels from His house were brought to you, and as you drank wine from them with your nobles, wives, and concubines, you praised gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. But you have failed to glorify the God who [holds] in His hand your very breath and all your ways. 23וְעַ֣ל מָרֵֽא־ שְׁמַיָּ֣א ׀ הִתְרוֹמַ֡מְתָּ וּלְמָֽאנַיָּ֨א דִֽי־ בַיְתֵ֜הּ הַיְתִ֣יו [קדמיך] (קָֽדָמָ֗ךְ) [ואנתה] (וְאַ֨נְתְּ) [ורברבניך] (וְרַבְרְבָנָ֜ךְ‪‬) שֵֽׁגְלָתָ֣ךְ וּלְחֵנָתָךְ֮ חַמְרָא֮ שָׁתַ֣יִן בְּהוֹן֒ וְלֵֽאלָהֵ֣י כַסְפָּֽא־ וְ֠דַהֲבָא נְחָשָׁ֨א פַרְזְלָ֜א אָעָ֣א וְאַבְנָ֗א דִּ֠י לָֽא־ חָזַ֧יִן וְלָא־ שָׁמְעִ֛ין וְלָ֥א יָדְעִ֖ין שַׁבַּ֑חְתָּ וְלֵֽאלָהָ֞א דִּֽי־ נִשְׁמְתָ֥ךְ בִּידֵ֛הּ וְכָל־ אֹרְחָתָ֥ךְ לֵ֖הּ לָ֥א הַדַּֽרְתָּ׃
24Therefore He sent the hand that wrote the inscription. 24בֵּאדַ֙יִן֙ מִן־ קֳדָמ֔וֹהִי שְׁלִ֖יַחַ‪‬ פַּסָּ֣א דִֽי־ יְדָ֑א וּכְתָבָ֥א דְנָ֖ה רְשִֽׁים׃
25Now this is the inscription that was written: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN. 25וּדְנָ֥ה כְתָבָ֖א דִּ֣י רְשִׁ֑ים מְנֵ֥א מְנֵ֖א תְּקֵ֥ל וּפַרְסִֽין׃
26[And] this is the interpretation of the message: MENE means that God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end. 26דְּנָ֖ה פְּשַֽׁר־ מִלְּתָ֑א מְנֵ֕א מְנָֽה־ אֱלָהָ֥א מַלְכוּתָ֖ךְ וְהַשְׁלְמַֽהּ׃
27TEKEL means that you have been weighed on the scales and found deficient. 27תְּקֵ֑ל תְּקִ֥ילְתָּה בְמֹֽאזַנְיָ֖א וְהִשְׁתְּכַ֥חַתְּ חַסִּֽיר׃
28PERES means that your kingdom has been divided and given over to the Medes and Persians.” 28פְּרֵ֑ס פְּרִיסַת֙ מַלְכוּתָ֔ךְ וִיהִיבַ֖ת לְמָדַ֥י וּפָרָֽס׃
29Then Belshazzar gave the command, and they clothed Daniel in purple, placed a gold chain around his neck, and proclaimed him the third highest ruler in the kingdom. 29בֵּאדַ֣יִן ׀ אֲמַ֣ר בֵּלְשַׁאצַּ֗ר וְהַלְבִּ֤ישׁוּ לְדָֽנִיֵּאל֙ אַרְגְּוָנָ֔א [והמונכא] (וְהַֽמְנִיכָ֥א) דִֽי־ דַהֲבָ֖א עַֽל־ צַוְּארֵ֑הּ וְהַכְרִ֣זֽוּ עֲל֔וֹהִי דִּֽי־ לֶהֱוֵ֥א שַׁלִּ֛יט תַּלְתָּ֖א בְּמַלְכוּתָֽא׃
30That very night Belshazzar king of the Chaldeans was slain, 30בֵּ֚הּ בְּלֵ֣ילְיָ֔א קְטִ֕יל בֵּלְאשַׁצַּ֖ר מַלְכָּ֥א [כשדיא] (כַשְׂדָּאָֽה׃) פ
31and Darius the Mede received the kingdom at the age of sixty-two. 31וְדָרְיָ֙וֶשׁ֙ מָֽדָיָ֔א‪‬‪‬ קַבֵּ֖ל מַלְכוּתָ֑א כְּבַ֥ר שְׁנִ֖ין שִׁתִּ֥ין וְתַרְתֵּֽין׃
Greek and Hebrew Study Bible courtesy Bible Hub and the Discovery Bible team.

Westminster Leningrad Codex text courtesy of www.tanach.us
Hebrew Transliteration Via ALittleHebrew.com
Strong's Tagging via Open Scriptures, David Troidl and Christopher Kimball
Morphology in partnership with Helps Bible

Section Headings Courtesy INT Bible © 2012, Used by Permission

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Daniel 4
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