Belshazzar’s Feast

5 King Belshazzar v held a great feast for 1,000 of his nobles and drank wine in their presence. 2 Under the influence of w the wine, Belshazzar gave orders to bring in the gold and silver vessels x that his predecessor y Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king and his nobles, wives, and concubines could drink from them. 3 So they brought in the gold z vessels that had been taken from the temple, the house of God in Jerusalem, a and the king and his nobles, wives, and concubines drank from them. 4 They drank the wine and praised their gods made of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone. b

The Handwriting on the Wall

5 At that moment the fingers of a man’s hand appeared and began writing on the plaster of the king’s palace wall next to the lampstand. As the king watched the hand c that was writing, 6 his face turned pale, d and his thoughts so terrified him that his hip joints shook and his knees knocked together. 7 The king called out to bring in the mediums, Chaldeans, and astrologers. He said to these wise men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this inscription and gives me its interpretation will be clothed in purple, have a gold chain around his neck, e and have the third highest position in the kingdom.” 8 So all the king’s wise men came in, but none could read the inscription or make its interpretation known to him. 9 Then King Belshazzar became even more terrified, his face turned pale, f and his nobles were bewildered. g

10 Because of the outcry of the king and his nobles, the queen h came to the banquet hall. “May the king live forever,” she said. “Don’t let your thoughts terrify you or your face be pale. ij 11 There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him. k In the days of your predecessor he was found to have insight, intelligence, and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods. Your predecessor, King Nebuchadnezzar, appointed him chief of the diviners, mediums, Chaldeans, and astrologers. Your own predecessor, the king, 12 did this because Daniel, the one the king named Belteshazzar, was found to have an extraordinary spirit, knowledge and perception, and the ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve problems. l Therefore, summon Daniel, and he will give the interpretation.”

Daniel before the King

13 Then Daniel was brought before the king. The king said to him, “Are you Daniel, one of the Judean exiles that my predecessor the king brought from Judah? m 14 I’ve heard that you have the spirit of the gods in you, and that you have insight, intelligence, and extraordinary wisdom. 15 Now the wise men and mediums were brought before me to read this inscription and make its interpretation known to me, but they could not give its interpretation. 16 However, I have heard about you that you can give interpretations and solve problems. Therefore, if you can read this inscription and give me its interpretation, you will be clothed in purple, have a gold chain around your neck, and have the third highest position in the kingdom.” n

17 Then Daniel answered the king, “You may keep your gifts, and give your rewards to someone else; o however, I will read the inscription for the king and make the interpretation known to him. 18 Your Majesty, the * Most High God gave sovereignty, p greatness, glory, and majesty to your predecessor Nebuchadnezzar. q 19 Because of the greatness He gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages r were terrified and fearful of him. He killed anyone he wanted and kept alive anyone he wanted; he exalted anyone he wanted and humbled anyone he wanted. 20 But when his heart was exalted and his spirit became arrogant, s he was deposed from his royal throne and his glory was taken from him. t 21 He was driven away from people, u his mind was like an animal’s, he lived with the wild donkeys, v he was fed grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with dew from the sky until he acknowledged that the Most High God is ruler over the kingdom of men and sets anyone He wants over it. w

22 “But you his successor, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, x even though you knew all this. 23 Instead, you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven. The vessels from His house were brought to you, and as you and your nobles, wives, and concubines drank wine from them, y you praised the gods made of silver and gold, bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see or hear or understand. z But you have not glorified the God who holds your life-breath in His hand and who controls the whole course of your life. a b 24 Therefore, He sent the hand, and this writing was inscribed.

The Inscription’s Interpretation

25 “This is the writing that was inscribed:

MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN.

26 This is the interpretation of the message:

MENE c means that God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end. d

27 TEKEL e means that you have been weighed in the balance and found deficient.

28 PERES f g means that your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and Persians.”

29 Then Belshazzar gave an order, and they clothed Daniel in purple, placed a gold chain around his neck, h and issued a proclamation concerning him that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.

30 That very night Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans was killed, 31 i and Darius the Mede j received the kingdom at the age of 62.

The Plot against Daniel

6 Darius decided k to appoint 120 satraps over the kingdom, stationed throughout the realm, 2 and over them three administrators, including Daniel. l These satraps would be accountable to them so that the king would not be defrauded. m 3 Daniel n distinguished himself above the administrators and satraps because he had an extraordinary spirit, o so the king planned to set him over the whole realm. p 4 The administrators and satraps, therefore, kept trying to find a charge against Daniel q regarding the kingdom. But they could find no charge or corruption, r for he was trustworthy, and no negligence or corruption was found in him. 5 Then these men said, “We will never find any charge against this Daniel unless we find something against him concerning the law of his God.” s

6 So the administrators and satraps went together to the king and said to him, “May King Darius live forever. t 7 All the administrators of the kingdom, u the prefects, satraps, advisers, and governors have agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an edict that for 30 days, anyone who petitions any god or man except you, the king, will be thrown into the lions’ den. v 8 Therefore, Your Majesty, establish the edict w and sign the document so that, as a law of the Medes and Persians, it is irrevocable and cannot be changed.” x 9 So King Darius signed the document. y

Daniel in the Lions’ Den

10 When Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went into his house. The windows in its upper room opened toward Jerusalem, z and three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God, a just as he had done before. 11 Then these men went as a group and found b Daniel petitioning and imploring his God. 12 So they approached the king c and asked about his edict: “Didn’t you sign an edict that for 30 days any man who petitions any god or man except you, the king, will be thrown into the lions’ den?”

The king answered, “As a law of the Medes and Persians, the order stands and is irrevocable.” d

13 Then they replied to the king, “Daniel, one of the Judean exiles, has ignored you, e the king, and the edict you signed, for he prays three times a day.” 14 As soon as the king heard this, he was very displeased; he set his mind on rescuing Daniel f and made every effort until sundown to deliver him.

15 Then these men went to the king and said to him, “You as king know it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no edict or ordinance the king establishes can be changed.” g

16 So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. h The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, i rescue you!” 17 A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den. j The king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signet rings of his nobles, so that nothing in regard to Daniel could be changed. 18 Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting. k No diversions l were brought to him, and he could not sleep. m

Daniel Released

19 At the first light of dawn the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. 20 When he reached the den, he cried out in anguish to Daniel. “Daniel, servant of the living God,” the king said, n “has your God whom you serve continually been able to rescue you o from the lions?”

21 Then Daniel spoke with the king: “May the king live forever. 22 My God sent His angel p and shut the lions’ mouths. They haven’t hurt me, for I was found innocent before Him. Also, I have not committed a crime against you my king.”

23 The king was overjoyed and gave orders to take Daniel out of the den. So Daniel was taken out of the den, uninjured, for he trusted in his God. q 24 The king then gave the command, and those men who had maliciously accused Daniel r s were brought and thrown into the lions’ den—they, their children, and their wives. t They had not reached the bottom of the den before the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.

Darius Honors God

25 Then King Darius wrote to those of every people, nation, and language who live in all the earth: “May your prosperity abound. u 26 I issue a decree v that in all my royal dominion, people must tremble in fear before the God of Daniel: w

For He is the living God,

and He endures forever;

His kingdom will never be destroyed, x

and His dominion has no end.

27 He rescues and delivers;

He performs signs and wonders

in the heavens and on the earth, y

for He has rescued Daniel

from the power of the lions.”

28 So Daniel prospered z during the reign of Darius and a the reign of Cyrus the Persian. b

Daniel’s Vision of the Four Beasts

7 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream with visions in his mind c as he was lying in his bed. He wrote down the dream, d and here is the summary e of his account. 2 Daniel said, “In my vision at night I was watching, and suddenly the four winds of heaven f stirred up the great sea. 3 Four huge beasts g came up from the sea, h each different from the other.

4 “The first was like a lion i but had eagle’s wings. I continued watching until its wings were torn off. It was lifted up from the ground, set on its feet like a man, and given a human mind.

5 “Suddenly, another beast appeared, a second one, that looked like a bear. j It was raised up on one side, with three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told, ‘Get up! Gorge yourself on flesh.’

6 “While I was watching, another beast appeared. It was like a leopard k with four wings of a bird on its back. It had four heads l and was given authority to rule.

7 “While I was watching in the night visions, a fourth beast m appeared, frightening and dreadful, and incredibly strong, with large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed, and it trampled with its feet whatever was left. It was different from all the beasts before it, and it had 10 horns. n

8 “While I was considering the horns, suddenly another horn, o a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. There were eyes in this horn like a man’s, and it had a mouth that spoke arrogantly. p

The Ancient of Days and the Son of Man

9 “As I kept watching,

thrones were set in place, q

and the Ancient of Days took His seat.

His clothing was white like snow, r

and the hair of His head like whitest wool. s

His throne was flaming fire; t

its wheels were blazing fire. u

10 A river of fire was flowing,

coming out from His presence.

Thousands upon thousands v served Him;

ten thousand times ten thousand w stood before Him.

The court was convened, x

and the books were opened. y

11 “I watched, then, because of the sound of the arrogant words the horn was speaking. As I continued watching, the beast was killed and its body destroyed and given over to the burning fire. z 12 As for the rest of the beasts, their authority to rule was removed, but an extension of life was granted to them for a certain period of time. a 13 I continued watching in the night visions,

and I saw One like a son of man b

coming with the clouds of heaven. c

He approached the Ancient of Days

and was escorted before Him.

14 He was given authority to rule, d

and glory, and a kingdom;

so that those of every people,

nation, and language e

should serve f Him.

His dominion is an everlasting g dominion

that will not pass away,

and His kingdom is one

that will not be destroyed.

Interpretation of the Vision

15 “As for me, Daniel, my spirit was deeply distressed within me, h and the visions in my mind terrified me. i 16 I approached one of those who were standing by and asked him j the true meaning of all this. So he let me know the interpretation of these things: k 17 ‘These huge beasts, four in number, are four kings who will rise from the earth. 18 But the holy ones of the * Most High will receive the kingdom and possess it forever, yes, forever and ever.’ l

19 “Then I wanted to know the true meaning of the fourth beast, m the one different from all the others, extremely terrifying, with iron teeth and bronze claws, devouring, crushing, and trampling with its feet whatever was left. 20 I also wanted to know about the 10 horns n on its head and about the other horn that came up, before which three fell—the horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spoke arrogantly, o and that was more visible than the others. 21 As I was watching, this horn waged war p against the holy ones and was prevailing over them 22 until the Ancient of Days arrived and a judgment q was given in favor of the holy ones of the Most High, for the time had come, and the holy ones took possession of the kingdom.

23 “This is what he said: ‘The fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom on the earth, different from all the other kingdoms. It will devour the whole earth, trample it down, and crush it. 24 The 10 horns r are 10 kings who will rise from this kingdom. Another, different from the previous ones, will rise after them and subdue three kings. 25 He will speak words against the Most High s and oppress t the holy ones u of the Most High. He will intend to change religious festivals v and laws, w and the holy ones will be handed over to him for a time, times, and half a time. x y 26 But the court will convene, z and his dominion will be taken away, to be completely destroyed forever. a 27 The kingdom, dominion, and greatness of the kingdoms under all of heaven will be given to the people, the holy ones of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, b and all rulers will serve and obey Him.’

28 “This is the end of the interpretation. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts terrified me greatly, c and my face turned pale, d but I kept the matter to myself.” e

The Vision of a Ram and a Goat

8 In the third year of King Belshazzar’s f reign, a vision appeared to me, Daniel, after the one that had appeared to me earlier. g 2 I saw the vision, and as I watched, I was in the fortress city of Susa, h in the province of Elam. i I saw in the vision that I was beside the Ulai Canal. 3 I looked up, j and there was a ram k standing beside the canal. He had two horns. The two horns were long, but one was longer than the other, and the longer one came up last. 4 I saw the ram charging to the west, the north, and the south. l No animal could stand against him, and there was no rescue from his power. He did whatever he wanted m and became great.

5 As I was observing, a male goat appeared, coming from the west across the surface of the entire earth without touching the ground. The goat had a conspicuous horn n between his eyes. o 6 He came toward the two-horned ram I had seen standing beside the canal and rushed at him with savage fury. 7 I saw him approaching the ram, and infuriated with him, he struck the ram, shattering his two horns, and the ram was not strong enough to stand against him. The goat threw him to the ground and trampled him, and there was no one to rescue the ram from his power. 8 Then the male goat became very great, p but when he became powerful, the large horn was shattered. q Four conspicuous horns came up in its place, pointing toward the four winds of heaven. r

The Little Horn

9 From one of them a little horn s emerged and grew extensively toward the south and the east and toward the beautiful land. t u 10 It grew as high as the heavenly * host, made some of the stars and some of the host fall to the earth, v and trampled them. w 11 It made itself great, x even up to the Prince of the host; y it removed His daily sacrifice z and overthrew the place of His sanctuary. 12 Because of rebellion, a host, together with the daily sacrifice, will be given over. The horn will throw truth to the ground and will be successful a in whatever it does.

13 Then I heard a holy one speaking, b and another holy one said to the speaker, “How long will the events of this vision last c—the daily sacrifice, the rebellion that makes desolate, and the giving over of the sanctuary and of the host to be trampled?” d

14 He said to me, e “For 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary will be restored.”

Interpretation of the Vision

15 While I, Daniel, was watching the vision and trying to understand it, there stood before me someone who appeared to be a man. f 16 I heard a human voice calling from the middle of the Ulai: “Gabriel, g explain the vision to this man.”

17 So he approached where I was standing; when he came near, I was terrified and fell facedown. h “Son of man,” he said to me, “understand that the vision refers to the time of the end.” i 18 While he was speaking to me, I fell into a deep sleep, j with my face to the ground. Then he touched me, made me stand up, k 19 and said, “I am here to tell you what will happen at the conclusion of the time of wrath, because it refers to the appointed time of the end. l 20 The two-horned ram m that you saw represents the kings of Media and Persia. 21 The shaggy goat represents the king of Greece, and the large horn between his eyes represents the first king. n 22 The four horns that took the place of the shattered horn represent four kingdoms. They will rise from that nation, but without its power.

23 Near the end of their kingdoms,

when the rebels have reached

the full measure of their sin, o

an insolent king, skilled in intrigue, p

will come to the throne.

24 His power will be great,

but it will not be his own.

He will cause terrible destruction q

and succeed in whatever he does.

He will destroy the powerful

along with the holy people. r

25 He will cause deceit to prosper

through his cunning and by his influence,

and in his own mind he will make himself great.

He will destroy many in a time of peace;

he will even stand against the Prince of princes.

Yet he will be shattered—not by human hands. s

26 The vision of the evenings and the mornings

that has been told is true.

Now you must seal up the vision t

because it refers to many days in the future.”

27 I, Daniel, was overcome and lay sick for days. u Then I got up and went about the king’s business. v I was greatly disturbed by the vision and could not understand it.

Daniel’s Prayer

9 In the first year of Darius, w the son of Ahasuerus, a Mede by birth, who was ruler over the kingdom of the Chaldeans: 2 In the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the books according to the word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet that the number of years for the desolation of Jerusalem would be 70. x 3 So I turned my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and petitions, with fasting, * sackcloth, and ashes. y

4 I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed:

Ah, Lord—the great and awe-inspiring God z who keeps His gracious covenant a with those who love Him b and keep His commands c— 5 we have sinned, d done wrong, acted wickedly, rebelled, e and turned away from Your commands and ordinances. f 6 We have not listened to Your servants the prophets, g who spoke in Your name to our kings, leaders, fathers, and all the people of the land.

7 Lord, righteousness belongs to You, h but this day public shame belongs to us: the men of Judah, the residents of Jerusalem, and all Israel—those who are near and those who are far, in all the countries where You have dispersed them because of the disloyalty they have shown toward You. 8 Lord, public shame i belongs to us, our kings, our leaders, and our fathers, because we have sinned against You. j 9 Compassion and forgiveness belong to the Lord our God, though we have rebelled against Him 10 and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God by following His instructions that He set before us through His servants k the prophets.

11 All Israel has broken Your law and turned away, l refusing to obey You. The promised curse m written in the law of Moses, n the servant of God, has been poured out on us because we have sinned against Him. 12 He has carried out His words o that He spoke against us and against our rulers p q by bringing on us so great a disaster that nothing like what has been done to Jerusalem has ever been done r under all of heaven. 13 Just as it is written in the law of Moses, s all this disaster has come on us, yet we have not appeased t the Lord our God by turning from our iniquities and paying attention to Your truth. u 14 So the Lord kept the disaster in mind and brought it on us, for the Lord our God is righteous in all He has done. But we have not obeyed Him.

15 Now, Lord our God, who brought Your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand v and made Your name renowned w as it is this day, we have sinned, we have acted wickedly. 16 Lord, in keeping with all Your righteous acts, may Your anger and wrath x turn away from Your city Jerusalem, Your holy mountain; y for because of our sins and the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and Your people have become an object of ridicule to all those around us.

17 Therefore, our God, hear the prayer and the petitions of Your servant. Show Your favor z to Your desolate sanctuary a for the Lord’s sake. 18 Listen, b my God, and hear. Open Your eyes and see our desolations and the city called by Your name. For we are not presenting our petitions before You based on our righteous acts, but based on Your abundant compassion. 19 Lord, hear! Lord, forgive! Lord, listen and act! My God, for Your own sake, do not delay, c because Your city and Your people are called by Your name.

The 70 Weeks of Years

20 While I was speaking, praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, d and presenting my petition before * Yahweh my God concerning the holy mountain of my God— 21 while I was praying, Gabriel, e the man I had seen in the first vision, f came to me in my extreme weariness, about the time of the evening offering. g 22 He gave me this explanation: “Daniel, I’ve come now to give you understanding. h 23 At the beginning of your petitions an answer went out, and I have come to give it, for you are treasured by God. i So consider the message and understand the vision: j

24 Seventy weeks k are decreed l

about your people and your holy city—

to bring the rebellion to an end,

to put a stop to sin,

to wipe away iniquity,

to bring in everlasting righteousness, m

to seal up vision and prophecy,

and to anoint the most holy place.

25 Know and understand this:

From the issuing of the decree

to restore and rebuild Jerusalem n

until * Messiah o the Prince p

will be seven weeks and 62 weeks. q

It will be rebuilt with a plaza and a moat,

but in difficult times.

26 After those 62 weeks r

the Messiah will be cut off s

and will have nothing.

The people of the coming prince

will destroy the city t and the sanctuary.

The u end will come with a flood, v

and until the end there will be w war;

desolations are decreed.

27 He will make a firm covenant x

with many for one week, y

but in the middle of the week

he will put a stop to sacrifice and offering.

And the abomination of desolation z

will be on a wing a of the temple b c

until the decreed destruction d

is poured out on the desolator.”