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King Belshazzar's Banquet

One evening, King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for a thousand of his highest officials, and he drank wine with them. He got drunk and ordered his servants to bring in the gold and silver cups his father Nebuchadnezzar[a] had taken from the temple in Jerusalem. Belshazzar wanted the cups, so that he and all his wives and officials could drink from them.

3-4 (A) When the gold cups were brought in, everyone at the banquet drank from them and praised their idols made of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.

Suddenly a human hand was seen writing on the plaster wall of the palace. The hand was just behind the lampstand, and the king could see it writing. He was so frightened that his face turned pale, his knees started shaking, and his legs became weak.

The king called in his advisors, who claimed they could talk with the spirits of the dead and understand the meanings found in the stars. He told them, “The man who can read this writing and tell me what it means will become the third most powerful man in my kingdom. He will wear robes of royal purple and a gold chain around his neck.”

All of King Belshazzar's highest officials came in, but not one of them could read the writing or tell what it meant, and they were completely puzzled. Now the king was more afraid than ever before, and his face turned white as a ghost.

10 When the queen heard the king and his officials talking, she came in and said:

Your Majesty, I hope you live forever! Don't be afraid or look so pale. 11 In your kingdom there is a man who has been given special powers by the holy gods. When your father Nebuchadnezzar was king, this man was known to be as smart, intelligent, and wise as the gods themselves. Your father put him in charge of all who claimed they could talk with the spirits or understand the meanings in the stars or tell about the future. 12 He also changed the man's name from Daniel to Belteshazzar. Not only is he wise and intelligent, but he can explain dreams and riddles and solve difficult problems. Send for Daniel, and he will tell you what the writing means.

13 When Daniel was brought in, the king said:

So you are Daniel, one of the captives my father brought back from Judah! 14 I was told that the gods have given you special powers and that you are intelligent and very wise. 15 Neither my advisors nor the men who talk with the spirits of the dead could read this writing or tell me what it means. 16 But I have been told that you understand everything and that you can solve difficult problems. Now then, if you can read this writing and tell me what it means, you will become the third most powerful man in my kingdom. You will wear royal purple robes and have a gold chain around your neck.

17 Daniel answered:

Your Majesty, I will read the writing and tell you what it means. But you may keep your gifts or give them to someone else. 18 Sir, the Most High God made your father a great and powerful man and brought him much honor and glory. 19 God did such great things for him that people of all nations and races shook with fear.

Your father had the power of life or death over everyone, and he could honor or ruin anyone he chose. 20 But when he became proud and stubborn, his glorious kingdom was taken from him. 21 His mind became like that of an animal, and he was forced to stay away from people and live with wild donkeys. Your father ate grass like an ox, and he slept outside where his body was soaked with dew. He was forced to do this until he learned that the Most High God rules all kingdoms on earth and chooses their kings.

22 King Belshazzar, you knew all of this, but you still refused to honor the Lord who rules from heaven. 23 Instead, you turned against him and ordered the cups from his temple to be brought here, so that you and your wives and officials could drink wine from them. You praised idols made of silver, gold, bronze, iron, wood, and stone, even though they cannot see or hear or think. You refused to worship the God who gives you breath and controls everything you do. 24 That's why he sent the hand to write this message on the wall.

25-28 The words written there are mene, which means “numbered,” tekel, which means “weighed,” and parsin,[b] which means “divided.” God has numbered the days of your kingdom and has brought it to an end. He has weighed you on his balance scales, and you fall short of what it takes to be king. So God has divided your kingdom between the Medes and the Persians.

29 Belshazzar gave a command for Daniel to be made the third most powerful man in his kingdom and to be given a purple robe and a gold chain.

30 That same night, the king was killed. 31 Then Darius the Mede, who was 62 years old, took over his kingdom.

Daniel in a Pit of Lions

Darius divided his kingdom into 120 states and placed a governor in charge of each one. In order to make sure that his government was run properly, Darius put three other officials in charge of the governors. One of these officials was Daniel. And he did his work so much better than the other governors and officials that the king decided to let him govern the whole kingdom.

The other men tried to find something wrong with the way Daniel did his work for the king. But they could not accuse him of anything wrong, because he was honest and faithful and did everything he was supposed to do. Finally, they said to one another, “We will never be able to bring any charge against Daniel, unless it has to do with his religion.”

They all went to the king and said:

“Your Majesty, we hope you live forever! (B) All of your officials, leaders, advisors, and governors agree that you should make a law forbidding anyone to pray to any god or human except you for the next 30 days. Everyone who disobeys this law must be thrown into a pit of lions. Order this to be written and then sign it, so it cannot be changed, just as no written law of the Medes and Persians can be changed.”

So King Darius made the law and had it written down.

10 Daniel heard about the law, but when he returned home, he went upstairs and prayed in front of the window that faced Jerusalem. In the same way that he had always done, he knelt down in prayer three times a day, giving thanks to God.

11 The men who had spoken to the king watched Daniel and saw him praying to his God for help. 12 They went back to the king and said, “Didn't you make a law that forbids anyone to pray to any god or human except you for the next 30 days? And doesn't the law say that everyone who disobeys it will be thrown into a pit of lions?”

“Yes, that's the law I made,” the king agreed. “And just like all written laws of the Medes and Persians, it cannot be changed.”

13 The men then told the king, “That Jew named Daniel, who was brought here as a captive, refuses to obey you or the law that you ordered to be written. And he still prays to his god three times a day.” 14 The king was really upset to hear about this, and for the rest of the day he tried to think how he could save Daniel.

15 At sunset the men returned and said, “Your Majesty, remember that no written law of the Medes and Persians can be changed, not even by the king.”

16 (C) So Darius ordered Daniel to be brought out and thrown into a pit of lions. But he said to Daniel, “You have been faithful to your God, and I pray that he will rescue you.”

17 A stone was rolled over the pit, and it was sealed. Then Darius and his officials stamped the seal to show that no one should let Daniel out. 18 All night long the king could not sleep. He did not eat anything, and he would not let anyone come in to entertain him.

19 At daybreak the king got up and ran to the pit. 20 He was anxious and shouted, “Daniel, you were faithful and served your God. Was he able to save you from the lions?”

21 Daniel answered, “Your Majesty, I hope you live forever! 22 (D) My God knew that I was innocent, and he sent an angel to keep the lions from eating me. Your Majesty, I have never done anything to hurt you.”

23 The king was relieved to hear Daniel's voice, and he gave orders for him to be taken out of the pit. Daniel's faith in his God had kept him from being harmed. 24 And the king ordered the men who had brought charges against Daniel to be thrown into the pit, together with their wives and children. But before they even reached the bottom, the lions ripped them to pieces.

25 King Darius then sent this message to all people of every nation and race in the world:

“Greetings to all of you!
26 I command everyone
    in my kingdom
to worship and honor
    the God of Daniel.
He is the living God,
    the one who lives forever.
His power and his kingdom
    will never end.
27 He rescues people
and sets them free
    by working great miracles.
Daniel's God has rescued him
    from the power of the lions.”

28 All went well for Daniel while Darius was king, and even when Cyrus the Persian ruled.[c]

Daniel's Vision of the Four Beasts

1-2 Daniel wrote:

In the first year of King Belshazzar[d] of Babylonia, I had some dreams and visions while I was asleep one night, and I wrote them down.

The four winds were stirring up the mighty sea, (E) when suddenly four powerful beasts came out of the sea. Each beast was different. (F) The first was like a lion with the wings of an eagle. As I watched, its wings were pulled off. Then it was lifted to an upright position and made to stand on two feet, just like a human, and it was given a human mind.

The second beast looked like a bear standing on its hind legs.[e] It held three ribs in its teeth, and it was told, “Attack! Eat all the flesh you want.”

The third beast was like a leopard—except that it had four wings and four heads. It was given authority to rule.

(G) The fourth beast was stronger and more terrifying than the others. Its huge teeth were made of iron, and what it didn't grind with its teeth, it smashed with its feet. It was different from the others, and it had horns on its head—ten of them. (H) Just as I was thinking about these horns, a smaller horn appeared, and three of the other horns were pulled up by the roots to make room for it. This horn had the eyes of a human and a mouth that spoke with great arrogance.

Judgment

Daniel wrote:

(I) Thrones were set up
    while I was watching,
and the Eternal God[f]
    took his place.
His clothing and his hair
    were white as snow.
His throne was a blazing fire
    with fiery wheels,
10 (J) and flames were dashing out
    from all around him.
Countless thousands
were standing there
    to serve him.
The time of judgment began,
    and the books[g] were opened.

11 I watched closely to see what would happen to this smaller horn because of the arrogant things it was saying. Then before my very eyes, the fourth beast was killed and its body destroyed by fire. 12 The other three beasts had their authority taken from them, but they were allowed to live a while longer.[h] 13 (K) As I continued to watch the vision that night,

I saw what looked like
    a son of man[i]
coming with the clouds of heaven,
and he was presented
    to the Eternal God.[j]
14 (L) He was crowned king
    and given power and glory,
so that all people
of every nation and race
    would serve him.
He will rule forever,
and his kingdom is eternal,
    never to be destroyed.

The Meaning of Daniel's Vision

15 Daniel wrote:

I was terrified by these visions, and I didn't know what to think. 16 So I asked one of those standing there,[k] and he explained, 17 “The four beasts are four earthly kingdoms. 18 (M) But God Most High will give his kingdom to his chosen ones, and it will be theirs forever and ever.”

19 I wanted to know more about the fourth beast,[l] because it was so different and much more terrifying than the others. What was the meaning of its iron teeth and bronze claws and of its feet that smashed what the teeth and claws had not ground and crushed? 20 I also wanted to know more about all ten of those horns on its head. I especially wanted to know more about the one that took the place of three of the others—the horn that had eyes and spoke with arrogance and seemed greater than the others. 21 (N) While I was looking, this horn attacked God's chosen ones and was winning the battle. 22 (O) Then God Most High, the Eternal God,[m] came and judged in favor of his chosen ones, because the time had arrived for them to be given the kingdom.

23 Then I was told
    by the one standing there:
“The fourth beast
will be a fourth kingdom
    to appear on earth.
It will be different
    from all the others—
it will trample the earth
    and crush it to pieces.
24 (P) All ten of those horns are kings
who will come from this kingdom,
    and one more will follow.
This horn will be different
    from the others,
and it will conquer
    three other kings.

25 (Q) “This king will speak evil
    of God Most High,
and he will be cruel
    to God's chosen ones.
He will try to change God's Law
    and the sacred seasons.
And he will be able to do this
for a time, two times,
    and half a time.[n]
26 But he will finally be judged,
and his kingdom
    completely destroyed.

27 (R) “Then the greatest kingdom of all
will be given to the chosen ones
    of God Most High.
His kingdom will be eternal,
and all others will serve
    and obey him.”

28 That was what I saw and heard. I turned pale with fear and kept it all to myself.

Vision of a Ram and a Goat

Daniel wrote:

In the third year of King Belshazzar of Babylonia,[o] I had a second vision in which I was in Susa, the chief city of Babylonia's Elam Province. I was beside the Ulai River,[p] when I looked up and saw a ram standing there with two horns on its head—both of them were long, but the second one was longer than the first. The ram went charging toward the west, the north, and the south. No other animals were strong enough to oppose him, and nothing could save them from his power. So he did as he pleased and became even more powerful.

I kept on watching and saw a goat come from the west and charge across the entire earth, without even touching the ground. Between his eyes was a powerful horn,[q] and with tremendous anger the goat started toward the ram that I had seen beside the river.[r] The goat was so fierce that its attack broke both horns of the ram, leaving him powerless. Then the goat trampled on the ram, and no one could do anything to help. After this, the goat became even more powerful. But at the peak of his power, his mighty horn was broken, and four other mighty horns took its place—one pointing to the north and one to the east, one to the south and one to the west.

A little horn came from one of these, and its power reached to the south, the east, and even to the holy land.[s] 10 (S) It became so strong that it attacked the stars in the sky, which were heaven's army.[t] Then it threw some of them down to the earth and trampled on them. 11-12 It humiliated heaven's army and dishonored its leader[u] by keeping him from offering the daily sacrifices. In fact, it was so terrible that it even disgraced the temple and wiped out true worship. It also did everything else it wanted to do.

13 Then one of the holy angels asked another, “When will the daily sacrifices be offered again? What about this horrible rebellion? When will the temple and heaven's army no longer be trampled in the dust?”

14 The other answered, “It will be 2,300 evenings and mornings before the temple is dedicated and in use again.”

Gabriel Interprets the Vision

15 Daniel wrote:

I was trying to figure out the meaning of the vision, when someone suddenly appeared there beside me. 16 (T) And from beside the Ulai River,[v] a voice like that of a human said, “Gabriel, help him understand the vision.”

17 Gabriel came over, and I fell to the ground in fear. Then he said, “You are merely a human, but you need to understand that this vision is about the end of time.”

18 While he was speaking, I fell facedown in a deep sleep. But he lifted me to my feet 19 and said:

Listen, and I will tell you what will happen at the end of time, when God has chosen to show his anger. 20 The two horns of the ram are the kings of Media and Persia, 21 the goat is the kingdom of Greece, and the powerful horn between his eyes is the first of its kings. 22 After this horn is broken, four other kingdoms will appear, but they won't be as strong.

23 When these rulers have become as evil as possible, their power will end, and then a king who is dangerous and cannot be trusted will appear. 24 He will gain strength, but not on his own, and he will cause terrible destruction. He will wipe out powerful leaders and God's people as well. 25 His deceitful lies will make him so successful, that he will think he is really great. Suddenly he will kill many people, and he will even attack God, the Supreme Ruler. But God will crush him!

26 This vision about the evenings and mornings is true, but these things won't happen for a long time, so don't tell it to others.

27 After this, I was so worn out and weak that it was several days before I could get out of bed and go about my duties for the king. I was disturbed by this vision that made no sense to me.

Footnotes

  1. 5.2 his father Nebuchadnezzar: Belshazzar was actually the son of King Nabonidus, who was from another family. But in ancient times, it was possible to refer to a previous king as the “father” of the present king.
  2. 5.25-28 mene … tekel … parsin: In the Aramaic text of verse 25, the words “mene, tekel, parsin,” are used, and in verses 26-28 the words “mene, tekel, peres” (the singular of “parsin”) are used. “Parsin” means “divided,” but “peres” can mean either “divided” or “Persia.”
  3. 6.28 Cyrus the Persian ruled: 539–530 b.c.
  4. 7.1,2 first year of King Belshazzar: 554 b.c.
  5. 7.5 standing on its hind legs: Or “higher on one side than the other” or “with a paw lifted up.”
  6. 7.9 Eternal God: Aramaic “Ancient of Days.”
  7. 7.10 books: Containing the record of the good and evil that each person has done.
  8. 7.12 a while longer: Aramaic “for a time and a season.”
  9. 7.13 son of man: Or “human.” In Aramaic “son of man” may mean a human or even “oneself” (“I” or “me”). Jesus often used the phrase “the Son of Man” when referring to himself.
  10. 7.13 Eternal God: See the note at 7.9.
  11. 7.16 one of those standing there: Possibly an angel sent to interpret the visions or one of those thousands mentioned in verse 10.
  12. 7.19 fourth beast: See verses 7,8.
  13. 7.22 Eternal God: See the note at 7.9.
  14. 7.25 for … time: Or “for a year, two years, and half a year.”
  15. 8.1 third year … Babylonia: 552 b.c., two years after the first vision (see 7.1,2).
  16. 8.2 River: Or “Gate.”
  17. 8.5 powerful horn: Hebrew “horn of vision.”
  18. 8.6 river: See the note at 8.2.
  19. 8.9 holy land: Hebrew “the lovely land.”
  20. 8.10 heaven's army: In verses 10-13 the Hebrew word translated “heaven's army” may also mean “God's people.”
  21. 8.11,12 leader: Hebrew “prince.”
  22. 8.16 River: See the note at 8.2.

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