Daniel 5 | OET

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5 Several years later when Belshatsar (Belshazzar) was king, he put on a feast for a thousand of his leading citizens, and he was drinking wine with them all. 2 As Belshatsar was drinking the wine, he remembered the gold and silver cups that his father Nevukadnetsar (Nebuchadnezzar) had taken from the temple in Yerushalem (Jerusalem), and ordered that they be brought in so that the king and his leading citizens, and his wives and his concubines, could drink from them. 3 So they brought in the gold cups that had been taken out of God’s residence in Yerushalem, then the king and his leading citizens, his wives and his concubines, drank from them. 4 They drank the wine and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.

5 Suddenly, the fingers of a human hand appeared and started writing on the plaster on the king’s palace wall, opposite the lampstand. When the king saw the back of the hand that was writing, 6 he was very frightened and the colour drained from his face. His legs felt weak and his knees started knocking together, 7 and he called out for the enchanters, the Kasdim (Chaldeans), and the astrologers to be brought in. The king told those Babylonian wise men, “Anyone who can read this writing and tell me its interpretation will be dressed in royal robes and will have a chain of gold placed around his neck, and he’ll become the third ruler in the kingdom.” 8 When all the king’s wise men of the king got there, none of them could read the writing or tell the king what it meant. 9 Then King Belshatsar became more afraid, his face went whiter still, and his leading citizens also had no idea what to do.

10 My now the queen[fn] had heard about what the king and his leading citizens had been saying, so she came into the banquet house and said, “Long live the king. Don’t let this get under your skin. Don’t let it drain you. 11 There’s a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him. In the days of your father, this man has illumination and insight and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods. Your father King Nevukadnetsar (Nebuchadnezzar) appointed him chief of the magicians, sorcerers, Kasdim, and astrologers, 12 because this Daniyel had an excellent spirit, knowledge, and insight for interpreting dreams, explaining riddles, and solving problems. So summon Daniyel who the king named Belteshatsar (Belteshazzar) and he’ll tell you the interpretation.”

13 So Daniyel was brought in to the king who said to him, “So, you’re that Daniyel—one of the exiles that my father the king brought from Yehudah (Judah). 14 I’ve heard about you—heard that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that you have illumination and insight and excellent wisdom. 15 Now the wise men and enchanters were brought in here to read this writing on the wall and tell me its interpretation, but they couldn’t interpret it. 16 But I’ve heard about you—that you’re able to give interpretations and solve problems. Now, if you’re able to read that writing and tell me what it means, you’ll be clothed with kingly robes and have a chain of gold placed around your neck, and you’ll be made the third-highest ruler in the kingdom.”

17 “I’m not after your gifts, and your rewards can be given to someone else,” Daniyel responded. “But, I’ll read the writing to the king and I’ll tell you the interpretation.

18 “As for you, your majesty, the highest god gave the kingship, power, honour, and majesty, to your father Nevukadnetsar (Nebuchadnezzar). 19 Because of that power, all peoples, nations, and ethnic groups trembled and were afraid when his army approached. He killed whoever he wanted, and he kept alive those he wanted. He promoted whoever he wanted, and he humiliated others when he wanted to. 20 But when he became proud and stubborn and started acting presumptuously, he was disqualified from the throne, and his splendid reputation was deflated. 21 He was driven right out of the community, and he started behaving like an animal—he ended up living with wild donkeys and eating grass like a cow. He slept on the ground, and in the morning his body was wet with dew, until he finally recognized that the highest god is ruler over all mankind and that he appoints whoever he wants as leaders over the kingdoms.

22 “Yet you, Belshatsar (Belshazzar), his son, haven’t humbled yourself despite already knowing all that. 23 On the contrary, you’ve proudly promoted yourself as being greater than the master of the heavens. You brought the temple cups in here and you and your leading citizens, your wives and your concubines, have drunk wine from them. You praised the gods made from silver and gold, bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which can’t see, or hear, or know anything, yet you haven’t honoured the god who decides your future and every breath that you take.

24 “So then it’s from his presence that the palm of a hand was sent, and this message was written. 25 This is how it reads, ‘Numbered, numbered, weighed, and divided,’ 26 and this is what it means:

Numbered: God has numbered your days of leadership and brought them to an end,
27 Weighed: You’ve been weighed on the scales and found deficient, and
28 Divided: Your kingdom has been divided and given to the Madim (Medes) and the Persians.”

29 Then Belshatsar (Belshazzar) gave an order, and they placed a purple robe over Daniyel’s shoulders and a gold chain was placed around his neck, and an official announcement was made that he would now be the third-highest ruler in the kingdom.

30 ⇔However, the Chaldean King Belshatsar was killed that very night, 31 and Dareyavesh (Darius) the Madi (Mede) became the new ruler at an age of around sixty-two.

5:10 Possibly ‘the previous queen’, i.e., the queen mother (as the next verse displays her knowledge of past events).

5 Bēləshaʼʦʦar Oh/the_king he _made a _feast great for_nobles _of_his a _thousand and_(to)_before the_thousand (the)_wine he_was_drinking.

2 Bēləshaʼʦʦar he _said in_the _taste _of the _wine to_bring DOM_the_vessels _of (the)_gold and_(the)_silver which Nəⱱūkadneʦʦar father _of_his he _had _brought _out from the_temple which was_in_Yərūshelēm/(Jerusalem) so_that _they _may _drink with_them Oh/the_king and_nobles _of_his wives _of_his and_concubines _of_his.

3 In_then they _brought the _vessels _of (the)_gold which they _had _brought _out from the_temple which was_the _house _of the_god which was_in_Yərūshelēm/(Jerusalem) and_they _drank with_them Oh/the_king and_nobles _of_his wives _of_his and_concubines _of_his.

4 They _drank the_wine and_they _praised DOM_the_gods _of (the)_gold and_(the)_silver (the)_bronze (the)_iron (the)_wood and_(the)_stone.

5 At_it the_moment they _went _forth[fn] fingers of a _hand _of a _human and_they_were_writing (to)_before the_candlestick on the_plaster of the _wall _of the _palace of Oh/the_king and_the_king was_seeing the _palm _of the _hand which was_writing.

6 Then Oh/the_king brightness(es)_of_his they_changed _him and_thoughts _of_his[fn] they_alarmed _him and_the _joints _of his _loin[s] were_loosened and_knees _of_his this_one to_this_one were_knocking.

7 Oh/the_king was_calling with_power to_bring _in DOM_the_conjurers the_Kasdaye[fn] and_the_astrologers Oh/the_king was_replying and_saying(ms) to_wisemen of _Bāⱱel that any _of person who he _will _read _aloud the_writing this and_its_interpretation he_will _declare _to _me (the)_purple he _will _be _clothed and[fn][fn] of (the)_gold will _be_on neck _of_his and_third in_the_kingdom he _will _rule.

8 Then were_going _in[fn] all _of the _wise _men _of Oh/the_king and_not they_were_able the_writing to_read _aloud and[fn] to_make _known to_the_king.

9 Then Oh/the_king Bēləshaʼʦʦar exceedingly was_alarmed and_brightness(es)_of_his were_changing on_him and_nobles _of_his were_dumbfounded.

10 The_queen (to)_before the _words/messages _of Oh/the_king and_nobles _of_his to_the _house _of the _feast she _went _in[fn] the_queen she _replied and_she _said Oh/the_king for_ages live not let_them _alarm _you your(ms)_thoughts and_brightness(es)_of_your not let _them _be _changed.

11 There is_a _man in_kingdom _of_your who a _spirit _of gods holy is_in_him and_in_the _days _of your _father illumination and_insight and_wisdom like_the_wisdom _of gods it _was _found in_him and_the_king Nəⱱūkadneʦʦar father _of_your chief _of the_magicians conjurers ones_from _Kasdiy astrologers he_appointed _him father _of_your Oh/the_king.

12 As_to because that a _spirit extraordinary and_understanding and_insight an _interpreter _of dreams and_declaring riddles and_loosening _of knots it _was _found in_him in_Dāniyy^ʼēl whom Oh/the_king he _made his/its_name Bēləţəshaʼʦʦar now Dāniyy^ʼēl let _him _be _summoned and_the_interpretation he _will _declare.

13 In_then Dāniyy^ʼēl he _was _brought before Oh/the_king Oh/the_king was_replying and_saying(ms) to/for_Dāniyy^ʼēl you(sg)[fn] he are_Dāniyy^ʼēl who is_one _of the _sons _of the _exile of Yəhūdāh/(Judah) whom Oh/the_king father _of_my he _brought from Yəhūdāh.

14 And_I _have _heard mmm[fn] that a _spirit _of gods on/over_you(fs) and_illumination and_insight and_wisdom extraordinary it _was _found on/over_you(fs).

15 And_now they _have _been _brought before_me the _wise_men the_conjurers that the_writing this they _will _read _aloud and_its_interpretation to_make _know_me and_not they_were_able the _interpretation _of the_matter to_reply.

16 And_I I _have _heard mmm[fn] that you _are _able[fn][fn] interpretations to_interpret and_knots to_loosen now if you _will _be _able[fn] the_writing to_read _aloud and_its_interpretation to_make _know_me (the)_purple you _will _be _clothed and[fn][fn] of (the)_gold will _be_on neck _of and_third in_the_kingdom you _will _rule.

17 In_then Dāniyy^ʼēl was_replying and_saying(ms) before Oh/the_king gifts _of_your to/for_you(fs) let _them _be and_rewards _of_your to_another give nevertheless the_writing I _will _read _aloud to_the_king and_the_interpretation I_will _make _known _to _him.

18 You(sg)[fn] Oh/the_king the_god mmm[fn] the_kingdom and_the_greatness and_the_honour and_the_majesty he _gave to_Nəⱱūkadneʦʦar father _of_your.

19 And_from the_greatness which he _gave to_him/it all _of the_peoples the_nations and_the_languages they _were trembling[fn] and_fearing from before_him whom he _was pleased he _was killing and_whom he _was pleased he _was letting _live and_whom he _was pleased he _was lifting _up and_whom he _was pleased he _was bringing _low.

20 And_as_that heart _of_his it _rose _up and_spirit _of_his it _grew _strong to_act _presumptuously he _was _deposed from the _throne _of his _kingdom and_the_honour they _removed from_him.

21 And_from the _sons _of (the)_humankind he _was _chased and_heart _of_his with the_animal[s] they _made[fn][fn] and_was_with the _wild_donkeys his _dwelling _of_place (the)_grass like_oxen they_fed _him and_from_the _dew _of the_heavens body _of_his it _became _wet until that he _knew that was_having _mastery the_god mmm[fn] over_the _kingdom _of (the)_humankind and_to_whomever whom he _will _be _pleased he _will _appoint mmm[fn].

22 And[fn] son _of_his Oh _Bēləshaʼʦʦar not you _have _brought _low heart _of_your as_to because that all _of this you _knew.

23 And_against the _master _of the_heavens you _have _lifted _yourself _up and_DOM_the_vessels of house _of_his they _have _brought mmm[fn] and[fn] and[fn][fn] wives _of_your and_concubines _of (the)_wine are_drinking with_them and_DOM_the_gods _of (the)_silver and_(the)_gold (the)_bronze (the)_iron (the)_wood and_(the)_stone who not are_seeing and_not are_hearing and_not are_knowing you _have _praised and_DOM_the_god who breath _of_your is_in_hand _of_his and_all ways _of_your to_him/it not you _have _glorified.

24 In_then from before_him it _was _sent _out[fn] the_palm of the_hand and_the_writing this it _was _inscribed.

25 And_this is_the_writing which it _was _inscribed mene mene teqel and_pharsin.

26 This is_the _interpretation _of the_matter mene the_god he _has _numbered kingdom _of_your and_he_has _finished _it.

27 Teqel you _have _been _weighed in_the_scales and_you _have _been _found lacking.

28 Peres kingdom _of_your it _has _been _broken _in _two and_it _has _been _given to_Māday and_Pāraşns.

29 In_then Bēləshaʼʦʦar he _said and_they _clothed to/for_Dāniyy^ʼēl (the)_purple and[fn] of (the)_gold was_on neck _of_his and_they _made _proclamation concerning_him that he _will _be a _ruler third in_the_kingdom.

30 On_it on_the_night he _was _killed Bēləshaʼʦʦar Oh/the_king the_Kasdaye[fn].

5:5 OSHB variant note: נפקו: (x-qere) ’נְפַ֨קָה֙’: lemma=5312 n=1.3.1 morph=AVqp3fp id=27c3h נְפַ֨קָה֙

5:6 OSHB note: BHS has been faithful to the Leningrad Codex where there might be a question of the validity of the form and we keep the same form as BHS.

5:7 OSHB variant note: כשדי/א: (x-qere) ’כַּשְׂדָּאֵ֖/י’: lemma=3779 n=1.0 morph=ANgmpc/Sp1cs id=27kTA כַּשְׂדָּאֵ֖/י

5:7 OSHB variant note: ו/המונכ/א: (x-qere) ’וְ/הַֽמְנִיכָ֤/א’: lemma=c/2002 morph=AC/Ncmsd/Td id=27TaA וְ/הַֽמְנִיכָ֤/א

5:7 OSHB note: We read one or more consonants in L differently from BHS.

5:8 OSHB variant note: עללין: (x-qere) ’עָֽלִּ֔ין’: lemma=5954 n=1.1 morph=AVqrmpa id=27tbG עָֽלִּ֔ין

5:8 OSHB variant note: ו/פשר/א: (x-qere) ’וּ/פִשְׁרֵ֖/הּ’: lemma=c/6591 n=0.0 morph=AC/Ncmsd/Sp3ms id=27BK2 וּ/פִשְׁרֵ֖/הּ

5:10 OSHB variant note: עללת: (x-qere) ’עַלַּ֑ת’: lemma=5954 n=1 morph=AVqp3fs id=27dBb עַלַּ֑ת

5:13 OSHB variant note: אנתה: (x-qere) ’אַנְתְּ’: lemma=607 morph=APp2ms id=27ouG אַנְתְּ

5:14 OSHB variant note: עלי/ך: (x-qere) ’עֲלָ֔/ךְ’: lemma=5922 n=1.1 morph=AR/Sp2ms id=27z96 עֲלָ֔/ךְ

5:16 OSHB variant note: עלי/ך: (x-qere) ’עֲלָ֔/ךְ’: lemma=5922 n=1.1 morph=AR/Sp2ms id=27Pym עֲלָ֔/ךְ

5:16 OSHB variant note: תוכל: (x-qere) ’תִיכּ֥וּל’: lemma=3202 morph=AVqi2ms id=27nrb תִיכּ֥וּל

5:16 OSHB note: We read one or more consonants in L differently from BHS.

5:16 OSHB variant note: תוכל: (x-qere) ’תִּכ֨וּל’: lemma=3202 morph=AVqi2ms id=27Wj8 תִּכ֨וּל

5:16 OSHB variant note: ו/המונכ/א: (x-qere) ’וְ/הַֽמְנִיכָ֤/א’: lemma=c/2002 morph=AC/Ncmsd/Td id=27r2t וְ/הַֽמְנִיכָ֤/א

5:16 OSHB note: We read one or more consonants in L differently from BHS.

5:18 OSHB variant note: אנתה: (x-qere) ’אַ֖נְתְּ’: lemma=607 n=1.0 morph=APp2ms id=27WGp אַ֖נְתְּ

5:18 OSHB variant note: עלי/א: (x-qere) ’עִלָּאָ֔/ה’: lemma=5943 n=0.2 morph=AAamsd/Td id=27TtK עִלָּאָ֔/ה

5:19 OSHB variant note: זאעין: (x-qere) ’זָיְעִ֥ין’: lemma=2112 morph=AVqrmsa id=277xd זָיְעִ֥ין

5:21 OSHB variant note: שוי: (x-qere) ’שַׁוִּ֗יְו’: lemma=7739 a n=1.2.1 morph=AVQp3mp id=27BDF שַׁוִּ֗יְו

5:21 OSHB note: BHS has been faithful to the Leningrad Codex where there might be a question of the validity of the form and we keep the same form as BHS.

5:21 OSHB variant note: עלי/א: (x-qere) ’עִלָּאָ/ה֙’: lemma=5943 n=0.1.0 morph=AAamsd/Td id=27GDR עִלָּאָ/ה֙

5:21 OSHB variant note: עלי/ה: (x-qere) ’עֲלַֽ/הּ’: lemma=5922 n=0 morph=AR/Sp3cs id=27VX8 עֲלַֽ/הּ

5:22 OSHB variant note: ו/אנתה: (x-qere) ’וְ/אַ֤נְתְּ’: lemma=c/607 morph=AC/Pp2ms id=274wk וְ/אַ֤נְתְּ

5:23 OSHB variant note: קדמי/ך: (x-qere) ’קָֽדָמָ֗/ךְ’: lemma=6925 n=1.1.2 morph=AR/Sp2ms id=27nWN קָֽדָמָ֗/ךְ

5:23 OSHB variant note: ו/אנתה: (x-qere) ’וְ/אַ֨נְתְּ’: lemma=c/607 morph=AC/Pp2ms id=27WyJ וְ/אַ֨נְתְּ

5:23 OSHB variant note: ו/רברבני/ך: (x-qere) ’וְ/רַבְרְבָנָ֜/ךְ’: lemma=c/7261 n=1.1.1.0 morph=AC/Ncmsc/Sp2ms id=27Kp3 וְ/רַבְרְבָנָ֜/ךְ

5:23 OSHB note: Yathir readings in L which we have designated as Qeres when both Dothan and BHS list a Qere.

5:24 OSHB note: BHS has been faithful to the Leningrad Codex where there might be a question of the validity of the form and we keep the same form as BHS.

5:29 OSHB variant note: ו/המונכ/א: (x-qere) ’וְ/הַֽמְנִיכָ֥/א’: lemma=c/2002 morph=AC/Ncmsd/Td id=27cjX וְ/הַֽמְנִיכָ֥/א

5:30 OSHB variant note: כשדי/א: (x-qere) ’כַשְׂדָּאָֽ/ה’: lemma=3779 n=0 morph=ANgmsd/Td id=27Ade כַשְׂדָּאָֽ/ה

Literal Version DAN 6:1

6 [fn] And_Dārəyāvesh the_Mede[fn][fn] he _received the_kingdom about_a _son _of years sixty and_two.

6:1 Note: KJB: Dān.5.31

6:1 OSHB note: Marks an anomalous form.

6:1 OSHB note: We have abandoned or added a ketib/qere relative to BHS. In doing this we agree with L against BHS.

Open English Translation DAN Chapter 5

Readers’ Version

Literal Version

Open English Translation DAN Chapter 5

Readers’ Version

Literal Version Hide marks

Literal Version