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Book of Daniel, Chapter 5

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Daniel 5 NASB - New American Standard BibleDaniel 5 NASB - New American Standard Bible

Chapter 5 of Daniel—New American Standard Bible (NASB)

  1. ¶ Belshazzar the king [a]held a great 1feast for a thousand of his nobles, and he was drinking wine in the presence of the thousand.
  2. When Belshazzar tasted the wine, he gave orders to bring the gold and silver 2vessels which Nebuchadnezzar his [b]father had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem, so that the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines might drink from them.
  3. Then they brought the gold vessels that had been taken out of the temple, the house of God which was in Jerusalem; and the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines drank from them.
  4. They 3drank the wine and praised the gods of 4gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone.
  5. ¶ Suddenly the fingers of a man’s hand emerged and began writing opposite the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace, and the king saw the [c]back of the hand that did the writing.
  6. Then the king’s [d]5face grew pale and his thoughts alarmed him, and his 6hip joints went slack and his 7knees began knocking together.
  7. The king called aloud to bring in the 8conjurers, the [e]Chaldeans and the diviners. The king spoke and said to the wise men of Babylon, “Any man who can read this inscription and explain its interpretation to me shall be 9clothed with purple and have a 10necklace of gold around his neck, and have authority as [f]11third ruler in the kingdom.”
  8. Then all the king’s wise men came in, but 12they could not read the inscription or make known its interpretation to the king.
  9. Then King Belshazzar was greatly 13alarmed, his [g]14face grew even paler, and his nobles were perplexed.
  10. ¶ The queen entered the banquet [h]hall because of the words of the king and his nobles; the queen spoke and said, “15O king, live forever! Do not let your thoughts alarm you or your [i]face be pale.
  11. There is a 16man in your kingdom in whom is [j]a 17spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of your father, illumination, insight and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods were found in him. And King Nebuchadnezzar, your father, your father [k]18the king, appointed him chief of the [l]magicians, conjurers, [m]Chaldeans and diviners.
  12. This was because an 19extraordinary spirit, knowledge and insight, interpretation of dreams, explanation of enigmas and solving of difficult problems were found in this Daniel, whom the king named 20Belteshazzar. Let Daniel now be summoned and he will declare the interpretation.”
  13. ¶ Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king spoke and said to Daniel, “Are you that Daniel who is one of the [n]21exiles from Judah, whom my father the king 22brought from Judah?
  14. Now I have heard about you that [o]a spirit of the gods is in you, and that illumination, insight and extraordinary wisdom have been found in you.
  15. Just now the 23wise men and the conjurers were brought in before me that they might read this inscription and make its interpretation known to me, but they 24could not declare the interpretation of the [p]message.
  16. But I personally have heard about you, that you are able to give interpretations and solve difficult problems. Now if you are able to read the inscription and make its 25interpretation known to me, you will be 26clothed with purple and wear a necklace of gold around your neck, and you will have authority as the [q]third ruler in the kingdom.”
  17. ¶ Then Daniel answered and said before the king, “[r]Keep your 27gifts for yourself or give your rewards to someone else; however, I will read the inscription to the king and make the interpretation known to him.
  18. [s]O king, the 28Most High God 29granted [t]sovereignty, 30grandeur, glory and majesty to Nebuchadnezzar your father.
  19. Because of the grandeur which He bestowed on him, all the peoples, nations and men of every [u]language feared and trembled before him; 31whomever he wished he killed and whomever he wished he spared alive; and whomever he wished he elevated and whomever he wished he humbled.
  20. But when his heart was 32lifted up and his spirit became so [v]33proud that he behaved arrogantly, he was 34deposed from his royal throne and his glory was taken away from him.
  21. He was also 35driven away from [w]mankind, and his heart was made like that of beasts, and his dwelling place was with the 36wild donkeys. He was given grass to eat like cattle, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven until he recognized that the 37Most High God is ruler over the realm of mankind and that He sets over it whomever He wishes.
  22. Yet you, his [x]son, Belshazzar, have 38not humbled your heart, [y]even though you knew all this,
  23. but you have 39exalted yourself against the 40Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of His house before you, and you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines have been drinking wine from them; and you have praised the 41gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which do not see, hear or understand. But the God 42in whose hand are your life-breath and all your 43ways, you have not glorified.
  24. Then the [z]44hand was sent from Him and this inscription was written out.
  25. ¶ “Now this is the inscription that was written out: ‘[aa]MENĒ, [ab]MENĒ, [ac]TEKĒL, [ad]UPHARSIN.’
  26. This is the interpretation of the [ae]message: ‘MENĒ’—God has numbered your kingdom and 45put an end to it.
  27. ‘TEKĒL’—you have been 46weighed on the scales and found deficient.
  28. ‘PERĒS’—your kingdom has been divided and given over to the 47Medes and [af]Persians.”
  29. ¶ Then Belshazzar gave orders, and they 48clothed Daniel with purple and put a necklace of gold around his neck, and issued a proclamation concerning him that he now had authority as the [ag]third ruler in the kingdom.
  30. ¶ That same night 49Belshazzar the Chaldean king was 50slain.
  31. [ah]So 51Darius the Mede received the kingdom at about the age of sixty-two.

FOOTNOTES

  1. ^ Lit made
  2. ^ Or forefather, and so throughout the ch
  3. ^ Or palm
  4. ^ Lit brightness changed for him
  5. ^ Or master astrologers
  6. ^ Or a triumvir
  7. ^ Lit brightness was changing upon him
  8. ^ Lit house
  9. ^ Lit brightness be changed
  10. ^ Or possibly the Spirit of the holy God
  11. ^ Or O king
  12. ^ Or soothsayer priests
  13. ^ Or master astrologers
  14. ^ Lit sons of the exile
  15. ^ Or possibly the Spirit of God
  16. ^ Lit word
  17. ^ Or triumvir
  18. ^ Lit Let...be for
  19. ^ Lit You, O king
  20. ^ Or the kingdom
  21. ^ Lit tongue
  22. ^ Lit strong
  23. ^ Lit the sons of man
  24. ^ Or descendant
  25. ^ Lit inasmuch as you
  26. ^ Lit palm of the hand
  27. ^ Or a mina (50 shekels) from verb “to number”
  28. ^ Or a mina (50 shekels) from verb “to number”
  29. ^ Or a shekel from verb “to weigh”
  30. ^ Or and half-shekels (sing: peres) from verb “to divide”
  31. ^ Lit word
  32. ^ Aram: Pāras
  33. ^ Or triumvir
  34. ^ Ch 6:1 in Aram

REFERENCES

  1. ^ Es 1:3; Is 22:12-14
  2. ^ 2Ki 24:13; 25:15; Ezr 1:7-11; Da 1:2
  3. ^ Is 42:8; Da 5:23; Re 9:20
  4. ^ Ps 115:4; 135:15; Is 40:19, 20; Da 3:1; Hab 2:19
  5. ^ Da 5:9, 10; 7:28
  6. ^ Ps 69:23
  7. ^ Eze 7:17; 21:7; Na 2:10
  8. ^ Is 44:25; 47:13; Da 4:6, 7; 5:11, 15
  9. ^ Ge 41:42-44; Da 5:16, 29
  10. ^ Eze 16:11
  11. ^ Da 2:48; 5:16, 29; 6:2, 3
  12. ^ Ge 41:8; Da 2:27; 4:7; 5:15
  13. ^ Jb 18:11; Is 21:2-4; Je 6:24; Da 2:1; 5:6
  14. ^ Is 13:6-8
  15. ^ Da 3:9; 6:6
  16. ^ Ge 41:11-15; Da 2:47
  17. ^ Da 4:8, 9, 18; 5:14
  18. ^ Da 2:48
  19. ^ Da 5:14; 6:3
  20. ^ Da 1:7; 4:8
  21. ^ Ezr 4:1; 6:16, 19, 20; Da 2:25; 6:13
  22. ^ Da 1:1, 2
  23. ^ Da 5:7
  24. ^ Is 47:12f; Da 5:8
  25. ^ Ge 40:8
  26. ^ Da 5:7, 29
  27. ^ 2Ki 5:16
  28. ^ Da 4:2; 5:21
  29. ^ Da 2:37, 38; 4:17
  30. ^ Je 25:9; 27:5-7
  31. ^ Da 2:12, 13; 3:6; 11:3, 16, 36
  32. ^ Ex 9:17; Jb 15:25; Is 14:13-15; Da 4:30, 31
  33. ^ 2Ki 17:14; 2Ch 36:13
  34. ^ Jb 40:11, 12; Je 13:18
  35. ^ Jb 30:3-7; Da 4:32, 33
  36. ^ Jb 39:5-8
  37. ^ Ex 9:14-16; Ps 83:17, 18; Eze 17:24; Da 4:17, 34, 35
  38. ^ Ex 10:3; 2Ch 33:23; 36:12
  39. ^ 2Ki 14:10; Is 2:12; 37:23; Je 50:29; Da 5:3, 4
  40. ^ Da 4:37
  41. ^ Ps 115:4-8; Is 37:19; Hab 2:18, 19
  42. ^ Jb 12:10
  43. ^ Jb 31:4; Ps 139:3; Pr 20:24; Je 10:23
  44. ^ Da 5:5
  45. ^ Is 13:6, 17-19; Je 50:41-43
  46. ^ Jb 31:6; Ps 62:9
  47. ^ Is 13:17; 21:2; 45:1, 2; Da 5:31; 6:8, 28; Ac 2:9
  48. ^ Da 5:7, 16
  49. ^ Da 5:1, 2
  50. ^ Is 21:4-9; 47:9; Je 51:11, 31, 39, 57
  51. ^ Da 6:1; 9:1

Read Daniel Chapter 5 in other Bible versions:

Comments

  1. Kiamia DoelKiamia Doel
    Jan 9, 2025 23:00 GMT

    The NWT adds words to the text that are not in the greek Manuscripts to fit it's own doctrinal position for example

    Compare the wording of the NWT and the NKJV at Colossians 1:15-17

    NKJV says

    15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.

    NWT says

    15 He is the image of the invisible God,the firstborn OF all creation;16 because by means of him all OTHER things were created in the heavens and on the earth, the things visible and the things invisible,whether they are thrones or lordships or governments or authorities. All OTHER things have been created through him and for him. 17 Also, he is before all OTHER things,and by means of him all OTHER things were made to exist,

    The word “other” is not in the Greek but they add it Why? So they can decieve their followers into thinking that Christ was created by the Father and that he then created other things, that is not what the Greek says.

    1. SmeSme
      Feb 27, 2025 11:17 GMT

      Truth is from God and those that follow him. As for lies? John8:44

      Kiamia, I noticed you used a modern version of kjv to make your point about the nwt.

      Why didn’t you use the original kjv of col1:15?

      Is it because it disproves your point? It proves the opposite of what you wrote?

      Here is kjv col1:15 ¶” Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn OF every creature:“

      Now I appeal to your Christian nature to correct your mistake as God is watching each of us, and let us bless the God of Jesus his father.

      Kjv 1Pe 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ….

  2. YanekYanek
    Dec 24, 2024 22:18 GMT

    Joshua, Jehovah’s Witnesses have never denied the deity of the Messiah in his prehuman existence. While on Earth he was fully 100% human. I do not mean he was a mere human, he was not affected by Adam’s unfaithful behavior, he was sinless.

  3. David yakubuDavid yakubu
    Oct 29, 2022 08:05 GMT

    When i do read some comments and seeing that its the same people that are supposed to be called believers but are talking ill of other denominations, it hurts. Let us all remember that We should judge not

    1. jonas smithjonas smith
      Apr 23, 2023 02:57 GMT

      The bible tells us to test the spirits. Satan disguises himself as angel of light. So yes some denomination are not teaching the truth. You are responsible for judging which ones are not. You have to judge the truth at all times. this is what the bible teaches

  4. THTH
    Apr 7, 2021 00:20 GMT

    The NWT is a very good translation. Dr. Jason David BeDuhn PhD attests to that in his book Truth in Translation. drive.google.com/...5p16melHzg8/view

    1. James LernerJames Lerner
      Jul 20, 2024 09:48 GMT

      The NWT is Satanic filth to its very core.

      The JW Cult is Satanic to its very core.

      Praise Yahweh I will never be a victim of JW brainwashing. If I burn in Hell for eternity or I am ultimately annihilated so be it

      May Yahweh's curse rest on the Watchtower Society and its Satanic leadership

    2. jim mcleodjim mcleod
      Aug 22, 2021 06:16 GMT

      NWT is a false translation that takes away from the deity of Jesus !

  5. SlightlyChaoticSlightlyChaotic
    Jan 30, 2021 16:33 GMT

    Thank you for taking the time to provide this service. I like seeing the NASB on your web page in the same format as I read on paper. On other sites, the text area is smaller, and so I have to keep scrolling down to read and sometimes I lose the context. So I really appreciate the format.

    As far as the NWT, you are certainly free to do whatever you think best with your own web pages. I'd suggest that you make a note anytime you have a translation that is associated with only one denomination or church, for example:
    New World Translation (Jehovah's Witness version).

    In Jesus' parable of the wheat and the tares. the main idea seems to be that you can't easily distinguish between God's people and not-God's people on this earth, so our Lord's response is to wait until they are shown to be the kind of people they are inside. But the NWT seems like false teaching to me. So I think the warning passages from Jesus' apostles are more applicable, as in 2 Peter 3:15-16, when he talks about Paul's writings:
    "There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures."
    And we also have the positive exhortations, as in 2 Timothy 2:15:
    "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth."

    1. BroderickBroderick
      Jan 31, 2021 00:57 GMT

      Your suggestion regarding the denominational flagging is duly noted. But I can’t help but wonder, wouldn’t a Catholic also want “Protestant versions” marked as well?

      As for the parable, I’m pretty sure the slaves were convinced in their own minds that they could tell the tares from the wheat. After all, aren’t they the ones who identified the problem in the first place? But the master obviously thought otherwise.

      Furthermore, even at the time when Jesus himself was walking the earth, not everybody who claimed fellowship actually followed him causing John to inquire at Mark 9:39, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to prevent him because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not hinder him . . . for he who is not against us is for us.”

  6. Joshua HarderJoshua Harder
    Dec 11, 2020 17:48 GMT

    Hello, question.. why have you included the NWT with other legitimate bible translations? Or why have you not atleast included a warning to readers? Don't you fear that someone could be influenced by the Watchtower's intentional heresies? Thank you.

    1. KevinKevin
      Jul 11, 2021 17:45 GMT

      en.m.wikipedia.org/..._Holy_Scriptures

      See the section critical review

    2. ChrisChris
      Jan 8, 2021 07:15 GMT

      Please site these intentional heresies. I am well versed in the watch tower outline and agree they are in many ways incorrect but i also bet i can point many out from EVERY established or main denomination. There is much to learn from them all as one who drinks milk?

      Judge not lest ye be judged, that is not to pass judgement on you either brother.

      I debate with scripture. I don't hold it to be true that Michael is Y'Shua HaMeshiach but I also firmly hold it to be true that our G-d and Heavenly Father are not the word encarnate and only begotten son.

      I love not seeing "lord" which i relate to baal. I feel the catholic church is a satanic establishment and I am aware a freemason started the hovies but there are evil in high places and our fight is also with principalities.

      What i'm saying is that in my darkest hours, those two were some of if not the only ones who would bring a Bible and eucharist and pray with me.

      We all fall short of the glory of G-d.

      Don't forget the NWT was recognized as the most accurate translation on Jeopardy.

      Lastly, this is different I noted than the NWT i have read and am very familiar with. Pull up the watchtower page and compare. I truly look forward to getting this one!

  7. julietjuliet
    Aug 17, 2022 09:36 GMT

    the sky is blue

  8. mercymercy
    Aug 12, 2022 21:23 GMT

    i am Mercy, the sky is blue what else do you need

    1. mercymercy
      Aug 12, 2022 21:25 GMT

      i am so sorry, it was a big mistake

  9. God is able to do all thingsGod is able to do all things
    May 17, 2021 17:59 GMT

    Jesus how much love calling yo name

  10. EmpiralEmpiral
    Jul 4, 2025 19:06 GMT

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