Daniel

1In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.

Jehoiakim was the king of Judah. In his third year as king, Nebuchadnezzar came to Jerusalem. Nebuchadnezzar was the king of Babylon. His army surrounded the city and would not let anyone out.

2And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.

The Lord let King Jehoiakim be handed over to Nebuchadnezzar. Nebuchadnezzar also took some of the special dishes from God's temple. He carried them far away to the land of Shinar. He put them in the treasure room of his own god's temple.

3And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king’s seed, and of the princes;

The king spoke to Ashpenaz, the leader of his palace helpers. He told him to bring in some young men from Israel. They were to come from the king's family and from other important families.

4Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.

They had to be young men with healthy, strong bodies and pleasant faces. They had to be smart, full of knowledge, and quick to learn. They had to be ready to work in the king's palace. Then they would be taught the writing and language of the Chaldeans, the people of Babylon.

5And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king’s meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.

Every day the king sent them food and wine from his own table. They would be trained this way for three years. After that they would come and serve the king.

6Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:

Four of these young men came from Judah. Their names were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.

7Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego.

The leader of the palace helpers gave them new names. He called Daniel by the name Belteshazzar. He called Hananiah by the name Shadrach. He called Mishael by the name Meshach. He called Azariah by the name Abednego.

8But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

Daniel decided in his heart not to eat the king's food or drink his wine. He believed it would make him unclean. So he asked the leader of the helpers to let him eat something else.

9Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.

God had already made the leader of the helpers like Daniel and be kind to him.

10And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king.

But the leader said to Daniel, "I am afraid of the king, my master. He is the one who chose your food and drink. What if he sees you looking thinner than the other young men your age? Then the king could take my head off."

11Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,

The leader had put a man named Melzar in charge of the four friends. So Daniel spoke to Melzar about Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.

12Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.

Daniel said, "Please test us for ten days. Give us only plants to eat and water to drink."

13Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king’s meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.

"Then look at our faces. Look at the faces of the young men who eat the king's food. Compare us. Then do what you think is best with us."

14So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days.

Melzar agreed to do this. He tested them for ten days.

15And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king’s meat.

After the ten days, the four looked healthier and stronger than all the others. The others had been eating the king's rich food.

16Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.

So Melzar took away their fancy food and their wine. He gave them plants to eat instead.

17As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.

God gave these four young men knowledge and skill in every kind of learning. He made them wise. God also helped Daniel understand dreams and visions, which are pictures God shows a person.

18Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.

The training time the king had set finally ended. Then the leader of the helpers brought the young men to Nebuchadnezzar.

19And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king.

The king talked with them. Out of all the young men, none were as good as Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. So these four stayed to serve the king.

20And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.

The king asked them hard questions about wise and difficult things. He found them ten times better than all the magicians and star-readers in his whole kingdom.

21And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus.

Daniel stayed there many years. He was still there in the first year of King Cyrus.

1And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him.

Nebuchadnezzar was the king of Babylon. In the second year he was king, he had dreams. The dreams troubled him, and he could not sleep.

2Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to shew the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king.

The king sent for his magicians and for men who read the stars. He also sent for men who used magic spells. He wanted them to tell him his dreams. They came and stood in front of the king.

3And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream.

The king said to them, "I had a dream. I am upset, and I want to know what it means."

4Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriack, O king, live for ever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation.

The star readers answered the king in Aramaic, a language used there. "O king, may you live forever! Tell us the dream, and we will tell you what it means."

5The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if ye will not make known unto me the dream, with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill.

The king answered them, "My word is final. If you do not tell me the dream and what it means, you will be cut in pieces. Your houses will be knocked down into piles of trash."

6But if ye shew the dream, and the interpretation thereof, ye shall receive of me gifts and rewards and great honour: therefore shew me the dream, and the interpretation thereof.

"But if you tell me the dream and what it means, I will give you gifts and rewards. I will honor you greatly. So tell me the dream and what it means."

7They answered again and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation of it.

They answered a second time, "Let the king tell his servants the dream. Then we will tell what it means."

8The king answered and said, I know of certainty that ye would gain the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me.

The king said, "I am sure you are only trying to gain time. You can see that my word will not change."

9But if ye will not make known unto me the dream, there is but one decree for you: for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can shew me the interpretation thereof.

"If you do not tell me the dream, only one thing will happen to you. You have agreed together to tell me lies until things change. So tell me the dream. Then I will know you can tell me what it means."

10The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king’s matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean.

The wise men answered the king, "No one on earth can do what you ask. No king, however great, has ever asked such a thing. No magician or star reader was ever asked this."

11And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.

"What the king asks is too hard. Only the gods could tell it, and they do not live among people."

12For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.

This made the king very angry. He ordered that all the wise men of Babylon be killed.

13And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain.

So the order went out to kill the wise men. Men went to look for Daniel and his friends to kill them too.

14Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain of the king’s guard, which was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon:

Arioch was the captain of the king's guard. He went out to kill the wise men of Babylon. Daniel spoke to him wisely and carefully.

15He answered and said to Arioch the king’s captain, Why is the decree so hasty from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel.

Daniel asked Arioch, "Why did the king give such a harsh order?" Then Arioch explained the matter to Daniel.

16Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would shew the king the interpretation.

So Daniel went in to the king. He asked the king to give him some time. Then he would tell the king what the dream meant.

17Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions:

Daniel went home. He told his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah what had happened.

18That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.

He asked them to beg the God of heaven to be kind. They were to pray about this hidden thing. Then Daniel and his friends would not be killed with the other wise men.

19Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.

That night God showed Daniel the secret in a vision, like a picture in his mind. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven.

20Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:

Daniel said, "Praise the name of God forever and ever. Wisdom and power belong to him."

21And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:

"He changes the times and the seasons. He takes kings away, and he puts new kings in their place. He gives wisdom to the wise. He gives knowledge to those who understand."

22He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.

"He shows things that are deep and hidden. He knows what is in the dark. Light lives with him."

23I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king’s matter.

"God of my fathers, I thank you and praise you. You gave me wisdom and power. You have told me what we asked you for. You have shown us what the king dreamed."

24Therefore Daniel went in unto Arioch, whom the king had ordained to destroy the wise men of Babylon: he went and said thus unto him; Destroy not the wise men of Babylon: bring me in before the king, and I will shew unto the king the interpretation.

Then Daniel went to Arioch, the man the king told to kill the wise men. Daniel said, "Do not kill the wise men of Babylon. Take me to the king, and I will tell him what the dream means."

25Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste, and said thus unto him, I have found a man of the captives of Judah, that will make known unto the king the interpretation.

Arioch hurried and brought Daniel to the king. He said, "I have found a man among the people brought here from Judah. He can tell the king what the dream means."

26The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Art thou able to make known unto me the dream which I have seen, and the interpretation thereof?

The king said to Daniel, who was also called Belteshazzar, "Can you tell me the dream I saw? Can you tell me what it means?"

27Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king;

Daniel answered the king, "No wise man can tell the king this secret. No star reader, magician, or fortune teller can tell it either."

28But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these;

"But there is a God in heaven who tells secrets. He has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in days to come. Here is the dream you saw while lying in bed."

29As for thee, O king, thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed, what should come to pass hereafter: and he that revealeth secrets maketh known to thee what shall come to pass.

"O king, as you lay in bed, you thought about what would happen later. God, who tells secrets, has shown you what will come."

30But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but for their sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king, and that thou mightest know the thoughts of thy heart.

"This secret was not shown to me because I am wiser than other people. It was shown so the king could be told what it means. It was shown so you could understand your own thoughts."

31Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible.

"O king, you looked and saw a huge statue. It was tall and shining bright. It stood in front of you, and it looked frightening."

32This image’s head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass,

"The statue's head was made of pure gold. Its chest and arms were silver. Its stomach and upper legs were bronze."

33His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay.

"Its lower legs were iron. Its feet were part iron and part clay."

34Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces.

"As you watched, a stone was cut out. No human hands cut it. It hit the statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed them."

35Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.

"Then the iron, clay, bronze, silver, and gold all broke into bits. They became like dry straw blown away from a field in summer. The wind carried them off, and nothing was left. But the stone became a great mountain and filled the whole earth."

36This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king.

"That was the dream. Now we will tell the king what it means."

37Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory.

"O king, you are the greatest of kings. The God of heaven gave you your kingdom, your power, your strength, and your glory."

38And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold.

"Wherever people live, and the wild animals and the birds, he has put them in your hand. He made you ruler over them all. You are the head of gold."

39And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth.

"After you, another kingdom will rise. It will not be as great as yours. Then a third kingdom, the bronze one, will rule the whole earth."

40And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise.

"Then there will be a fourth kingdom, as strong as iron. Iron smashes and crushes everything. That kingdom will smash and crush all the others."

41And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters’ clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay.

"You saw the feet and toes made partly of baked clay and partly of iron. So this kingdom will be split apart. But some of the strength of iron will still be in it, as you saw iron mixed with wet clay."

42And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.

"The toes were part iron and part clay. So the kingdom will be partly strong and partly easy to break."

43And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.

"You saw iron mixed with wet clay. In the same way, the people will mix with one another. But they will not hold together, just as iron does not mix with clay."

44And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.

"In the days of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom. It will never be destroyed. It will never be handed over to other people. It will break all these kingdoms and end them. It will stand forever."

45Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.

"You saw a stone cut from the mountain, but not by human hands. It broke the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold. The great God has shown the king what will happen later. The dream is true, and what it means is sure."

46Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet odours unto him.

Then King Nebuchadnezzar bowed with his face to the ground before Daniel. He gave orders that a gift and sweet-smelling smoke be offered to Daniel.

47The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret.

The king said to Daniel, "Your God is truly the God above all gods. He is the Lord over kings, and he tells secrets. You were able to tell me this secret."

48Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon.

Then the king gave Daniel a high place and many fine gifts. He made Daniel ruler over the whole province of Babylon. He put Daniel in charge of all the wise men there.

49Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel sat in the gate of the king.

Daniel asked the king for one thing. The king put Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in charge of the work of the province. Daniel himself stayed at the king's court.

4I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace:

I, Nebuchadnezzar, was resting at home. Everything was going well for me in my palace.

5I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.

Then I had a dream that scared me. The pictures I saw in bed worried me.

6Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known unto me the interpretation of the dream.

So I gave an order. All the wise men of Babylon were to come to me. I wanted them to tell me what my dream meant.

7Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof.

In came the magicians and the men who studied the stars. Other men came who tried to explain hidden things. I told them my dream. Not one of them could tell me what it meant.

8But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my God, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods: and before him I told the dream, saying,

At last Daniel came in to me. My people call him Belteshazzar, after the name of my god. I said the spirit of the holy gods is in him. I told him my dream. I said:

9O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof.

"Belteshazzar, you are the leader of my magicians. I know the spirit of the holy gods is in you. No secret is too hard for you. Tell me what I saw in my dream. Tell me what it means.

10Thus were the visions of mine head in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great.

This is what I saw while I lay in my bed. A tree stood in the middle of the land. It was very, very tall.

11The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth:

The tree grew big and strong. Its top reached the sky. People could see it from far away, everywhere on earth.

12The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it.

Its leaves were pretty. It had lots of fruit. There was food on it for everyone. Wild animals rested in its shade. Birds built nests in its branches. Every living thing ate from it.

13I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven;

As I lay in my bed I saw more. A watcher, a holy one, came down from heaven.

14He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches:

He called out in a loud voice. He said, 'Chop down the tree. Cut off its branches. Shake off its leaves. Throw its fruit around. Make the animals run out from under it. Make the birds leave its branches.

15Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth:

But leave the stump and its roots in the ground. Put a band of iron and bronze around it. Leave it in the soft grass of the field. Let him get wet with the dew at night. Let him live out in the grass with the animals.

16Let his heart be changed from man’s, and let a beast’s heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him.

Let his mind stop being a man's mind. Give him the mind of an animal instead. Let seven times pass over him.

17This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.

The watchers have decided this. The holy ones have given this word. It is so that living people will learn one thing. The Most High God rules over the kingdoms of people. He gives a kingdom to anyone he wants. He can even put the lowest person in charge of it.'

18This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof, forasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation: but thou art able; for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee.

That is the dream I saw, King Nebuchadnezzar. Now tell me what it means, Belteshazzar. None of my wise men can tell me. But you can, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you."

19Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonied for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spake, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies.

Then Daniel, who is also called Belteshazzar, sat still and upset for a while. His own thoughts frightened him. The king said, "Belteshazzar, do not let the dream upset you. Do not let its meaning upset you." Belteshazzar answered, "My lord, I wish this dream were about the people who hate you. I wish it were about your enemies.

20The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth;

You saw a tree that grew big and strong. Its top reached the sky. People everywhere on earth could see it.

21Whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation:

Its leaves were pretty and it had lots of fruit. There was food on it for everyone. Wild animals lived under it. Birds made their homes in its branches.

22It is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong: for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth.

King, that tree is you! You have grown great and strong. Your greatness has grown as high as the sky. You rule far away, to the ends of the earth.

23And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him;

King, you saw a watcher, a holy one, come down from heaven. He said, 'Chop the tree down and ruin it. But leave the stump and its roots in the ground. Put a band of iron and bronze around it. Leave it in the soft grass of the field. Let him get wet with the dew at night. Let him live out in the grass with the animals, until seven times pass over him.'

24This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king:

Here is what it means, king. This is what the Most High God has decided about you, my lord.

25That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.

You will be sent away from other people. You will live outside with the wild animals. You will eat grass like an ox. The dew will make you wet at night. Seven times will pass over you. Then you will know that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of people. He gives a kingdom to anyone he wants.

26And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule.

The order said to leave the stump and its roots. That means your kingdom will be given back to you. It will happen once you know that Heaven rules.

27Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.

So please take my advice, king. Stop doing wrong and start doing what is right. Turn from your sins by being kind to poor people. Then maybe your good times will last longer."

1Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand.

King Belshazzar made a big feast for a thousand of his important men. He drank wine in front of them all.

2Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein.

While he drank, Belshazzar gave an order about the gold and silver cups. His father Nebuchadnezzar had taken them from God's temple in Jerusalem. The king wanted to drink from them with his officials, his wives, and the other women of his palace.

3Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them.

So they brought in the gold cups taken from God's temple in Jerusalem. The king drank from them, and so did his officials, his wives, and the other women.

4They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.

They drank the wine. They praised their gods made of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.

5In the same hour came forth fingers of a man’s hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the king’s palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.

Right then the fingers of a human hand appeared. They wrote on the plaster wall of the palace, near the lampstand. The king watched the hand as it wrote.

6Then the king’s countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another.

The king's face turned pale. His thoughts frightened him. His legs went weak, and his knees knocked together.

7The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. And the king spake, and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and shew me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.

The king shouted for his wise men to come in. These were men who watched the stars and said they knew secrets. He told them, "Whoever reads this writing and tells me what it means will get a royal purple robe. He will get a gold chain for his neck. He will be the third most powerful ruler in my kingdom."

8Then came in all the king’s wise men: but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof.

All the king's wise men came in. But they could not read the writing or tell the king what it meant.

9Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were astonied.

Then King Belshazzar grew even more afraid. His face turned even more pale. His important men did not know what to think.

10Now the queen by reason of the words of the king and his lords came into the banquet house: and the queen spake and said, O king, live for ever: let not thy thoughts trouble thee, nor let thy countenance be changed:

The queen heard the king and his men shouting. She came into the feast room. She said, "O king, may you live forever! Do not let your thoughts frighten you. Do not let your face turn pale.

11There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, I say, thy father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers;

There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him. When your father was king, this man showed understanding and wisdom like the gods. Your own father, King Nebuchadnezzar, put him in charge of all the wise men and star watchers.

12Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will shew the interpretation.

Your father did this because Daniel was found to have a special spirit, knowledge, and understanding. The king gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar. Daniel can explain dreams, solve riddles, and untangle hard problems. Send for Daniel. He will tell you what the writing means."