Daniel 5:13-21

New American Standard Bible

Daniel Interprets the Handwriting on the Wall

¹³ Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king began speaking and said to Daniel, “Are you that Daniel who is one of the ^[a](A)exiles from Judah, whom my father the king ^(B)brought from Judah? ¹⁴ Now I have heard about you that ^[b]a spirit of the gods is in you, and that illumination, insight, and extraordinary wisdom have been found in you. ¹⁵ Just now the ^(C)wise men and the sorcerers were brought in before me to read this inscription and make its interpretation known to me, but they ^(D)could not declare the interpretation of the ^[c]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 ^(E)interpretation known to me, you will be ^(F)clothed with purple and wear a necklace of gold around your neck, and you will have authority as the third ruler in the kingdom.”

¹⁷ Then Daniel replied and said before the king, “^[d]Keep your ^(G)gifts 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 [e]O king, the ^(H)Most High God ^(I)granted ^[f]sovereignty, ^(J)greatness, honor, and majesty to Nebuchadnezzar your father. ¹⁹ Now because of the greatness which He granted him, all the peoples, nations, and populations of all ^[g]languages trembled and feared in his presence; ^(K)whomever 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 ^[h]was ^(L)arrogant and his spirit became so ^[i](M)overbearing that he behaved presumptuously, he was ^(N)deposed from his royal throne, and his dignity was taken away from him. ²¹ He was also ^(O)driven away from ^[j]mankind, and his heart was made like that of animals, and his dwelling place was with the ^(P)wild donkeys. He was given grass to eat like cattle, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until he recognized that the ^(Q)Most High God is ruler over the realm of mankind, and that He sets over it whomever He wishes.