1König Belsazar machte ein herrliches Mahl für seine tausend Mächtigen und soff sich voll mit ihnen.2Und als er betrunken war, ließ er die goldenen und silbernen Gefäße herbringen, die sein Vater Nebukadnezar aus dem Tempel zu Jerusalem weggenommen hatte, damit der König mit seinen Mächtigen, mit seinen Frauen und mit seinen Nebenfrauen daraus tränke. (2Chr 36,10; Esr 1,7; Dan 1,2)3Da wurden die goldenen und silbernen Gefäße herbeigebracht, die aus dem Tempel, aus dem Hause Gottes zu Jerusalem, weggenommen worden waren; und der König, seine Mächtigen, seine Frauen und Nebenfrauen tranken daraus.4Und als sie so tranken, lobten sie die goldenen, silbernen, bronzenen, eisernen, hölzernen und steinernen Götter.5Im gleichen Augenblick gingen hervor Finger wie von einer Menschenhand, die schrieben gegenüber dem Leuchter auf die getünchte Wand im Königspalast. Und der König erblickte die Hand, die da schrieb.6Da entfärbte sich der König, und seine Gedanken erschreckten ihn, sodass seine Glieder schwach wurden und ihm die Knie schlotterten.7Und der König rief laut, dass man die Zauberer, Wahrsager und Sternkundigen herbeiholen sollte. Und er ließ den Weisen von Babel sagen: Welcher Mensch diese Schrift lesen kann und mir sagt, was sie bedeutet, der soll mit Purpur gekleidet werden und eine goldene Kette um den Hals tragen und als der Dritte in meinem Königreich herrschen.8Da wurden alle Weisen des Königs hereingeführt, aber sie konnten weder die Schrift lesen noch die Deutung dem König kundtun.9Darüber erschrak der König Belsazar noch mehr und verlor seine Farbe ganz, und seinen Mächtigen wurde angst und bange.10Auf die Worte des Königs und seiner Mächtigen hin kam die Königinmutter in den Saal und sprach: Der König lebe ewig! Lass dich von deinen Gedanken nicht so erschrecken und entfärbe dich nicht!11Es ist ein Mann in deinem Königreich, der den Geist der heiligen Götter hat. Denn zu deines Vaters Zeiten fand sich bei ihm Erleuchtung, Klugheit und Weisheit wie der Götter Weisheit. Und dein Vater, der König Nebukadnezar, setzte ihn über die Zeichendeuter, Zauberer, Wahrsager und Sternkundigen, dein eigener Vater, o König, (Dan 2,48; Dan 4,5)12weil ein überragender Geist bei ihm gefunden wurde, dazu Verstand und Klugheit, Träume zu deuten, dunkle Rätsel zu erraten und Verschlungenes aufzulösen. Das ist Daniel, dem der König den Namen Beltschazar gab. So rufe man nun Daniel; der wird sagen, was es bedeutet. (Dan 1,17)13Da wurde Daniel vor den König geführt. Und der König sprach zu Daniel: Bist du Daniel, einer der Gefangenen aus Juda, die der König, mein Vater, aus Juda hergebracht hat?14Ich habe von dir sagen hören, dass du den Geist der Götter habest und Erleuchtung, Verstand und überragende Weisheit bei dir zu finden sei.15Nun hab ich vor mich rufen lassen die Weisen und Zauberer, damit sie mir diese Schrift lesen und kundtun sollen, was sie bedeutet; aber sie können mir nicht sagen, was das alles bedeutet. (1Mo 41,15)16Von dir aber höre ich, dass du Deutungen zu geben und Verschlungenes aufzulösen vermagst. Kannst du nun die Schrift lesen und mir sagen, was sie bedeutet, so sollst du mit Purpur gekleidet werden und eine goldene Kette um deinen Hals tragen und als der Dritte in meinem Königreich herrschen.17Da fing Daniel an und sprach vor dem König: Behalte deine Gaben und gib dein Geschenk einem andern; ich will dennoch die Schrift dem König lesen und kundtun, was sie bedeutet.18O König, der höchste Gott hat deinem Vater Nebukadnezar Königreich, Macht, Ehre und Herrlichkeit gegeben. (Dan 2,37)19Und um solcher Macht willen, die ihm gegeben war, fürchteten und scheuten sich vor ihm alle Völker, Nationen und Sprachen. Er tötete, wen er wollte; er ließ leben, wen er wollte; er erhöhte, wen er wollte; er demütigte, wen er wollte.20Als sich aber sein Herz überhob und er stolz und hochmütig wurde, da wurde er vom königlichen Thron gestoßen und verlor seine Ehre21und wurde verstoßen aus der Gemeinschaft der Menschen, und sein Herz wurde gleich dem der Tiere, und er musste bei den Wildeseln hausen und fraß Kraut wie die Rinder, und sein Leib wurde nass vom Tau des Himmels, bis er lernte, dass der höchste Gott Gewalt hat über die Königreiche der Menschen und sie gibt, wem er will. (Dan 4,29)22Aber du, Belsazar, sein Sohn, hast dein Herz nicht gedemütigt, obwohl du das alles wusstest,23sondern hast dich gegen den Herrn des Himmels erhoben, und die Gefäße seines Hauses hat man vor dich bringen müssen, und du, deine Mächtigen, deine Frauen und deine Nebenfrauen, ihr habt daraus getrunken; dazu hast du die silbernen, goldenen, bronzenen, eisernen, hölzernen, steinernen Götter gelobt, die weder sehen noch hören noch etwas wissen können. Den Gott aber, der deinen Odem und alle deine Wege in seiner Hand hat, hast du nicht verehrt.24Darum wurde von ihm diese Hand gesandt und diese Schrift geschrieben.25So aber lautet die Schrift, die dort geschrieben steht: Mene mene tekel u-parsin.26Und sie bedeutet dies: Mene, das ist, Gott hat dein Königtum gezählt und beendet.27Tekel, das ist, man hat dich auf der Waage gewogen und zu leicht befunden.28Peres, das ist, dein Reich ist zerteilt und den Medern und Persern gegeben.29Da befahl Belsazar, dass man Daniel mit Purpur kleiden sollte und ihm eine goldene Kette um den Hals geben; und er ließ von ihm verkünden, dass er der dritte Herrscher im Königreich sei. (1Mo 41,42; Dan 2,48)30Aber in derselben Nacht wurde Belsazar, der König der Chaldäer, getötet.
1King Belshazzar made a great feast for a thousand of his lords and drank wine in front of the thousand. (Est 1,3; Dan 4,36; Dan 5,22; Dan 5,29; Dan 6,17; Dan 7,1; Dan 8,1)2Belshazzar, when he tasted the wine, commanded that the vessels of gold and of silver that Nebuchadnezzar his father[1] had taken out of the temple in Jerusalem be brought, that the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them. (Dan 1,2; Dan 5,1; Dan 5,23)3Then they brought in the golden vessels that had been taken out of the temple, the house of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines drank from them. (Dan 5,2)4They drank wine and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone. (Ri 16,24; Ps 115,4; Dan 5,23; Offb 9,20)5Immediately the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace, opposite the lampstand. And the king saw the hand as it wrote. (Hes 8,3; Dan 4,31; Dan 5,24)6Then the king’s color changed, and his thoughts alarmed him; his limbs gave way, and his knees knocked together. (Ps 69,23; Jes 45,1; Dan 4,5; Dan 4,19; Dan 5,10; Dan 7,28; Nah 2,10)7The king called loudly to bring in the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers. The king declared[2] to the wise men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this writing, and shows me its interpretation, shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around his neck and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.” (Dan 1,4; Dan 2,2; Dan 2,6; Dan 2,27; Dan 4,6; Dan 5,16; Dan 5,29)8Then all the king’s wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or make known to the king the interpretation. (1Mo 41,8; Dan 2,27; Dan 4,7; Dan 4,18; Dan 5,15)9Then King Belshazzar was greatly alarmed, and his color changed, and his lords were perplexed. (Dan 2,1; Dan 5,1; Dan 5,6)10The queen,[3] because of the words of the king and his lords, came into the banqueting hall, and the queen declared, “O king, live forever! Let not your thoughts alarm you or your color change. (Dan 2,4; Dan 5,6; Dan 5,9)11There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the spirit of the holy gods.[4] In the days of your father, light and understanding and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods were found in him, and King Nebuchadnezzar, your father—your father the king—made him chief of the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and astrologers, (Dan 1,20; Dan 2,48; Dan 4,8; Dan 4,9; Dan 5,7)12because an excellent spirit, knowledge, and understanding to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve problems were found in this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar. Now let Daniel be called, and he will show the interpretation.” (Dan 1,7; Dan 1,17; Dan 5,16; Dan 6,3)
Daniel Interprets the Handwriting
13Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king answered and said to Daniel, “You are that Daniel, one of the exiles of Judah, whom the king my father brought from Judah. (Dan 2,25)14I have heard of you that the spirit of the gods[5] is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you. (Dan 5,11)15Now the wise men, the enchanters, have been brought in before me to read this writing and make known to me its interpretation, but they could not show the interpretation of the matter. (Dan 2,2; Dan 4,6; Dan 5,7; Dan 5,8)16But I have heard that you can give interpretations and solve problems. Now if you can read the writing and make known to me its interpretation, you shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around your neck and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.” (Dan 2,26; Dan 5,7; Dan 5,12; Dan 5,29)17Then Daniel answered and said before the king, “Let your gifts be for yourself, and give your rewards to another. Nevertheless, I will read the writing to the king and make known to him the interpretation. (2Kön 5,16)18O king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father kingship and greatness and glory and majesty. (Dan 2,37; Dan 3,26; Dan 4,2; Dan 4,22; Dan 4,36; Dan 5,2)19And because of the greatness that he gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him. Whom he would, he killed, and whom he would, he kept alive; whom he would, he raised up, and whom he would, he humbled. (Dan 3,4; Dan 6,26)20But when his heart was lifted up and his spirit was hardened so that he dealt proudly, he was brought down from his kingly throne, and his glory was taken from him. (Hes 31,10; Dan 2,21; Dan 4,30)21He was driven from among the children of mankind, and his mind was made like that of a beast, and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys. He was fed grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, until he knew that the Most High God rules the kingdom of mankind and sets over it whom he will. (Dan 4,25; Dan 4,32; Dan 5,18)22And you his son,[6] Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this, (2Chr 33,23; Dan 5,1)23but you have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven. And the vessels of his house have been brought in before you, and you and your lords, your wives, and your concubines have drunk wine from them. And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see or hear or know, but the God in whose hand is your breath, and whose are all your ways, you have not honored. (Hi 12,10; Jer 10,23; Dan 1,2; Dan 4,37; Dan 5,3; Dan 5,4; Apg 12,23; Offb 16,9)24“Then from his presence the hand was sent, and this writing was inscribed. (Dan 5,5)25And this is the writing that was inscribed: Mene, Mene, Tekel, and Parsin.26This is the interpretation of the matter: Mene, God has numbered[7] the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end;27Tekel, you have been weighed[8] in the balances and found wanting; (Hi 31,6; Ps 62,9)28Peres, your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.”[9] (Jes 13,17; Jes 21,2; Jer 51,28; Dan 5,31; Dan 6,28; Dan 9,1)29Then Belshazzar gave the command, and Daniel was clothed with purple, a chain of gold was put around his neck, and a proclamation was made about him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom. (Dan 5,7; Dan 5,16; Dan 5,22)30That very night Belshazzar the Chaldean king was killed. (Jer 50,24; Jer 51,31; Jer 51,39; Jer 51,57; Dan 5,22; Dan 9,1)31[10] And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old. (Dan 5,28; Dan 9,1)
1King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for a thousand of his nobles and drank wine with them.2While Belshazzar was drinking his wine, he gave orders to bring in the gold and silver goblets that Nebuchadnezzar his father[1] had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines might drink from them.3So they brought in the gold goblets that had been taken from the temple of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines drank from them.4As they drank the wine, they praised the gods of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone.5Suddenly the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand in the royal palace. The king watched the hand as it wrote.6His face turned pale and he was so frightened that his legs became weak and his knees were knocking.7The king summoned the enchanters, astrologers[2] and diviners. Then he said to these wise men of Babylon, ‘Whoever reads this writing and tells me what it means will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed round his neck, and he will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.’8Then all the king’s wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or tell the king what it meant.9So King Belshazzar became even more terrified and his face grew more pale. His nobles were baffled.10The queen,[3] hearing the voices of the king and his nobles, came into the banquet hall. ‘May the king live for ever!’ she said. ‘Don’t be alarmed! Don’t look so pale!11There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him. In the time of your father he was found to have insight and intelligence and wisdom like that of the gods. Your father, King Nebuchadnezzar, appointed him chief of the magicians, enchanters, astrologers and diviners.12He did this because Daniel, whom the king called Belteshazzar, was found to have a keen mind and knowledge and understanding, and also the ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles and solve difficult problems. Call for Daniel, and he will tell you what the writing means.’13So Daniel was brought before the king, and the king said to him, ‘Are you Daniel, one of the exiles my father the king brought from Judah?14I have heard that the spirit of the gods is in you and that you have insight, intelligence and outstanding wisdom.15The wise men and enchanters were brought before me to read this writing and tell me what it means, but they could not explain it.16Now I have heard that you are able to give interpretations and to solve difficult problems. If you can read this writing and tell me what it means, you will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed round your neck, and you will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.’17Then Daniel answered the king, ‘You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else. Nevertheless, I will read the writing for the king and tell him what it means.18‘Your Majesty, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar sovereignty and greatness and glory and splendour.19Because of the high position he gave him, all the nations and peoples of every language dreaded and feared him. Those the king wanted to put to death, he put to death; those he wanted to spare, he spared; those he wanted to promote, he promoted; and those he wanted to humble, he humbled.20But when his heart became arrogant and hardened with pride, he was deposed from his royal throne and stripped of his glory.21He was driven away from people and given the mind of an animal; he lived with the wild donkeys and ate grass like the ox; and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until he acknowledged that the Most High God is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and sets over them anyone he wishes.22‘But you, Belshazzar, his son,[4] have not humbled yourself, though you knew all this.23Instead, you have set yourself up against the Lord of heaven. You had the goblets from his temple brought to you, and you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines drank wine from them. You praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. But you did not honour the God who holds in his hand your life and all your ways.24Therefore he sent the hand that wrote the inscription.25‘This is the inscription that was written: mene, mene, tekel, parsin26‘Here is what these words mean: ‘Mene[5]: God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end.27‘Tekel[6]: You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting.28‘Peres[7]: Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.’29Then at Belshazzar’s command, Daniel was clothed in purple, a gold chain was placed round his neck, and he was proclaimed the third highest ruler in the kingdom.30That very night Belshazzar, king of the Babylonians,[8] was slain,31and Darius the Mede took over the kingdom, at the age of sixty-two.[9]
Daniel 5
King James Version
1Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand.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.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.4They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.5In the same hour came forth fingers of a man' hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the king' palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.6Then the king' countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another.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.8Then came in all the king' wise men : but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof.9Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were astonied.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: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;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.13Then was Daniel brought in before the king. And the king spake and said unto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel, which art of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Jewry?14I have even heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee.15And now the wise men , the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing, and make known unto me the interpretation thereof: but they could not shew the interpretation of the thing:16And I have heard of thee, that thou canst make interpretations, and dissolve doubts: now if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom.17Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation.18O thou king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honour:19And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down.20But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him:21And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it whomsoever he will.22And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this;23But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath is , and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified:24Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written.25And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.26This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it.27TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.28PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.29Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with scarlet, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.30In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain.31And Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old.
1Un jour, le roi Balthazar[1] organisa un banquet en l’honneur de ses mille dignitaires et se mit à boire du vin en leur présence. (Jer 27,7; Dan 5,10)2Excité par le vin, Balthazar ordonna d’apporter les coupes d’or et d’argent que Nabuchodonosor, son père[2], avait rapportées du temple de Jérusalem[3]. Il voulait s’en servir pour boire, lui et ses hauts dignitaires, ses femmes et ses concubines[4]. (2Kön 25,14; Jer 27,7; Dan 1,2)3Aussitôt, on apporta les coupes d’or qui avaient été prises dans le temple de Dieu à Jérusalem, et le roi, ses hauts dignitaires, ses femmes et ses concubines s’en servirent pour boire.4Ils burent et se mirent à louer les dieux d’or, d’argent, de bronze, de fer, de bois et de pierre.
Une main mystérieuse
5A ce moment-là apparurent soudain, devant le candélabre, les doigts d’une main humaine qui se mirent à écrire sur le plâtre du mur du palais royal. Le roi vit cette main qui écrivait.6Alors son visage devint blême, des pensées terrifiantes l’assaillirent, il se mit à trembler de tout son être et ses genoux s’entrechoquèrent.7Il ordonna à grands cris de faire venir les magiciens, les astrologues et les devins, et il dit aux sages: Celui qui déchiffrera cette inscription et m’en donnera l’interprétation sera revêtu de pourpre, on lui mettra une chaîne d’or au cou et il partagera le gouvernement du royaume avec deux autres hauts fonctionnaires[5]. (Dan 6,3)8Tous les sages du roi entrèrent dans la salle, mais aucun d’eux ne put déchiffrer l’inscription, ni en faire connaître l’interprétation au roi.9Alors le roi Balthazar fut encore plus effrayé, il pâlit davantage et ses hauts dignitaires se trouvèrent dans une grande confusion.10Quand la reine mère[6] entendit ce que disaient le roi et ses hauts dignitaires, elle pénétra dans la salle du festin. Elle prit la parole et dit: Que le roi vive éternellement! Ne te laisse pas terrifier par tes pensées et que ton visage ne pâlisse pas ainsi!11Il y a, dans ton royaume, un homme en qui réside l’esprit des dieux saints; du temps de ton père[7], on trouva en lui une clairvoyance, une intelligence et une sagesse pareilles à la sagesse des dieux, aussi le roi Nabuchodonosor, ton père, l’a-t-il établi chef des mages, des magiciens, des astrologues et des devins. (Dan 5,1)12Car cet homme, Daniel, que le roi a nommé Beltshatsar, possède un esprit extraordinaire, de la connaissance et de l’intelligence pour interpréter les rêves, trouver la solution des énigmes et résoudre les problèmes difficiles. Que l’on appelle donc Daniel et il donnera l’interprétation.
Daniel explique l’énigme
13Aussitôt, Daniel fut introduit en présence du roi. Celui-ci prit la parole et lui dit: Es-tu ce Daniel qui fait partie des exilés de Juda, que le roi, mon père, a amenés de Juda?14J’ai entendu dire que l’esprit des dieux réside en toi et que tu possèdes une clairvoyance, une intelligence et une sagesse extraordinaires.15Or, on vient de m’amener les sages et les magiciens pour lire cette inscription et m’en faire connaître l’interprétation; mais ils n’en ont pas été capables.16On m’a dit que toi, tu peux donner des interprétations et résoudre les problèmes difficiles. Si donc tu es capable de lire cette inscription et de m’en faire connaître l’interprétation, tu seras revêtu de pourpre, tu porteras une chaîne d’or au cou et tu partageras le gouvernement du royaume avec deux autres hauts fonctionnaires[8].17Alors Daniel prit la parole et dit au roi: Garde tes présents et donne tes cadeaux à un autre! Je vais cependant te déchiffrer l’inscription et t’en faire connaître l’interprétation.18O roi, le Dieu très-haut avait donné à Nabuchodonosor, ton père, la royauté et la grandeur, la gloire et la majesté.19Et à cause de la grandeur qu’il lui avait accordée, les gens de tous peuples, de toutes nations et de toutes langues tremblaient de peur devant lui. La vie et la mort de chacun dépendaient de son bon vouloir; il élevait et abaissait qui il lui plaisait.20Mais lorsque son cœur s’enorgueillit et qu’il s’endurcit jusqu’à l’arrogance, on lui fit quitter son trône royal et il fut dépouillé de sa gloire.21Il fut chassé de la société des humains, sa raison devint semblable à celle des bêtes et il se mit à vivre en compagnie des ânes sauvages, on le nourrissait d’herbe comme les bœufs et son corps était trempé par la rosée du ciel. Cela dura jusqu’au jour où il reconnut que le Dieu très-haut est maître de toute royauté humaine et qu’il élève à la royauté qui il veut.22Et toi, son fils, Balthazar, tu savais tout cela, et cependant tu n’as pas adopté une attitude humble.23Tu t’es élevé contre le Seigneur du ciel et tu t’es fait apporter les coupes de son temple, puis toi et tes hauts dignitaires, tes femmes et tes concubines[9], vous y avez bu du vin et tu as loué les dieux d’argent, d’or, de bronze, de fer, de bois et de pierre, des dieux qui ne voient rien, n’entendent rien et ne savent rien. Mais le Dieu qui tient ton souffle de vie dans sa main et de qui dépend toute ta destinée, tu ne l’as pas honoré.24C’est pourquoi il a envoyé ce tronçon de main pour tracer cette inscription.25Voici l’inscription qui a été tracée là: « Il a été compté: une mine, un sicle et deux demi-sicles[10]. »26Et voici l’interprétation: « une mine »: Dieu a « compté » les années de ton règne et les a menées à leur terme.27« Un sicle »: Tu as été « pesé » dans la balance et l’on a trouvé que tu ne fais pas le poids.28« Deux demi-sicles »: Ton royaume a été « divisé » pour être livré aux Mèdes et aux Perses.29Alors Balthazar ordonna de revêtir Daniel de pourpre, de lui mettre une chaîne d’or au cou et de faire proclamer qu’il partagerait le gouvernement du royaume avec deux autres hauts fonctionnaires[11].30Mais, dans la même nuit, Balthazar, roi des Chaldéens, fut tué.