Catholic Public Domain Version

Daniel 5:19-31 Catholic Public Domain Version (CPDV)

19. And because of the greatness that he gave to him, all peoples, tribes, and languages trembled and were afraid of him. Whomever he wished, he put to death; and whomever he wished, he destroyed; and whomever he wished, he exalted; and whomever he wished, he lowered.

20. But when his heart was lifted up and his spirit was hardened in arrogance, he was deposed from the throne of his kingdom and his glory was taken away.

21. And he was expelled from the sons of men, and so his heart was placed with the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys, and he ate hay like an ox, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until he realized that the Most High holds power over the kingdom of men, and that whoever he wishes, he will set over it.

22. Likewise, you, his son Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all these things.

23. But you have lifted yourself up against the Lord of heaven. And the vessels of his house have been presented before you. And you, and your nobles, and your wives, and your concubines, have drunk wine from them. Likewise, you have praised the gods of silver, and gold, and brass, iron, and wood and stone, who neither see, nor hear, nor feel, yet you have not glorified the God who holds your breath and all your ways in his hand.

24. Therefore, he has sent the part of the hand which has written this, which has been inscribed.

25. But this is the writing that has been decreed: MANE, THECEL, PHARES.

26. And this is the interpretation of the words. MANE: God has numbered your kingdom and has finished it.

27. THECEL: you have been weighed on the scales and found lacking.

28. PHARES: your kingdom has been divided and has been given to the Medes and the Persians.

29. Then, by the king's command, Daniel was dressed with purple, and a chain of gold was placed around his neck, and it was proclaimed of him that he held power as the third in the kingdom.

30. That same night, king Belshazzar the Chaldean was killed.

31. And Darius the Mede succeeded to the kingdom, at the age of sixty-two years.