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Daniel 5

Daniel 5:17

Daniel Interprets the Handwriting · Daniel 5:13–31
Read Daniel 5

Translations

Modern
In response, Daniel said to the king, “You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else. Nevertheless, I will read the inscription for the king and interpret it for him.
Traditional
Then 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.
Literal
Then Daniel answered and said before the king, “Your gifts, let them be for yourself, and may you give your rewards to another; nevertheless, the writing I will read to the king, and the interpretation I will make known to him.
Latin
Ad quæ respondens Daniel, ait coram rege: Munera tua sint tibi, et dona domus tuæ alteri da: scripturam autem legam tibi, rex, et interpretationem ejus ostendam tibi.

Original

Hebrew
English
In response, Daniel said to the king, “You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else. Nevertheless, I will read the inscription for the king and interpret it for him.

Notes

Daniel 5:17

Daniel explained the writing but did not accept payment from the wicked king (see also Genesis 14:21–24; 2 Kings 5:15–16).

Daniel 5:1–30

All earthly kingdoms eventually end. Nebuchadnezzar's dream suggested that Babylon would fall and a new kingdom would rise (Daniel 2:39).

After Nebuchadnezzar died in 562 BC, violence and corruption grew in Babylon's palaces. During Belshazzar's feast in 539 BC, they even defiled God's holy vessels. God's judgment came quickly that night (Daniel 5:30), and the next kingdom took over (see 2:32, 39; 5:31).

Daniel 2:1–6:28

This section contains stories and dreams from the experiences of Daniel and his friends in Babylon. Daniel used his special gift to understand dreams and showed great skill in the study of literature and science (Daniel 1:17). Chapter 2 provides a broad overview of history until God's kingdom appears (Daniel 2:44–49). Daniel 3–6 describes the fall of Babylon and the rise of Persia. History is moving toward a clear goal. That goal is the everlasting kingdom of God (Daniel 2:44; 4:2–3, 34; 6:26).

Theme notes and profiles

Babylon Daniel

Events

People

Daniel: Prophet in Babylon, known for wisdom and visions

Glossary

Aramaic Book of Daniel Book of Jeremiah Chaldea, Chaldeans Inscriptions Interpreter Mene, Mene, Tekel, Parsin Postexilic Period

Topics

Belshazzar: King of Babylon Daniel: A Jewish Captive, Also Called Belteshazzar: Courage and Fidelity of Reproof: Faithfulness in Daniel, of Belshazzar Self-Denial: Daniel, in Refusing Rewards from Belshazzar Symbols and Similitudes: Handwriting on the Wall Unselfishness: Daniel Wicked (People): Warned