Hello, this is Father Paul, and I'm glad we're
taking this journey together to read the Bible
in a year. Today's reading is from the book of
Daniel, chapter 5. Belshazzar the king made a
great feast for a thousand of his lords and drank
wine in the presence of the thousand. While he
tasted the wine, Belshazzar gave the command
to bring the gold and silver vessels which his
father Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple
which had been in Jerusalem. that the king and
his lords, his wives and his concubines might
drink from them. Then they brought the gold vessels
that had been taken from the temple of the house
of God, which had been in Jerusalem. And the
king and his lords, his wives and his concubines
drank from them. They drank wine and praised
the gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron,
wood and stone. In the same hour, the fingers
of a man's hand appeared and wrote opposite the
lampstand on a plaster of the wall of the king's
palace, and the king saw the part of the hand
that wrote. Then the king's countenance changed,
and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints
of his hips were loosened and his knees knocked
against each other. The king cried aloud to bring
in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers.
The king spoke, saying to the wise men of Babylon,
Whoever reads this writing and tells me its interpretation
shall be clothed with purple and have a chain
of gold around his neck, and he shall be the
third ruler in the kingdom. Now all the king's
wise men came, but they could not read the writing
or make known to the king its interpretation.
Then King Belshazzar was greatly troubled, his
countenance was changed, and his lords were astonished.
The queen, because of the words of the king and
his lords, came to the banquet hall. The queen
spoke, saying, O king, live forever. Do not let
your thoughts trouble you, nor let your countenance
change. There is a man in your kingdom in whom
is the spirit of the holy God. And 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, astrologers,
Chaldeans, and soothsayers. Inasmuch as an excellent
spirit, knowledge, understanding, interpreting
dreams, solving riddles, and explaining enigmas
were found in this Daniel, whom the king named
Belshazzar, now let Daniel be called, and he
will give the interpretation. Then Daniel was
brought in before the king. The king spoke and
said to Daniel, Are you that Daniel, who is one
of the captives from Judah? whom my father the
king brought from Judah? I have heard of you
that the Spirit of God is in you, and that light
and understanding and excellent wisdom are found
in you. Now the wise men astrologers have been
brought in before me, that they should read this
writing and make known to me its interpretation.
But they could not give the interpretation of
the thing. And I have heard of you that you can
give interpretations and explain enigmas. 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.
Then Daniel answered and said before the king,
Let your gifts be for yourself and give your
rewards to another. Yet I will read the writing
to the king and make known to him the interpretation.
O king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar
your father a kingdom and majesty, glory and
honor. And because of the majesty that he gave
him, all peoples, nations, and languages trembled
and feared before him. Whomever he wished, he
executed. Whomever he wished, he kept alive.
Whomever he wished, he set up. And whomever he
wished, he put down. But when his heart was lifted
up, and his spirit was hardened in pride, he
was deposed from his kingly throne, and they
took his glory from him. Then he was driven from
the sons of men. his heart was made like the
beasts and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys
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 rules in the kingdom of men
and appoints over it whomever he chooses but
you his son belshazzar have not humbled your
heart although you knew all this and you have
lifted yourself up against the lord of heaven
they have brought the vessels of his house 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 bronze
and iron wood and stone which did not see or
hear or know and a god who holds your breath
in his hand and owns all your ways you have not
glorified then the fingers of the hand were sent
from him and this writing was written And this
is the inscription that was written. This is
the interpretation of each word. God has numbered
your kingdom and finished it. You have been weighed
in the balances and found wanting. Your kingdom
has been divided and given to the Medes and Persians.
Then Belshazzar gave the command and enclosed
Daniel with purple and put a chain of gold around
his neck, and made a proclamation concerning
him that he should be the third ruler in the
kingdom. That very night Belshazzar, king of
the Chaldeans, was slain, and Darius the Mede
received the kingdom, being about 62 years old.
I hope you enjoyed today's reading as much as
I did. and I look forward to seeing you again
tomorrow to continue on our journey. God bless
you and have a great day.