16. But I have been told that you understand everything and that you can solve difficult problems. Now then, if you can read this writing and tell me what it means, you will become the third most powerful man in my kingdom. You will wear royal purple robes and have a gold chain around your neck.
17. Daniel answered:Your Majesty, I will read the writing and tell you what it means. But you may keep your gifts or give them to someone else.
18. Sir, the Most High God made your father a great and powerful man and brought him much honour and glory.
19. God did such great things for him that people of all nations and races shook with fear.Your father had the power of life or death over everyone, and he could honour or ruin anyone he chose.
20. But when he became proud and stubborn, his glorious kingdom was taken from him.
21. His mind became like that of an animal, and he was forced to stay away from people and live with wild donkeys. Your father ate grass like an ox, and he slept outside where his body was soaked with dew. He was forced to do this until he learnt that the Most High God rules all kingdoms on earth and chooses their kings.
22. King Belshazzar, you knew all this, but you still refused to honour the Lord who rules from heaven.
23. Instead, you turned against him and ordered the cups from his temple to be brought here, so that you and your wives and officials could drink wine from them. You praised idols made of silver, gold, bronze, iron, wood, and stone, even though they cannot see or hear or think. You refused to worship the God who gives you breath and controls everything you do.
24. That's why he sent the hand to write this message on the wall.
25-28. The words written there are mene, which means “numbered”, tekel, which means “weighed”, and parsin, which means “divided”. God has numbered the days of your kingdom and has brought it to an end. He has weighed you on his balance scales, and you fall short of what it takes to be king. So God has divided your kingdom between the Medes and the Persians.