1 ف ِي أثناءِ حُكمِ المَلِكِ بِيلْشاصَّرَ، عَمِلَ المَلِكُ وَلِيمَةً عَظِيمَةً لِألفٍ مِنْ نُبَلائِهِ، وَكانَ يَشرَبُ خَمراً أمامَهُمْ.

Belshazzar the king held a great feast for a thousand of his nobles, and he was drinking wine in the presence of the thousand.

2 و َتَحتَ تَأثِيرِ الخَمرِ، أمَرَ بِيلْشاصَّرُ بِإحْضارِ الآنِيَةِ الذَّهَبِيَّةِ وَالفِضِّيَّةِ الَّتِي أخَذَها أبُوهُ نَبُوخَذْناصَّرُ مِنَ الهَيكَلِ فِي مَدينَةِ القُدْسِ، كَي يَشرَبَ المَلِكُ وَرُؤساؤُهُ وَنِساؤُهُ وَجَوارِيهِ بِتِلكَ الآنِيَةِ.

When Belshazzar tasted the wine, he gave orders to bring the gold and silver vessels which Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem, so that the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines might drink from them.

3 و َعِندَما أحضَرُوا الآنِيَةَ الَّتِي أُخِذَتْ مِنْ الهَيكَلِ، مِنْ بَيتِ اللهِ الَّذِي فِي مَدينَةِ القُدْسِ، شَرِبَ المَلِكُ وَأشرافُهُ وَنِساؤُهُ وَجَوارِيهِ بِها.

Then they brought the gold vessels that had been taken out of the temple, the house of God which was in Jerusalem; and the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines drank from them.

4 ف َكانُوا يَشرَبُونَ الخَمرَ وَيُسَبِّحُونَ آلِهَةَ الذَّهَبِ وَالفِّضَّةِ وَالبُرونْزِ وَالحَدِيدِ وَالخَشَبِ وَالحَجَرِ.

They drank the wine and praised the gods of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone.

5 و َفَجأةً، ظَهَرَتْ يَدُ إنسانٍ، وَكَتَبَتْ عَلَى جِبصِ حائِطِ القَصرِ مُقابِلَ المِصباحِ. فَرَأى المَلِكُ اليَدَ وَهِيَ تَكتُبُ.

Suddenly the fingers of a man’s hand emerged and began writing opposite the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace, and the king saw the back of the hand that did the writing.

6 ف َشَحَبَ وَجهُ المَلِكِ مِنَ الخَوفِ، وَارتَعَبَ وَتَحَيَّرَ، وَارتَخَت كُلُّ مَفاصِلِهِ، وَبَدَأتْ رُكبَتاهُ تَرتَجِفانِ.

Then the king’s face grew pale and his thoughts alarmed him, and his hip joints went slack and his knees began knocking together.

7 و َصَرَخَ المَلِكُ لِيُحضِرُوا إلَيهِ السَّحَرَةَ وَالكَلْدانِيِّينَ وَالمُنَجِّمِينَ. وَقالَ المَلِكُ لِحُكَماءِ بابِلَ: «مَنْ يَستَطِيعُ أنْ يَقرَأ هَذِهِ الكِتابَةَ وَيُفَسِّرَها سَيَنالُ مَنصِباً كَبِيراً، كَما سَيَنالُ ثِياباً مِنْ أُرجُوانٍ وَقِلادَةً مِنْ ذَهَبٍ، وَسَيَكُونُ الرَّجُلَ الثّالِثَ فِي المَملَكَةِ.»

The king called aloud to bring in the conjurers, the Chaldeans and the diviners. The king spoke and said to the wise men of Babylon, “Any man who can read this inscription and explain its interpretation to me shall be clothed with purple and have a necklace of gold around his neck, and have authority as third ruler in the kingdom.”

8 ف َجاءَ جَميعُ الحُكَماءِ إلَى المَلِكِ، وَلَكِنَّهُمْ لَمْ يَقدِرُوا أنْ يَقرَأُوا الكِتابَةَ أوْ يُفَسِّرُوها لِلمَلِكِ.

Then all the king’s wise men came in, but they could not read the inscription or make known its interpretation to the king.

9 ف َازدادَ رُعبُ المَلِكِ وَاكتِئابُهُ، وَأصابَ القَلَقُ جَمِيعَ مُستَشارِيهِ.

Then King Belshazzar was greatly alarmed, his face grew even paler, and his nobles were perplexed.

10 و َإذْ سَمِعَتْ أُمُّ المَلِكِ بِما حَدَثَ، جاءَتْ إلَى الاحتِفالِ وَقالَت لِلمَلِكِ: «فَلتَعِشْ إلَى الأبَدِ، لا تَقلَقْ وَلا تَكتَئِبْ.

The queen entered the banquet hall because of the words of the king and his nobles; the queen spoke and said, “ O king, live forever! Do not let your thoughts alarm you or your face be pale.

11 ه ُناكَ رَجُلٌ فِي مَملَكَتِكَ فِيهِ رُوحُ الآلِهَةِ القِدِّيسِينَ. وَجَدَ فِيهِ أبُوكَ نَبُوخَذْناصَّرُ فِي فَترَةِ حُكمِهِ استِنارَةً وَفَهْماً وَحِكمَةً كَحِكمَةِ الآلِهَةِ، فَعَيَّنَهُ رَئِيساً عَلَى المُنَجِّمِينَ وَالسَّحَرَةِ وَالكَلْدانِيِّينَ.

There is a man in your kingdom in whom is a spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of your father, illumination, insight and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods were found in him. And King Nebuchadnezzar, your father, your father the king, appointed him chief of the magicians, conjurers, Chaldeans and diviners.

12 ف َدانِيالُ الَّذِي دَعاهُ أبُوكَ بَلْطْشاصَّرَ، فِيهِ رُوحٌ عَظِيمَةٌ وَمَعْرِفَةٌ وَفَهْمٌ لِتَفسِيرِ الأحلامِ وَحَلِّ الألغازِ وَالمَشاكِلِ. فَليُستَدْعَ دانِيالُ، وَهُوَ سَيَشرَحُ مَعنَى الكِتابَةِ.»

This was because an extraordinary spirit, knowledge and insight, interpretation of dreams, explanation of enigmas and solving of difficult problems were found in this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar. Let Daniel now be summoned and he will declare the interpretation.” Daniel Interprets Handwriting on the Wall

13 ف َأُحضِرَ دانِيالُ أمامَ المَلِكِ. فَقالَ المَلِكُ لِدانِيالَ: «إذاً أنتَ دانِيالُ الَّذِي أحضَرَهُ أبِي المَلِكُ مِنْ أرْضِ يَهُوذا!

Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king spoke and said to Daniel, “Are you that Daniel who is one of the exiles from Judah, whom my father the king brought from Judah?

14 س َمِعْتُ أنَّ فِيكَ رُوحَ الآلِهَةِ، وَأنَّ لَدَيكَ استِنارَةً وَذَكاءً وَأنَّكَ حَكِيمٌ جِدّاً.

Now I have heard about you that a spirit of the gods is in you, and that illumination, insight and extraordinary wisdom have been found in you.

15 ج اءَ الحُكَماءُ وَالسَّحَرَةُ إلَيَّ لِكَي يَقرَأُوا هَذِهِ الكِتابَةَ الَّتِي عَلَى الحائِطِ وَيُفَسِّرُوها لِي، لَكِنَّهُمْ عَجِزُوا عَنْ تَفسِيرِ كَلِمَةٍ واحِدَةٍ.

Just now the wise men and the conjurers were brought in before me that they might read this inscription and make its interpretation known to me, but they could not declare the interpretation of the message.

16 و َقَد سَمِعْتُ أنَّكَ تَستَطِيعُ أنْ تُفَسِّرَ هَذِهِ الأُمُورَ وَأنْ تَحُلَّ الألغازَ. فَإنِ استَطَعتَ قِراءَةَ هَذِهِ الكِتابَةَ وَأنْ تُفَسِّرَها لِي، فَسَتُعطَى ثِياباً أُرجُوانِيَّةً وَقِلادَةً مِنْ ذَهَبٍ، وَسَتَكُونُ الرَّجُلَ الثّالِثَ فِي المَملَكَةِ.»

But I personally have heard about you, that you are able to give interpretations and solve difficult problems. Now if you are able to read the inscription and make its interpretation known to me, you will be clothed with purple and wear a necklace of gold around your neck, and you will have authority as the third ruler in the kingdom.”

17 ف َأجابَ دانِيالُ: «احتَفِظْ بِهَداياكَ لِنَفسِكَ أيُّها المَلِكُ، وَلِتَكُنْ إكراماتُكَ لِغَيرِي. لَكِنِّي سَأقرَأُ الكِتابَةَ لِلمَلِكِ وَأُفَسِّرُها لَهُ.

Then Daniel answered and said before the king, “ Keep your gifts for yourself or give your rewards to someone else; however, I will read the inscription to the king and make the interpretation known to him.

18 أ يُّها المَلِكُ، أعْطَى اللهُ العَلِيُّ أباكَ نَبُوخَذْناصَّرَ هَذِهِ المَملَكَةَ وَأعطاهُ قُوَّةً وَمَجداً وَكَرامَةً.

O king, the Most High God granted sovereignty, grandeur, glory and majesty to Nebuchadnezzar your father.

19 و َبِسَبَبِ القُوَّةِ الَّتِي أعطاها اللهُ لَهُ، خافَتهُ كُلُّ الشُّعُوبِ وَالأُمَمِ بِجَمِيعِ لُغاتِها. وَارتَجَفُوا فِي حَضْرَتِهِ، لأنَّهُ كانَ يَقتُلُ مَنْ يَشاءُ وَيَستَحيِي مَنْ يَشاءُ، وَيَرفَعُ مَنْ يَشاءُ وَيُذِلُّ مَنْ يَشاءُ.

Because of the grandeur which He bestowed on him, all the peoples, nations and men of every language feared and trembled before him; whomever he wished he killed and whomever he wished he spared alive; and whomever he wished he elevated and whomever he wished he humbled.

20 ل َكِنْ لَمّا تَكَبَّرَ قَلبُهُ وَتَقَسَّتْ رُوحُهُ، خُلِعَ عَنْ عَرْشِهِ المَلَكِيِّ، وَنُزِعَ مِنهُ مَجدُهُ.

But when his heart was lifted up and his spirit became so proud that he behaved arrogantly, he was deposed from his royal throne and his glory was taken away from him.

21 ط ُرِدَ مِنْ بَينِ النّاسِ، وَصارَ مَجنُوناً يَتَصَرَّفُ كَالحَيواناتِ. سَكَنَ مَعَ الحَمِيرِ البَرِّيَّةِ، وَأكَلَ العُشبَ كَالبَقَرِ، وَابتَلَّ جِسمُهُ بِنَدَى السَّماءِ. حَتَّى عَرَفَ أنَّ اللهَ العَلِيَّ يَحكُمُ عَلَى مَملَكَةِ البَشَرِ، وَأنَّهُ يُقِيمُ عَلَيها مَنْ يَشاءُ.

He was also driven away from mankind, and his heart was made like that of beasts, and his dwelling place was with the wild donkeys. He was given grass to eat like cattle, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven until he recognized that the Most High God is ruler over the realm of mankind and that He sets over it whomever He wishes.

22 و َأنتَ يا بَيلشاصَّرُ، ابنَهُ، لَمْ تَتَواضَعَ مَعَ أنَّكَ تَعرِفُ هَذِهِ الأُمُورَ!

Yet you, his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, even though you knew all this,

23 ف َقَد تَعالَيْتَ عَلَى إلهِ السَّماءِ حِينَ أحضَرْتَ آنِيَةَ هَيكَلِهِ وَوَضَعتَها أمامَكَ، ثُمَّ بَدَأتَ أنتَ وَنُبَلاؤُكَ وَنِساؤُكَ وَجَوارِيكَ بِشُربِ الخَمرِ بِها وَأنتُمْ تَسَبِّحُونَ آلِهَةَ الفِّضَّةِ وَالذَّهَبِ وَالبُرونْزِ وَالحَدِيدِ وَالخَشَبِ وَالحَجَرِ. سَبَّحتَ هَذِهِ الأوثانَ الَّتِي لا تَرَى وَلا تَسمَعُ وَلا تُفَكِّرُ، وَأمّا الإلَهُ الحَقِيقِيُّ الَّذِي بِيَدِهِ حَياتُكَ وَكُلُّ ما تَعمَلُهُ فَلَمْ تُكرِمهُ.

but you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of His house before you, and you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines have been drinking wine from them; and you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which do not see, hear or understand. But the God in whose hand are your life-breath and all your ways, you have not glorified.

24 ل ِذَلِكَ أرسَلَ مِنْ حَضرَتِهِ اليَدَ، فَكَتَبَتْ هَذِهِ الكِتابَةَ.

Then the hand was sent from Him and this inscription was written out.

25 ه َذِهِ هِيَ الكَلِماتُ المَكتُوبَةُ: ‹مَنا مَنا تَقَيْلْ وَفَرْسِينْ.›

“Now this is the inscription that was written out: ‘ MENĒ, MENĒ, TEKĒL, UPHARSIN.’

26 « أمّا تَفسِيرُها: ‹مَنا›: أحصَى اللهُ أيّامَ مُلكِكَ، وَأنهاها.

This is the interpretation of the message: ‘MENĒ’—God has numbered your kingdom and put an end to it.

27 ‹ تَقَيْلْ›: وَزِنْتَ بِالمَوازِينِ فَوُجِدَتَ ناقِصاً.

‘TEKĒL’—you have been weighed on the scales and found deficient.

28 ‹ فَرْسِينْ›: قُسِّمَتْ مَملَكَتُكَ وَأُعطِيَتْ لِمادِيَ وَفارِسَ.»

‘PERĒS’—your kingdom has been divided and given over to the Medes and Persians.”

29 ف َأمَرَ بِيلْشاصَّرُ بِأنْ يُعْطَي دانِيالُ ثَوباً أُرجُوانِيّاً، وَأنْ تُوضَعَ قِلادَةٌ مِنْ ذَهَبٍ حَولَ عُنُقِهِ، وَأنْ يُعلَنَ الرَّجُلَ الثّالِثَ فِي المَملَكَةِ.

Then Belshazzar gave orders, and they clothed Daniel with purple and put a necklace of gold around his neck, and issued a proclamation concerning him that he now had authority as the third ruler in the kingdom.

30 و َفِي تِلكَ اللَّيلَةِ قُتِلَ بِيلْشاصَّرُ مَلِكُ البابِلّيِّينَ.

That same night Belshazzar the Chaldean king was slain.

31 و َصارَ دارِيُوسَ المادِيُّ مَلِكاً وَهُوَ فِي الثّانِيَةِ وَالسِّتِّينَ مِنْ عُمْرِهِ.

So Darius the Mede received the kingdom at about the age of sixty-two.