Danihelis Prophetæ 5
1 Baltassar rex fecit grande convivium optimatibus suis mille: et unusquisque secundum suam bibebat aetatem.
Belshazzar the king made a great feast for a thousand of his noblemen, and he drank wine in front of all one thousand of them.
2 Praecepit ergo iam temulentus ut afferrentur vasa aurea et argentea, quae asportaverat Nabuchodonosor pater eius de templo, quod fuit in Ierusalem, ut biberent in eis rex, et optimates eius, uxoresque eius, et concubinae.
While Belshazzar tasted the wine, he gave orders to bring the containers made of gold or silver that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the temple in Jerusalem, from which he, his noblemen, and his wives and concubines could drink.
3 Tunc allata sunt vasa aurea, et argentea, quae asportaverat de templo, quod fuerat in Ierusalem: et biberunt in eis rex, et optimates eius, uxores et concubinae illius.
The servants brought the gold containers that had been taken out of the temple, the house of God, in Jerusalem. The king, his noblemen, and his wives and concubines drank from them.
4 Bibebant vinum, et laudabant deos suos aureos, et argenteos, aereos, ferreos, ligneosque et lapideos.
They drank the wine and praised their idols made of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.
5 In eadem hora apparuerunt digiti, quasi manus hominis scribentis contra candelabrum in superficie parietis aulae regiae: et rex aspiciebat articulos manus scribentis.
At that moment the fingers of a human hand appeared in front of the lampstand and wrote on the plaster wall in the king's palace. The king could see part of the hand as it wrote.
6 Tunc facies regis commutata est, et cogitationes eius conturbabant eum: et compages renum eius solvebantur, et genua eius ad se invicem collidebantur.
Then the king's face changed and his thoughts frightened him; his limbs could not support him, and his knees were knocking together.
7 Exclamavit itaque rex fortiter ut introducerent magos, Chaldaeos, et aruspices. Et proloquens rex ait sapientibus Babylonis: Quicumque legerit scripturam hanc, et interpretationem eius manifestam mihi fecerit, purpura vestietur, et torquem auream habebit in collo, et tertius in regno meo erit.
The king shouted a command to bring in those who claimed to speak with the dead, wise men, and astrologers. The king said to those known for their wisdom in Babylon, “Whoever explains this writing and its meaning will be clothed with purple and will have a gold chain around his neck. He will have the authority of the third highest ruler in the kingdom.”
8 Tunc ingressi omnes sapientes regis non potuerunt nec scripturam legere, nec interpretationem indicare regi.
Then all the king's men who were known for their wisdom came in, but they could not read the writing or explain its meaning to the king.
9 Unde rex Baltassar satis conturbatus est, et vultus illius immutatus est. sed et optimates eius turbabantur.
Then King Belshazzar was greatly alarmed and the look on his face changed. His noblemen were perplexed.
10 Regina autem pro re, quae acciderat regi, et optimatibus eius, domum convivii ingressa est: et proloquens ait: Rex in aeternum vive: non te conturbent cogitationes tuae, neque facies tua immutetur.
Now the queen came into the banquet house because of what the king and his nobles had said. The queen said, “King, live forever! Do not let your thoughts trouble you. Do not let the look on your face change.
11 Est vir in regno tuo, qui spiritum deorum sanctorum habet in se: et in diebus patris tui scientia et sapientiae inventae sunt in eo: nam et rex Nabuchodonosor pater tuus principem magorum, incantatorum, Chaldaeorum, et aruspicum constituit eum, pater, inquam, tuus, o rex:
There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods. In the days of your father, light and understanding and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods was found in him. King Nebuchadnezzar, your father the king, made him chief of the magicians, as well as chief of those who speak with the dead, of the wise men, and of the astrologers.
12 quia spiritus amplior, et prudentia, intelligentiaque et interpretatio somniorum, et ostensio secretorum, ac solutio ligatorum inventae sunt in eo, hoc est in Daniele: cui rex posuit nomen Baltassar. nunc itaque Daniel vocetur, et interpretationem narrabit.
An excellent spirit, knowledge, understanding, interpreting of dreams, explaining riddles and solving problems—these qualities were found in this man Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar. Now call for Daniel and he will tell you the meaning of what has been written.”
13 Igitur introductus est Daniel coram rege. Ad quem praefatus rex ait: Tu es Daniel de filiis captivitatis Iuda, quem adduxit pater meus rex de Iudaea?
Then Daniel was brought before the king. The king said to him, “You are that Daniel, one of the people of the exiles of Judah, whom my father the king brought out of Judah.
14 Audivi de te quoniam spiritum deorum habeas: et scientia, intelligentiaque ac sapientia ampliores inventae sunt in te.
I have heard about you, that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you.
15 Et nunc introgressi sunt in conspectu meo sapientes magi, ut scripturam hanc legerent, et interpretationem eius indicarent mihi: et nequiverunt sensum huius sermonis edicere.
Now the men known for wisdom and those who claim to speak with the dead have been brought in before me to read this writing and make known to me its interpretation, but they could not make known the interpretation of it.
16 Porro ego audivi de te, quod possis obscura interpretari, et ligata dissolvere: si ergo vales scripturam legere, et interpretationem eius indicare mihi, purpura vestieris, et torquem auream circa collum tuum habebis, et tertius in regno meo princeps eris.
I have heard that you can give interpretations and solve problems. Now if you can read the writing and tell me its meaning, you will be clothed with purple and have a gold chain placed around your neck, and you will have the authority of the third highest ruler in the kingdom.”
17 Ad quae respondens Daniel, ait coram rege: Munera tua sint tibi, et dona domus tuae alteri da: scripturam autem legam tibi, rex, et interpretationem eius ostendam tibi.
Then Daniel answered before the king, “Let your gifts be for yourself, and give your rewards to another person. Nevertheless, I will read the writing to you, king, and will tell you the meaning.
18 O rex, Deus altissimus regnum, et magnificentiam, gloriam, et honorem dedit Nabuchodonosor patri tuo.
As for you, king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father the kingdom, greatness, honor, and majesty.
19 Et propter magnificentiam, quam dederat ei, universi populi, tribus, et linguae tremebant, et metuebant eum: quos volebat, interficiebat: et quos volebat, percutiebat: et quos volebat, exaltabat: et quos volebat, humiliabat.
Because of the greatness God gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared him. He put to death those he wanted to die, and he kept alive those he wished to live. He raised up those he wanted, and he humbled those he wished.
20 Quando autem elevatum est cor eius, et spiritus illius obfirmatus est ad superbiam, depositus est de solio regni sui, et gloria eius ablata est:
But when his heart was arrogant and his spirit was hardened so that he acted presumptuously, he was brought down from his kingly throne, and they took away his majesty.
21 et a filiis hominum eiectus est, sed et cor eius cum bestiis positum est, et cum onagris erat habitatio eius: foenum quoque ut bos comedebat, et rore caeli corpus eius infectum est, donec cognosceret quod potestatem haberet Altissimus in regno hominum: et quemcumque voluerit, suscitabit super illud.
He was driven away from humanity, he had the mind of an animal, and he lived with the wild donkeys. He ate grass like an ox. His body was wet with the dew from the heavens until he learned that the Most High God rules over the kingdoms of people and that he sets over them anyone he wishes.
22 Tu quoque filius eius Baltassar, non humiliasti cor tuum, cum scires haec omnia:
You his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, even though you knew all this.
23 sed adversum Dominatorem caeli elevatus es: et vasa domus eius allata sunt coram te: et tu, et optimates tui, et uxores tuae, et concubinae tuae vinum bibistis in eis: deos quoque argenteos, et aureos, et aereos, ferreos, ligneosque et lapideos, qui non vident, neque audiunt, neque sentiunt, laudasti: porro Deum, qui habet flatum tuum in manu sua, et omnes vias tuas, non glorificasti.
You have lifted yourself up against the Lord of heaven. From his house they brought you the containers that you, your nobles, your wives and your concubines drank wine from, and you praised the idols made of silver and gold, bronze, iron, wood, and stone—idols that do not see, hear, or know anything. You have not honored the God who holds your breath in his hand and who knows all your ways.
24 Idcirco ab eo missus est articulus manus, quae scripsit hoc, quod exaratum est.
Then God sent out a hand from his presence and this writing was done.
25 Haec est autem scriptura, quae digesta est: MANE, THECEL, PHARES.
This is the writing that was done: 'Mene, Mene, Tekel, and Pharsin.'
26 Et haec est interpretatio sermonis. MANE: numeravit Deus regnum tuum, et complevit illud.
This is its meaning: 'Mene,' 'God has numbered your kingdom and brought it to an end.'
27 THECEL: appensus es in statera, et inventus es minus habens.
'Tekel,' 'you are weighed in the scales and are found lacking.'
28 PHARES: divisum est regnum tuum, et datum est Medis, et Persis.
'Peres,' 'your kingdom is divided and is given to the Medes and Persians.'”
29 Tunc iubente rege indutus est Daniel purpura, et circumdata est torques aurea collo eius: et praedicatum est de eo quod haberet potestatem tertius in regno suo.
Then Belshazzar gave a command, and they clothed Daniel with purple. A chain of gold was put around his neck, and the king made a proclamation about him that he would have the authority of the third highest ruler in the kingdom.
30 Eadem nocte interfectus est Baltassar rex Chaldaeus.
That night Belshazzar, the Babylonian king, was killed,
31 Et Darius Medus successit in regnum annos natus sexagintaduos.
and Darius the Mede received the kingdom when he was about sixty-two years old.
