Daniel 5
1 Mfeɛ bebree akyi no, Ɔhene Belsasar too ɛpono kɛseɛ maa ne mpanimfoɔ apem, na ɔne wɔn nom nsã.
[Several years later, ] Belshazzar [became the] king [of Babylon. One day] he invited 1,000 of his officers to a big feast, and he drank [a lot of] wine with them.
2 Ɛberɛ a nsã no ama Belsasar ani agye no, ɔhyɛɛ sɛ, wɔmfa sikakɔkɔɔ ne dwetɛ nkuruwa a nʼagya Nebukadnessar tase firii Yerusalem asɔredan mu no mmra, sɛdeɛ ɔne ne mpanimfoɔ, ne yerenom ne ne mpenafoɔ bɛnom mu nsã.
While he was drinking, he commanded [his servants] bring to him the gold and silver cups that the previous king, Nebuchadnezzar, had taken from the temple in Jerusalem. [He did that] because he wanted himself and his officials, his wives, and [even] his (concubines/slave wives) to drink from them, [making fun of the god that we Israelis worshiped].
3 Enti, wɔde saa sikakɔkɔɔ nkuruwa a wɔtase firii Onyankopɔn asɔredan a ɛwɔ Yerusalem mu no baeɛ, na ɔhene no ne ne mpanimfoɔ ne yerenom ne ne mpenafoɔ nom mu nsã.
So his servants brought in [all] those gold cups, that had been taken [many years previously] from the temple of [the true] God in Jerusalem. Then the king and his officials and his wives and his slave wives drank [wine] from those cups.
4 Wɔrenom nsã no, wɔkamfoo wɔn ahoni a wɔde sikakɔkɔɔ, dwetɛ, kɔbere, dadeɛ, dua ne aboɔ ayɛ no.
They drank to praise/honor their idols that were made of gold, silver, bronze, iron, and [even] wood and stone.
5 Amonom hɔ no ara, wɔhunuu sɛ, onipa nsateaa retwerɛ ɔhene ahemfie ɔfasuo no a ɛbɛn kaneadua no ho. Ɔhene no hwɛɛ nsa a ɛretwerɛ no,
Suddenly they saw a man’s hand writing on the plaster of the wall opposite the lampstand. The king also saw the hand as it was writing.
6 na ehu maa nʼanim daneeɛ. Sɛdeɛ ɔbɔɔ hu no maa ne kotodwe keka boboom, na ne nan mu yɛɛ mmrɛ.
He became very frightened, and his face became pale/white. His knees started shaking, and his legs became very weak, with the result that he could not stand up.
7 Ɔhene no teaam frɛɛ sɛ, wɔmfa pɛadeɛhunufoɔ, Kaldeafoɔ ne ntafowayifoɔ mmra nʼanim. Ɔka kyerɛɛ saa Babilonia anyansafoɔ yi sɛ, “Obiara a ɔbɛtumi akenkan atwerɛ yi, akyerɛ me aseɛ no, wɔbɛfira no tam kɔkɔɔ a ɛyɛ adehyeɛ abasobɔdeɛ, na wɔde sikakɔkɔɔ ntweaban agu ne kɔn mu. Ɔno na ɔbɛyɛ ɔman sodifoɔ a ɔtɔ so mmiɛnsa wɔ ahemman yi mu.”
[Then] he shouted to summon the men who worked magic, the men who studied the stars, and the fortune-tellers. He said, “I will [greatly honor] any one of them who can read this writing and tell me what it means. I will give him a purple [robe like I wear because I am the king], and I will put a gold chain around his neck. He will become a very important official in my kingdom; there will be only two others who will be more important than he will be.”
8 Nanso, ɔhene no anyansafoɔ no baeɛ no, wɔn mu biara antumi ankenkan atwerɛ no, ankyerɛ aseɛ amma ɔhene no.
But when all those wise men came in, none of them could read the writing, or tell him what it meant.
9 Enti, ɛmaa ɔhene no ho yeraa no yie, na nʼanim sesaeɛ. Nʼaberempɔn nso ho yeraa wɔn.
So King Belshazzar became more afraid. His face became [even] paler/whiter. And [all] his officials [who were there at the feast] did not know what to do.
10 Na ɛberɛ a Ɔhemmaa no tee ɔhene ne ne mpanimfoɔ nteateam no, ɔyɛɛ ntɛm kɔɔ apontoɔ dan mu hɔ. Ɔka kyerɛɛ Belsasar sɛ, “Nana nkwa so! Nana nsuro na mma wʼanim nsesa!
But when the mother of the king (OR, of the previous king) heard the king and his officials talking [loudly about what had happened], she entered the room where they were having the feast. She said [to Belshazzar], “(Your majesty/O King), I hope you will live for a long time! But do not be pale and afraid about this.
11 Ɔbarima bi wɔ wʼahemman mu ha a ɔwɔ anyame kronkron sunsum wɔ ne mu. Wʼagya Nebukadnessar adedie mu no, wɔhunuu sɛ, saa ɔbarima yi wɔ nteaseɛ nhunumu ne nyansa te sɛ anyame no. Wʼagya Nebukadnessar sii no panin wɔ nkonyaayifoɔ, pɛadeɛhunufoɔ, Kaldeafoɔ ne ntafowayifoɔ so wɔ Babilonia.
There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him. When Nebuchadnezzar was ruling, they discovered that this man understood many things and was wise, just like the gods. The man who was king previously, Nebuchadnezzar, appointed him to be in charge of all the men [in Babylon] who worked magic, the men who worked sorcery, the men who studied the stars, and the fortune-tellers.
12 Saa ɔbarima Daniel yi a ɔhene too no din Beltesasar yi adwene mu dɔ, na Onyankopɔn ho nimdeɛ ne nteaseɛ ahyɛ no ma. Ɔtumi kyerɛ daeɛ ne kasanyansa ase, na nsɛm a ɛkyere adwene no, ɔsane mu. Momfrɛ Daniel na ɔbɛkyerɛ mo atwerɛ no ase.”
That man’s name is Daniel; the king gave him a [new] name, Belteshazzar. He is very intelligent and is able to know and understand many things. He is [even] able to tell the meaning of dreams, and explain riddles, and explain things that are very difficult to understand. Summon him, and he will tell you what [this writing] means.”
13 Enti, wɔkɔfaa Daniel baa ɔhene anim. Ɔhene no bisaa no sɛ, “Wone Daniel no a mʼagya Nebukadnessar faa wo nnommum de wo firii Yuda baeɛ no?
So they [went and] brought me in. The king asked me, “You [must] be Daniel [RHQ]! [They told me that you are] one of those who was brought [here] from Judah by the previous king.
14 Mate wo nka sɛ, wowɔ anyame sunsum wɔ wo mu, na nteaseɛ nhunumu ne nyansa ahyɛ wo ma.
I have [also] heard that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that you are very wise and understand many things.
15 Wɔde anyansafoɔ ne pɛadeɛhunufoɔ baa mʼanim sɛ wɔbɛkenkan atwerɛ a ɛgu ɔfasuo yi ho yi na wɔnkyerɛ me aseɛ, nanso wɔntumi.
My wise men and men who work magic have tried to read the writing on this wall and tell me what it means, but they are not able to do it.
16 Na mate wo nka sɛ wotumi kyerɛ nsɛm ase; na wosane nsɛm a ɛkyere adwene mu. Na sɛ wotumi kenkan atwerɛ a ɛwɔ ɔfasuo yi ho na wo kyerɛ me aseɛ a, wɔbɛfira wo ɔtankɔkɔɔ a ɛyɛ adehyeɛ abasobɔdeɛ, na wɔde sikakɔkɔɔ ntweaban bɛgu wo kɔn mu. Na wobɛyɛ ɔman sodifoɔ a ɔtɔ so mmiɛnsa wɔ ahemman yi mu.”
[Someone] told me that you can tell what dreams mean and explain things that are very difficult to understand. If you can read these words and tell me what they mean, [I] give you a purple robe [like I wear because I am the king], and I will put a gold chain around your neck. You will become a very important official in my kingdom; there will be only two others who will be more important than you will be.”
17 Daniel buaa ɔhene no sɛ, “Nana, mesrɛ, ma wʼakyɛdeɛ no ntena hɔ na fa wʼabasobɔdeɛ no ma obi foforɔ. Nanso, Nana, mɛkenkan atwerɛ no, na makyerɛ wo aseɛ.
I replied, “[I do not want] your gifts; keep them, or give them to someone else. But I will read for you the writing [on the wall], and I will tell you what it means.
18 “Nana, Ɔsorosoro Onyankopɔn maa wʼagya Nebukadnessar kɛseyɛ, animuonyam ne anidie.
(Your Majesty/O king), the Supreme God caused the man who was king before you, Nebuchadnezzar, to become a great ruler, who was greatly praised and honored.
19 Ɔyɛɛ no kɛse ara kɔsii sɛ, nnipa ahodoɔ nyinaa, aman nyinaa ne kasa biara duru nʼanim a, wɔn ho popo biribiribiri. Ɔkunkumm wɔn a ɔpɛ sɛ ɔkunkum wɔn, ɛnna ɔgyaee wɔn a ɔpɛ sɛ ɔgyaa wɔn. Ɔhyɛɛ wɔn a ɔpɛ sɛ ɔhyɛ wɔn animuonyam no animuonyam, ɛnna wɔn a ɔpɛ sɛ ɔbrɛ wɔn ase no, ɔbrɛɛ wɔn ase.
Because God caused him to become [very] great, people of many [HYP] people-groups and nations and who spoke many different languages were very much afraid of him. He [commanded his soldiers to] kill those whom he wanted to be killed, and he (spared/allowed to live) those whom he wanted to spare. He honored those whom he wanted to honor, and he caused to be disgraced those whom he wanted to be disgraced.
20 Nanso, ahomasoɔ maa nʼakoma ne nʼadwene yɛɛ den no no, wɔyii no firii nʼahennwa so, sii no fam, gyee nʼanimuonyam no.
But when he became very proud and stubborn [IDM], he was removed from being king [MTY]. People did not consider him to be glorious/great any more.
21 Wɔpamoo no firi nnipa mu. Wɔmaa no aboa adwene, na ɔne wiram mmoa tenaeɛ. Ɔwee ɛserɛ te sɛ nantwie, na ɔsoro bosuo fɔɔ no kyaww kɔsii sɛ, afei ɔhunuu sɛ, sɛɛ Ɔsorosoro Onyankopɔn na ɔdi ewiase ahemman nyinaa so, na ɔno ara nso na ɔyi obi a ɔpɛ ma ɔdi so.
[His officials] sent him away in order that he would not be near [other] people. [God] caused him to have a mind like animals have. He lived among the wild donkeys. He ate grass like cows do, and dew from the sky caused his body to be damp/wet [each morning]. [He was like that] until he learned that the Supreme God is [really the one who] rules the kingdoms of this world, and that he appoints whomever he chooses to rule those kingdoms.
22 “Nanso wo, ne ba Belsasar, wonim yeinom nyinaa, nanso woammrɛ wo ho ase.
Now, Belshazzar, you have become the king. You [also] knew all those things, but you have not made yourself humble.
23 Wama wo ho so atia Ɔsoro Awurade mmom. Woafa saa nkuruwa yi a ɛsisi wʼanim a wɔfa firii nʼasɔredan mu no. Wo ne wʼatitire ne wo yerenom ne wo mpenafoɔ anom mu nsã, ɛberɛ a morekamfo dwetɛ, sikakɔkɔɔ, kɔbere, dadeɛ, dua ne ɛboɔ anyame a wɔnhunu adeɛ, na wɔnnte asɛm, na wɔnnim hwee koraa no. Na moamfa anidie amma Onyankopɔn a ɔkura mo nkwa na ɔdi mo hyɛberɛ so no.
You have considered yourself to be greater than [God], the Lord of heaven. [So you have commanded your servants to] bring to you these sacred cups, [which were dedicated to the Supreme God, and which were taken] from his temple [in Jerusalem]. You and your officials and your wives and your (concubines/slave wives) have been drinking wine from these cups, while you have been praising [your own] gods—gods which are made of gold and silver and bronze and iron and wood and stone. [Those are gods] that cannot see, that cannot hear, and that do not know anything! You have not honored the God who gives you breath and who controls everything that happens to you.
24 Ne saa enti, Onyankopɔn asoma nsa yi sɛ, ɛmmɛtwerɛ nkra yi.
So God sent that hand to write a message [for you].
25 “Nkra a ɛtwerɛeɛ nie: Mene, Mene, Tekel, Parsin.
This is the message that it wrote: ‘Mene, mene, tekel, parsin.’
26 “Saa nsɛm yi asekyerɛ nie: “Mene asekyerɛ ne wɔakan. Onyankopɔn akan wʼahennie nna a aka na watwa so de aba nʼawieeɛ.
This is what those words mean: Mene [means] ‘numbered/counted’. [That means that] God has been counting the days that you will rule, and he has [now] decided that you will not rule any more.
27 “Tekel asekyerɛ ne wɔakari. Wɔakari wo wɔ nsania so, nanso woantumi sɔhwɛ no.
Tekel [means ‘weighed’. It is as though God] has weighed you on a scale, and you do not weigh what you should, [which means that you have not been doing what you should; you are not fit to be a king] [MET].
28 “Parsin asekyerɛ ne wɔakyekyɛ mu. Wɔakyekyɛ wʼahemman mu ama Mediafoɔ ne Persiafoɔ.”
Parsin [means ‘divided’. That means that God] has divided your kingdom. Some of it will be ruled by people from Media and some will be ruled by people from Persia.”
29 Afei, Belsasar ma wɔfiraa Daniel ɔtankɔkɔɔ a ɛyɛ adehyeɛ abasobɔdeɛ, de sikakɔkɔɔ ntweaban guu ne kɔn mu. Wɔsoaa no sɛ, ɔman sodifoɔ a ɔtɔ so mmiɛnsa wɔ ahemman no mu.
Then Belshazzar [did what he had promised]. He put on me a purple robe [like the one he himself wore. He] put a gold chain around my neck. And he proclaimed that there would be only two others who would be more important than me in his kingdom.
30 Saa anadwo no ara, wɔkumm Babiloniahene Belsasar.
But that same night [soldiers from Media entered the city and] killed Belshazzar, the King of Babylonia.
31 Na Dario a ɔfiri Mede faa ahennie no a na wadi mfirinhyia aduosia mmienu.
Darius, the King of Media, became the King [of Babylonia] when he was 62 years old.
