Daniel5:22
Next VerseTranslation
But you, O BELSHAZZAR, [are] his son; you have not brought your heart down low because you knew all this which was in front of you.
Paraphrase
But you who stubbornly and arrogantly proclaim BEL PROTECT THE KING, you are just like your example and predecessor (Nebo Protect My Jack Ass) because you have not humbled your heart even though you knew the example of Nebuchadnezzar and have it before you as a constant reminder.
Here is that Word again
Once again we see that word that means “in front of or because.” The original language (Aramaic) says the same thing twice, “you knew it, you had it in front of you.” Belshazzar had no excuse for not repenting because he had the example of the one he was trying to emulate. Belshazzar and his father had been poor leaders and had accomplished nothing of importance. On the other hand, he wanted to be great like Nebuchadnezzar, so he called him his father (or grandfather) and tried to be like him.
Did he succeed in being like his role model? Well, he was not a great king, but he was arrogant like Nebuchadnezzar. However, he failed to be like him when it came to repentance. On this night God was giving him one final chance to repent of his pride; the message on the wall included a clear warning and we can assume it also included an opportunity.