Giacomo Carissimi: Oratorio di Balthazar
(Integrale degli Oratori)

Scripturam hanc legam, o rex, et ejus interpretationem tibi enarrabo.

Deus altissimus, quia non humiliasti cor tuum ante illum, hodie humiliabit te in conspectu gentium; haec autem est verborum interpretatio:

"Mane": numeravit Deus regnum tuum et complevit illud.

"Thecel": appensus es in statera et inventus est minus habens.

"Phares": divisum est regnum tuum et datum est Medis et Pestis.

I will read these words, O king, and interpret them.

Almighty God, since you have not humbled your heart before Him, today will humble you before your people; this is the meaning of the words:

"Mane": God has judged and assessed your reign, and it has now reached its end.

"Thecel": you have been weighed and found wanting.

"Phares": you kingdom has been divided and assigned to the Medes and the Perses.