Commentaries of the divine John Calvin, upon the prophet Daniel, translated into English, especially…Commentaries of the diuine Iohn Caluine, vpon the prophet Daniell, translated into Englishe, especially…

Now followeth the exposition of the word, tekel. Because thou wast weighed in the balance (saith he) and wast found faulty. Hear Daniel declareth that God doth so order his judgements, as if he did hold the balance in his hand. It is a similitude borrowed of the custom of men. We know that the use of the balance is, that there should be a certain measure and an equal distribution in things. So also is it written that God doth all things by weight and measure, because he doth nothing confusedly,¹ but with such measure, that there can be neither more nor less, as the common saying is. For this cause Daniel saith: that Beltsazar was weighed in the balance, that is to say, that God was not hasty in punishing of him, but did execute that punishment justly, after his usual manner and continual order: because he was found faulty, that is, because he was light and of no weight: As though he should say, thou supposest that thine honour should be spared, and because all men do reverence thee, thou thinkest thy self worthy of honour. Thou art deceived (saith he) for the judgement of God is otherwise. God doth not use the common balance, but he hath weights of his own, and thereby thou art found faulty, that is, nothing worth, a man of no reputation. There is no doubt but the tyrant was greatly moved with these words: but because his end was come, he was forced to suffer the voice of the preacher. And undoubtedly God did bridle his rage because he should not rise up against Daniel.

Now foloweth the exposition of the word, tekel. Because thou wast weighed in the balance (sayth he) and wast found faulty. Heare Daniel declareth that God doth so order hys iudgementes, as if he did holde the balance in hys hand. It is a similitude borowed of the custome of men. We know that the vse of the balance is, that there should be a certaine measure and an equall distributiō in thinges. So also is it written that God doth all thinges by waight and measure, because he doth nothing confusedly,¹ but with such measure, that there can be neither more nor lesse, as the common saying is. For this cause Daniel sayth: that Beltsazar was weighed in the balaunce, that is to say, that God was not hasty in punishing of hym, but did execute that punishment iustly, after his vsuall manner and continuall order: because he was found faulty, that is, because he was light and of no weight: As though he should say, thou supposest that thyne honour should be spared, and because all men do reuerence thee, thou thinkest thy selfe worthy of honour. Thou art deceaued (sayth he) for the iudgement of God is otherwise. God doth not vse the common balance, but he hath waightes of hys owne, and thereby thou art found faulty, that is, nothing worth, a man of no reputation. There is no doubt but the tyraūt was greatly moued with these wordes: but because hys end was come, he was forced to suffer the voyce of the preacher. And vndoubtedly God dyd bridle hys rage because he should not ryse vp agaynst Daniel.