Daniel 5:5–12

THE HANDWRITING ON THE WALL

⁵At that moment the fingers of a man’s hand appeared and began writing on the plaster of the king’s palace wall next to the lampstand. As the king watched the hand^D that was writing, ⁶his face turned pale,^E and his thoughts so terrified him that he soiled himself^F and his knees knocked together. ⁷The king shouted to bring in the mediums, Chaldeans, and diviners. He said to these wise men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this inscription and gives me its interpretation will be clothed in purple, have a gold chain around his neck,^y and have the third highest position in the kingdom.” ⁸So all the king’s wise men came in, but none could read the inscription or make its interpretation known to him. ⁹Then King Belshazzar became even more terrified, his face turned pale,^G and his nobles were bewildered.^a

¹⁰Because of the outcry of the king and his nobles, the queen^H came to the banquet hall. “May the king live forever,” she said. “Don’t let your thoughts terrify you or your face be pale.^{Ib 11}There is a man in your kingdom who has a spirit of the holy gods in him.^c In the days of your predecessor he was found to have insight, intelligence, and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods. Your predecessor, King Nebuchadnezzar, appointed him chief of the magicians, mediums, Chaldeans, and diviners. Your own predecessor, the king, ¹²did this because Daniel, the one the king named Belteshazzar, was found to have an extraordinary spirit, knowledge and intelligence, and the ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve problems.^Ad Therefore, summon Daniel, and he will give the interpretation.”