10 Because of the words of the king and his lords,v the queen came into ⌊the banqueting hall⌋w and the queen ⌊spoke up⌋x and said, “O king, live ⌊forever⌋,y and let not your thoughts terrify you and do not let your facial expressions ⌊grow pale⌋.z 11 There is a man in your kingdom ⌊who has the spirit of the holy gods in him⌋.a And in the days of your ⌊predecessor⌋,b enlightenment and insight and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods was found in him; and, O king, Nebuchadnezzar your ⌊predecessor⌋c appointed him as chief of the magicians,d the conjurers,e the ⌊astrologers⌋,f and the diviners. Your ⌊predecessor⌋g the king did this 12 ⌊because⌋h there was found in him an excellent spirit and understanding and insight for interpreting dreams and explaining riddles and solving riddles; that is, in Daniel ⌊whom the king named⌋i Belteshazzar. Now, let Daniel be called and he will tell the explanation.”j

Daniel Deciphers and Interprets the Writing

13 Then Daniel was brought in before the king, and the king ⌊spoke⌋k and said to Daniel, “You are Daniel ⌊who are one of the exiles⌋l of Judahm whom my ⌊predecessor⌋,n the king, brought from Judah.o 14 And I have heard that a spirit of the gods is in you and enlightenment and insight and excellent wisdom was found in you. 15 And now the wise men and the conjurersp were brought in before me so that they could read this writing in order to make its explanationq known to me, but they were not able to disclose the explanationr of the matter. 16 But I have heard concerning you that you are able ⌊to produce interpretations⌋s and to solve riddles; now if you are able to read the writing and to make known its explanationt to me, you will be clothed in purple and a necklace of gold will be placed around your neck and you will rule as third in command in the kingdom.”