Daniel 5:5–12

The Writing on the Wall

⁵Immediately the fingers of a human hand appeared and began writing on the plaster of the wall of the royal palace, next to the lampstand. The king was watching the hand as it wrote.^{* 6}Then the king’s face turned pale, and his thoughts terrified him. His limbs gave way, and his knees knocked together.^{* 7}The king cried aloud to bring in the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the diviners, and the king said to the wise men of Babylon, “Whoever can read this writing and tell me its interpretation shall be clothed in purple, have a chain of gold around his neck, and rank third in the kingdom.”^{* 8}Then all the king’s wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or tell the king the interpretation.^{* 9}Then King Belshazzar became greatly terrified, and his face turned pale, and his lords were perplexed.^*

¹⁰The queen, when she heard the discussion of the king and his lords, came into the banquet hall. The queen said, “O king, live forever! Do not let your thoughts terrify you or your face grow pale.^{* 11}There is a man in your kingdom who is endowed with a spirit of the holy gods.^s In the days of your father he was found to have enlightenment, understanding, and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods. Your father, King Nebuchadnezzar, made him chief of the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and diviners,^{t* 12}because an excellent spirit, knowledge, and understanding to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve problems were found in this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar. Now let Daniel be called, and he will reveal the interpretation.”^*