5 At that very moment the fingers of a man’s hand appeared and began writing on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace opposite the lampstand, and the king could see the back of the hand as it was writing. 6 Then the king turned pale and his thoughts terrified him, and his hips shook+ and his knees began to knock together.
7 The king called out loudly to summon the conjurers, the Chal·deʹans, and the astrologers.+ The king said to the wise men of Babylon: “Any man who reads this writing and tells me its interpretation will be clothed with purple, a gold necklace will be placed around his neck,+ and he will rule as the third one in the kingdom.”+
8 Then all the wise men of the king came in, but they were not able to read the writing or to make known the interpretation to the king.+ 9 So King Bel·shazʹzar was very frightened and his face turned pale; and his nobles were perplexed.+
10 Because of the words of the king and his nobles, the queen entered the banqueting hall. The queen said: “O king, may you live on forever. Do not let your thoughts terrify you, nor let your face turn pale. 11 There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of holy gods. In the days of your father, enlightenment and insight and wisdom like the wisdom of gods were found in him.+ King Neb·u·chad·nezʹzar your father appointed him as chief of the magic-practicing priests, conjurers, Chal·deʹans, and astrologers;+ your father did this, O king. 12 For Daniel, whom the king named Bel·te·shazʹzar,+ had an extraordinary spirit and knowledge and insight to interpret dreams, to explain riddles, and to solve knotty problems.+ Now let Daniel be summoned, and he will tell you the interpretation.”