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The Handwriting on the Wall

At that moment, humanlike fingers of a hand appeared near the lamp stand of the royal palace and wrote on the plaster of the wall. While the king watched the back of the hand as it was writing, his facial expression changed. Utterly frightened, he lost control of his own bowels[a] and his knees knocked together.

The king cried out to bring in enchanters,[b] Chaldeans, and astrologers. He announced to the advisors[c] of Babylon, “Whoever can read this writing and tell me its meaning will be clothed in purple, have a gold chain placed around his neck, and will become the third highest ruler in the kingdom.”

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Footnotes

  1. Daniel 5:6 Lit. frightened, the joints of his loins were loosened; i.e. an involuntary physiological response from terror
  2. Daniel 5:7 Or occult practitioners
  3. Daniel 5:7 Or the wise men

Suddenly the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand in the royal palace. The king watched the hand as it wrote. His face turned pale(A) and he was so frightened(B) that his legs became weak(C) and his knees were knocking.(D)

The king summoned the enchanters,(E) astrologers[a](F) and diviners.(G) Then he said to these wise(H) men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this writing and tells me what it means will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around his neck,(I) and he will be made the third(J) highest ruler in the kingdom.”(K)

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Footnotes

  1. Daniel 5:7 Or Chaldeans; also in verse 11