Writing on the wall

5At that moment the fingers of a human hand came out and wrote opposite the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace, and the king saw the palm of the hand that was writing.

6Then the king’s color changed, and his thoughts terrified him; the joints of his hips gave way, and his knees knocked against each other.

7The king called out loudly to bring in the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the diviners. The king answered and said to the wise men of Babylon, “Any man who reads this writing and makes its interpretation known to me shall be clothed with purple, have a chain of gold around his neck, and rule as third in the kingdom.”

8Then all the king’s wise men came in, but they were not able to read the writing or make its interpretation known to the king.

9Then King Belshazzar became greatly alarmed, his color changed, and his nobles were perplexed.