Daniel 5:7-9

5:7 The king called out loudly ¹  to summon ²  the astrologers, wise men, and diviners. The king proclaimed ³  to the wise men of Babylon that anyone who could read this inscription and disclose its interpretation would be clothed in purple ⁴  and have a golden collar ⁵  placed on his neck and be third ruler in the kingdom.

5:8 So all the king’s wise men came in, but they were unable to read the writing or to make known its ⁶  interpretation to the king. 5:9 Then King Belshazzar was very terrified, and he was visibly shaken. ⁷  His nobles were completely dumbfounded.

[5:7]  ¹ tn Aram “in strength.”

[5:7]  ² tn Aram “cause to enter.”

[5:7]  ³ tn Aram “answered and said.”

[5:7]  ⁴ sn Purple was a color associated with royalty in the ancient world.

[5:7]  ⁵ tn The term translated “golden collar” here probably refers to something more substantial than merely a gold chain (cf. NIV, NCV, NRSV, NLT) or necklace (cf. NASB).

[5:8]  ⁶ tc Read וּפִשְׁרֵהּ (ufishreh) with the Qere rather than וּפִשְׁרָא (ufishra’) of the Kethib.

[5:9]  ⁷ tn Aram “his visage altered upon him.” So also in v. 10.