Suddenlythe fingersof a man'shandemergedand began writingoppositethe lampstandon the plasterof the wallof the king'spalace,and the kingsawthe backof the handthat did the writing.
That the triumphingof the wickedis short,And the joyof the godlessmomentary?
A manwho hardens[his] neckafter much reproofWill suddenlybe brokenbeyondremedy.
"The kingof Babylonhas heardthe reportabout them, And his handshanglimp;Distresshas grippedhim, Agonylike a woman in childbirth.
"Whilethe word[was] in the king'smouth,a voicecamefrom heaven,[saying], 'KingNebuchadnezzar,to you it is declared:sovereigntyhas beenremovedfrom you,
"Immediatelythe wordconcerningNebuchadnezzarwas fulfilled;and he was drivenawayfrom mankindand began eatinggrasslike cattle,and his bodywas drenchedwith the dewof heavenuntilhis hairhad grownlike eagles'[feathers] and his nailslike birds'[claws].
"Just nowthe wisemen[and] the conjurerswere broughtin beforeme that they might readthisinscriptionand makeits interpretationknownto me, but they couldnot declarethe interpretationof the message.
They drankthe wineand praisedthe godsof goldand silver,of bronze,iron,woodand stone.
Thenthe king'sfacegrewpaleand his thoughtsalarmedhim, and his hipjointswentslackand his kneesbegan knockingtogether.
Thenallthe king'swisemencamein, but they couldnot readthe inscriptionor makeknownits interpretationto the king.
having canceledout the certificate of debtconsisting of decreesagainstus, whichwas hostileto us; and He has takenit out of the way,having nailedit to the cross.
