Daniel 5:10 Hearing the outcry of the king and his nobles, the queen entered the banquet hall. "O king, may you live forever!" she said. "Do not let your thoughts terrify you, or your face grow pale.

◄ Daniel 5:10 ►

New International Version
The queen, hearing the voices of the king and his nobles, came into the banquet hall. “May the king live forever!” she said. “Don’t be alarmed! Don’t look so pale!

New Living Translation
But when the queen mother heard what was happening, she hurried to the banquet hall. She said to Belshazzar, “Long live the king! Don’t be so pale and frightened.

English Standard Version
The queen, because of the words of the king and his lords, came into the banqueting hall, and the queen declared, “O king, live forever! Let not your thoughts alarm you or your color change.

Berean Standard Bible
Hearing the outcry of the king and his nobles, the queen entered the banquet hall. “O king, may you live forever!” she said. “Do not let your thoughts terrify you, or your face grow pale.

King James Bible
Now the queen, by reason of the words of the king and his lords, came into the banquet house: and the queen spake and said, O king, live for ever: let not thy thoughts trouble thee, nor let thy countenance be changed:

New King James Version
The queen, because of the words of the king and his lords, came to the banquet hall. The queen spoke, saying, “O king, live forever! Do not let your thoughts trouble you, nor let your countenance change.

New American Standard Bible
The queen entered the banquet hall because of the words of the king and his nobles; the queen began to speak and said, “O king, live forever! Do not let your thoughts alarm you or your face be pale.

NASB 1995
The queen entered the banquet hall because of the words of the king and his nobles; the queen spoke and said, “O king, live forever! Do not let your thoughts alarm you or your face be pale.

NASB 1977
The queen entered the banquet hall because of the words of the king and his nobles; the queen spoke and said, “O king, live forever! Do not let your thoughts alarm you or your face be pale.

Legacy Standard Bible
The queen entered the banquet hall because of the words of the king and his nobles; the queen answered and said, “O king, live forever! Do not let your thoughts alarm you or the splendor of your face be changed.

Amplified Bible
Now the queen [mother], overhearing the [excited] words of the king and his nobles, came into the banquet area. The queen [mother] spoke and said, “O king, live forever! Do not be alarmed at your thoughts or let your face be changed.

Christian Standard Bible
Because of the outcry of the king and his nobles, the queen came to the banquet hall. “May the king live forever,” she said. “Don’t let your thoughts terrify you or your face be pale.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Because of the outcry of the king and his nobles, the queen came to the banquet hall. “May the king live forever,” she said. “Don’t let your thoughts terrify you or your face be pale.

American Standard Version
Now the queen by reason of the words of the king and his lords came into the banquet house: the queen spake and said, O king, live for ever; let not thy thoughts trouble thee, nor let thy countenance be changed.

Contemporary English Version
When the queen heard the king and his officials talking, she came in and said: Your Majesty, I hope you live forever! Don't be afraid or look so pale.

English Revised Version
Now the queen by reason of the words of the king and his lords came into the banquet house: the queen spake and said, O king, live for ever; let not thy thoughts trouble thee, nor let thy countenance be changed:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The discussion between the king and his nobles brought the queen herself into the banquet hall. The queen said, "Your Majesty, may you live forever! Don't let your thoughts frighten you, and don't turn pale.

Good News Translation
The queen mother heard the noise made by the king and his noblemen and entered the banquet hall. She said, "May Your Majesty live forever! Please do not be so disturbed and look so pale.

International Standard Version
Hearing the voices of the king and his officials, the queen entered the banquet hall. "Your majesty, live forever," the queen said. "Don't be frightened by your thoughts or allow your facial expression to show it.

Majority Standard Bible
Hearing the outcry of the king and his nobles, the queen entered the banquet hall. “O king, may you live forever!” she said. “Do not let your thoughts terrify you, or your face grow pale.

NET Bible
Due to the noise caused by the king and his nobles, the queen mother then entered the banquet room. She said, "O king, live forever! Don't be alarmed! Don't be shaken!

New Heart English Bible
Now the queen by reason of the words of the king and his lords came into the banquet house. The queen spoke and said, "O king, live forever; do not let your thoughts trouble you, nor let your face be changed.

Webster's Bible Translation
Now the queen by reason of the words of the king and his lords came into the banquet house: and the queen spoke and said, O king, live for ever: let not thy thoughts trouble thee, nor let thy countenance be changed:

World English Bible
The queen by reason of the words of the king and his lords came into the banquet house. The queen spoke and said, “O king, live forever; don’t let your thoughts trouble you, nor let your face be changed.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
The queen, on account of the words of the king and his great men, has come up to the banquet-house. The queen has answered and said, “O king, live for all ages; do not let your thoughts trouble you, nor your countenance be changed:

Young's Literal Translation
The queen, on account of the words of the king and his great men, to the banquet-house hath come up. Answered hath the queen, and said, 'O king, to the ages live; let not thy thoughts trouble thee, nor thy countenance be changed:

Smith's Literal Translation
The queen, on account of the king's words and his nobles', came in to the house of drinking: the queen answered and said, O king, live forever: thy thought shall not terrify thee, and thy brightnesses shall not be changed:

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
Then the queen, on occasion of what had happened to the king, and his nobles, came into the banquet house: and she spoke and said: O king, live for ever: let not thy thoughts trouble thee, neither let thy countenance be changed.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But the queen, because of what had happened to the king and his nobles, entered the banquet house. And she spoke out, saying, “O king, live forever. Do not let your thoughts confuse you, neither should your face be altered.

New American Bible
When the queen heard of the discussion between the king and his nobles, she entered the banquet hall and said, “O king, live forever! Do not let your thoughts terrify you, or your face become so pale!

New Revised Standard Version
The queen, when she heard the discussion of the king and his lords, came into the banqueting hall. The queen said, “O king, live forever! Do not let your thoughts terrify you or your face grow pale.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
Now the queen, because of the conversation of the king and his princes, came into the banquet house, and she spoke and said to the king, O king, live for ever; let not your thoughts trouble you nor let your countenance be changed;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the Queen, because of the words of the King and his Princes, she entered the house of the feast and she answered and said to the King: “King, live to eternity. Let not thoughts trouble you and let not your cheerfulness be changed

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
Now the queen by reason of the words of the king and his lords came into the banquet house; the queen spoke and said: 'O king, live for ever! let not thy thoughts affright thee, nor let thy countenance be changed;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Then the queen came into the banquet house, and said, O king, live for ever: let not thy thoughts trouble thee, and let not thy countenance be changed.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

The Handwriting on the Wall
…9Then King Belshazzar became even more terrified, his face grew even more pale, and his nobles were bewildered. 10Hearing the outcry of the king and his nobles, the queen entered the banquet hall. “O king, may you live forever!” she said. “Do not let your thoughts terrify you, or your face grow pale. 11There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him. In the days of your father he was found to have insight, intelligence, and wisdom like that of the gods. Your father, King Nebuchadnezzar, appointed him chief of the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and diviners. Your own father, the king,…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Genesis 41:14-15
So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, who was quickly brought out of the dungeon. After he had shaved and changed his clothes, he went in before Pharaoh. / Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.”

1 Samuel 25:3
His name was Nabal, and his wife’s name was Abigail. She was an intelligent and beautiful woman, but her husband, a Calebite, was harsh and evil in his dealings.

1 Kings 10:1-3
Now when the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to test him with difficult questions. / She arrived in Jerusalem with a very large caravan—with camels bearing spices, gold in great abundance, and precious stones. And she came to Solomon and spoke to him all that was on her mind. / And Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too difficult for the king to explain.

2 Kings 22:14
So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went and spoke to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, the keeper of the wardrobe. She lived in Jerusalem, in the Second District.

Esther 4:14
For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows if perhaps you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

Proverbs 31:26
She opens her mouth with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

Isaiah 3:3
the commander of fifty and the dignitary, the counselor, the cunning magician, and the clever enchanter.

Jeremiah 9:23
This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, nor the strong man in his strength, nor the wealthy man in his riches.

Ezekiel 28:3
Behold, you are wiser than Daniel; no secret is hidden from you!

Matthew 12:42
The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and now One greater than Solomon is here.

Matthew 27:19
While Pilate was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him this message: “Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered terribly in a dream today because of Him.”

Mark 6:20
because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man. When he heard John’s words, he was greatly perplexed; yet he listened to him gladly.

Luke 2:19
But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

Luke 11:31
The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and now One greater than Solomon is here.

John 4:29
“Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?”

Treasury of Scripture

Now the queen by reason of the words of the king and his lords came into the banquet house: and the queen spoke and said, O king, live for ever: let not your thoughts trouble you, nor let your countenance be changed:

the queen.

O king.

Daniel 2:4
Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriack, O king, live for ever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation.

Daniel 3:9
They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever.

Daniel 6:6,21
Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever…

let not.

Genesis 35:17,18
And it came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; thou shalt have this son also…

1 Samuel 4:20-22
And about the time of her death the women that stood by her said unto her, Fear not; for thou hast born a son. But she answered not, neither did she regard it…

Job 13:4
But ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value.

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Daniel 5

1. Belshazzar's impious feast.
5. A hand-writing unknown to the magicians, troubles the king.
10. At the commendation of the queen Daniel is brought.
17. He, reproving the king of pride and idolatry,
25. reads and interprets the writing.
30. The monarchy is translated to the Medes

Berean Study Bible

Hearing the outcry of the king and his nobles
This phrase sets the scene of urgency and distress. The "outcry" indicates a loud, public expression of fear or confusion, suggesting a situation that has escalated beyond normal courtly decorum. The Hebrew root for "outcry" (זְעָקָה, ze'akah) often denotes a cry for help or a proclamation of distress, emphasizing the gravity of the situation. Historically, this reflects the chaos in the Babylonian court as the mysterious writing on the wall appeared, a divine intervention that disrupted the king's feast.

the queen entered the banquet hall
The identity of the "queen" is debated among scholars. Some suggest she is the queen mother, possibly Nitocris, the wife of Nabonidus and mother of Belshazzar, given her authoritative presence and knowledge. Her entrance into the "banquet hall" signifies her important role and the respect she commanded. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, the queen mother often held significant influence, and her presence here underscores her wisdom and the respect she commanded in the royal court.

O king, may you live forever!
This traditional greeting reflects the customary way of addressing a monarch, expressing loyalty and respect. The phrase is not only a formality but also a wish for the king's prosperity and longevity. In the context of the narrative, it serves to calm the king, reminding him of his royal status and the stability it should bring, even amidst the current crisis.

she said
The queen's speech is pivotal. Her words are not just a response to the immediate crisis but also a demonstration of her wisdom and composure. In the biblical narrative, speech often reveals character and intent, and here, the queen's words are meant to reassure and guide.

Do not let your thoughts terrify you
The queen addresses the king's internal state, recognizing his fear and anxiety. The Hebrew word for "thoughts" (רַעְיוֹן, ra'yon) can imply mental turmoil or distress. Her advice is both practical and spiritual, encouraging the king to maintain composure and not be overwhelmed by fear. This reflects a biblical theme of trusting in divine wisdom over human understanding.

or your face grow pale
This phrase describes the physical manifestation of the king's fear. In ancient cultures, a pale face was often associated with fear or illness, indicating a loss of vitality or courage. The queen's observation highlights the king's vulnerability and the need for divine intervention. Her words serve as a reminder of the importance of faith and reliance on God in times of crisis, a recurring theme throughout the Book of Daniel.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(10) By reason of the words.--The noise and confusion in the banquet-hall was heard by the queen-mother in her apartments. Her respect for Daniel is evident from her language. The position which she held was one of influence, for it appears that her advice was no sooner offered than it was accepted.

Pulpit Commentary

Verses 10-12. - Now the queen, by reason of the words of the king and his lords, came into the banquet-house: and the queen spake and said, O king, live for ever; let not thy thoughts trouble thee, nor let thy countenance be changed: there is a man in thy kingdom in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom the King Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, I say, thy father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers; forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and showing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will show the interpretation. No one can fail to feel the presence of rhetoric here, especially in the last verse, which, we may remark, has no equivalent in the Septuagint. We see the rhetorical character of these verses more clearly when we consider the ineptitude of the special powers ascribed to Daniel to meet the present difficulty. Interpretation of dreams was a common attribute ascribed to wisdom in the East of old, as it is yet. But this was not a dream, and therefore the qualification was not to the purpose; still less to the purpose are the attributes that follow. Showing of hard sentences. Giving riddles that nobody could read was an evidence of wisdom all over the East (see Josephus, 8:5. 3; besides Talmudic stories of Solomon). This, however, is not a case of competition in riddles; above all, there is no opportunity of one giving riddles in return. "Dissolving of doubts" is the solving of these riddles. These qualities, which the queen-mother, according to the Massoretic text, ascribes to Daniel, might make him delightful as a boon companion, but were not at all to the purpose in the matter troubling the king. The version of the Septuagint is much briefer, and, it seems to us, much more satisfactory, "Then the queen reminded him concerning Daniel, who was of the captivity of Judaea, and said to the king, The man was understanding, wise, and excelling all the wise men of Babylon, and there is a holy spirit in him, and in the days of the king thy father, he showed difficult (ὑπέρογκα) interpretations to Nebuchadnezzar thy father." This has every sign of having been translated; thus the phrase, Ἐμνήσθη πρὸς αὐτὸν περὶ τοῦ Δανιήλ, which we have rendered, "reminded him concerning Daniel." This use of πρὸς after μιμνήσκω is unknown in classic Greek. In Homer's 'Odyssey' it is accusative of person; in Plato, 'Laches,' 200 D, it is dative of person; in 'Legg.,' 3:688, it is accusative of person. It is, however, exactly parallel with Genesis 40:14, Μνησθήσῃ περὶ ἐμοῦ πρὸς Φαραὼ. Πρὸς represents אֶל in the Hebrew; in the Targum of Onkelos and in the Peshitta this is translated by קְדָם; in Paulus Tellensis it is rendered by ל. Moreover, according to the Massoretic text, Belshazzar asks Daniel if he is" that Daniel which art of the captivity of the children of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Jewry?" The queen-mother had said nothing, according to the verses before us as given in the Massoretic recension, of Daniel being a Jew. According to the Septuagint, the queen-mother tells him whence Daniel is. Theodotion agrees with the Massoretic text, save that it inserts "watchfulness" instead of "light," and omits the repetition of "thy father." The Peshitta is also substantially at one with our received text. One of the great difficulties which commentators have found in this part of the incident is how Belshazzar could be ignorant of Daniel. Various means have been adopted to get over the difficulty. One is that Daniel was away from Babylon up to this time (Jephet-ibn-Ali). Archdeacon Rose is certain he must have known about him. The explanation of this is as recumbent on the opponents of the authenticity of Daniel as on its defenders, for they - the latter - declare it the work of one author, and it has had powerful effect on people: it must be artistically written if it is not a record of facts. No artist in fictitious narrative would present to his readers so obvious a difficulty. We learn now what was the probable reason of Belshazzar's ignorance of Daniel. Nabu-nahid, a usurper, was at variance with the whole clergy, as we may call them, of Babylon, and most likely Daniel acted with the others, and possibly, as far back as the revolution in which Evil-Merodach perished, had been away from the court. It is the height of unfairness of any one to press the name here given to Nebuchadnezzar, "my father." That title was very loosely used among the Babylonians and Assyrians. Jehu is called "the son of Omri," although he had swept the race of Omri off the face of the earth. So Dr. hugo Winckler, in his ' Untersuchungen zur Attorientalischen Geschichte,' p. 53, note, says, "This word 'son' after the name of a Chaldean prince, is only to be taken in the sense of belonging to the same dynasty." Had the phrase used been that "Nebuchadnezzar slept with his fathers, and Belshazzar his son reigned in his stead," something might have been said for the view maintained by all critics, that the author thought Belshazzar the son of Nebuchadnezzar. How can the critics assert this, and yet, as does Professor Bevan, maintain this author intimate even with the minutest portions of Jeremiah, Kings, and Chronicles? If so, how is it that he did not know that both Kings and Jeremiah asserted Nebuchadnezzar to have been succeeded by Evil-Merodach? This information occupies too prominent a place in both books for him to have been ignorant of it. We can only understand his action in thus putting down Belshazzar as the son of Nebuchadnezzar by assuming his acceptance of usage. The critics cannot explain it. Those who maintain the traditional view may do so by saying that Daniel, writing at the time, knowing the real state of matters, the claim of Belshazzar to be descended from Nebuchadnezzar, the fact that Evil-Merodach had been killed, simply relates facts. Had he been inventing history, and acquainted with the holy books, and all the information they conveyed to everybody, he would of necessity have spent some pains in explaining how his history came to differ so much from what one could draw from the Books of Kings and Jeremiah. The two accounts of Saul's meeting with David are not comparable with this, as we find the reason of the contradiction in the coalescence of two different accounts.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

Hearing
לָקֳבֵ֨ל (lā·qo·ḇêl)
Preposition-l
Strong's 6903: In front of, before, because of, because that

the outcry
מִלֵּ֤י (mil·lê)
Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 4406: A word, command, discourse, subject

of the king
מַלְכָּא֙ (mal·kā)
Noun - masculine singular determinate
Strong's 4430: A king

and his nobles,
וְרַבְרְבָנ֔וֹהִי (wə·raḇ·rə·ḇā·nō·w·hî)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7261: Lord, noble

the queen
מַלְכְּתָ֕א (mal·kə·ṯā)
Noun - feminine singular determinate
Strong's 4433: A queen

entered
עַלַּ֑ת (‘al·laṯ)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 5954: To enter, to introduce

the banquet
מִשְׁתְּיָ֖א (miš·tə·yā)
Noun - masculine singular determinate
Strong's 4961: A banquet

hall.
לְבֵ֥ית (lə·ḇêṯ)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1005: A house

“O king,
מַלְכָּא֙ (mal·kā)
Noun - masculine singular determinate
Strong's 4430: A king

may you live
חֱיִ֔י (ḥĕ·yî)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 2418: To live

forever,”
לְעָלְמִ֣ין (lə·‘ā·lə·mîn)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5957: Remote time, the future, past, forever

she said.
וַאֲמֶ֗רֶת (wa·’ă·me·reṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 560: To say, tell, command

“Do not
אַֽל־ (’al-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 409: Not, once, nothing

let your thoughts
רַעְיוֹנָ֔ךְ (ra‘·yō·w·nāḵ)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 7476: A grasp, mental conception

terrify you,
יְבַהֲלוּךְ֙ (yə·ḇa·hă·lūḵ)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect Jussive - third person masculine plural | second person masculine singular
Strong's 927: To terrify, hasten

or your face
וְזִיוָ֖יךְ (wə·zî·wāyḵ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 2122: Brightness, splendor

grow pale.
יִשְׁתַּנּֽוֹ׃ (yiš·tan·nōw)
Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect Jussive - third person masculine plural
Strong's 8133: To change

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OT Prophets: Daniel 5:10 Now the queen by reason (Dan. Da Dn)