Di Writing for di Wall

Laughter. Music. Di sound of gold cups wey dey touch each other. And then, for di light of di lamp, di fingers of one human hand appear from nowhere, and dem begin write for di plaster of di palace wall. Di music stop.

Many years don pass since Daniel be young captive for Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar don go. Now na Belshazzar dey for di throne, and e dey throw one big feast for one thousand of im big men. Wine dey flow. And as di evening dey go, one idea enter Belshazzar head. Bring di gold and silver cups wey Nebuchadnezzar carry from di temple for Jerusalem, di vessels wey dem set apart for di worship of Di Lord. So di king, im big men, im wives and im concubines drink wine from dem, and as dem dey drink, dem dey praise gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone.

For dat same hour, di hand appear, for di front of di lampstand, dey write for di wall. Di king see am. Im face turn pale, im thoughts dey make am fear, im legs no fit carry am again, and im knees dey knock each other. E shout for im enchanters, Chaldeans and astrologers. Anybody wey read dis writing and tell me wetin e mean, dem go wear am purple cloth, e go wear gold chain for im neck, and e go be di third ruler for di kingdom. One by one di wise men come dey look di wall. Not one of dem fit read am, or tell di king wetin e mean. And fear dey catch Belshazzar more and more.

Then di queen enter di feast hall. Maybe na di king mama, as plenty interpreters think, somebody wey remember di old days. O king, live forever. No let your mind trouble you. One man dey your kingdom wey di spirit of di holy gods dey inside am. For di time of Nebuchadnezzar, dem find say e get light, understanding and wisdom. Call Daniel, and e go tell you wetin dis one mean. So dem bring Daniel come, wey don be old man now. Di king repeat im offer of rewards. Daniel answer, Keep your gifts for yourself, or give dem to another person. But I go read di writing and tell you wetin e mean.

First, Daniel remind di king about Nebuchadnezzar, how God give am greatness, and how, when im heart become proud, God bring am down until e learn say di Most High God dey rule over di kingdoms of men. And you, Belshazzar, you no humble your heart, even though you know all dis. You don raise yourself against di Lord of heaven. You drink from im vessels and you praise gods wey no fit see or hear or know anything. But di God wey hold your breath for im hand, and wey all your ways belong to, you no honour am.

Then e read di words. Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin. And e explain dem. Mene: God don count di days of your kingdom and e don bring am to end. Tekel: dem don weigh you for scale and you no reach. Peres: dem don divide your kingdom and give am to di Medes and di Persians. Belshazzar keep im word. Dem wear Daniel purple cloth, dem put di gold chain for im neck, and dem announce am as di third ruler for di kingdom. But e don late for di king. Dat same night, dem kill Belshazzar, di Chaldean king, and Darius di Mede collect di kingdom.

For long time, historians no find any record of one Babylonian king wey dem dey call Belshazzar. Then writings come out wey name am as di first son of Nabonidus, di last king of Babylon. Nabonidus spend years far from di capital, for di desert oasis of Tayma for Arabia, and e leave Belshazzar in charge of Babylon. Dat one fit explain why Belshazzar fit only offer to make Daniel di third ruler for di kingdom. Di first two places don already get people.

Di writing for di wall. You go find am for Daniel chapter five. Belshazzar know Nebuchadnezzar story, and e still choose pride. Daniel, wey don old and no fear, refuse di king rewards and e just talk di truth. So see one question wey you go carry dey go. If dem weigh your life today, wetin you go want make dem find inside am?