10 The Chal·deʹans answered the king: “There is not a man on earth* who is able to do what the king demands, for no great king or governor has asked such a thing of any magic-practicing priest or conjurer or Chal·deʹan. 11 What the king is asking is difficult, and no one exists who could tell the king this except the gods, who do not dwell among mortals.”*

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