1. In the second year of Nebuchadnezzar’s rule, he had many dreams. The dreams made him anxious, but he kept sleeping.
2. The king summoned the dream interpreters, enchanters, diviners, and Chaldeans to explain his dreams to him. They came and stood before the king.
3. Then the king said to them: "I had a dream, and I’m anxious to know its meaning."
4. The Chaldeans answered the king in Aramaic: "Long live the king! Tell your servants the dream, and we will explain its meaning."
5. The king answered the Chaldeans: "My decision is final: If you can’t tell me the dream and its meaning, you will be torn limb from limb, and your houses will be turned into trash dumps.
6. But if you do explain the dream and its meaning, you’ll receive generous gifts and glorious honor from me. So explain to me the dream as well as its meaning."
7. They answered him again: "The king must tell his servants the dream. We will then explain the meaning."
8. The king replied: "Now I definitely know you are stalling for time, because you see that my decision is final
9. and that if you can’t tell me the dream, your fate is certain. You’ve conspired to make false and lying speeches before me until the situation changes. Tell me the dream now! Then I’ll know you can explain its meaning to me."