12. At that, the king flew into a rage and ordered the execution of all the royal advisers in Babylon.
13. So the order was issued for all of them to be killed, including Daniel and his friends.
14. Then Daniel went to Arioch, commander of the king's bodyguard, who had been ordered to carry out the execution. Choosing his words carefully,
15. he asked Arioch why the king had issued such a harsh order. So Arioch told Daniel what had happened.
16. Daniel went at once and obtained royal permission for more time, so that he could tell the king what the dream meant.
17. Then Daniel went home and told his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah what had happened.
18. He told them to pray to the God of heaven for mercy and to ask him to explain the mystery to them so that they would not be killed along with the other advisers in Babylon.
19. Then that same night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision, and he praised the God of heaven:
20. “God is wise and powerful!Praise him for ever and ever.
21. He controls the times and the seasons;he makes and unmakes kings;it is he who gives wisdom and understanding.
22. He reveals things that are deep and secret;he knows what is hidden in darkness,and he himself is surrounded by light.
23. I praise you and honour you, God of my ancestors.You have given me wisdom and strength;you have answered my prayerand shown us what to tell the king.”
24. So Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had commanded to execute the royal advisers. He said to him, “Don't put them to death. Take me to the king, and I will tell him what his dream means.”
25. At once Arioch took Daniel into King Nebuchadnezzar's presence and told the king, “I have found one of the Jewish exiles, who can tell Your Majesty the meaning of your dream.”
26. The king said to Daniel (who was also called Belteshazzar), “Can you tell me what I dreamt and what it means?”
27. Daniel replied, “Your Majesty, there is no wizard, magician, fortune teller, or astrologer who can tell you that.