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.
28. But there is a God in heaven, who reveals mysteries. He has informed Your Majesty what will happen in the future. Now I will tell you the dream, the vision you had while you were asleep.
29. “While Your Majesty was sleeping, you dreamt about the future; and God, who reveals mysteries, showed you what is going to happen.
30. Now, this mystery was revealed to me, not because I am wiser than anyone else, but so that Your Majesty may learn the meaning of your dream and understand the thoughts that have come to you.
31. “Your Majesty, in your vision you saw standing before you a giant statue, bright and shining, and terrifying to look at.
32. Its head was made of the finest gold; its chest and arms were made of silver; its waist and hips of bronze;
33. its legs of iron, and its feet partly of iron and partly of clay.
34. While you were looking at it, a great stone broke loose from a cliff without anyone touching it, struck the iron and clay feet of the statue, and shattered them.
35. At once the iron, clay, bronze, silver, and gold crumbled and became like the dust on a threshing place in summer. The wind carried it all away, leaving not a trace. But the stone grew to be a mountain that covered the whole earth.
36. “This was the dream. Now I will tell Your Majesty what it means.
37. Your Majesty, you are the greatest of all kings. The God of heaven has made you emperor and given you power, might, and honour.