1. In the second year of his reign, King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream which left his spirit no rest and robbed him of his sleep.
2. So he ordered that the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and Chaldeans be summoned to interpret the dream for him. When they came and presented themselves to the king,
3. he said to them, “I had a dream which will allow my spirit no rest until I know what it means.”
4. The Chaldeans answered the king in Aramaic: “O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream and we will give its meaning.”
5. The king answered the Chaldeans, “This is what I have decided: unless you tell me the dream and its meaning, you shall be cut to pieces and your houses made into a refuse heap.
6. But if you tell me the dream and its meaning, you shall receive from me gifts and presents and great honors. Therefore tell me the dream and its meaning.”
7. Again they answered, “Let the king tell his servants the dream and we will give its meaning.”
8. But the king replied: “I know for certain that you are bargaining for time, since you know what I have decided.
9. If you do not tell me the dream, there can be but one decree for you. You have conspired to present a false and deceitful interpretation to me until the crisis is past. Tell me the dream, therefore, that I may be sure that you can also give its correct interpretation.”
10. The Chaldeans answered the king: “There is not a man on earth who can do what you ask, O king; never has any king, however great and mighty, asked such a thing of any magician, enchanter, or Chaldean.
11. What you demand, O king, is too difficult; there is no one who can tell it to the king except the gods, who do not dwell among people of flesh.”
12. At this the king became violently angry and ordered all the wise men of Babylon to be put to death.
13. When the decree was issued that the wise men should be slain, Daniel and his companions were also sought out.
14. Then Daniel prudently took counsel with Arioch, the chief of the king’s guard, who had set out to kill the wise men of Babylon.
15. He asked Arioch, the officer of the king, “What is the reason for this harsh order from the king?” When Arioch told him,