18. that they might implore the mercy of the God of heaven in regard to this mystery, so that Daniel and his companions might not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
19. During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision, and he blessed the God of heaven:
20. “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,for wisdom and power are his.
21. He causes the changes of the times and seasons,establishes kings and deposes them.He gives wisdom to the wiseand knowledge to those who understand.
22. He reveals deep and hidden thingsand knows what is in the darkness,for the light dwells with him.
23. To you, God of my ancestors,I give thanks and praise,because you have given me wisdom and power.Now you have shown me what we asked of you,you have made known to us the king’s dream.”
24. So Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon, and said to him, “Do not put the wise men of Babylon to death. Bring me before the king, and I will tell him the interpretation of the dream.” Arioch quickly brought Daniel to the king and said,
25. “I have found a man among the Judean exiles who can give the interpretation to the king.”
26. The king asked Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, “Can you tell me the dream that I had and its meaning?”
27. In the king’s presence Daniel made this reply:“The mystery about which the king has inquired, the wise men, enchanters, magicians, and diviners could not explain to the king.
28. But there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what is to happen in the last days; this was your dream, the visions you saw as you lay in bed.
29. To you in your bed there came thoughts about what should happen in the future, and he who reveals mysteries showed you what is to be.
30. To me also this mystery has been revealed; not that I am wiser than any other living person, but in order that its meaning may be made known to the king, that you may understand the thoughts of your own mind.
31. “In your vision, O king, you saw a statue, very large and exceedingly bright, terrifying in appearance as it stood before you.
32. Its head was pure gold, its chest and arms were silver, its belly and thighs bronze,
33. its legs iron, its feet partly iron and partly clay.
34. While you watched, a stone was hewn from a mountain without a hand being put to it, and it struck its iron and clay feet, breaking them in pieces.