Old Testament

New Testament

Daniel 2:10-18 New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

10. They answered the king, "There isn't a man on earth who can do what you are asking! No king has ever asked for anything like that. Not even a king as great and mighty as you has asked for it. Those who get knowledge by using magic have never been asked to do what you are asking. And those who study the heavens haven't been asked to do it either.

11. What you are asking is much too hard. No one can tell you what you dreamed except the gods. And they don't live among human beings."

12. That made the king very angry. He ordered that all of the wise men in Babylon be put to death.

13. So the order was given to kill them. Men were sent out to look for Daniel and his friends. They were also supposed to be put to death.

14. Arioch was the commander of the king's guard. He went out to put the wise men of Babylon to death. So Daniel spoke to him wisely and carefully.

15. He asked the king's officer, "Why did Nebuchadnezzar give a terrible order like that?" Then Arioch explained to Daniel what was going on.

16. When Daniel heard that, he went to the king. He told him he would explain the dream to him. But he needed more time.

17. Then Daniel returned to his house. He explained everything to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.

18. He asked them to pray that the God of heaven would give him mercy. He wanted God to help him understand the mystery of the king's dream. Then he and his friends wouldn't be killed along with the other wise men in Babylon.

Read complete chapter Daniel 2