Daniel 2:1-22 ▼

1 AND in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed a dream and his spirit was troubled and his sleep departed from him.

2 Then the king commanded to call the magicians and the astrologers and the sorcerers and the Chaldeans to show the king his dream. So they came and stood before the king.

3 And the king said to them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit is troubled to know the dream.

4 Then spoke the Chaldeans before the king in Aramaic, saying, O king, live for ever; tell your servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation.

5 The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The word that I have spoken is true; if you do not make known to me the dream and its interpretation, you shall be cut in pieces and your houses shall be plundered.

6 But if you show me the dream and its interpretation, you shall receive from me gifts and wealth and great honor; only show me the dream and its interpretation.

7 They answered again and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will show its interpretation.

8 The king answered and said, Truly I know that what you want is time, because you see that my word is true.

9 But if you will not make known to me the dream, there is but one sentence for you; for you have prepared lying words and falsehoods to speak before me, to gain time; therefore tell me the dream, so that I shall know that you can show me its interpretation.

10 The Chaldeans answered before the king and said, There is not a man upon the earth who can reveal what the king asks; neither has any great king or ruler ever asked such a thing of any magician or astrologer or Chaldean.

11 For the thing that the king is asking is very difficult, and there is no man who can show it before the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with men born of flesh.

12 Then the king was exceedingly furious, and he commanded angrily that all the wise men of Babylon should be destroyed.

13 And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and guards sought Daniel and his companions to slay them.

14 Then Daniel meditated and took counsel, and then said to Arioch the commander of the king's guardsmen, who had gone out to slay the wise men of Babylon,

15 Why is this decree from the king so urgent? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel.

16 Then Daniel desired of the king to give him time, and promised that he would show the king the interpretation.

17 Then Daniel went to his house and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions,

18 That they might ask mercy before the God of heaven concerning the mystery, so that Daniel and his companions might not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.

19 Then was the mystery, revealed to Daniel in a night vision. And Daniel blessed the God of heaven.

20 Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever; for wisdom and might belong to him;

21 And he changes seasons and times; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to them who know understanding;

22 He reveals the deep and secret things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light is with him.