14 Then Daniel responded with tact and discretion to Arioch, the captain of the king’s guard,A,f who had gone out to execute the wise men of Babylon. 15 He asked Arioch, the king’s officer, “Why is the decree from the king so harsh?”B,g Then Arioch explained the situation to Daniel. 16 So Daniel went and asked the king to give him some time, so that he could give the king the interpretation.

17 Then Daniel went to his house and told his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah about the matter, 18 urging them to ask the God of the heavensh for mercyi concerning this mystery, so Daniel and his friends would not be destroyed with the rest of Babylon’s wise men.j