Daniel 2:3–9

³he said to them, “I have had a dream that troubles^q me and I want to know what it means.^b”

⁴Then the astrologers answered the king,^cr “May the king live forever!^s Tell your servants the dream, and we will interpret it.”

⁵The king replied to the astrologers, “This is what I have firmly decided:^t If you do not tell me what my dream was and interpret it, I will have you cut into pieces^u and your houses turned into piles of rubble.^{v 6}But if you tell me the dream and explain it, you will receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor.^w So tell me the dream and interpret it for me.”

⁷Once more they replied, “Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will interpret it.”

⁸Then the king answered, “I am certain that you are trying to gain time, because you realize that this is what I have firmly decided: ⁹If you do not tell me the dream, there is only one penalty^x for you. You have conspired to tell me misleading and wicked things, hoping the situation will change. So then, tell me the dream, and I will know that you can interpret it for me.”^y