Daniel 2:1–23

Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream

2In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams;^j his mind was troubled^k and he could not sleep.^{l 2}So the king summoned the magicians,^m enchanters, sorcerersⁿ and astrologers^ao to tell him what he had dreamed.^p When they came in and stood before the king, 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

¹⁰The astrologers^z answered the king, “There is no one on earth who can do what the king asks! No king, however great and mighty, has ever asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or astrologer.^{a 11}What the king asks is too difficult. No one can reveal it to the king except the gods,^b and they do not live among humans.”

¹²This made the king so angry and furious^c that he ordered the execution^d of all the wise men of Babylon. ¹³So the decree was issued to put the wise men to death, and men were sent to look for Daniel and his friends to put them to death.^e

¹⁴When Arioch, the commander of the king’s guard, had gone out to put to death the wise men of Babylon, Daniel spoke to him with wisdom and tact. ¹⁵He asked the king’s officer, “Why did the king issue such a harsh decree?” Arioch then explained the matter to Daniel. ¹⁶At this, Daniel went in to the king and asked for time, so that he might interpret the dream for him.

¹⁷Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.^{f 18}He urged them to plead for mercy^g from the God of heaven^h concerning this mystery,ⁱ so that he and his friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. ¹⁹During the night the mystery^j was revealed to Daniel in a vision.^k Then Daniel praised the God of heaven^{l 20}and said:

“Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever;^m

wisdom and powerⁿ are his.

²¹He changes times and seasons;^o

he deposes^p kings and raises up others.^q

He gives wisdom^r to the wise

and knowledge to the discerning.^s

²²He reveals deep and hidden things;^t

he knows what lies in darkness,^u

and light^v dwells with him.

²³I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors:^w

You have given me wisdom^x and power,

you have made known to me what we asked of you,

you have made known to us the dream of the king.^y”