5 The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, “My 3decision is firm: if you do not make known the dream to me, and its interpretation, you shall be ecut in pieces, and your houses shall be made an ash heap. 6 fHowever, if you tell the dream and its interpretation, you shall receive from me gifts, rewards, and great honor. Therefore tell me the dream and its interpretation.”

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

8 The king answered and said, “I know for certain that you would gain time, because you see that my decision is firm: 9 if you do not make known the dream to me, there is only one decree for you! For you have agreed to speak lying and corrupt words before me till the 4time has changed. Therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that you can 5give me its interpretation.”

10 The Chaldeans answered the king, and said, “There is not a man on earth who can tell the king’s matter; therefore no king, lord, or ruler has ever asked such things of any magician, astrologer, or Chaldean. 11 It is a 6difficult thing that the king requests, and there is no other who can tell it to the king gexcept the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.”

12 For this reason the king was angry and very furious, and gave the command to destroy all the wise men of Babylon. 13 So the decree went out, and they began killing the wise men; and they sought hDaniel and his companions, to kill them.