Daniel 2:3–9

³he said to them, “I have had such a dream that my spirit is troubled by the desire to understand it.”^{* 4}The Chaldeans said to the king (in Aramaic),^b “O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will reveal the interpretation.”^{* 5}The king answered the Chaldeans, “This is a public decree: if you do not tell me both the dream and its interpretation, you shall be torn limb from limb, and your houses shall be laid in ruins.^{* 6}But if you do tell me the dream and its interpretation, you shall receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. Therefore tell me the dream and its interpretation.”^{* 7}They answered a second time, “Let the king first tell his servants the dream, then we can give its interpretation.”^{* 8}The king answered, “I know with certainty that you are trying to gain time because you see the decree from me is firm: ⁹if you do not tell me the dream, there is but one verdict for you. You have agreed to speak lying and misleading words to me until things take a turn. Therefore, tell me the dream, and I shall know that you can give me its interpretation.”^*