Study Desk

In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams^(a) that troubled him, and sleep deserted him.^(b)

So the king gave orders to summon the diviner-priests, mediums, sorcerers, and Chaldeans^[a](c) to tell the king his dreams. When they came and stood before the king,

he said to them, "I have had a dream and am anxious to understand it."

The Chaldeans spoke to the king (Aramaic^[b](d) begins here): "May the king live forever.^(e) Tell your servants the dream, and we will give the interpretation."

The king replied to the Chaldeans, "My word is final: If you don't tell me the dream and its interpretation, you will be torn limb from limb,^[c] and your houses will be made a garbage dump.^(f)

But if you make the dream and its interpretation known to me, you'll receive gifts, a reward, and great honor from me.^(g) So make the dream and its interpretation known to me."

They answered a second time, "May the king tell the dream to his servants, and we will give the interpretation."

The king replied, "I know for certain you are trying to gain some time, because you see that my word is final.

If you don't tell me the dream, there is one decree for you.^(h) You have conspired to tell me something false or fraudulent until the situation changes. So tell me the dream and I will know you can give me its interpretation."

The Chaldeans answered the king, "No one on earth can make known what the king requests.⁽ⁱ⁾ Consequently, no king, however great and powerful, has ever asked anything like this of any diviner-priest, medium, or Chaldean.

What the king is asking is so difficult that no one can make it known to him except the gods, whose dwelling is not with mortals."^(j)

Because of this, the king became violently angry^(k) and gave orders to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.

The decree was issued that the wise men were to be executed, and they searched for Daniel and his friends, to execute them.

Then Daniel responded with tact and discretion to Arioch, the commander of the king's guard,^[d](l) who had gone out to execute the wise men of Babylon.

He asked Arioch, the king's officer, "Why is the decree from the king so harsh?"^[e](m) Then Arioch explained the situation to Daniel.

So Daniel went and asked the king to give him some time, so that he could give the king the interpretation.

Then Daniel went to his house and told his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah about the matter,

urging them to ask the God of heaven⁽ⁿ⁾ for mercy^(o) concerning this mystery, so Daniel and his friends would not be killed with the rest of Babylon's wise men.^(p)

The mystery was then revealed to Daniel in a vision^(q) at night, and Daniel praised the God of heaven

and declared: May the name of God be praised forever and ever,^(r) for wisdom^(s) and power belong to Him.

He changes the times and seasons; He removes kings and establishes kings.^(t) He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.^(u)

He reveals the deep and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness,^(v) and light dwells with Him.^(w)

I offer thanks and praise to You, God of my fathers,^(x) because You have given me wisdom and power. And now You have let me know what we asked of You, for You have let us know^(y) the king's mystery.^[f]