Daniel 2:2-13

New International Version

² So the king summoned the magicians,^(A) enchanters, sorcerers^(B) and astrologers^[a](C) to tell him what he had dreamed.^(D) When they came in and stood before the king, ³ he said to them, “I have had a dream that troubles^(E) me and I want to know what it means.^[b]”

⁴ Then the astrologers answered the king,^[c](F) “May the king live forever!^(G) Tell your servants the dream, and we will interpret it.”

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

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

⁸ Then the king answered, “I am certain that you are trying to gain time, because you realize that this is what I have firmly decided: ⁹ If you do not tell me the dream, there is only one penalty^(L) 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.”^(M)

¹⁰ The astrologers^(N) 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.^{(O) 11} What the king asks is too difficult. No one can reveal it to the king except the gods,^(P) and they do not live among humans.”

¹² This made the king so angry and furious^(Q) that he ordered the execution^(R) of all the wise men of Babylon. ¹³ So 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.^(S)