Daniel 2:1-23 (English Standard Version)

Daniel 2

Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream

 ¹In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams;^(A) his spirit was troubled, and^(B) his sleep left him. ²Then the king commanded that^(C) the magicians,^(D) the enchanters, the^(E) sorcerers, and^(F) the Chaldeans be summoned to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and^(G) stood before the king. ³And the king said to them, "I had a dream, and^(H) my spirit is troubled to know the dream." ⁴Then^(I) the Chaldeans said to the king in Aramaic,^[a](J) "O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation." ⁵The king answered and said to^(K) the Chaldeans, "The word from me is firm: if you do not make known to me the dream and its interpretation, you shall be^(L) torn limb from limb,^(M) and your houses shall be laid in ruins. ⁶But if you show the dream and its interpretation,^(N) you shall receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor.^(O) Therefore show me the dream and its interpretation." ⁷They answered a second time and said, "Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will show its interpretation." ⁸The king answered and said, "I know with certainty that you are trying to^(P) gain time, because you see that the word from me is firm— ⁹if you do not make the dream known to me,^(Q) there is but one sentence for you. You have agreed to speak lying and corrupt words before me till^(R) the times change.^(S) Therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that you can show me its interpretation." ^10(T) The Chaldeans answered the king and said, "There is not a man on earth who can meet the king’s demand, for no great and powerful king has asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or Chaldean. ¹¹The thing that the king asks is difficult, and no one can show it to the king except^(U) the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh."

 ¹²Because of this the king was angry and^(V) very furious, and^(W) commanded that all^(X) the wise men of Babylon be destroyed. ¹³So the decree went out, and the wise men were about to be killed; and they sought^(Y) Daniel and his companions, to kill them. ¹⁴Then Daniel replied with prudence and discretion to^(Z) Arioch, the^(AA) captain of the king’s guard, who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon. ¹⁵He declared^[b] to Arioch, the king’s captain, "Why is the decree of the king^(AB) so urgent?" Then Arioch made the matter known to Daniel. ¹⁶And Daniel went in and requested the king to appoint him a time, that he might show the interpretation to the king.

God Reveals Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream

 ¹⁷Then Daniel went to his house and made the matter known to^(AC) Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, ^18(AD) and told them to seek mercy from the^(AE) God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his companions might not^(AF) be destroyed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. ¹⁹Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in^(AG) a vision of the night. Then Daniel^(AH) blessed the^(AI) God of heaven. ²⁰Daniel answered and said:

   ^(AJ) "Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,
   ^(AK) to whom belong wisdom and might.
^21(AL) He changes times and seasons;
   ^(AM) he removes kings and sets up kings;
^(AN) he gives wisdom to the wise
   and knowledge to those who have understanding;
^22(AO) he reveals deep and hidden things;
   ^(AP) he knows what is in the darkness,
   and the light dwells with him.
²³To you, O^(AQ) God of my fathers,
   ^(AR) I give thanks and praise,
for^(AS) you have given me wisdom and might,
   and have now made known to me what^(AT) we asked of you,
   for you have made known to us the king’s matter."