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To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.
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Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream
In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his mind was troubled and he could not sleep.
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So the king summoned the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and astrologers to tell him what he had dreamed. When they came in and stood before the king,
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he said to them, “I have had a dream that troubles me and I want to know what it means.”
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Then the astrologers answered the king, “May the king live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will interpret it.”
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The king replied to the astrologers, “This is what I have firmly decided: If you do not tell me what my dream was and interpret it, I will have you cut into pieces and your houses turned into piles of rubble.
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But if you tell me the dream and explain it, you will receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. So tell me the dream and interpret it for me.”
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Once more they replied, “Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will interpret it.”
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If you do not tell me the dream, there is only one penalty 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.”
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At this, Daniel went in to the king and asked for time, so that he might interpret the dream for him.
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I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors: You have given me wisdom and power, you have made known to me what we asked of you, you have made known to us the dream of the king.”
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Daniel Interprets the Dream
Then Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to execute the wise men of Babylon, and said to him, “Do not execute the wise men of Babylon. Take me to the king, and I will interpret his dream for him.”
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Arioch took Daniel to the king at once and said, “I have found a man among the exiles from Judah who can tell the king what his dream means.”
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The king asked Daniel (also called Belteshazzar), “Are you able to tell me what I saw in my dream and interpret it?”
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but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries. He has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in days to come. Your dream and the visions that passed through your mind as you were lying in bed are these:
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“This was the dream, and now we will interpret it to the king.
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This is the meaning of the vision of the rock cut out of a mountain, but not by human hands—a rock that broke the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold to pieces. “The great God has shown the king what will take place in the future. The dream is true and its interpretation is trustworthy.”
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Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream of a Tree
King Nebuchadnezzar, To the nations and peoples of every language, who live in all the earth: May you prosper greatly!
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I had a dream that made me afraid. As I was lying in bed, the images and visions that passed through my mind terrified me.
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So I commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be brought before me to interpret the dream for me.
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When the magicians, enchanters, astrologers and diviners came, I told them the dream, but they could not interpret it for me.
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Finally, Daniel came into my presence and I told him the dream. (He is called Belteshazzar, after the name of my god, and the spirit of the holy gods is in him.)
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I said, “Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you, and no mystery is too difficult for you. Here is my dream; interpret it for me.
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“This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. Now, Belteshazzar, tell me what it means, for none of the wise men in my kingdom can interpret it for me. But you can, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.”
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Daniel Interprets the Dream
Then Daniel (also called Belteshazzar) was greatly perplexed for a time, and his thoughts terrified him. So the king said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its meaning alarm you.” Belteshazzar answered, “My lord, if only the dream applied to your enemies and its meaning to your adversaries!
