⁵ The king answered and said to ^(A)the Chaldeans, “The word from me is firm: if you do not make known to me the dream and its interpretation, you shall be ^(B)torn limb from limb, ^(C)and your ^(D)houses shall be laid in ruins. ⁶ But if you show the dream and its interpretation, ^(E)you shall receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. ^(F)Therefore show me the dream and its interpretation.” ⁷ They answered a second time and said, “Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will show its interpretation.” ⁸ The king answered and said, “I know with certainty that you are trying to ^(G)gain time, because you see that the word from me is firm— ⁹ if you do not make the dream known to me, ^(H)there is but one sentence for you. You have agreed to speak lying and corrupt words before me till ^(I)the times change. ^(J)Therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that you can show me its interpretation.” ^10 (K)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 ^(L)Chaldean. ¹¹ The thing that the king asks is difficult, and no one can show it to the king except ^(M)the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.”

¹² Because of this the king was angry and ^(N)very furious, and ^(O)commanded that all ^(P)the wise men of Babylon be destroyed. ¹³ So the decree went out, and the wise men were about to be killed; and they sought ^(Q)Daniel and his companions, to kill them.