¹⁶ At this, Daniel went in to the king and asked for time, so that he might interpret the dream for him.

⁹ If you do not tell me the dream, there is only one penalty^(A) 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.”^(B)

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

¹⁸ At the end of the time^(A) set by the king to bring them into his service, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. ¹⁹ The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service.^(B)