¹⁵ Now ^(A)the wise men, the ^(B)enchanters, have been brought in before me to read this writing and make known to me its interpretation, but ^(C)they could not show the interpretation of the matter.

^7 (A)The king called loudly to bring in ^(B)the enchanters, the ^(C)Chaldeans, and ^(D)the astrologers. The king declared^[a] to the wise men of Babylon, ^(E)“Whoever reads this writing, and shows me its interpretation, shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around his neck and ^(F)shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.” ⁸ Then all the king's wise men came in, but ^(G)they could not read the writing or make known to the king the interpretation.

³ And the king said to them, “I had a dream, and ^(A)my spirit is troubled to know the dream.” ⁴ Then ^(B)the Chaldeans said to the king in Aramaic,^{[a] (C)}“O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation.” ⁵ The king answered and said to ^(D)the Chaldeans, “The word from me is firm: if you do not make known to me the dream and its interpretation, you shall be ^(E)torn limb from limb, ^(F)and your ^(G)houses shall be laid in ruins. ⁶ But if you show the dream and its interpretation, ^(H)you shall receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. ^(I)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 ^(J)gain time, because you see that the word from me is firm— ⁹ if you do not make the dream known to me, ^(K)there is but one sentence for you. You have agreed to speak lying and corrupt words before me till ^(L)the times change. ^(M)Therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that you can show me its interpretation.” ^10 (N)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 ^(O)Chaldean. ¹¹ The thing that the king asks is difficult, and no one can show it to the king except ^(P)the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.”

¹¹ And the vision of all this has become to you like the words of a book that is ^(B)sealed. When men give it to one who can read, saying, “Read this,” he says, “I cannot, for it is sealed.” ¹² And when they give the book to one who cannot read, saying, “Read this,” he says, “I cannot read.”