15 The wise men and enchanters were brought before me to read this writing and tell me what it means, but they could not explain it.(A)

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The king summoned the enchanters,(A) astrologers[a](B) and diviners.(C) Then he said to these wise(D) men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this writing and tells me what it means will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around his neck,(E) and he will be made the third(F) highest ruler in the kingdom.”(G)

Then all the king’s wise men(H) came in, but they could not read the writing or tell the king what it meant.(I)

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Footnotes

  1. Daniel 5:7 Or Chaldeans; also in verse 11

12 “Keep on, then, with your magic spells
    and with your many sorceries,(A)
    which you have labored at since childhood.
Perhaps you will succeed,
    perhaps you will cause terror.

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he said to them, “I have had a dream that troubles(A) me and I want to know what it means.[a]

Then the astrologers answered the king,[b](B) “May the king live forever!(C) Tell your servants the dream, and we will interpret it.”

The king replied to the astrologers, “This is what I have firmly decided:(D) If you do not tell me what my dream was and interpret it, I will have you cut into pieces(E) and your houses turned into piles of rubble.(F) But if you tell me the dream and explain it, you will receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor.(G) So tell me the dream and interpret it for me.”

Once more they replied, “Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will interpret it.”

Then the king answered, “I am certain that you are trying to gain time, because you realize that this is what I have firmly decided: If you do not tell me the dream, there is only one penalty(H) 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.”(I)

10 The astrologers(J) 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.(K) 11 What the king asks is too difficult. No one can reveal it to the king except the gods,(L) and they do not live among humans.”

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Footnotes

  1. Daniel 2:3 Or was
  2. Daniel 2:4 At this point the Hebrew text has in Aramaic, indicating that the text from here through the end of chapter 7 is in Aramaic.

10 The Lord has brought over you a deep sleep:(A)
    He has sealed your eyes(B) (the prophets);(C)
    he has covered your heads (the seers).(D)

11 For you this whole vision(E) is nothing but words sealed(F) in a scroll. And if you give the scroll to someone who can read, and say, “Read this, please,” they will answer, “I can’t; it is sealed.” 12 Or if you give the scroll to someone who cannot read, and say, “Read this, please,” they will answer, “I don’t know how to read.”

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