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)

⁷ 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)

⁸ 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)

³ he said to them, “I have had a dream that troubles^(A) me and I want to know what it means.^[a]”

⁴ Then the astrologers answered the king,^[b](B) “May the king live forever!^(C) Tell your servants the dream, and we will interpret it.”

⁵ 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) 6} 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.”

⁷ Once more they replied, “Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will interpret it.”

⁸ 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: ⁹ 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.”

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.”