¹⁵ Now ^(A)the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing and make known to me its interpretation, but they could not give the interpretation of the thing.

^7 (A)The king cried ^[a]aloud to bring in ^(B)the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. The king spoke, saying to the wise men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this writing, and tells me its interpretation, shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around his neck; ^(C)and he shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.” ⁸ Now all the king’s wise men came, ^(D)but they could not read the writing, or make known to the king its interpretation.

³ And the king said to them, “I have had a dream, and my spirit is anxious to ^[a]know the dream.”

⁴ Then the Chaldeans spoke to the king in Aramaic, ^(A)“O^[b] king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will give the interpretation.”

⁵ The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, “My ^[c]decision is firm: if you do not make known the dream to me, and its interpretation, you shall be ^(B)cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made an ash heap. ^6 (C)However, if you tell the dream and its interpretation, you shall receive from me gifts, rewards, and great honor. Therefore tell me the dream and its interpretation.”

⁷ They answered again and said, “Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will give its interpretation.”

⁸ The king answered and said, “I know for certain that you would gain time, because you see that my decision is firm: ⁹ if you do not make known the dream to me, there is only one decree for you! For you have agreed to speak lying and corrupt words before me till the ^[d]time has changed. Therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that you can ^[e]give me its interpretation.”

¹⁰ The Chaldeans answered the king, and said, “There is not a man on earth who can tell the king’s matter; therefore no king, lord, or ruler has ever asked such things of any magician, astrologer, or Chaldean. ¹¹ It is a ^[f]difficult thing that the king requests, and there is no other who can tell it to the king ^(D)except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.”

¹¹ The whole vision has become to you like the words of a ^[a]book ^(D)that is sealed, which men deliver to one who is literate, saying, “Read this, please.”

^(E)And he says, “I cannot, for it is sealed.”

¹² Then the book is delivered to one who ^[b]is illiterate, saying, “Read this, please.”

And he says, “I am not literate.”