Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were four of the young men chosen, all from the tribe of Judah.

When the training period ordered by the king was completed, the chief of staff brought all the young men to King Nebuchadnezzar.

The king was furious when he heard this, and he ordered that all the wise men of Babylon be executed.

He asked Arioch, “Why has the king issued such a harsh decree?” So Arioch told him all that had happened.

He said, “Praise the name of God forever and ever, for he has all wisdom and power.

He has made you the ruler over all the inhabited world and has put even the wild animals and birds under your control. You are the head of gold.

Following that kingdom, there will be a fourth one, as strong as iron. That kingdom will smash and crush all previous empires, just as iron smashes and crushes everything it strikes.

This mixture of iron and clay also shows that these kingdoms will try to strengthen themselves by forming alliances with each other through intermarriage. But they will not hold together, just as iron and clay do not mix.

“During the reigns of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed or conquered. It will crush all these kingdoms into nothingness, and it will stand forever.

Then the king appointed Daniel to a high position and gave him many valuable gifts. He made Daniel ruler over the whole province of Babylon, as well as chief over all his wise men.

At Daniel’s request, the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to be in charge of all the affairs of the province of Babylon, while Daniel remained in the king’s court.

Then he sent messages to the high officers, officials, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the provincial officials to come to the dedication of the statue he had set up.

So all these officials came and stood before the statue King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

Then a herald shouted out, “People of all races and nations and languages, listen to the king’s command!

So at the sound of the musical instruments, all the people, whatever their race or nation or language, bowed to the ground and worshiped the gold statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

You issued a decree requiring all the people to bow down and worship the gold statue when they hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and other musical instruments.

“I want you all to know about the miraculous signs and wonders the Most High God has performed for me.

How great are his signs, how powerful his wonders! His kingdom will last forever, his rule through all generations.

So I issued an order calling in all the wise men of Babylon, so they could tell me what my dream meant.

When all the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and fortune-tellers came in, I told them the dream, but they could not tell me what it meant.

The tree grew very tall and strong, reaching high into the heavens for all the world to see.

It had fresh green leaves, and it was loaded with fruit for all to eat. Wild animals lived in its shade, and birds nested in its branches. All the world was fed from this tree.

The tree you saw was growing very tall and strong, reaching high into the heavens for all the world to see.

It had fresh green leaves and was loaded with fruit for all to eat. Wild animals lived in its shade, and birds nested in its branches.

The Dream’s Fulfillment

“But all these things did happen to King Nebuchadnezzar.