Then Daniel went to his home and informed his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah of the matter.

<p class="poetry">he reveals deep and hidden things.p> <p class="poetry">He knows what is in the darkness,p> <p class="poetry">and light resides with him.p>

<p class="bodytext">&#8220;But you, his son<n id="1" /> Belshazzar, have not humbled yourself,<n id="2" /> although you knew all this.

If you don&#8217;t inform me of the dream, there is only one thing that is going to happen to you.<n id="1" /> For you have agreed among yourselves to report to me something false and deceitful<n id="2" /> until such time as things might change. So tell me the dream, and I will have confidence<n id="3" /> that you can disclose its interpretation.&#8221;p>

<p class="poetry">O God of my fathers, I acknowledge and glorify you,p> <p class="poetry">for you have bestowed wisdom and power on me.p> <p class="poetry">Now you have enabled me to understand what I<n id="1" /> requested from you.p> <p class="poetry">For you have enabled me to understand the king&#8217;s dilemma.&#8221;<n id="2" />p>

As for me, this mystery was revealed to me not because I possess more wisdom<n id="1" /> than any other living person, but so that the king may understand<n id="2" /> the interpretation and comprehend the thoughts of your mind.<n id="3" />p>

The king replied<n id="1" /> to the wise men, &#8220;My decision is firm.<n id="2" /> If you do not inform me of both the dream and its interpretation, you will be dismembered<n id="3" /> and your homes reduced to rubble!

He inquired of Arioch the king&#8217;s deputy, &#8220;Why is the decree from the king so urgent?&#8221;<n id="1" /> Then Arioch informed Daniel about the matter.

<p class="poetry">He changes times and seasons,p> <p class="poetry">deposing some kingsp> <p class="poetry">and establishing others.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">He gives wisdom to the wise;p> <p class="poetry">he imparts knowledge to those with understanding;<n id="2" />p>

The king then asked Daniel (whose name was also Belteshazzar), &#8220;Are you able to make known to me the dream that I saw, as well as its interpretation?&#8221;

<p class="bodytext">&#8220;As for you, O king, while you were in your bed your thoughts turned to future things.<n id="1" /> The revealer of mysteries has made known to you what will take place.

But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we don&#8217;t serve your gods, and we will not pay homage to the golden statue that you have erected.&#8221;p>

So I issued an order<n id="1" /> for all the wise men of Babylon to be brought<n id="2" /> before me so that they could make known to me the interpretation of the dream.

When the magicians, astrologers, wise men, and diviners entered, I recounted the dream for them. But they were unable to make known its interpretation to me.

They said to leave the taproot of the tree, for your kingdom will be restored to you when you come to understand that heaven<n id="1" /> rules.

<p class="bodytext">So all the king&#8217;s wise men came in, but they were unable to read the writing or to make known its<n id="1" /> interpretation to the king.

Now the wise men and<n id="1" /> astrologers were brought before me to read this writing and make known to me its interpretation. But they were unable to disclose the interpretation of the message.

<t /><p class="bodytext">But Daniel replied to the king, &#8220;Keep your gifts, and give your rewards to someone else! However, I will read the writing for the king and make known its<n id="1" /> interpretation.

I approached one of those standing nearby and asked him about the meaning<n id="1" /> of all this. So he spoke with me and revealed<n id="2" /> to me the interpretation of the vision:<n id="3" />

The king replied, &#8220;I know for sure that you are attempting to gain time, because you see that my decision is firm.