They again replied, &#8220;Let the king inform us<n id="1" /> of the dream; then we will disclose its<n id="2" /> interpretation.&#8221;

This was the dream. Now we<n id="1" /> will set forth before the king its interpretation.p>

<p class="bodytext">Then the herald<n id="1" /> made a loud<n id="2" /> proclamation: &#8220;To you, O peoples, nations, and language groups, the following command is given:<n id="3" />

They said<n id="1" /> to King Nebuchadnezzar, &#8220;O king, live forever!<n id="2" />

They<n id="1" /> also asked them, &#8220;What are the names of the men who are building this edifice?&#8221;

The wise men replied to the king: [What follows is in Aramaic<n id="1" />] &#8220;O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will disclose its<n id="2" /> interpretation.&#8221;

<p class="bodytext">Because of this the king got furiously angry<n id="1" /> and gave orders to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.

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>

<t /><p class="bodytext">Then King Nebuchadnezzar was startled and quickly got up. He said to his ministers, &#8220;Wasn&#8217;t it three men that we tied up and threw<n id="1" /> into<n id="2" /> the fire?&#8221; They replied to the king, &#8220;For sure, O king.&#8221;

<t /><p class="bodytext">Then Daniel (whose name is also Belteshazzar) was upset for a brief time;<n id="1" /> his thoughts were alarming him. The king said, &#8220;Belteshazzar, don&#8217;t let the dream and its interpretation alarm you.&#8221; But Belteshazzar replied, &#8220;Sir,<n id="2" /> if only the dream were for your enemies and its interpretation applied to your adversaries!

So the king gave the order,<n id="1" /> and Daniel was brought and thrown into a den<n id="2" /> of lions. The king consoled<n id="3" /> Daniel by saying, &#8220;Your God whom you continually serve will rescue you!&#8221;

We inquired of those elders, asking them, &#8216;Who gave you the authority to rebuild this temple and to complete this structure?&#8217;

He said to him, &#8220;Take these vessels and go deposit them in the temple in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be rebuilt in its proper location.&#8221;<n id="1" />

<p class="poetry">You people of Israel should tell those nations this:p> <p class="poetry">&#8216;These gods did not make heaven and earth.p> <p class="poetry">They will disappear<n id="1" /> from the earth and from under the heavens.&#8217;<n id="2" />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.

saying,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;Let the name of God<n id="2" /> be praised<n id="3" /> forever and ever,p> <p class="poetry">for wisdom and power belong to him.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;

Daniel replied to the king, &#8220;The mystery that the king is asking about is such that no wise men, astrologers, magicians, or diviners can possibly disclose it to the king.

<p class="bodytext">Then King Nebuchadnezzar bowed down with his face to the ground<n id="1" /> and paid homage to Daniel. He gave orders to offer sacrifice and incense to him.