Daniel and the King's Dream

In the second year of Nebuchadnezzar's reign, the king was troubled by dreams and could not sleep. He called for the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and Chaldeans. He wanted them to tell him both the dream and its meaning. If they failed, they faced severe punishment, but if they succeeded, he promised gifts, rewards, and great honour.

The king's advisers asked him to tell them the dream first, but he said they were only trying to gain time. They answered that no human being could do what he asked, and that only the gods could reveal such a thing. Nebuchadnezzar became furious and ordered the wise men of Babylon to be destroyed. Daniel and his companions were included in the decree.

Daniel answered Arioch, the captain of the king's guard, with counsel and prudence and asked why the king's command was so urgent. After Arioch explained it, Daniel went to ask the king for time so he could give the interpretation. Then he told Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, and together they asked the God of heaven for mercy so they would not perish with the others.

That night the secret was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Daniel praised the God of heaven, saying that wisdom and might belong to him. God changes times and seasons, removes kings and sets up kings, and reveals deep and hidden things. Then Daniel went to Arioch and asked him not to destroy the wise men, because he could make the interpretation known to the king.

Before the king, Daniel said that no wise men or enchanters could reveal this mystery, but there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets. He described a great image: a head of gold, chest and arms of silver, belly and thighs of bronze, legs of iron, and feet made partly of iron and partly of clay. Then a stone cut without hands struck the feet, broke the image to pieces, and became a great mountain that filled the whole earth.

Daniel explained that Nebuchadnezzar was the head of gold, and that other kingdoms would rise after his. The last would be divided, partly strong and partly brittle. In the days of those kings, the God of heaven would set up a kingdom that would never be destroyed and would stand forever.

Then Nebuchadnezzar fell before Daniel, declared that Daniel's God is the God of gods and revealer of secrets, gave Daniel great gifts, made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief over the wise men, and at Daniel's request appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego over the province's affairs, while Daniel remained at the king's gate.