Daniel 2

1 During the second year that Nebuchadnezzar was king, he had such horrible nightmares that he could not sleep.

2 So he called in his counselors, advisors, magicians, and wise men,

3 and said, "I am disturbed by a dream that I don't understand, and I want you to explain it."

4 They answered in Aramaic, "Your Majesty, we hope you live forever! We are your servants. Please tell us your dream, and we will explain what it means."

5 But the king replied, "No! I have made up my mind. If you don't tell me both the dream and its meaning, you will be chopped to pieces and your houses will be torn down.

6 However, if you do tell me both the dream and its meaning, you will be greatly rewarded and highly honored. Now tell me the dream and explain what it means."

7 "Your Majesty," they said, "if you will only tell us your dream, we will interpret it for you."

8 The king replied, "You're just stalling for time,

9 because you know what's going to happen if you don't come up with the answer. You've decided to make up a bunch of lies, hoping I might change my mind. Now tell me the dream, and that will prove that you can interpret it."

10 His advisors explained, "Your Majesty, you are demanding the impossible! No king, not even the most famous and powerful, has ever ordered his advisors, magicians, or wise men to do such a thing.

11 It can't be done, except by the gods, and they don't live here on earth."

12 This made the king so angry that he gave orders for every wise man in Babylonia to be put to death, including Daniel and his three friends.

13 (SEE 2:12)

14 Arioch was the king's official in charge of putting the wise men to death. He was on his way to have it done, when Daniel very wisely went to him

15 and asked, "Why did the king give such cruel orders?" After Arioch explained what had happened,

16 Daniel rushed off and said to the king, "If you will just give me some time, I'll explain your dream."

17 Daniel returned home and told his three friends.

18 Then he said, "Pray that the God who rules from heaven will be merciful and explain this mystery, so that we and the others won't be put to death."

19 In a vision one night, Daniel was shown the dream and its meaning. Then he praised the God who rules from heaven:

20 "Our God, your name will be praised forever and forever. You are all-powerful, and you know everything.

21 You control human events-- you give rulers their power and take it away, and you are the source of wisdom and knowledge.

22 "You explain deep mysteries, because even the dark is light to you.

23 You are the God who was worshiped by my ancestors. Now I thank you and praise you for making me wise and telling me the king's dream, together with its meaning."

24 Daniel went back to Arioch, the official in charge of executing the wise men. Daniel said, "Don't kill those men! Take me to the king, and I will explain the meaning of his dream."

25 Arioch rushed Daniel to the king and announced, "Your Majesty, I have found out that one of the men brought here from Judah can explain your dream."

26 The king asked Daniel, "Can you tell me my dream and what it means?"

27 Daniel answered: Your Majesty, not even the smartest person in all the world can do what you are demanding.

28 But the God who rules from heaven can explain mysteries. And while you were sleeping, he showed you what will happen in the future.

29 (SEE 2:28)

30 However, you must realize that these mysteries weren't explained to me because I am smarter than everyone else. Instead, it was done so that you would understand what you have seen.

31 Your Majesty, what you saw standing in front of you was a huge and terrifying statue, shining brightly.

32 Its head was made of gold, its chest and arms were silver, and from its waist down to its knees, it was bronze.

33 From there to its ankles it was iron, and its feet were a mixture of iron and clay.

34 As you watched, a stone was cut from a mountain--but not by human hands. The stone struck the feet, completely shattering the iron and clay.

35 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed and blown away without a trace, like husks of wheat at threshing time. But the stone became a tremendous mountain that covered the entire earth.

36 That was the dream, and now I'll tell you what it means.

37 Your Majesty, you are the greatest of kings, and God has highly honored you with power

38 over all humans, animals, and birds. You are the head of gold.

39 After you are gone, another kingdom will rule, but it won't be as strong. Then it will be followed by a kingdom of bronze that will rule the whole world.

40 Next, a kingdom of iron will come to power, crushing and shattering everything.

41 This fourth kingdom will be divided--it will be both strong and brittle, just as you saw that the feet and toes were a mixture of iron and clay.

42 (SEE 2:41)

43 This kingdom will be the result of a marriage between kingdoms, but it will crumble, just as iron and clay don't stick together.

44 During the time of those kings, the God who rules from heaven will set up an eternal kingdom that will never fall. It will be like the stone that was cut from the mountain, but not by human hands--the stone that crushed the iron, bronze, clay, silver, and gold. Your Majesty, in your dream the great God has told you what is going to happen, and you can trust this interpretation.

45 (SEE 2:44)

46 King Nebuchadnezzar bowed low to the ground and worshiped Daniel. Then he gave orders for incense to be burned and a sacrifice of grain to be offered in honor of Daniel.

47 The king said, "Now I know that your God is above all other gods and kings, because he gave you the power to explain this mystery."

48 The king then presented Daniel with a lot of gifts; he promoted him to governor of Babylon Province and put him in charge of the other wise men.

49 At Daniel's request, the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to high positions in Babylon Province, and he let Daniel stay on as a palace official.