Daniel Interprets Nebuchadnezzar's Dream

In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his mind was troubled and he could not sleep. He summoned the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologers to tell him what he had dreamed. They said, "Tell us the dream, and we will interpret it." The king replied, "This is what I have firmly decided: If you do not tell me what my dream was and interpret it, I will have you cut into pieces."

The astrologers said, "There is no one on earth who can do what the king asks! No king has ever asked such a thing." The king became furious and ordered all the wise men of Babylon to be executed. When Daniel heard this, he went to the king and asked for time to interpret the dream.

Daniel went to his friends and urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery. During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven and said, "Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his."

Daniel went to the king and said, "No wise man, enchanter, magician, or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries. He has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in days to come." Daniel described the dream and its interpretation, and the king fell prostrate before Daniel and said, "Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries."