20. “Our God, your namewill be praisedfor ever and for ever.You are all-powerful,and you know everything.
21. You control human events—you give rulers their powerand take it away,and you are the sourceof wisdom and knowledge.
22. “You explain deep mysteries,because even the darkis light to you.
23. You are the Godwho was worshippedby my ancestors.Now I thank you and praise youfor making me wiseand 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 cleverest person in all the world can do what you are demanding.
28-29. But the God who rules from heaven can explain mysteries. And while you were sleeping, he showed you what will happen in the future.
30. However, you must realize that these mysteries weren't explained to me because I am cleverer 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 honoured you with power
38. over all humans, animals, and birds. You are the head of gold.