1. During the second year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, he had some dreams. He was troubled, but he stayed asleep.
2. The king sent for the magicians, psychics, sorcerers, and astrologers so that they could tell him what he had dreamed. So they came to the king.
3. The king said to them, “I had a dream, and I’m troubled by it. I want to know what the dream was.”
4. The astrologers spoke to the king in Aramaic, “Your Majesty, may you live forever! Tell us the dream, and we’ll interpret it for you.”
5. The king answered the astrologers, “I meant what I said! If you don’t tell me the dream and its meaning, you will be torn limb from limb, and your houses will be turned into piles of rubble.
6. But if you tell me the dream and its meaning, I will give you gifts, awards, and high honors. Now tell me the dream and its meaning.”
7. Once more they said, “Your Majesty, tell us the dream, and we’ll tell you its meaning.”
8. The king replied, “I’m sure you’re trying to buy some time because you know that I meant what I said.
9. If you don’t tell me the dream, you’ll all receive the same punishment. You have agreed among yourselves to make up a phony explanation to give me, hoping that things will change. So tell me the dream. Then I’ll know that you can explain its meaning to me.”
10. The astrologers answered the king, “No one on earth can tell the king what he asks. No other king, no matter how great and powerful, has ever asked such a thing of any magician, psychic, or astrologer.