1. During Nebuchadnezzar’s second year as king, he had dreams. They bothered him, and he could not sleep.
2. So the king called his wise men to come to him. They used magic and watched the stars. They did this to try to interpret dreams and to learn what would happen in the future. The king wanted them to tell him what he had dreamed, so they came in and stood in front of him.
3. Then the king said to them, “I had a dream that bothers me. I want to know what it means.”
4. Then the Chaldeans answered the king. They spoke Aramaic and said, “King, live forever! Please tell your dream to us, your servants, and then we will tell you what it means.”
5. Then King Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “No, you must tell me the dream, and then you must tell me what it means. If you don’t, I will give an order for you to be cut into pieces. And I will order your houses to be destroyed until they are nothing but piles of dust and ashes.
6. But if you tell me my dream and explain its meaning, I will give you gifts, rewards, and great honor. So tell me about my dream and what it means.”
7. Again the wise men said to the king, “Please, Sir, tell us about the dream, and we will tell you what it means.”
8. Then King Nebuchadnezzar answered, “I know that you are trying to get more time. You know that I meant what I said.