8. The king replied, "I know for certain that you are bargaining for time, inasmuch as you have seen that the command from me is firm,
9. that if you do not make the dream known to me, there is only one decree for you. For you have agreed together to speak lying and corrupt words before me until the situation is changed; therefore tell me the dream, that I may know that you can declare to me its interpretation."
10. The Chaldeans answered the king and said, "There is not a man on earth who could declare the matter for the king, inasmuch as no great king or ruler has ever asked anything like this of any magician, conjurer or Chaldean.
11. Moreover, the thing which the king demands is difficult, and there is no one else who could declare it to the king except gods, whose dwelling place is not with mortal flesh."
12. Because of this the king became indignant and very furious and gave orders to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.
13. So the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they looked for Daniel and his friends to kill them.
14. Then Daniel replied with discretion and discernment to Arioch, the captain of the king's bodyguard, who had gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon;
15. he said to Arioch, the king's commander, "For what reason is the decree from the king so urgent?" Then Arioch informed Daniel about the matter.
16. So Daniel went in and requested of the king that he would give him time, in order that he might declare the interpretation to the king.
17. Then Daniel went to his house and informed his friends, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, about the matter,