1
And in the secondyear of the reign of NebuchadnezzarNebuchadnezzardreameddreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleepbrake from him.
2
Then the kingcommanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to shew the king his dreams. So they came and stoodbefore the king.
3
And the kingsaid unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream.
4
Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriack, O king,live for ever:tell thy servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation.
5
The kinganswered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me:if ye will not make known unto me the dream, with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut[a] in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill.
6
But if ye shew the dream, and the interpretation thereof, ye shall receiveofmegifts and rewards[b] and greathonour:thereforeshew me the dream, and the interpretation thereof.
7
They answeredagain and said, Let the kingtell his servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation of it.
8
The kinganswered and said, Iknowofcertainty that ye would gain[c] the time,becauseyesee the thing is gonefrom me.