^{5 Ref} The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if ye make not known unto me the dream and the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill.

^{6 Ref} But if ye show the dream and the interpretation thereof, ye shall receive of me gifts and rewards and great honor: therefore show me the dream and the interpretation thereof.

^{7 Ref} They answered the second time and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation.

^{8 Ref} The king answered and said, I know of a certainty that ye would gain time, because ye see the thing is gone from me.

^{9 Ref} But if ye make not known unto me the dream, there is but one law for you; for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can show me the interpretation thereof.

^{10 Ref} The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can show the king's matter, forasmuch as no king, lord, or ruler, hath asked such a thing of any magician, or enchanter, or Chaldean.

^{11 Ref} And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is no other that can show it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.

^{12 Ref} For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.

^{13 Ref} So the decree went forth, and the wise men were to be slain; and they sought Daniel and his companions to be slain.