A reading from the book of Daniel.

In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams, his spirit was troubled,

and his sleep left him. Then the king commanded that the magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers,

and the Chaldeans be summoned to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the

king. And the king said to them, I had a dream, and my spirit is troubled to know the dream.

Then the Chaldeans said to the king in Aramaic, O king live forever, tell your servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation.

The king answered and said to the Chaldeans,

The word from me is firm. If you do not make known to me the dream and its interpretation,

you shall be torn limb from limb, and your houses shall be laid in ruins.

But if you show the dream and its interpretation, you shall receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor.

Therefore show me the dream and its interpretation.

They answered a second time and said,

Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will show its interpretation.

The king answered and said,

I know with certainty that you are trying to gain time,

because you see that the word from me is firm.

If you do not make the dream known to me, there is but one sentence for you.

You have agreed to speak lying and corrupt words before me till the times change.

Therefore, tell me the dream, and I shall know that you can show me its interpretation."

The Chaldeans answered the king and said,

There is not a man on earth who can meet the king's demand.

For no great and powerful king has asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or Chaldean.

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