11. What the king is asking is too difficult, and no one exists who can disclose it to the king, except for the gods – but they don’t live among mortals!”
12. Because of this the king got furiously angry and gave orders to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.
13. So a decree went out, and the wise men were about to be executed. They also sought Daniel and his friends so that they could be executed.
14. Then Daniel spoke with prudent counsel to Arioch, who was in charge of the king’s executioners and who had gone out to execute the wise men of Babylon.
15. He inquired of Arioch the king’s deputy, “Why is the decree from the king so urgent?” Then Arioch informed Daniel about the matter.
16. So Daniel went in and requested the king to grant him time, that he might disclose the interpretation to the king.
17. Then Daniel went to his home and informed his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah of the matter.