Daniel 2:21-38

21He makes things happen at the right time. He gives to some kings authority to rule. And he takes that authority away from other kings. He causes some people to become wise. He helps people to understand the things that they learn.

22He explains difficult problems and secret things. He knows about all things, even when they are in dark places. He himself lives in the light.

23My ancestors' God, I thank you and I praise you! You have made me wise and you have made me strong. We asked you to help us, and now you have shown me your answer. You have explained the king's problem to us. So I thank you.’

24So Daniel went to see Arioch, the king's officer. The king had told Arioch to kill all the wise men of Babylon. But Daniel said to him, ‘Do not kill Babylon's wise men. Take me to the king. Then I will tell the king what his dream means.’

25Then Arioch quickly took Daniel to meet the king. He said, ‘I have found this man, who is one of the people that you brought from Judah. He can tell you, sir, what your dream means.’

26The king spoke to Daniel, whose other name was Belteshazzar. He asked Daniel, ‘Can you tell me my dream? And can you tell me what it means?’

27Daniel answered the king, ‘Sir, your dream is a secret. No wise men, enchanters, magicians or diviners can tell you about it.

28But there is a God in heaven. He explains secret things. In your dream, he has shown you what will happen in future years. Now I will tell you the dream and the visions that you had while you lay on your bed.

29While you lay on your bed, you dreamed about future times. God explains secret things, and he has shown you what will happen in future years.

30I am not more wise than other people. But God has explained your secret dream to me, because he wants you to know what it means. He wants you to understand the thoughts in your mind.’

31Daniel said, ‘In your dream, you saw in front of you a statue with a man's shape. It was very big and very bright. It frightened people very much.

32Its head was made from pure gold. The top of its body and its arms were made from silver. Its lower body was made from bronze.

33The statue's legs were made from iron. Its feet had parts made from iron and parts made from clay.

34While you looked, someone cut out a large stone from a mountain. But no human hand did this. The stone hit the statue on its iron and clay feet. The stone broke them into pieces.

35Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold all broke into pieces. They became like chaff that the wind blows away. Nobody could see any of those pieces any more. But the stone that had hit the statue became a large mountain. It filled the whole earth.’

36Daniel continued to say, ‘That was your dream, King Nebuchadnezzar. Now we will tell you what it means.

37You are a great king who rules over other kings. The God of heaven has given you authority to rule. He has given you power, strength and honour.

38He has put all the people of this world, the wild animals and the birds under your power. He has given you authority to rule them all, in every place that they live. You are like the head of gold that you saw in your dream.