Daniel 2:21-38

21He changes times and periods of history. He removes kings and establishes them. He gives wisdom to those who are wise and knowledge to those who have insight.

22He reveals deeply hidden things. He knows what is in the dark, and light lives with him.

23God of my ancestors, I thank and praise you. You gave me wisdom and power. You told me the answer to our question. You told us what the king wants to know.”

24Then Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy Babylon’s wise advisers. Daniel told him, “Don’t destroy Babylon’s wise advisers. Take me to the king, and I’ll explain the dream’s meaning to him.”

25Arioch immediately took Daniel to the king. He told the king, “I’ve found one of the captives from Judah who can explain the dream’s meaning to you, Your Majesty.”

26The king asked Daniel (who had been renamed Belteshazzar), “Can you tell me the dream I had and its meaning?”

27Daniel answered the king, “No wise adviser, psychic, magician, or fortuneteller can tell the king this secret.

28But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets. He will tell King Nebuchadnezzar what is going to happen in the days to come. This is your dream, the vision you had while you were asleep:

29Your Majesty, while you were lying in bed, thoughts about what would happen in the future came to you. The one who reveals secrets told you what is going to happen.

30This secret wasn’t revealed to me because I’m wiser than anyone else. It was revealed so that you could be told the meaning and so that you would know your innermost thoughts.

31“Your Majesty, you had a vision. You saw a large statue. This statue was very bright. It stood in front of you, and it looked terrifying.

32The head of this statue was made of fine gold. Its chest and arms were made of silver. Its stomach and hips were made of bronze.

33Its legs were made of iron. Its feet were made partly of iron and partly of clay.

34While you were watching, a stone was cut out, but not by humans. It struck the statue’s iron-and-clay feet and smashed them.

35Then all at once, the iron, clay, bronze, silver, and gold were smashed. They became like husks on a threshing floor  in summer. The wind carried them away, and not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that struck the statue became a large mountain which filled the whole world.

36This is the dream. Now we’ll tell you its meaning.

37“Your Majesty, you are the greatest king. The God of heaven has given you a kingdom. He has given you power, strength, and honor.

38He has given you control over people, wild animals, and birds, wherever they live. He has made you ruler of them all. You are the head of gold.