It was the king’s practice to ask for advice about matters of law and fairness. So he spoke with the wise men who understood what was going on at that time.

那时，在王左右常见王面、国中坐高位的，有波斯和玛代的七个大臣，就是甲示拿、示达、押玛他、他施斯、米力、玛西拿、米母干，都是达时务的明哲人。按王的常规，办事必先询问知例明法的人。王问他们说：

按王的常规，办事必先询问知例明法的人。那时，王询问通达时务的智慧人，

按王的常规，办事必先询问知例明法的人。那时，王询问通达时务的智慧人，

王有事习惯征求通晓律例和法则之人的意见，于是他去问精通时务的哲士。

王就咨询通达时务的哲士；因为当时按照王的常规，王要处理一事，必先问问面前所有精通法令和审断的朝臣。

于是王就询问那些精于时势的智慧人；这是王的常规，王一向询问所有精于法令和司法的人，

那時，在王左右常見王面、國中坐高位的，有波斯和米底亞的七個大臣，就是甲示拿、示達、押瑪他、他施斯、米力、瑪西拿、米母干，都是達時務的明哲人。按王的常規，辦事必先詢問知例明法的人。王問他們說：

按王的常規，辦事必先詢問知例明法的人。那時，王詢問通達時務的智慧人，

按王的常規，辦事必先詢問知例明法的人。那時，王詢問通達時務的智慧人，

王有事習慣徵求通曉律例和法則之人的意見，於是他去問精通時務的哲士。

王就諮詢通達時務的哲士；因為當時按照王的常規，王要處理一事，必先問問面前所有精通法令和審斷的朝臣。

王就問識時務的智慧人——因為王有這樣的常規：要在一切知法令明執政的人面前先問一下。

於是王就詢問那些精於時勢的智慧人；這是王的常規，王一向詢問所有精於法令和司法的人，

王之左右、波斯瑪代七伯、時覲王顏、居國之首位、即甲示拿、示達、押瑪他、他施斯、米力、瑪西拿、米母干、俱達時務、皆哲士也、凡王有事、例當詢諸明法律者、故問之曰、

王之左右、巴西米太七伯承王色笑、為朝庭大寮、其名甲示拿、示達、押馬大、大失、米力、馬西拿、米母干、俱識天文、皆哲士也、凡王有事、例當詢諸知法明理之人、故問之、

平素王有事、必問知例明法之人、時、王之左右有甲示拿、示達、押瑪他、他施斯、米力、瑪西拿、米母干、皆達時務哲士也、乃巴西瑪代之七牧伯、常覲王面、在國中居上位者、今王后瓦實提不遵宦官所傳之王命、王問之循例當如何處之、

Since it was customary for the king to consult experts in matters of law and justice, he spoke with the wise men who understood the times

Then the king said to the wise men who knew the times( for this was the king’s procedure toward all who were versed in law and judgment,

He immediately consulted with his wise advisers, who knew all the Persian laws and customs, for he always asked their advice.

The king consulted the wise men who understood the times, for it was his normal procedure to confer with experts in law and justice.

Then the king said to the wise men who understood the times— for it was the custom of the king to speak this way before all who knew Persian law and justice

Then the king said to the wise men who understood the times( for this was the king’s manner toward all who knew law and justice,

Then the king said to the wise men, who knew the times( for so was the king’s manner toward all that knew law and judgment;

The king consulted the wise men who understood the times, for it was his normal procedure to confer with experts in law and justice.

Then the king said to the wise men, which knew the times,( for so[ was] the king’s manner toward all that knew law and judgment:

The king then inquired of the wise men who were discerners of the times– for it was the royal custom to confer with all those who were proficient in laws and legalities.

Then the king said to the wise men, who knew the times( for it was the king’s custom to consult those who knew law and judgment;

The men from Issachar understood what was going on at that time. They knew what Israel should do. The total number of their chiefs was 200. They came with all their relatives who were under their command.

King of the nations, everyone should have respect for you. That’s what people should give you. Among all the wise leaders of the nations there is no one like you. No one can compare with you in all their kingdoms.

So the king sent for those who claimed to get knowledge by using magic. He also sent for those who practiced evil magic and those who studied the heavens. He wanted them to tell him what he had dreamed. They came in and stood in front of the king.

That made the king very angry. He ordered that all the wise men in Babylon be put to death.

And in the morning you say,‘ Today it will be stormy. The sky is red and cloudy.’ You know the meaning of what you see in the sky. But you can’t understand the signs of what is happening right now.

The king sent for those who try to figure things out by using magic. He also sent for those who study the heavens. All of them were wise men in Babylon. Then the king spoke to them. He said,“ I want one of you to read this writing. I want you to tell me what it means. Whoever does this will be dressed in purple clothes. A gold chain will be put around his neck. And he will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.”

Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea. This happened while Herod was king of Judea. After Jesus’ birth, Wise Men from the east came to Jerusalem.

So I commanded that all the wise men in Babylon be brought to me. I wanted them to tell me what my dream meant.Those who try to figure things out by using magic came. So did those who study the heavens. I told all of them what I had dreamed. But they couldn’t tell me what it meant.

Daniel replied,“ You have asked us to explain a mystery to you. But no wise man can do that. And those who try to figure things out by using magic can’t do it either.