12Because of this the king was angry and full of wrath, and gave orders for the destruction of all the wise men of Babylon.
13So the order went out that the wise men were to be put to death; and they were looking for Daniel and his friends to put them to death.
14Then Daniel gave an answer with wisdom and good sense to Arioch, the captain of the king's armed men, who had gone out to put to death the wise men of Babylon;
15He made answer and said to Arioch, O captain of the king, why is the king's order so cruel? Then Arioch gave Daniel an account of the business.
16And Daniel went in and made a request to the king to give him time and he would make clear the sense of his dream to the king.
17And Daniel went to his house and gave his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah the news:
18So that they might make a request for the mercy of the God of heaven in the question of this secret; so that Daniel and his friends might not come to destruction with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
