Daniel seeks time

14Then Daniel answered Arioch, the chief of the king’s executioners, with counsel and discretion—the one who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon.

15He answered and said to Arioch, the king’s commander, “Why is the decree so harsh from before the king?” Then Arioch made the matter known to Daniel.

16So Daniel went in and asked the king to give him time, so that he might make the interpretation known to the king.

17Then Daniel went to his house and made the matter known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions.

18and to seek mercy from before the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his companions might not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.