⁴ young men without any physical defect, handsome,^(A) showing aptitude for every kind of learning,^(B) well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language^(C) and literature of the Babylonians.^[a]

² So the king summoned the magicians,^(A) enchanters, sorcerers^(B) and astrologers^[a](C) to tell him what he had dreamed.^(D) When they came in and stood before the king,

⁷ The king summoned the enchanters,^(A) astrologers^[a](B) and diviners.^(C) Then he said to these wise^(D) men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this writing and tells me what it means will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around his neck,^(E) and he will be made the third^(F) highest ruler in the kingdom.”^(G)