¹² When the king heard their reply, he was absolutely outraged and ordered that all the so-called wise men of Babylon be put to death. ¹³ So the decree was issued, and the king’s officials began to round up all the wise men in Babylon for execution; officers were sent to find and kill Daniel and his friends, too, for they were renowned for their wisdom. ¹⁴ As Arioch, the chief of the royal guard, was searching for the wise men of Babylon to kill them, he came across Daniel. Daniel responded to the situation shrewdly and with discretion.