¹⁸ He urged them to plead for mercy^(A) from the God of heaven^(B) concerning this mystery,^(C) so that he and his friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.

¹⁴ even if these three men—Noah,^(A) Daniel^[a](B) and Job^(C)—were in it, they could save only themselves by their righteousness,^(D) declares the Sovereign Lord.