Daniel 6

1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom a hundred and twenty satraps, who should be throughout the whole kingdom;2 and over them three presidents, of whom Daniel was one; that these satraps might give account unto them, and that the king should have no damage.3 Then this Daniel was distinguished above the presidents and the satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.4 Then the presidents and the satraps sought to find occasion against Daniel as touching the kingdom; but they could find no occasion nor fault, forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.5 Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.6 Then these presidents and satraps assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever.7 All the presidents of the kingdom, the deputies and the satraps, the counsellors and the governors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a strong interdict, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any god or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.8 Now, O king, establish the interdict, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.9 Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the interdict.10 And when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house (now his windows were open in his chamber toward Jerusalem) and he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.11 Then these men assembled together, and found Daniel making petition and supplication before his God.12 Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king’s interdict: Hast thou not signed an interdict, that every man that shall make petition unto any god or man within thirty days, save unto thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.13 Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, who is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the interdict that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.14 Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored till the going down of the sun to rescue him.15 Then these men assembled together unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians, that no interdict nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed.16 Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.17 And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel.18 Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting; neither were instruments of music brought before him: and his sleep fled from him.19 Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.20 And when he came near unto the den to Daniel, he cried with a lamentable voice; the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?21 Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.22 My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not hurt me; forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.23 Then was the king exceeding glad, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he had trusted in his God.24 And the king commanded, and they brought those men that had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces, before they came to the bottom of the den.25 Then king Darius wrote unto all the peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied unto you.26 I make a decree, that in all the dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel; for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, And his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed; and his dominion shall be even unto the end.27 He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.28 So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

Daniel 6

Daniel is Thrown into a Lions’ Den

1 It seemed like a good idea to Dariust to appoint over the kingdom 120 satrapst who would be in charge of the entire kingdom.2 Over them would be three supervisors, one of whom was Daniel. These satraps were accountablet to them, so that the king’s interests might not incur damage.3 Now this Daniel was distinguishing himself above the other supervisors and the satraps, for he had an extraordinary spirit. In fact, the king intended to appoint him over the entire kingdom.4 Consequently the supervisors and satraps were trying to findt some pretext against Daniel in connection with administrative matters.t But they were unable to find any such damaging evidence,t because he was trustworthy and guilty of no negligence or corruption.t

5 So these men concluded,t “We won’t find any pretext against this man Daniel unless it ist in connection with the law of his God.”
6 So these supervisors and satraps came by collusiont to the king and saidt to him, “O King Darius, live forever!7 To all the supervisors of the kingdom, the prefects, satraps, counselors, and governors it seemed like a good idea for a royal edict to be issued and an interdict to be enforced. For the next thirty days anyone who prayst to any god or human other than you, O king, should be thrown into a den of lions.8 Now let the king issue a written interdictt so that it cannot be altered, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be changed.t

9 So King Darius issued the written interdict.
10 When Daniel realizedt that a written decree had been issued, he entered his home, where the windowss in his upper room opened toward Jerusalem.s Threes times daily he wass kneelingts and offering prayers and thanks to his God just as he had been accustomed to do previously.11 Then those officials who had gone to the kingt came by collusion and found Daniel praying and asking for help before his God.12 So they approached the king and said to him,st “Did you not issue an edict to the effect that for the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human other than to you, O king, would be thrown into a den of lions?” The king replied, “That is correct,t according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be changed.”

13 Then they said to the king, “Daniel, who is one of the captivest from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or to the edict that you issued. Three times daily he offers his prayer.”t
14 When the king heard this,t he was very upset and began thinking aboutt how he might rescue Daniel. Until late afternoont he was struggling to find a way to rescue him.15 Then those men came by collusion to the king ands said to him,t “Recall,t O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no edict or decree that the king issues can be changed.”16 So the king gave the order,t and Daniel was brought and thrown into a dens of lions. The king consoledt Daniel by saying, “Your God whom you continually serve will rescue you!”17 Then a stone was brought and placed over the openingt to the den. The king sealeds it with his signet ring and with thoset of his nobles so that nothing could be changed with regard to Daniel.

18 Then the king departed to his palace. But he spent the night without eating, and no diversionst were brought to him. He was unable to sleep.t

God Rescues Daniel from the Lions

19 In the morning, at the earliest sign of daylight, the king got up and rushed to the lions’ den.

20 As he approached the den, he called out to Daniel in a worried voice,t “Daniel, servant of the living God, was your God whom you continually serve able to rescue you from the lions?”
21 Then Daniel spoke tot the king, “O king, live forever!

22 My God sent his angel and closed the lions’ mouths so that they have not harmed me, because I was found to be innocent before him. Nor have I done any harm to you, O king.”
23 Then the king was delighted and gave an order to haul Daniel up from the den. So Daniel was hauled up out of the den. He had no injury of any kind, because he had trusted in his God.

24 The king gave another order,t and those men who had maliciously accusedt Daniel were brought and thrownt into the lions’ den – they, their children, and their wives.s They did not even reach the bottom of the den before the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.
25 Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and language groups who were living in all the land: “Peace and prosperity!t

26 I have issued an edict that throughout all the dominion of my kingdom people are to revere and fear the God of Daniel.
“For he is the living God;
he endures forever.
His kingdom will not be destroyed;
his authority is forever.t

27 He rescues and delivers
and performs signs and wonders
in the heavens and on the earth.
He has rescued Daniel from the powert of the lions!”

28 So this Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius andt the reign of Cyrus the Persian.