1 It pleased Darius H1868 to set over the kingdom H4437 a hundred and twenty satraps, who should be in all the kingdom H4437 ; 2 and over these, three presidents — of whom Daniel was one — to whom these satraps H324 should render account , and that the king should suffer no loss. 3 Now this Daniel H1841 surpassed the presidents and the satraps H324 , because an excellent spirit was in him ; and the king H4430 thought to appoint him over the whole realm. 4 Then H116 the presidents and the satraps H324 sought to find a pretext against Daniel H1841 with respect to the kingdom H4437 ; but they could not find any pretext or fault; inasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him . 5 Then H116 said these men, We shall not find H7912 any pretext against this Daniel H1841 , unless we find H7912 [ it ] against him touching the law of his God. 6 Then H116 these presidents and satraps came in a body to the king, and said H560 thus unto him: King Darius, live for ever! 7 All the presidents of the kingdom, the prefects, and the satraps H324 , the counsellors, and the governors have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any god or man for thirty days, except of thee, O king H4430 , he shall be cast into the den of lions. 8 Now , O king H4430 , establish H6966 the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according H4481 to the law of the Medes and Persians, which may not be revoked. 10 And when Daniel knew that the writing was signed H7560 , he went into his house; and , his windows being open in his upper chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled on his knees three times a day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime. 11 But those men came in a body, and found Daniel H1841 praying וּמְצַלֵּ֤א u.me.tza.Le' H6739 and making H3046 supplication before his God H426 . 12 Then H116 they came near, and spoke before the king concerning the king's decree: Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man H1400 that shall ask [anything] of any god H426 or man H1400 within thirty days, except of 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 may not be revoked. 13 Then H116 they answered and said H560 before the king H4430 , That Daniel, who is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king H4430 , nor the decree H1882 that thou hast signed H7560 , but maketh his petition three times a day H3118 . 14 Then H116 the king H4430 , when he heard these words, was sore distressed thereby, and set H7761 his heart on Daniel H1841 to save him ; and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him . 15 Then H116 these men came in a body unto the king H4430 , and said unto the king H4430 , Know, O king H4430 , that the law of the Medes and Persians is , That no decree nor statute which the king H4430 establisheth may be changed. 16 Then H116 the king H4430 commanded , and they brought Daniel, and cast [ him ] into the den of lions. The king H4430 spoke and said H560 unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will save thee. 17 And a stone was brought H858 , and laid upon the mouth of the den H1358 ; and the king H4430 sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his nobles, that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel H1841 . 18 Then the king H4430 went to his palace, and passed the night fasting; neither were concubines brought H858 before him; and his sleep fled from him. 19 Then H116 the king H4430 arose with the light at break of day, and went in haste unto the den of lions. 20 And when he came near unto the den H1358 , he cried with a mournful voice unto Daniel: the king H4430 spoke and said unto Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, hath thy God whom thou servest continually been able to save thee from the lions H744 ? 22 My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me; forasmuch as before him innocence was found in me; and also before thee, O king H4430 , have I done no hurt. 23 Thereupon was the king H4430 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 H7912 upon him , because he believed in his God H426 . 24 And the king H4430 commanded , and they brought those men who had accused Daniel H1841 , and cast them into the den H1358 of lions, them , their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them , and broke all their bones in pieces ere they came to the bottom of the den H1358 . 25 Then king H4430 Darius wrote unto all peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied unto you . 26 I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel; for he is the living God, and steadfast for ever, and his kingdom [ that ] which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end. 27 He saveth and delivereth, and he worketh signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth: who hath saved Daniel H1841 from the power of the lions. 28 And this Daniel H1841 prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian. ← Daniel 5 Daniel 7 → Darby Bible — 1889 — Public Domain
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