Daniel 6

1It pleased DariusH1868 to set over the kingdomH4437 a hundred and twenty satraps, who should be in all the kingdomH4437; 2and over these, three presidents — of whom Daniel was one — to whom these satrapsH324 should render account, and that the king should suffer no loss. 3Now this DanielH1841 surpassed the presidents and the satrapsH324, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the kingH4430 thought to appoint him over the whole realm. 4ThenH116 the presidents and the satrapsH324 sought to find a pretext against DanielH1841 with respect to the kingdomH4437; but they could not find any pretext or fault; inasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. 5ThenH116 said these men, We shall not findH7912 any pretext against this DanielH1841, unless we findH7912 [it] against him touching the law of his 1God. 6ThenH116 these presidents and satraps came in a body to the king, and saidH560 thus unto him: King Darius, live for ever! 7All the presidents of the kingdom, the prefects, and the satrapsH324, 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 2god or man for thirty days, except of thee, O kingH4430, he shall be cast into the den of lions. 8Now, O kingH4430, establishH6966 the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, accordingH4481 to the law of the Medes and Persians, which may not be revoked. 9Therefore kingH4430 Darius signedH7560 the writing and the decreeH1882. 10And when Daniel knew that the writing was signedH7560, 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 3God, as he did aforetime. 11But those men came in a body, and found DanielH1841 prayingH6739 and makingH3046 supplication before his 4GodH426. 12ThenH116 they came near, and spoke before the king concerning the king's decree: Hast thou not signed a decree, that every manH1400 that shall ask [anything] of any 5godH426 or manH1400 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. 13ThenH116 they answered and saidH560 before the kingH4430, That Daniel, who is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O kingH4430, nor the decreeH1882 that thou hast signedH7560, but maketh his petition three times a dayH3118. 14ThenH116 the kingH4430, when he heard these words, was sore distressed thereby, and setH7761 his heart on DanielH1841 to save him; and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him. 15ThenH116 these men came in a body unto the kingH4430, and said unto the kingH4430, Know, O kingH4430, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the kingH4430 establisheth may be changed. 16ThenH116 the kingH4430 commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast [him] into the den of lions. The kingH4430 spoke and saidH560 unto Daniel, Thy 6God whom thou servest continually, he will save thee. 17And a stone was broughtH858, and laid upon the mouth of the denH1358; and the kingH4430 sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his nobles, that the purpose might not be changed concerning DanielH1841. 18Then the kingH4430 went to his palace, and passed the night fasting; neither were concubines broughtH858 before him; and his sleep fled from him. 19ThenH116 the kingH4430 arose with the light at break of day, and went in haste unto the den of lions. 20And when he came near unto the denH1358, he cried with a mournful voice unto Daniel: the kingH4430 spoke and said unto Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living 7God, hath thy 8God whom thou servest continually been able to save thee from the lionsH744? 21Then DanielH1841 spoke unto the kingH4430, O kingH4430, live for ever! 22My 9God 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 kingH4430, have I done no hurt. 23Thereupon was the kingH4430 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 foundH7912 upon him, because he believed in his 10GodH426. 24And the kingH4430 commanded, and they brought those men who had accused DanielH1841, and cast them into the denH1358 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 denH1358. 25Then kingH4430 Darius wrote unto all peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied unto you. 26I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the 11God of Daniel; for he is the living 12God, and steadfast for ever, and his kingdom [that] which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end. 27He saveth and delivereth, and he worketh signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth: who hath saved DanielH1841 from the power of the lions. 28And this DanielH1841 prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.