Daniel 6:11-25

11Then these men came 12by agreement and found Daniel making petition and supplication before his God. 12Then they approached and 3spoke before the king about the king’s injunction, “Did you not sign an injunction that any man who makes a petition to any god or man besides you, O king, for thirty days, is to be cast into the lions’ den?” The king replied, “The statement is true, according to the 4law of the Medes and Persians, which 5may not be revoked.” 13Then they answered and spoke before the king, “6Daniel, who is one of the 7exiles from Judah, pays 8no attention to you, O king, or to the injunction which you signed, but keeps making his petition three times a day.”

14Then, as soon as the king heard this statement, he was deeply 9distressed and set his mind on delivering Daniel; and even until sunset he kept exerting himself to rescue him. 15Then these men came 10by agreement to the king and said to the king, “Recognize, O king, that it is a 11law of the Medes and Persians that no injunction or statute which the king establishes may be changed.”

16Then the king gave orders, and Daniel was brought in and 12cast into the lions’ den. The king spoke and said to Daniel, “1314Your God whom you constantly serve will Himself deliver you.” 17A 15stone was brought and laid over the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signet rings of his nobles, so that nothing would be changed in regard to Daniel. 18Then the king went off to his palace and spent the night 16fasting, and no entertainment was brought before him; and his 17sleep fled from him.

19Then the king arose at dawn, at the break of day, and went in haste to the lions’ den. 20When he had come near the den to Daniel, he cried out with a troubled voice. The king spoke and said to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has 18your God, whom you constantly serve, been 19able to deliver you from the lions?” 21Then Daniel spoke 20to the king, “21O king, live forever! 22My God 22sent His angel and 23shut the lions’ mouths and they have not harmed me, inasmuch as 24I was found innocent before Him; and also 25toward you, O king, I have committed no crime.” 23Then the king was very pleased and gave orders for Daniel to be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den and 26no injury whatever was found on him, because he had 27trusted in his God. 24The king then gave orders, and they brought those men who had 28maliciously accused Daniel, and they 29cast them, their 30children and their wives into the lions’ den; and they had not reached the bottom of the den before the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.

25Then Darius the king wrote to all the 31peoples, nations and men of every 32language who were living in all the land: “33May your 34peace abound!