Daniel 6:4-17

4ThenH116 the commissionersH5632 and satrapsH324 began 1tryingH1156 to findH7912 a groundH5931 of accusationH5931 against DanielH1841 in regardH6655 to 2governmentH4437 affairsH4437; but they couldH3202 findH7912 3noH3606H3809 groundH5931 of accusationH5931 or evidence of corruptionH7844, inasmuchH3606H6903H1768 as he was faithfulH540, and noH3606H3809 negligenceH7960 or corruptionH7844 was to be foundH7912 in him. 5ThenH116 theseH479 menH1400 saidH560, “We will not findH7912 anyH3606 groundH5931 of accusationH5931 against thisH1836 DanielH1841 unlessH3861 we findH7912 it againstH5922 him with regard to the 4lawH1882 of his GodH426.”

6ThenH116 theseH459 commissionersH5632 and satrapsH324 cameH7284 5by agreementH7284 to the kingH4430 and spokeH560 to him as followsH3652: “KingH4430 DariusH1868, 6liveH2418 foreverH5957! 7AllH3606 the 7commissionersH5632 of the kingdomH4437, the prefectsH5460 and the satrapsH324, the highH1907 officialsH1907 and the governorsH6347 have 8consultedH3272 togetherH3272 that the kingH4430 should establishH6966 a statuteH7010 and enforceH8631 an injunctionH633 that anyoneH3605 whoH1768 makesH1156 a petitionH1159 to anyH3606 godH426 or manH606 besidesH3861H4481 you, O kingH4430, for thirtyH8533 daysH3118, shall 9be castH7412 into the lions’H744 10denH1358. 8NowH3705, O kingH4430, 11establishH6966 the injunctionH633 and signH7560 the documentH3792 soH1768 that it may not be changedH8133, according to the 12lawH1882 of the MedesH4076 and PersiansH6540, whichH1768 13may not be revokedH5709.” 9ThereforeH3606H6903H1836 KingH4430 DariusH1868 14signedH7560 the documentH3792, that is, the injunctionH633.

10Now whenH1768 DanielH1841 knewH3046 that the documentH3792 was signedH7560, he enteredH5954 his houseH1005 (now in his roofH5952 chamberH5952 he had windowsH3551 openH6606 15towardH5049 JerusalemH3390); and he continued 16kneelingH1289 on his kneesH1291 threeH8532 timesH2166 a dayH3118, 17prayingH6739 and 18givingH3029 thanksH3029 beforeH6925 his GodH426, 19as he had been doingH5648 previouslyH6928. 11ThenH116 theseH479 menH1400 cameH7284 2021by agreementH7284 and foundH7912 DanielH1841 makingH1156 petitionH1156 and supplicationH2604 beforeH6925 his GodH426. 12ThenH116 they approachedH7127 and 22spokeH560 beforeH6925 the kingH4430 aboutH5922 the king’sH4430 injunctionH633, “Did you not signH7560 an injunctionH633 that anyH3606 manH606 whoH1768 makesH1156 a petitionH1156 to anyH3606 godH426 or manH606 besidesH3861H4481 you, O kingH4430, for thirtyH8533 daysH3118, is to be castH7412 into the lions’H744 denH1358?” The kingH4430 repliedH6032, “The statementH4406 is trueH3330, according to the 23lawH1882 of the MedesH4076 and PersiansH6540, whichH1768 24may not be revokedH5709.” 13ThenH116 they answeredH6032 and spokeH560 beforeH6925 the kingH4430, “25DanielH1841, whoH1768 is one of the 26exilesH1123H1547 from JudahH3061, paysH7761 27noH3809 attentionH7761 to you, O kingH4430, or to the injunctionH633 whichH1768 you signedH7560, but keeps makingH1156 his petitionH1159 threeH8532 timesH2166 a dayH3118.”

14ThenH116, as soonH1768 as the kingH4430 heardH8086 this statementH4406, he was deeplyH7690 28distressedH888 and setH7761 his mindH1079 on deliveringH7804 DanielH1841; and even untilH5705 sunsetH4606H8122 he kept exertingH7712 himself to rescueH5338 him. 15ThenH116 theseH479 menH1400 cameH7284 29by agreementH7284 to the kingH4430 and saidH560 to the kingH4430, “RecognizeH3046, O kingH4430, that it is a 30lawH1882 of the MedesH4076 and PersiansH6540 that noH3606H3809 injunctionH633 or statuteH7010 whichH1768 the kingH4430 establishesH6966 may be changedH8133.”

16ThenH116 the kingH4430 gaveH560 ordersH560, and DanielH1841 was broughtH858 in and 31castH7412 into the lions’H744 denH1358. The kingH4430 spokeH6032 and saidH560 to DanielH1841, “3233Your GodH426 whomH1768 you constantlyH8411 serveH6399 will HimselfH1932 deliverH7804 you.” 17A 34stoneH69 was broughtH858 and laidH7761 overH5922 the mouthH6433 of the denH1358; and the kingH4430 sealedH2857 it with his own signetH5824 ringH5824 and with the signetH5824 ringsH5824 of his noblesH7261, soH1768 that nothingH3809H6640 would be changedH8133 in regard to DanielH1841.