Daniel 6

Daniel Serves Darius

11It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps over the kingdom, to be in charge of the whole kingdom, 2and over them, three commissioners (of whom 2Daniel was one), so that these satraps would be accountable to them, and that the king would not 3suffer 4loss. 3Then this Daniel began distinguishing himself 5among the commissioners and satraps because 6he possessed an 7extraordinary spirit, and the king intended to appoint him over the 8entire kingdom. 4Then the commissioners and satraps began 9trying to find a ground of accusation against Daniel regarding 10government affairs; but they could find 11no ground of accusation or evidence of corruption, because he was trustworthy, and no negligence or corruption was to be found in him. 5Then these men said, “We will not find any ground of accusation against this Daniel unless we find it against him regarding the 12law of his God.”

6Then these commissioners and satraps came 13by agreement to the king and spoke to him as follows: “King Darius, 14live forever! 7All the 15commissioners of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the counselors and the governors, have 16consulted together that the king should establish a statute and enforce an injunction that anyone who offers a prayer to any god or person besides you, O king, for thirty days, shall 17be thrown into the lions’ 18den. 8Now, O king, 19establish the injunction and sign the document so that it will not be changed, according to the 20law of the Medes and Persians, which 21may not be revoked.” 9Thereupon, King Darius 22signed the document, that is, the injunction.

10Now when Daniel learned that the document was signed, he entered his house (and in his roof chamber he had windows open 23toward Jerusalem); and he continued 24kneeling on his knees three times a day, 25praying and 26offering praise before his God, just as he had been doing previously. 11Then these men came 2728by agreement and found Daniel offering a prayer and imploring favor before his God. 12Then they approached and 29spoke before the king about the king’s injunction: “Did you not sign an injunction that any person who offers a prayer to any god or person besides you, O king, for thirty days, is to be thrown into the lions’ den?” The king replied, “The statement is true, according to the 30law of the Medes and Persians, which 31may not be revoked.” 13Then they responded and spoke before the king, “32Daniel, who is one of the 33exiles from Judah, pays 34no attention to you, O king, or to the injunction which you signed, but keeps offering his prayer three times a day.”

14Then, as soon as the king heard this statement, he was deeply 35distressed, and set his mind on rescuing Daniel; and until sunset he kept exerting himself to save him. 15Then these men came 36by agreement to the king and said to the king, “Recognize, O king, that it is a 37law of the Medes and Persians that no injunction or statute which the king establishes may be changed.”

Daniel in the Lions’ Den

16Then the king gave orders, and Daniel was brought in and 38thrown into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “3940Your God whom you continually serve will Himself rescue you.” 17And a 41stone was brought and placed 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 regarding Daniel. 18Then the king went to his palace and spent the night 42fasting, and no entertainment was brought before him; and his 43sleep fled from him.

19Then the king got up at dawn, at the break of day, and went in a hurry to the lions’ den. 20And when he had come near the den to Daniel, he cried out with a troubled voice. The king began speaking and said to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has 44your God, whom you continually serve, been 45able to rescue you from the lions?” 21Then Daniel spoke 46to the king, “47O king, live forever! 22My God 48sent His angel and 49shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not harmed me, since 50I was found innocent before Him; and also 51toward you, O king, I have committed no crime.” 23Then the king was very glad and gave orders for Daniel to be lifted up out of the den. So Daniel was lifted up out of the den, and 52no injury whatever was found on him, because he had 53trusted in his God. 24The king then gave orders, and they brought those men who had 54maliciously accused Daniel, and they 55threw them, their 56children, 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 57peoples, nations, and populations of all 58languages who were living in all the land: “59May your 60peace be great! 2661I 62issue a decree that in all the realm of my kingdom people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel; For He is the 63living God and 64enduring forever, And 65His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed, And His dominion will be 66forever.27He rescues, saves, and performs 67signs and miracles In heaven and on earth, He who has also rescued Daniel from the 68power of the lions.”

28So this 69Daniel enjoyed success in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of 70Cyrus the Persian.