Daniel 6:11-25

11Then these men came 12by agreement and found Daniel offering a prayer and imploring favor before his God. 12Then they approached and 3spoke 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 4law of the Medes and Persians, which 5may not be revoked.” 13Then they responded 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 offering his prayer three times a day.”

14Then, as soon as the king heard this statement, he was deeply 9distressed, and set his mind on rescuing Daniel; and until sunset he kept exerting himself to save 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 12thrown into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “1314Your God whom you continually serve will Himself rescue you.” 17And a 15stone 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 16fasting, and no entertainment was brought before him; and his 17sleep 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 18your God, whom you continually serve, been 19able to rescue 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, since 24I was found innocent before Him; and also 25toward 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 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 29threw 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 populations of all 32languages who were living in all the land: “33May your 34peace be great!