Daniel 6:2-28

2and over them, three commissioners (of whom 1Daniel was one), so that these satraps would be accountable to them, and that the king would not 2suffer 3loss. 3Then this Daniel began distinguishing himself 4among the commissioners and satraps because 5he possessed an 6extraordinary spirit, and the king intended to appoint him over the 7entire kingdom. 4Then the commissioners and satraps began 8trying to find a ground of accusation against Daniel regarding 9government affairs; but they could find 10no 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 11law of his God.”

6Then these commissioners and satraps came 12by agreement to the king and spoke to him as follows: “King Darius, 13live forever! 7All the 14commissioners of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the counselors and the governors, have 15consulted 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 16be thrown into the lions’ 17den. 8Now, O king, 18establish the injunction and sign the document so that it will not be changed, according to the 19law of the Medes and Persians, which 20may not be revoked.” 9Thereupon, King Darius 21signed 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 22toward Jerusalem); and he continued 23kneeling on his knees three times a day, 24praying and 25offering praise before his God, just as he had been doing previously. 11Then these men came 2627by agreement and found Daniel offering a prayer and imploring favor before his God. 12Then they approached and 28spoke 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 29law of the Medes and Persians, which 30may not be revoked.” 13Then they responded and spoke before the king, “31Daniel, who is one of the 32exiles from Judah, pays 33no 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 34distressed, and set his mind on rescuing Daniel; and until sunset he kept exerting himself to save him. 15Then these men came 35by agreement to the king and said to the king, “Recognize, O king, that it is a 36law 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 37thrown into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “3839Your God whom you continually serve will Himself rescue you.” 17And a 40stone 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 41fasting, and no entertainment was brought before him; and his 42sleep 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 43your God, whom you continually serve, been 44able to rescue you from the lions?” 21Then Daniel spoke 45to the king, “46O king, live forever! 22My God 47sent His angel and 48shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not harmed me, since 49I was found innocent before Him; and also 50toward 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 51no injury whatever was found on him, because he had 52trusted in his God. 24The king then gave orders, and they brought those men who had 53maliciously accused Daniel, and they 54threw them, their 55children, 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 56peoples, nations, and populations of all 57languages who were living in all the land: “58May your 59peace be great! 2660I 61issue 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 62living God and 63enduring forever, And 64His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed, And His dominion will be 65forever.27He rescues, saves, and performs 66signs and miracles In heaven and on earth, He who has also rescued Daniel from the 67power of the lions.”

28So this 68Daniel enjoyed success in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of 69Cyrus the Persian.