Daniel 6

1It pleased DariusH1868 to set over the kingdomH4437 an hundred and twenty satraps, which should be throughout the whole kingdomH4437; 2and over them three presidents, of whomH1768 Daniel was one; that these satrapsH324 might give accountH5922 unto them, and that the king should have no damage. 3Then this DanielH1841 was distinguished above the presidents and the satrapsH324, becauseH4481 an excellent spirit was in him; and the kingH4430 thought to set him over the whole realm. 4Then the presidents and the satrapsH324 sought to find occasion againstH5922 DanielH1841 as touching the kingdomH4437; but they couldH1768 find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there anyH3606 error or fault found in him. 5Then said these men, WeH116 shall notH3809 findH7912 anyH3606 occasion againstH5922 this DanielH1841, except weH116 findH7912 it againstH5922 him concerning the law of his God. 6Then theseH479 presidents and satraps assembled together to the king, and saidH560 thusH1836 unto him, King Darius, live for ever. 7AllH5957 the presidents of the kingdom, the deputies and the satrapsH324, the counsellors and the governors, have consulted together to establish a royalH4430 statute, and to make a strong interdict, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any god or man for thirty days, save of thee, O kingH4430, he shall be cast into the den of lions. 8NowH4430, O kingH4430, establishH6966 the interdictH633, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, accordingH4481 to the law of the Medes and Persians, whichH1768 altereth not. 9Wherefore kingH4430 Darius signedH7560 the writingH3792 and the interdictH633. 10And when Daniel knew that the writingH3792 was signedH7560, he went into his house; (nowH4430 his windows were open in his chamber toward Jerusalem;) and he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks beforeH6903 his God, as he did aforetime. 11Then theseH1836 men assembled together, and found DanielH1841 makingH3046 petition and supplication beforeH6925 his GodH426. 12Then they cameH7284 near, and spake beforeH6925 the king concerning the king’s interdict; Hast thou not signed an interdict, that every manH1400 that shall make petitionH1156 unto any godH426 or manH1400 within thirty days, save unto thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. 13Then answeredH6032 they and saidH560 beforeH6925 the kingH4430, That Daniel, whichH1768 is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth notH3809 thee, O kingH4430, norH3809 the interdictH633 that thou hast signedH7560, but maketh his petitionH1156 three times a dayH3118. 14Then the kingH4430, when he heard these words, was sore displeased, and setH7761 his heart on DanielH1841 to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to rescue him. 15Then these men assembled together unto the kingH4430, and said unto the kingH4430, Know, O kingH4430, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians, that no interdict nor statute whichH1768 the kingH4430 establisheth may be changed. 16Then the kingH4430 commandedH560, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. NowH116 the kingH4430 spake and saidH560 unto Daniel, Thy God whomH1768 thou servest continually, he will deliver thee. 17And a stone was broughtH858, and laid upon the mouth of the denH1358; and the kingH4430 sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that nothing might be changed concerning DanielH1841. 18Then the kingH4430 wentH858 to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neitherH3809 were instruments of music broughtH858 before him: and his sleep fled from him. 19Then the kingH4430 arose very early in the morning, and wentH236 in haste unto the den of lions. 20And when he came near unto the denH1358 to Daniel, he cried with a lamentable voice: the kingH4430 spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whomH1768 thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lionsH744? 21Then saidH560 DanielH1841 unto the kingH4430, O kingH4430, live for ever. 22My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O kingH4430, have I done no hurt. 23Then was the kingH4430 exceeding glad, and commanded that they should take Daniel upH6925 outH5648 of the den. SoH1768 Daniel was taken upH6925 outH5648 of the den, and noH3809 manner of hurt was foundH7912 upon him, becauseH6903 he had trusted in his GodH426. 24And the kingH4430 commandedH560, and they brought thoseH1768 men whichH1768 had accused DanielH1841, and they cast them into the denH1358 of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake allH3606 their bones in pieces, or ever they came at the bottom of the denH1358. 25Then kingH4430 Darius wrote unto allH3606 the peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in allH3606 the earth; Peace be multiplied unto youH1768. 26I make a decree, that in allH3606 the dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the livingH1753 God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that whichH1768 shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be evenH1768 unto the end: 27He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth; who hath delivered DanielH1841 from the power of the lions. 28SoH1768 this DanielH1841 prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.