Dan 6
1
It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom a hundred and twenty satraps, who should
be throughout the whole kingdom;
2
and over them three presidents, of whom Daniel was one; that these satraps might give
account to them, and that the king should have no damage.
3
Then this Daniel was distinguished above the presidents and the satraps, because an
excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.
4
Then the presidents and the satraps sought to find occasion against Daniel as touching
the kingdom; but they could find no occasion nor fault, seeing that as he was faithful,
neither was there any error or fault found in him.
5
Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we
find it against him concerning the law of his God.
6
Then these presidents and satraps assembled together to the king, and said thus to
him, King Darius, live for ever.
7
All the presidents of the kingdom, the deputies and the satraps, the counsellors and
the governors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a
strong interdict, that whoever shall ask a petition of any god or man for thirty days,
save of you, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.
8
Now, O king, establish the interdict, and sign the writing, that it be not changed,
according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which alters not.
9
Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the interdict.
10
And when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house (now his
windows were open in his chamber toward Jerusalem) and he knelt upon his knees three
times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.
11
Then these men assembled together, and found Daniel making petition and supplication
before his God.
12
Then they came near, and spoke before the king concerning the king`s interdict: Have
you not signed an interdict, that every man that shall make petition to any god or
man within thirty days, save to you, 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 alters not.
13
Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, who is of the children of
the captivity of Judah, regards not you, O king, nor the interdict that you have signed,
but makes his petition three times a day.
14
Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased, and set his heart on
Daniel to deliver him; and he labored till the going down of the sun to rescue him.
15
Then these men assembled together to the king, and said to the king, Know, O king,
that it is a law of the Medes and Persians, that no interdict nor statute which the
king establishes may be changed.
16
Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions.
[Now] the king spoke and said to Daniel, Your God whom you serve continually, he will
deliver you.
17
And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it
with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that nothing might be changed
concerning Daniel.
18
Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting; neither were instruments
of music brought before him: and his sleep fled from him.
19
Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste to the den of lions.
20
And when he came near to the den to Daniel, he cried with a lamentable voice; the
king spoke and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is your God, whom
you serve continually, able to deliver you from the lions?
21
Then said Daniel to the king, O king, live for ever.
22
My God has sent his angel, and has shut the lions` mouths, and they have not hurt
me; seeing that as before him innocency was found in me; and also before you, O king,
have I done no hurt.
23
Then was the king exceeding glad, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out
of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found
upon him, because he had trusted in his God.
24
And the king commanded, and they brought those men that had accused Daniel, and they
cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions
had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces, before they came to
the bottom of the den.
25
Then king Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all
the earth: Peace be multiplied to you.
26
I make a decree, that in all the dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before
the God of Daniel; for he is the living God, and steadfast for ever, And his kingdom
that which shall not be destroyed; and his dominion shall be even to the end.
27
He delivers and rescues, and he works signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who
has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.
28
So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.