Daniel Serves Darius

[a]It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps over the kingdom, to be in charge of the whole kingdom, and over them, three commissioners (of whom (A)Daniel was one), so that these satraps would be accountable to them, and that the king would not [b]suffer (B)loss. Then this Daniel began distinguishing himself [c]among the commissioners and satraps because [d]he possessed an (C)extraordinary spirit, and the king intended to appoint him over the (D)entire kingdom. Then the commissioners and satraps began (E)trying to find a ground of accusation against Daniel regarding [e]government affairs; but they could find (F)no ground of accusation or evidence of corruption, because he was trustworthy, and no negligence or corruption was to be found in him. Then these men said, “We will not find any ground of accusation against this Daniel unless we find it against him regarding the (G)law of his God.”

Then these commissioners and satraps came [f]by agreement to the king and spoke to him as follows: “King Darius, (H)live forever! All the (I)commissioners of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the counselors and the governors, have (J)consulted 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 (K)be thrown into the lions’ [g]den. Now, O king, (L)establish the injunction and sign the document so that it will not be changed, according to the (M)law of the Medes and Persians, which [h]may not be revoked.” Thereupon, King Darius (N)signed the document, that is, the injunction.

10 Now when Daniel learned that the document was signed, he entered his house (and in his roof chamber he had windows open (O)toward Jerusalem); and he continued (P)kneeling on his knees three times a day, (Q)praying and (R)offering praise before his God, just as he had been doing previously. 11 Then these men came [i](S)by agreement and found Daniel offering a prayer and imploring favor before his God. 12 Then they approached and (T)spoke 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 (U)law of the Medes and Persians, which [j]may not be revoked.” 13 Then they responded and spoke before the king, “(V)Daniel, who is one of the [k]exiles from Judah, pays (W)no attention to you, O king, or to the injunction which you signed, but keeps offering his prayer three times a day.”

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

Daniel in the Lions’ Den

16 Then the king gave orders, and Daniel was brought in and (Z)thrown into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “[m](AA)Your God whom you continually serve will Himself rescue you.” 17 And a (AB)stone 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. 18 Then the king went to his palace and spent the night (AC)fasting, and no entertainment was brought before him; and his (AD)sleep fled from him.

19 Then the king got up at dawn, at the break of day, and went in a hurry to the lions’ den. 20 And 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 (AE)your God, whom you continually serve, been (AF)able to rescue you from the lions?” 21 Then Daniel spoke [n]to the king, “(AG)O king, live forever! 22 My God (AH)sent His angel and (AI)shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not harmed me, since [o]I was found innocent before Him; and also [p]toward you, O king, I have committed no crime.” 23 Then 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 (AJ)no injury whatever was found on him, because he had (AK)trusted in his God. 24 The king then gave orders, and they brought those men who had [q]maliciously accused Daniel, and they (AL)threw them, their (AM)children, 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.

25 Then Darius the king wrote to all the (AN)peoples, nations, and populations of all [r]languages who were living in all the land: “(AO)May your [s]peace be great! 26 [t]I (AP)issue 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 (AQ)living God and (AR)enduring forever,
And (AS)His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed,
And His dominion will be [u]forever.
27 He rescues, saves, and performs (AT)signs and miracles
In heaven and on earth,
He who has also rescued Daniel from the [v]power of the lions.”

28 So this (AU)Daniel enjoyed success in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of (AV)Cyrus the Persian.

Footnotes

  1. Daniel 6:1 Ch 6:2 in Aram
  2. Daniel 6:2 Or come to grief
  3. Daniel 6:3 Lit above
  4. Daniel 6:3 Lit there was in him
  5. Daniel 6:4 Lit the kingdom
  6. Daniel 6:6 Or as a group
  7. Daniel 6:7 Or pit, and so throughout the ch
  8. Daniel 6:8 Lit does not pass away
  9. Daniel 6:11 Or as a group
  10. Daniel 6:12 Lit does not go away
  11. Daniel 6:13 Lit sons of the exile
  12. Daniel 6:15 Or as a group
  13. Daniel 6:16 Or May your God...Himself rescue you
  14. Daniel 6:21 Lit with
  15. Daniel 6:22 Lit innocence was found for me
  16. Daniel 6:22 Lit before
  17. Daniel 6:24 Lit eaten the pieces of Daniel
  18. Daniel 6:25 Lit tongues
  19. Daniel 6:25 Or welfare; or prosperity
  20. Daniel 6:26 Lit From me a decree is issued
  21. Daniel 6:26 Lit to the end
  22. Daniel 6:27 Lit hand

Daniel in the Den of Lions

[a]It pleased Darius(A) to appoint 120 satraps(B) to rule throughout the kingdom, with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel.(C) The satraps were made accountable(D) to them so that the king might not suffer loss. Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.(E) At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges(F) against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. Finally these men said, “We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.”(G)

So these administrators and satraps went as a group to the king and said: “May King Darius live forever!(H) The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors(I) have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or human being during the next thirty days, except to you, Your Majesty, shall be thrown into the lions’ den.(J) Now, Your Majesty, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”(K) So King Darius put the decree in writing.

10 Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward(L) Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees(M) and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.(N) 11 Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help.(O) 12 So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: “Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human being except to you, Your Majesty, would be thrown into the lions’ den?”

The king answered, “The decree stands—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”(P)

13 Then they said to the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah,(Q) pays no attention(R) to you, Your Majesty, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day.” 14 When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed;(S) he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him.

15 Then the men went as a group to King Darius and said to him, “Remember, Your Majesty, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed.”(T)

16 So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den.(U) The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue(V) you!”

17 A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed(W) it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel’s situation might not be changed. 18 Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating(X) and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep.(Y)

19 At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. 20 When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?”(Z)

21 Daniel answered, “May the king live forever!(AA) 22 My God sent his angel,(AB) and he shut the mouths of the lions.(AC) They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight.(AD) Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.”

23 The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound(AE) was found on him, because he had trusted(AF) in his God.

24 At the king’s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions’ den,(AG) along with their wives and children.(AH) And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.(AI)

25 Then King Darius wrote to all the nations and peoples of every language(AJ) in all the earth:

“May you prosper greatly!(AK)

26 “I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence(AL) the God of Daniel.(AM)

“For he is the living God(AN)
    and he endures forever;(AO)
his kingdom will not be destroyed,
    his dominion will never end.(AP)
27 He rescues and he saves;(AQ)
    he performs signs and wonders(AR)
    in the heavens and on the earth.
He has rescued Daniel
    from the power of the lions.”(AS)

28 So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus[b](AT) the Persian.(AU)

Footnotes

  1. Daniel 6:1 In Aramaic texts 6:1-28 is numbered 6:2-29.
  2. Daniel 6:28 Or Darius, that is, the reign of Cyrus