THE BOOK OF DANIEL

 

Daniel Chapter 6

1 ¶ It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty princes, who would be stationed throughout the whole kingdom;

2 And over these were three presidents; of whom Daniel was one: to whom the princes would give account, so that the king would suffer no loss.

3 Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king planned to place him over the entire realm.

4 Then the presidents and princes sought to find something to accuse Daniel of concerning the kingdom; but they could not find any corruption or fault; for he was trustworthy, and was not guilty of any negligence or corruption.

5 Then these men said, We will not find anything to accuse Daniel of, unless we find something against him concerning the law of his God.

6 ¶ Then these presidents and princes went together to the king, and said this to him, King Darius, live forever.

7 All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, the princes, the counselors, and the captains, have agreed that the king should pass a law, and make a firm decree, that whoever asks for anything from any God or man for thirty days, other than you, O king, shall be thrown into the den of lions.

8 Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be altered.

9 Therefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.

10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing had been signed, he went into his house; the windows being open in his room facing Jerusalem, and he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks to his God, as he had done before.

11 ¶ Then these men went as a group, and found Daniel praying and pleading to his God.

12 Then they went, and said to the king concerning his decree; Have you not signed a decree, that every man who asks anything from any God or man for thirty days, except from you, O king, will be thrown into the den of lions? The king answered and said, That is right, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be altered.

13 Then they said to the king, Daniel, who is one of the people taken away captive from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or to the decree that you have signed, but makes his prayer three times a day.

14 Then the king, after hearing these words, was greatly distressed over what he had done, and determined to save Daniel: and he tried hard until the sun went down to deliver him.

15 Then these men went in to the king, and said to him, Remember O king, that the Medes and Persians have a law, That no decree or statute that the king makes may be changed.

16 So the king gave the order, and they took Daniel, and threw him into the den of lions. The king said to Daniel, May the God whom you continually serve deliver you.

17 And a stone was brought, and placed over the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own seal, and with the seal of his lords; so that nothing regarding Daniel might be changed.

18 ¶ The king then went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: nor were musical instruments brought before him: and he could not sleep.

19 Then the king arose very early in the morning, and hurried to the den of lions.

20 And when he got to the den and to Daniel, he cried with a voice of anguish: and the king 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 Daniel said to the king, O king, live for ever.

22 My God has sent his angel, and has shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me: because I was found innocent before him; and you also know O king, that I have done nothing wrong.

23 Then the king was very glad, and commanded them to take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and was found to be completely unharmed, because he trusted in his God.

24 And the king gave orders, and they brought the men who had accused Daniel, and they threw them into the lion’s den, them, their children, and their wives; and before they ever reached the bottom of the den the lions overpowered them, and broke all their bones in pieces.

25 ¶ Then king Darius wrote to all people, nations, and languages, living throughout the earth; Peace be multiplied to you.

26 I make a decree, That in every part of my kingdom men tremble in fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and continues forever, and his kingdom will never be destroyed, and his dominion has no end.

27 He delivers and rescues, and he performs signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, and 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.