CHAPTER 6
2It pleased Darius to raise up one hundred twenty satraps to be throughout his kingdom, 3and above them three overseers, of whom Daniel was one, to whom these satraps would report, that the king should not be troubled. 4Then was this Daniel preeminent among the overseers and the satraps, for there was exceptional spirit in him, and the king thought to raise him up over the whole kingdom. 5Then the overlords and the satraps were seeking to find some pretext against Daniel in regard to the kingdom, but no pretext nor corruption could they find, for he was faithful, and no fault nor corruption was found in him. 6Then these men said that “no pretext was found against this Daniel, but we have found one against him in the law of his god.” 7Then did these overseers and satraps come in a crowd to the king and thus said to him, “King Darius, live forever! 8All the overseers of the kingdom, the governors and the satraps and councillors, have resolved to issue a royal vow and to enforce a binding edict that for thirty days whoever asks a petition of any god or man other than you, O king, shall be thrown into the lions’ den. 9Now, O king, you should issue the binding edict and put it down in writing that is not to be changed, according to the law of Media and Persia that shall not be transgressed.” 10Because of this, King Darius indited the writ of the binding decree. 11And when Daniel knew that the writ was indited, he went into his house, and it had windows in its upper chamber open toward Jerusalem, and three times daily he would fall to his knees and pray and give thanks before his God just as he had done in time past. 12Then did these men come in a crowd and find Daniel petitioning and imploring his God. 13Then they approached and said before the king, “About the binding edict, O king, did you not indite a binding edict that any man who petitioned any god or man for thirty days other than you, O king, should be thrown into the lions’ den?” The king answered and said, “The word is right according to the law of Media and Persia, which cannot be transgressed.” 14Then did they answer and say before the king that “Daniel, who is of the exiles of Judah, has paid no heed to you, O king, nor to the binding edict that you indited, and three times daily he makes his petition.” 15Then when the king heard the word, it was very dire for him and he set his mind on Daniel to save him, and till sunset he was striving to rescue him. 16Then these men came in a crowd to the king and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is a rule of Media and Persia that any binding edict or vow that the king issues cannot be changed.” 17Then the king said, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The king spoke out and said to Daniel, “Your god whom you always worship will save you.” 18And a stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his signet and with the signet of his nobles, that nothing should be changed regarding Daniel. 19Then did the king go to his palace and fast through the night, and no banquet table was set before him, and his sleep went wandering from him. 20Then did the king rise with the light at dawn and in a rush went to the lions’ den. 21And as he approached the den, he shouted to Daniel with a sad voice, the king spoke out and said to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living god! Your god whom you worship always, can He have saved you from the lions?” 22Then did Daniel speak with the king: “O king, live forever! 23My God sent His messenger and he shut the lions’ mouths and they did not harm me because I was found innocent before Him, and also before you, O king, no harm have I done.” 24Then was the king very content, and he said to bring up Daniel from the den. And Daniel was brought up from the den, and no harm was found in him, for he had trusted in his God. 25And then the king said, and they brought those men who had slandered Daniel and they threw them into the lions’ den, them and their children and their wives. They had barely touched the bottom of the den when the lions overwhelmed them and crunched all their bones. 26Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and tongues that dwelled in all the land: “Great peace to you! 27By me an edict has been issued that in all the realm of my kingdom people shall fear and tremble before the God of Daniel,
and endures forever,
and His kingdom shall not be destroyed,
and His dominion until the end.
28He saves and rescues and does signs and wonders in the heavens and on earth, Who has saved Daniel from the lions.” 29And this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.