Daniel Serves Darius

1[a]It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps over the kingdom, to be in charge of the whole kingdom, 2and over them, three commissioners (of whom Daniel was one), so that these satraps would be accountable to them, and that the king would not [b]suffer loss. 3Then this Daniel began distinguishing himself [c]among the commissioners and satraps because [d]he possessed an extraordinary spirit, and the king intended to appoint him over the entire kingdom. 4Then the commissioners and satraps began trying to find a ground of accusation against Daniel regarding [e]government affairs; but they could find no ground of accusation or evidence of corruption, because he was trustworthy, and no negligence or corruption was to be found in him. 5Then these men said, “We will not find any ground of accusation against this Daniel unless we find it against him regarding the law of his God.”

6Then these commissioners and satraps came [f]by agreement to the king and spoke to him as follows: “King Darius, live forever! 7All the commissioners of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the counselors and the governors, have 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 be thrown into the lions’ [g]den. 8Now, O king, establish the injunction and sign the document so that it will not be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which [h]may not be revoked.” 9Thereupon, King Darius signed the document, that is, the injunction.

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

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

Daniel in the Lions’ Den

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

19Then the king got up at dawn, at the break of day, and went in a hurry to the lions’ den. 20And 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 your God, whom you continually serve, been able to rescue you from the lions?” 21Then Daniel spoke [n]to the king, “O king, live forever! 22My God sent His angel and 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.” 23Then 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 no injury whatever was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. 24The king then gave orders, and they brought those men who had [q]maliciously accused Daniel, and they threw them, their 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.

25Then Darius the king wrote to all the peoples, nations, and populations of all [r]languages who were living in all the land: “May your [s]peace be great! 26[t]I 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 living God and enduring forever,

And His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed,

And His dominion will be [u]forever.

27“He rescues, saves, and performs signs and miracles

In heaven and on earth,

He who has also rescued Daniel from the [v]power of the lions.”

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