| International Standard Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1 It pleased Darius to appoint 120 regional authorities over the kingdom throughout the realm, | 1Darius decided to appoint 120 satraps over the kingdom, stationed throughout the realm, |
| 2along with three chief administrators from them, one of which was Daniel. The regional authorities reported to these three administrators, so that the king would experience no losses. | 2and over them three administrators, including Daniel. These satraps would be accountable to them so that the king would not be defrauded. |
| 3Daniel distinguished himself among all the administrators and regional authorities, because he was of an extraordinary spirit. Therefore the king planned to appoint him over the whole kingdom. | 3Daniel distinguished himself above the administrators and satraps because he had an extraordinary spirit, so the king planned to set him over the whole realm. |
| 4Because of this, the administrators and regional authorities tried to bring allegations of dereliction of duty in government affairs against Daniel, but they were unable to find any charges of corruption. Daniel was trustworthy, and no evidence of negligence or corruption could be found against him. | 4The administrators and satraps, therefore, kept trying to find a charge against Daniel regarding the kingdom. But they could find no charge or corruption, for he was trustworthy, and no negligence or corruption was found in him. |
| 5So these men said, "We'll never find any basis for complaint against Daniel unless we build it on the requirements of his God." | 5Then these men said, "We will never find any charge against this Daniel unless we find something against him concerning the law of his God." |
| 6Then these administrators and regional authorities went as a group to the king and said this, "Your majesty, live forever! | 6So the administrators and satraps went together to the king and said to him, "May King Darius live forever. |
| 7All of the royal administrators, prefects, regional authorities, scribes, and governors have concluded that the king should establish and enforce an edict that anyone who prays to any god or man for the next 30 days (except to you, your majesty) is to be thrown into the lions' pit. | 7All the administrators of the kingdom, the prefects, satraps, advisers, and governors have agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an edict that for 30 days, anyone who petitions any god or man except you, the king, will be thrown into the lions' den. |
| 8Therefore, your majesty, establish the decree and sign the written document so it can't be changed, in accordance with the laws of the Medes and Persians that can't be repealed." | 8Therefore, Your Majesty, establish the edict and sign the document so that, as a law of the Medes and Persians, it is irrevocable and cannot be changed." |
| 9So King Darius signed the edict contained in the written document. | 9So King Darius signed the document. |
| 10When Daniel learned that the written document had been signed, he went to an upstairs room in his house that had windows opened facing Jerusalem. Three times a day he would kneel down, pray, and give thanks to his God, just as he had previously done. | 10When Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went into his house. The windows in its upper room opened toward Jerusalem, and three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God, just as he had done before. |
| 11The conspirators then went as a group and found Daniel praying and seeking help before his God. | 11Then these men went as a group and found Daniel petitioning and imploring his God. |
| 12So they approached the king and asked, "Didn't you sign an edict that for the next 30 days if anyone prays to any god or man, except to you, your majesty, he would be thrown into the lions' pit?" The king responded, "The decree has been established, in accordance with the laws of the Medes and Persians that can't be repealed." | 12So they approached the king and asked about his edict: "Didn't you sign an edict that for 30 days any man who petitions any god or man except you, the king, will be thrown into the lions' den?" The king answered, "As a law of the Medes and Persians, the order stands and is irrevocable." |
| 13Then they told the king, "Daniel, who is one of the Judean exiles, pays no attention to you, your majesty, or to the written decree, since he is still praying three times a day." | 13Then they replied to the king, "Daniel, one of the Judean exiles, has ignored you, the king, and the edict you signed, for he prays three times a day." |
| 14When the king heard this, he was greatly upset, because he was determined to make every effort to save Daniel before the sun set. | 14As soon as the king heard this, he was very displeased; he set his mind on rescuing Daniel and made every effort until sundown to deliver him. |
| 15But the men who had gone as a group to the king told him, "Remember, your majesty, that according to the laws of the Medes and Persians, any decree or edict that the king establishes cannot be repealed." | 15Then these men went to the king and said to him, "You as king know it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no edict or ordinance the king establishes can be changed." |
| 16At this point, the king ordered Daniel brought in and thrown into the lions' pit. The king spoke to Daniel, "Your God, whom you serve constantly, will deliver you himself." | 16So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions' den. The king said to Daniel, "May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!" |
| 17A stone was brought and placed over the opening to the pit, and the king affixed a seal to it with his personal signet ring and with the signet rings of his officials so that no one would interfere with Daniel's situation. | 17A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den. The king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signet rings of his nobles, so that nothing in regard to Daniel could be changed. |
| 18Then the king retired to his palace to spend the night fasting. He enjoyed no entertainment, and he couldn't sleep. | 18Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting. No diversions were brought to him, and he could not sleep. |
| 19The king got up at dawn and went quickly to the lions' pit. | 19At the first light of dawn the king got up and hurried to the lions' den. |
| 20As he approached where Daniel was in the pit, he cried out to him in a voice filled with anguish, "Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve constantly, been able to deliver you from the lions?" | 20When he reached the den, he cried out in anguish to Daniel. "Daniel, servant of the living God," the king said, "has your God whom you serve continually been able to rescue you from the lions?" |
| 21Daniel replied to the king, "May your majesty live forever! | 21Then Daniel spoke with the king: "May the king live forever. |
| 22My God sent his angel and sealed the mouths of the lions. They have not harmed me, proving that I'm innocent before him. Also against you, your majesty, I've committed no offense." | 22My God sent His angel and shut the lions' mouths. They haven't hurt me, for I was found innocent before Him. Also, I have not committed a crime against you my king." |
| 23The king was ecstatic, so he gave orders for Daniel to be released from the pit. Daniel was taken up from the pit, and no injury was found to have been inflicted on him, because he had believed in his God. | 23The king was overjoyed and gave orders to take Daniel out of the den. So Daniel was taken out of the den, uninjured, for he trusted in his God. |
| 24Then the king gave orders to bring those men who had tried to have Daniel devoured, and they threw them, their children, and their wives into the lions' pit. They had not reached the floor of the pit before the lions had overtaken them and crushed all their bones. | 24The king then gave the command, and those men who had maliciously accused Daniel were brought and thrown into the lions' den--they, their children, and their wives. They had not reached the bottom of the den before the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones. |
| 25Afterward, King Darius wrote to all peoples, nations, and languages who lived throughout his realm: "May great prosperity be yours! | 25Then King Darius wrote to those of every people, nation, and language who live in all the earth: "May your prosperity abound. |
| 26"I hereby decree that in every area of my kingdom men are to fear and tremble before the God of Daniel. For he is the living God, who endures forever. His kingdom is one that will not be destroyed, and his dominion continues forever. | 26I issue a decree that in all my royal dominion, people must tremble in fear before the God of Daniel: For He is the living God, and He endures forever; His kingdom will never be destroyed, and His dominion has no end. |
| 27He delivers and rescues and performs signs and wonders in heaven and on earth. He has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions." | 27He rescues and delivers; He performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth, for He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions." |
| 28Daniel achieved success during the reigns of Darius and Cyrus the Persian. | 28So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian. |
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