Daniel 6
The Plot against Daniel
2and over them three administrators, including Daniel, to whom these satraps were accountable so that the king would not suffer loss.
2and over them three administrators, of whom Daniel was one, that these satraps should be giving an account of themselves, so that the king should not be suffering loss.
3Soon, by his extraordinary spirit, Daniel distinguished himself among the administrators and satraps. So the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.
3Then this Daniel came to be distinguished over the administrators and the satraps, because that an extraordinary spirit was in him; and the king was planning to establish him over all of the kingdom.
4Thus the administrators and satraps sought a charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom, but they could find no charge or corruption, because he was trustworthy, and no negligence or corruption was found in him.
4Then the administrators and the satraps were looking for a matter to find against Daniel regarding the kingdom, and any matter or corruption they were not able to find, all because that he was trustworthy, and there was not found any neglect or corruption in him.
7All the royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers, and governors have agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce a decree that for thirty days anyone who petitions any god or man except you, O king, will be thrown into the den of lions.
7Have consulted together all the administrators of the kingdom—the administrators and the satraps, the counselors and the advisors—to establish a statute of the king and to make firm a decree that anyone who makes a petition of any god or man for thirty days, except of you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions.
8Therefore, O king, establish the decree and sign the document so that it cannot be changed—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”
8Now, O king, may you establish this decree and sign the writing, so that it cannot be changed according to the law of the Mede and Persian, which shall not pass away!”
Daniel in the Lions’ Den
10Now when Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went into his house, where the windows of his 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.
10And Daniel, when he came to know that the writing was signed, he went to his house, and the windows were opened unto him in his upper room toward Jerusalem; and three times in a day he would kneel down on his knees and pray and give thanks before his God, as was his custom from before this.
12So they approached the king and asked about his royal decree: “Did you not sign a decree that for thirty days any man who petitions any god or man except you, O king, will be thrown into the den of lions?”
The king replied, “According to the law of the Medes and Persians the order stands, and it cannot be repealed.”
12Then they went and spoke before the king concerning the decree of the king: “Did you not sign a decree that every man who makes a petition of any god or man up to thirty days, except of you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?” The king answered and said, “Certain is the word, according to the law of the Mede and Persian, which shall not pass away.”
13Then they told the king, “Daniel, one of the exiles from Judah, shows no regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed. He still makes his petition three times a day.”
13Then they answered and said before the king that, “Daniel, who is from the sons of the captivity of Judah, he does not set on you, O king, regard, or on the decree that you have signed, and three times in a day he makes his petition.”
14As soon as the king heard this, he was deeply distressed and set his mind on delivering Daniel, and he labored until sundown to rescue him.
14Then the king, when he heard these words, was greatly displeased with himself, and he set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and until the going down of the sun he was exerting himself to rescue him.
15Then the men approached the king together and said to him, “Remember, O king, that by the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or ordinance established by the king can be changed.”
15Then these men went as a group upon the king, and were saying to the king: “Know, O king, that it is the law of the Mede and Persian that any decree or statute that the king establishes cannot be changed.”
16So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the den of lions.
The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!”
16Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and they cast him into the den of lions. The king spoke and said to Daniel, “Your God, to whom you give service continually, may He deliver you.”
17A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that nothing concerning Daniel could be changed.
17And one stone was brought and was laid over the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his signet ring and with the signets of his nobles, that the matter might not be changed concerning Daniel.
20When he reached the den, he cried out in a voice of anguish, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?”
20And at his coming near to the den, to Daniel, with a pained voice he cried out. The king was speaking and saying to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, your God, to whom you give service continually, has He been able to deliver you from the lions?”
22My God sent His angel and shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, for I was found innocent in His sight, and I have done no wrong against you, O king.”
22My God sent His angel, and he shut the mouth of the lions, and they have not hurt me, because that before Him was found innocence for me! And also before you, O king, I have not done wrong.”
23The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den, and when Daniel was lifted out of the den, no wounds whatsoever were found on him, because he had trusted in his God.
23Then the king was exceedingly glad himself, and he commanded for Daniel to be brought up from the den. And Daniel was brought up from the den, and not any harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.
24At the command of the king, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought and thrown into the den of lions—they and their children and wives. And before they had reached the bottom of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.
24And the king commanded, and they brought these men who had sought to eat to pieces Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions—they, their children, and their wives—and they had not reached to the bottom of the den when the lions overpowered them, and all their bones they broke in pieces.
Darius Honors God
26I hereby decree that in every part of my kingdom, men are to 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 will never end.
26From before me is set forth a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom they are to be trembling and fearful from before the God of Daniel, for He is the living God, and enduring forever, and His kingdom is that which shall not be destroyed, and His dominion is to the end!