1. It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom,
2. with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel. The satraps were made
accountable to them so that the king might not suffer loss.
3. Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his
exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.
4. At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his
conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in
him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent.
5. Finally these men said, "We will never find any basis for charges agaisnt this man Daniel unless
it has something to do with the law of his God."
6. So the administrators and the satraps went as a group to the king and said: "O king Darius, live
forever!
7. The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have all agreed that the
king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or man
during the next thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be thrown into the lions den.
8. Now, O king, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered -- in accordance
with the laws of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed."
9. So King Darius put the decree in writing.
10. Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs
room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his
knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.
11. Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help.
12. So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: "Did you not publish his a
decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or man except to you, O
king, would be thrown into the lions den?" The king answered, "The decree stands -- in
accordance with the laws of the Medes and Perisians, which cannot be repealed."
13. Then they said to the king, "Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to
you, O king, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day."
14. When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and
made every effort until sundown to save him.
15. Then the men went as a group to the king and said to him, "Remember, O king, that according
to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed."
16. So 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!"
17. 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 rings of his nobles, so that Daniels situation might not be changed.
18. Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any
entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep.
19. At the first light of dawn, the king fot up and hurried to the lions den.
20. When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, "Daniel, servant of the
living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?"
21. Daniel answered, "O king, live forever!
22. My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I
was found innocent in his sight. Nor ahve I ever done any wrong before you, O king."
23. The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was
lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.
24. At the kings command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown
into the lions den, along with their wives and children. And before they reached the floor of the
den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.
25. Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations and men of every language throughout the
land: "May you prosper greatly!
26. "I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of
Daniel. "For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his
dominion will never end.
27. He rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He
has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions."
28. So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
