Darius’ Officials Seek to Accuse Daniel

1[†]It seemed good to Darius that he set 120 satraps over the kingdom, that they would be in charge of the whole kingdom, 2and over them three commissioners (of whom Daniel was one), that these satraps might be accountable to them, and that the king might not suffer loss. 3Then this Daniel began distinguishing himself [†]among the commissioners and satraps because an extraordinary spirit was in him, and the king planned to set him over the entire kingdom. 4Then the commissioners and satraps began seeking to find a ground of accusation against Daniel in regard to matters of the kingdom; but they were not able to find any ground of accusation or evidence of corruption, inasmuch as he was faithful, 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 with regard to the law of his God.”

6Then these commissioners and satraps came [†]by agreement to the king and said thus to him: “King Darius, live forever! 7All the commissioners of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the high officials and the governors have counseled together that the king should establish a statute and enforce an injunction that anyone who seeks to make a petition [†]to any god or man besides you, O king, for thirty days, shall be cast into the lions’ [†]den. 8Now, O king, establish the injunction and [†]sign the written document so that it may not be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which [†]may not be revoked.” 9Therefore King Darius signed the written document, that is, the injunction.

10Now when Daniel knew that the written document was signed, he entered his house (now in his roof chamber he had windows open toward Jerusalem); and he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, [†]as he had been doing previously. 11Then these men came [†]by agreement and found Daniel seeking to make a petition and making supplication before his God. 12Then they came near and said before the king concerning the king’s injunction, “Did you not sign an injunction that any man who seeks to make a petition [†]to any god or man besides you, O king, for thirty days, is to be cast into the lions’ den?” The king answered and said, “The word is certain, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which [†]may not be revoked.” 13Then they answered and said before the king, “Daniel, who is one of the [†]exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or to the injunction which you signed, but keeps seeking to make his petition three times a day.”

14Then, as soon as the king heard this word, he was greatly distressed within himself and set his mind on saving Daniel; and even until sunset he kept exerting himself to deliver him. 15Then these men came [†]by agreement to the king and said to the king, “Know, 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 said the word, and Daniel was brought in and cast into the lions’ den. The king answered and said to Daniel, “[†]Your God whom you constantly serve will Himself save 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 in regard to Daniel. 18Then the king went off to his palace and spent the night fasting, and no entertainment was brought before him; and his sleep fled from him.

19Then the king arose at dawn, at the break of day, and hurriedly went to the lions’ den. 20When he had come near the den to Daniel, he cried out with a troubled voice. The king answered and said to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you constantly serve, been able to save you from the lions?” 21Then Daniel spoke [†]to the king, “O king, live forever! 22My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not harmed me, inasmuch as [†]I was found innocent before Him; and also [†]toward you, O king, I have done no harm.” 23Then the king was greatly pleased and said for Daniel to be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no harm whatsoever was found on him because he had believed in his God. 24The king then said the word, and they brought those men who had [†]brought charges against Daniel, and they cast 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 men of every tongue who were inhabiting all the land: “May your [†]peace abound! 26[†]I make a decree that in all the [†]dominion of my kingdom, men are to fear and be in dread 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 unto the end.

27He saves and delivers and does signs and wonders

In heaven and on earth,

Who has also saved Daniel from the [†]power of the lions.”

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