| NET Bible | New International Version |
| 1It seemed like a good idea to Darius to appoint over the kingdom 120 satraps who would be in charge of the entire kingdom. | 1It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom, |
| 2Over them would be three supervisors, one of whom was Daniel. These satraps were accountable to them, so that the king's interests might not incur damage. | 2with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel. The satraps were made accountable to them so that the king might not suffer loss. |
| 3Now this Daniel was distinguishing himself above the other supervisors and the satraps, for he had an extraordinary spirit. In fact, the king intended to appoint him over the entire kingdom. | 3Now 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. |
| 4Consequently the supervisors and satraps were trying to find some pretext against Daniel in connection with administrative matters. But they were unable to find any such damaging evidence, because he was trustworthy and guilty of no negligence or corruption. | 4At 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. |
| 5So these men concluded, "We won't find any pretext against this man Daniel unless it is in connection with the law of his God." | 5Finally these men said, "We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God." |
| 6So these supervisors and satraps came by collusion to the king and said to him, "O King Darius, live forever! | 6So these administrators and satraps went as a group to the king and said: "May King Darius live forever! |
| 7To all the supervisors of the kingdom, the prefects, satraps, counselors, and governors it seemed like a good idea for a royal edict to be issued and an interdict to be enforced. For the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human other than you, O king, should be thrown into a den of lions. | 7The 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 human being during the next thirty days, except to you, Your Majesty, shall be thrown into the lions' den. |
| 8Now let the king issue a written interdict so that it cannot be altered, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be changed. | 8Now, Your Majesty, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered--in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed." |
| 9So King Darius issued the written interdict. | 9So King Darius put the decree in writing. |
| 10When Daniel realized that a written decree had been issued, he entered his home, where the windows in his upper room opened toward Jerusalem. Three times daily he was kneeling and offering prayers and thanks to his God just as he had been accustomed to do previously. | 10Now 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. |
| 11Then those officials who had gone to the king came by collusion and found Daniel praying and asking for help before his God. | 11Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help. |
| 12So they approached the king and said to him, "Did you not issue an edict to the effect that for the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human other than to you, O king, would be thrown into a den of lions?" The king replied, "That is correct, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be changed." | 12So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: "Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human being except to you, Your Majesty, would be thrown into the lions' den?" The king answered, "The decree stands--in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed." |
| 13Then they said to the king, "Daniel, who is one of the captives from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or to the edict that you issued. Three times daily he offers his prayer." | 13Then they said to the king, "Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, Your Majesty, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day." |
| 14When the king heard this, he was very upset and began thinking about how he might rescue Daniel. Until late afternoon he was struggling to find a way to rescue him. | 14When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him. |
| 15Then those men came by collusion to the king and said to him, "Recall, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no edict or decree that the king issues can be changed." | 15Then the men went as a group to King Darius and said to him, "Remember, Your Majesty, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed." |
| 16So the king gave the order, and Daniel was brought and thrown into a den of lions. The king consoled Daniel by saying, "Your God whom you continually serve will rescue you!" | 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!" |
| 17Then a stone was brought and placed over the opening to the den. The king sealed it with his signet ring and with those of his nobles so that nothing could be changed with regard to Daniel. | 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 Daniel's situation might not be changed. |
| 18Then the king departed to his palace. But he spent the night without eating, and no diversions were brought to him. He was unable to sleep. | 18Then 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. |
| 19In the morning, at the earliest sign of daylight, the king got up and rushed to the lions' den. | 19At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions' den. |
| 20As he approached the den, he called out to Daniel in a worried voice, "Daniel, servant of the living God, was your God whom you continually serve able to rescue you from the lions?" | 20When 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?" |
| 21Then Daniel spoke to the king, "O king, live forever! | 21Daniel answered, "May the king live forever! |
| 22My God sent his angel and closed the lions' mouths so that they have not harmed me, because I was found to be innocent before him. Nor have I done any harm to you, O king." | 22My 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 have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty." |
| 23Then the king was delighted and gave an order to haul Daniel up from the den. So Daniel was hauled up out of the den. He had no injury of any kind, because he had trusted in his God. | 23The 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. |
| 24The king gave another order, and those men who had maliciously accused Daniel were brought and thrown into the lions' den--they, their children, and their wives. They did not even reach the bottom of the den before the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones. | 24At the king's 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. |
| 25Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and language groups who were living in all the land: "Peace and prosperity! | 25Then King Darius wrote to all the nations and peoples of every language in all the earth: "May you prosper greatly! |
| 26I have issued an edict that throughout all the dominion of my kingdom people are to revere and fear the God of Daniel. "For he is the living God; he endures forever. His kingdom will not be destroyed; his authority is forever. | 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. |
| 27He rescues and delivers and performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions!" | 27He 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." |
| 28So this Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian. | 28So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian. |
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