1It seemed good
to Darius
to appoint
120
satraps
over
the kingdom
, that they would be in charge of the whole
kingdom
,
and over them three
commissioners
(of whom
aDaniel
was one
), that these
satraps
might be accountable
to them, and that the king
might not suffer
bloss
.
Then this
Daniel
began distinguishing
himself 1among
the commissioners
and satraps
because
2he possessed an aextraordinary
spirit
, and the king
planned
to appoint
him over
the bentire
kingdom
.
Then the commissioners
and satraps
began atrying
to find
a ground
of accusation
against Daniel
in regard
to 1government
affairs
; but they could
find
bno
ground
of accusation
or evidence of corruption
, inasmuch
as he was faithful
, and no
negligence
or corruption
was to be found
in him.
Then these
men
said
, "We will not find
any
ground
of accusation
against this
Daniel
unless
we find
it against
him with regard to the alaw
of his God
."
Then these
commissioners
and satraps
came
1by agreement
to the king
and spoke
to him as follows
: "King
Darius
, alive
forever
!
"All the acommissioners
of the kingdom
, the prefects
and the satraps
, the high
officials
and the governors
have bconsulted
together
that the king
should establish
a statute
and enforce
an injunction
that anyone
who
makes
a petition
to any
god
or man
besides
you, O king
, for thirty
days
, shall cbe cast
into the lions'
1den
.
"Now, O king
, aestablish
the injunction
and sign
the document
so
that it may not be changed
, according to the blaw
of the Medes
and Persians
, which
1may not be revoked
."
Therefore King
Darius
asigned
the document
, that is, the injunction
.
Now when Daniel
knew
that the document
was signed
, he entered
his house
(now in his roof
chamber
he had windows
open
atoward
Jerusalem
); and he continued bkneeling
on his knees
three
times
a day
, cpraying
and dgiving
thanks
before
his God
, 1as he had been doing
previously
.
Then these
men
came
1 aby agreement
and found
Daniel
making
petition
and supplication
before
his God
.
Then they approached
and aspoke
before
the king
about
the king's
injunction
, "Did you not sign
an injunction
that any
man
who
makes
a petition
to any
god
or man
besides
you, O king
, for thirty
days
, is to be cast
into the lions'
den
?" The king
replied
, "The statement
is true
, according to the blaw
of the Medes
and Persians
, which
1may not be revoked
."
Then they answered
and spoke
before
the king
, " aDaniel
, who
is one of the 1exiles
from Judah
, pays
bno
attention
to you, O king
, or to the injunction
which
you signed
, but keeps making
his petition
three
times
a day
."
Then, as soon
as the king
heard
this statement
, he was deeply
adistressed
and set
his mind
on delivering
Daniel
; and even until
sunset
he kept exerting
himself to rescue
him.
Then these
men
came
1by agreement
to the king
and said
to the king
, "Recognize
, O king
, that it is a alaw
of the Medes
and Persians
that no
injunction
or statute
which
the king
establishes
may be changed
."
Then the king
gave
orders
, and Daniel
was brought
in and acast
into the lions'
den
. The king
spoke
and said
to Daniel
, " 1 bYour God
whom
you constantly
serve
will Himself
deliver
you."
A astone was brought
and laid
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
.
Then the king
went
off
to his palace
and spent
the night
afasting
, and no
entertainment
was brought
before
him; and his bsleep
fled
from him.
Then the king
arose
at dawn
, at the break
of day
, and went
in haste
to the lions'
den
.
When he had come near
the den
to Daniel
, he cried
out with a troubled
voice
. The king
spoke
and said
to Daniel
, "Daniel
, servant
of the living
God
, has ayour God
, whom
you constantly
serve
, been
bable
to deliver
you from the lions
?"
Then Daniel
spoke
1to the king
, " aO king
, live
forever
!
"My God asent
His angel
and bshut
the lions'
mouths
and they have not harmed
me, inasmuch
as 1I was found
innocent
before
Him; and also
2toward
you, O king
, I have committed
no
crime
."
Then the king
was very
pleased
and gave
orders
for Daniel
to be taken
up out of the den
. So Daniel
was taken
up out of the den
and ano
injury
whatever
was found
on him, because
he had btrusted
in his God
.
The king then gave
orders
, and they brought
those
men
who
had 1maliciously
accused
Daniel
, and they acast
them, their bchildren
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
.
Then Darius
the king
wrote
to all
the apeoples
, nations
and men of every 1language
who
were living
in all
the land
: " bMay your 2peace
abound
!
" 1I amake a decree
that in all
the dominion
of my kingdom
men are to fear
and tremble
before
the God
of Daniel
; For He is the bliving
God
and cenduring
forever
, And dHis kingdom
is one which
will not be destroyed
, And His dominion
will be 2forever
.
"He delivers and rescues
and performs
asigns
and wonders
In heaven
and on earth
, Who
has also delivered
Daniel
from the 1power
of the lions
."
So this aDaniel
enjoyed
success
in the reign
of Darius
and in the reign
of bCyrus
the Persian
.