The Plot against Daniel
1 It pleased Darius to set 120 local officials over the kingdom, stationed throughout the provinces, 2 and over them three chief executives, of whom Daniel was one, so that these local officials might report to them, that the king’s accounts would not suffer loss. 3 Then this Daniel was distinguished above all the chief executives and the local officials because of the remarkable spirit that was in him, and the king decided to set him over the entire kingdom.
4 The chief executives and the local officials sought to find a case against Daniel that effected the kingdom, but they could not find a fault or case to bring against him because he was faithful. There was not any error or fault found in him. 5 So these men said, “We won’t find any case against this Daniel, unless we find it in connection with the law of his God.”
6 These chief executives and local officials gathered together before the king and said to him, “King Darius, live forever! 7 All the chief executives of the kingdom, the deputies and the local officials, the counselors and the governors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make an official decree, that whoever petitions to any god or man during a period of 30 days, except to you, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. 8 Now, O king, establish the decree and sign the written decree, so that it cannot be changed, in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.”
9 Therefore king Darius signed the written decree.
Daniel in the Lions’ Den
10 Now when Daniel knew that the decree had been signed, he went into the bedroom of his house, where he knelt three times a day and prayed, giving thanks before his God with the windows open and facing Jerusalem, and he prayed as usual.
11 Then these men assembled together and found Daniel making petition and supplication before his God. 12 They came near and spoke before the king concerning the king’s decree:
“Have you not signed a decree that every man who makes a petition to any god or man during these 30 days, except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?”
The king answered, “This is correct, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.”
13 They answered and said before the king, “This Daniel, who is from the exiles of Judah, does not respect you, O king, nor the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.”
14 The king, when he heard these words, was very displeased and set his heart on delivering Daniel, and he worked until night to rescue him.
15 These men assembled together to the king and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians, that no decree nor statute which the king establishes may be changed.”
16 The king gave the command, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the den of lions. The king began to speak, saying to Daniel, “Your God whom you serve continually, he will deliver you.”
17 A stone was brought and laid over the entrance to the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his nobles so that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel. 18 Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting. No musical instruments were brought before him, and sleep escaped him. 19 The king rose very early in the morning and went at once to the den of lions. 20 And when he came near to the den, he cried out to Daniel with a troubled voice. The king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, is your God, whom you serve continually, able to deliver you from the lions?”
21 Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! 22 My God has sent his angel and has shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not hurt me, because before him, I am found innocent, and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.”
23 Then the king was overjoyed, and commanded them to take Daniel up from the den. Daniel was taken up from the den, and no harm of any kind was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.
The King’s Decree
24 The king gave a command, and they brought the men who had accused Daniel and cast them into the den of lions, along with their children and their wives, and the lions mauled them and broke all their bones into pieces before they reached the bottom of the den.
25 Then king Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages, who dwell on the earth: “Peace be multiplied to you. 26 I hereby issue a decree that in the entire dominion of my kingdom, men will tremble and fear before the God of Daniel:
‘For he is the living God and steadfast forever.
His kingdom will never be destroyed,
and his sovereign authority shall be to the end.
27 He delivers and rescues.
He works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth,
who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.’ ”
28 So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.