The Book of the Prophet Daniel 6 Daniel in the Lions' Den

 The Book of the Prophet Daniel 6

Daniel in the Lions' Den

1 It pleased Darius to appoint over the kingdom one hundred and twenty presidents, who should be over the whole kingdom;

2 And over them three princes, of whom Daniel was one, to whom these presidents should give account, so that the king might suffer no loss.

3 Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the princes and presidents, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.

4 Then the princes and presidents sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no occasion nor fault; for he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.

5 Then these men said, “We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God.”

6 Then these princes and presidents went together to the king and said thus to him, “O King Darius, live forever!”

7 All the princes of the kingdom, the prefects and presidents, captains and governors, took counsel to establish a royal edict and to make this commandment firm: that whoever, for the space of thirty days, makes a petition to any god or to any man, and not to you, O king, shall be cast into the lions' den.

8 Now therefore, O king, confirm the edict and sign the writing, so that it may not be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked.

9 For this reason King Darius signed this writing and edict.

10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house (now his windows were open in his chamber toward Jerusalem), and three times a day he knelt down, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done aforetime.

11 Then those men went together, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.

12 Then they came forward and said to the king, “Concerning the royal decree, did you not sign the edict that anyone who makes a petition to any god or man for thirty days, except to you, Your Majesty, shall be thrown into the lions’ den?” The king answered and said, “The word stands, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked.”

13 Then they answered and said before the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, Your Majesty, or to the edict that you signed, but prays three times a day.”

14 When the king heard of the matter, he was greatly distressed, and in his heart he resolved to deliver Daniel; and until sunset he labored to save him.

15 Then those men went together to the king and said to him, “Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no edict or ordinance that the king establishes may be changed.”

16 Then the king commanded that Daniel be brought in and thrown into the lions’ den. And the king spoke and said to Daniel, “Your God, whom you continually serve, He will deliver you.”

17 And a stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his signet ring and with the signet rings of his nobles, so that the sentence concerning Daniel might not be changed.

18 Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; no music was brought before him, and he could not sleep.

19 And early in the morning he rose and hurried to the lions’ den.

20 And when he came to the den, he called to Daniel in a sorrowful voice; Then the king spoke and said to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God! Has your God, whom you continually serve, been able to deliver you from the lions?”

21 Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever!

22 My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions, so that they have not harmed me, because I was found innocent before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no wrong.”

23 Then the king was exceedingly glad, and commanded that Daniel be lifted out of the den. So Daniel was lifted out of the den, and no injury was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.

24 Then the king commanded, and those men who had accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions’ den, they, their children, and their wives; and before they reached the bottom of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.

25 Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages ​​that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you.

26 I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and tremble before the God of Daniel. For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will last until the end.

27 He rescues and delivers; 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.