Daniel 6

1It pleased Darius to appoint one hundred twenty satraps over the kingdom, who would be throughout the whole realm.

2Three presidents oversaw them, one being Daniel, so these satraps would render account to them and the king suffer no damage.

3Then this Daniel distinguished himself above all the presidents and satraps because an exceptional spirit was in him, and the king planned to appoint him over the whole kingdom.

4Then the presidents and satraps were seeking a pretext to find something against Daniel concerning the kingdom, but they could find no pretext or fault because he was faithful, nor was any error or fault found against him.

5Then these men said, "We will not find any occasion against this Daniel unless we find it against him in the law of his God."

6Then these presidents and satraps assembled before the king, and so said to him, "King Darius, live forever."

7All the presidents of the kingdom, governors, satraps, counselors, and captains consulted together to establish a royal statute and strengthen a decree, that whoever petitions any god or person for thirty days, except you, O king, shall be thrown into the lions' den.

8Now, O king, confirm the decree and sign the document, so that it cannot be altered, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not change.

9Accordingly, King Darius signed the document and the decree.

10Daniel knew that the writing was signed, so he went into his house—windows open in his upper chamber toward Jerusalem—and three times a day knelt on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he had been doing before.

11Then these men gathered and found Daniel petitioning and imploring before his God.

12Then they drew near and spoke before the king concerning the royal decree: "Did you not sign a decree that every person who petitions any god or man within thirty days—except you, O king—must be thrown into the lions' den?" The king answered and said, "That matter stands firm, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked."

13Then they answered and said before the king, "That Daniel from the sons of Judah's captivity pays you no heed, O king, nor the command and decree that you signed, but makes his petition three times a day."

14Then the king was greatly displeased at himself when he heard the matter and determined in his heart to deliver Daniel; he labored until the sun went down to rescue him.

15Then these men gathered tumultuously to the king and told the king, "Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians holds that no decree or statute the king establishes can be altered."

16Then the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions' den. The king answered and said to Daniel, "Your God, whom you serve continually, will deliver you."

17A single stone was brought and laid over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his signet ring and with the signet ring of his lords, so the purpose concerning Daniel would not change.

18Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; no musical instruments were brought before him, and his sleep fled from him.

19Then the king arose very early at the morning light and went in haste to the lions' den.

20When he came near the den to Daniel, he cried with a sorrowful voice. The king spoke and said, “Daniel, Daniel, servant of the living God, is your God, whom you yourself serve continually, able to rescue you from the lions?”

21Then Daniel said to the king, "O king, live forever."

22My God sent his angel and shut the lions' mouths, and they did not hurt me at all, because innocence was found in me before him; also before you, O king, I have done no wrong.

23Then the king rejoiced greatly over Daniel and commanded that he be brought up from the den. So Daniel was brought up from the den, and no harm at all was found in him, because he had trusted in his God.

24The king commanded, and they brought Daniel's accusers, those men who had charged him, and cast them with their sons and wives into the lions' den; the lions overpowered them and broke all their bones to pieces before they reached the bottom of the den.

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

26I decree that throughout every dominion of my kingdom people must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God, steadfast forever, his kingdom will not be destroyed, and his dominion lasts until the end.

27He delivers and rescues, performing signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.

28This Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.