CHAPTER 6
and over
them three
administrators,
including Daniel,
to whom
these
satraps
were accountable
so that the king
would not
suffer loss.
Soon,
by
his extraordinary
spirit,
Daniel
distinguished himself
among
the administrators
and satraps.
So the king
planned
to set
him over
the whole
kingdom.
Thus
the administrators
and satraps
sought
a charge
against Daniel
concerning
the kingdom,
but they could
find
no
charge
or corruption,
because
he
was trustworthy,
and no
negligence
or corruption
was found
in him.
Finally
these
men
said,
“We will never
find
any
charge
against this
Daniel,
unless
we find something
against him
concerning the law
of his God.”
So
the administrators
and satraps
went together
to
the king
and said,
“O King
Darius,
may you live
forever!
All
the royal
administrators,
prefects,
satraps,
advisers,
and governors
have agreed
that the king
should establish
an ordinance
and enforce
a decree
that
for
thirty
days
anyone
who
petitions
any
god
or man
except you,
O king,
will be thrown
into the den
of lions.
Therefore,
O king,
establish
the decree
and sign
the document
so that
it cannot
be changed—
in accordance with the law
of the Medes
and Persians,
which
cannot
be repealed.”
Now when
Daniel
learned
that
the document
had been signed,
he went
into his house,
where the windows
of his
upper room
opened
toward
Jerusalem,
and three
times
a day
he
got down
on
his knees,
prayed,
and gave thanks
to
his God,
just as
he had done
before.
So
they approached
the king
and asked
about
his royal
decree:
“Did you not
sign
a decree
that
for
thirty
days
any
man
who
petitions
any
god
or man
except you,
O king,
will be thrown
into the den
of lions?"
The king
replied,
“According to the law
of the Medes
and Persians,
the order
stands
and it cannot
be repealed."
Then
they told
the king,
“Daniel,
one
of
the exiles
from
Judah,
shows no
regard
for you,
O king,
or for the decree
that
you have signed.
He still makes
his petition
three
times
a day.”
As soon as
the king
heard
this,
he was deeply
distressed
and set
his mind
on delivering
Daniel,
and he labored
until
sundown
to rescue him.
Then
the
men
approached
the king together
and said
to him,
“Remember,
O king,
that by the law
of the Medes
and Persians
no
decree
or ordinance
established
by the king
can be changed.”
So
the king
gave the order,
and they brought
Daniel
and threw him
into the den
of
lions.
The king
said
to Daniel,
“May your God,
whom
you
serve continually,
deliver you!”
A
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
nothing
concerning Daniel
could be changed.
Then
the king
went
to his palace
and spent the night
fasting.
No
entertainment
was brought
before him,
and sleep
fled
from him.
When he reached
the den,
he cried out
in a voice
of anguish,
“O Daniel,
servant
of the living
God,
has your God,
whom
you
serve
continually,
been able
to deliver you
from
the lions?”
My God
sent
His angel
and shut
the mouths
of the lions.
They have not
hurt me,
for
I was found
innocent
in His sight,
and
I have done
no
wrong
against you,
O king.”
The king
was overjoyed
and gave orders
to lift
Daniel
out of
the den,
and when Daniel
was lifted
out of
the den,
no
wounds whatsoever
were found
on him,
because
he had trusted
in his God.
At the command
of the king,
the
men
who
had falsely accused
Daniel
were brought
and thrown
into the den
of lions—
they
and their children
and wives.
And before
they had reached
the bottom
of the den,
the lions
overpowered
them
and crushed
all
their bones.
Then
King
Darius
wrote
to all
the peoples,
nations,
and men of every language
throughout
the land:
“May your prosperity
abound.
I hereby
decree
that
in every
part
of my kingdom,
men are to tremble
in fear
before
the God
of
Daniel:
For
He
is the living
God,
and He endures forever;
His kingdom
will never
be destroyed,
and His dominion
will never end.
He delivers
and rescues;
He performs
signs
and wonders
in the heavens
and on the earth,
for He
has rescued
Daniel
from
the power
of the lions.”