Daniel 6

Darius was pleased to appoint 120 satraps over the kingdom, stationed throughout the kingdom, with three administrators over them, of whom Daniel was one. The satraps were to report to them so that the king would suffer no loss. This Daniel distinguished himself above the administrators and satraps because an extraordinary spirit was in him, and the king planned to place him over the whole kingdom. Then the administrators and satraps sought grounds for a charge against Daniel in his conduct of the kingdom’s affairs. But they could find no ground for a charge or corruption, because he was faithful. No negligence or corruption was found in him. Then these men said, “We will find no ground for a charge against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God.” So these administrators and satraps came as a group to the king and said to him, “O King Darius, live forever! All the kingdom’s administrators, prefects, satraps, counselors, and governors have agreed that the king should establish a royal edict and enforce this prohibition: anyone who makes a petition to any god or man except you, O king, for thirty days is to be thrown into the lions’ den. Now, O king, establish the prohibition and sign the document, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.” So King Darius signed the document and the prohibition. When Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went to his house. The windows of his upper room were open toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he knelt, prayed, and gave thanks before his God, just as he had done before. Then these men came together and found Daniel making petitions and pleading before his God. They approached the king and spoke about the royal prohibition: “Did you not sign a prohibition that anyone who makes a petition to any god or man except you, O king, for thirty days must be thrown into the lions’ den?” The king answered, “The matter stands, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.” Then they said to the king, “Daniel, one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or to the prohibition you signed. He makes his petition three times a day.” When the king heard this, he was deeply distressed and set his mind on delivering Daniel. Until sunset he worked to rescue him. Then these men came as a group to the king and said, “Know, O king, that it is the law of the Medes and Persians that no prohibition or edict the king establishes can be changed.” Then the king gave the order, and Daniel was brought and thrown into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “Your God, whom you serve continually, he will deliver you.” A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den. The king sealed it with his own signet ring and the signet 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 diversions were brought before him, and sleep fled from him. At the first light of dawn, the king rose and hurried to the lions’ den. As he approached the den, he cried out to Daniel in an anguished voice. The king said to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?” Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found innocent before him. Nor have I done any harm to you, O king.” Then the king was overjoyed for him and ordered Daniel to be lifted out of the den. Daniel was lifted out of the den, and no injury was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. The king gave the order, and the men who had maliciously accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions’ den, along with their children and wives. Before they reached the bottom of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones. Then King Darius wrote to all peoples, nations, and languages dwelling throughout the earth: “May peace abound to you! I issue this decree: throughout the dominion of my kingdom, people must tremble and 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 last to the end. He delivers and rescues, and he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth.
He has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.” So this Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and during the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

Rights and attribution