1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred twenty
satraps, who should be throughout the whole kingdom; 2 and over them three
presidents, of whom Daniel was one; that these satraps might give account to
them, and that the king should have no damage. 3 Then this Daniel was
distinguished above the presidents and the satraps, because an excellent
spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.
4 Then the presidents and the satraps sought to find occasion against
Daniel as touching the kingdom; but they could find no occasion nor fault,
because he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.
5 Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel,
except we find it against him concerning the law of his God. 6 Then these
presidents and satraps assembled together to the king, and said thus to him,
King Darius, live forever. 7 All the presidents of the kingdom, the
deputies and the satraps, the counselors and the governors, have consulted
together to establish a royal statute, and to make a strong interdict, that
whoever shall ask a petition of any god or man for thirty days, save of you,
O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. 8 Now, O king, establish
the interdict, and sign the writing, that it not be changed, according to the
law of the Medes and Persians, which doesn’t alter. 9 Therefore king
Darius signed the writing and the interdict. 10 When Daniel knew that the
writing was signed, he went into his house (now his windows were open in his
chamber toward Jerusalem) and he kneeled on his knees three times a day, and
prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did before. 11 Then these
men assembled together, and found Daniel making petition and supplication
before his God. 12 Then they came near, and spoke before the king
concerning the king’s interdict: Haven’t you signed an interdict, that every
man who shall make petition to any god or man within thirty days, save to
you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered, The
thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which doesn’t
alter. 13 Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, who is
of the children of the captivity of Judah, doesn’t regard you, O king, nor
the interdict that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.
14 Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased, and set
his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored until the going down of
the sun to rescue him. 15 Then 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 interdict nor statute which the king establishes may be
changed. 16 Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him
into the den of lions. Now the king spoke and said to Daniel, Your
God whom you serve continually, he will deliver you. 17 A stone was
brought, and laid on the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his
own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that nothing might be changed
concerning Daniel. 18 Then the king went to his palace, and passed the
night fasting; neither were instruments of music brought before him: and his
sleep fled from him. 19 Then the king arose very early in the morning, and
went in haste to the den of lions. 20 When he came near to the den to
Daniel, he cried with a lamentable voice; the king spoke and said to Daniel,
Daniel, servant of the living God, is your God, whom you serve continually,
able to deliver you from the lions? 21 Then said Daniel 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 as before him innocence was found
in me; and also before you, O king, have I done no hurt. 23 Then was the
king exceeding glad, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the
den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found
on him, because he had trusted in his God. 24 The king commanded, and they
brought those men who had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of
lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery
of them, and broke all their bones in pieces, before they came to the bottom
of the den. 25 Then king Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and
languages, who dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you. 26 I
make a decree, that in all the dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear
before the God of Daniel; for he is the living God, and steadfast forever,
His kingdom that which shall not be destroyed; and his dominion shall be even
to the end. 27 He delivers and rescues, and he works signs and wonders in
heaven and in 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.
World English Bible - Public Domain |
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