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Daniel Serves Darius

¹ It seemed good to Darius who became king after Belshazzar to appoint over the kingdom 120 ^(F1)satraps who would be in charge throughout the kingdom,² and over them three chief commissioners (of whom ^(C1)Daniel was one), that these satraps might be accountable to them, so that the king would have no ^(C2)loss from disloyalty or mismanagement.³ Then this Daniel, because of the ^(C1)extraordinary spirit within him, began distinguishing himself among the commissioners and the satraps, and the king planned to appoint him over the ^(C2)entire realm.⁴ Then the other two commissioners and the satraps ^(C1)began trying to find a reason to bring a complaint against Daniel concerning the administration of the kingdom; but they could find ^(C2)no reason for an accusation or evidence of corruption, because he was faithful a man of high moral character and personal integrity, and no negligence or corruption of any kind was found in him.⁵ Then these men said, "We will not find any basis for an accusation against this Daniel unless we find something against him in connection with the ^(C1)law of his God." ^(VR1)

⁶ Then these commissioners and satraps agreed to approach the king and said to him, "King Darius, ^(C1)live forever!⁷ "All the ^(C1)commissioners of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the counselors and the governors have ^(C2)consulted and agreed together that the king should establish a royal statute and enforce an injunction that anyone who petitions (prays to) any god or man besides you, O king, during the next thirty days, shall ^(C3)be thrown into the den of lions.⁸ "Now, O king, ^(C1)establish the injunction and sign the document so that it may not be changed, in accordance with the ^(C2)law of the Medes and Persians, which insures that it may not be altered or revoked."⁹ So King Darius ^(C1)signed the document, that is, the injunction.

¹⁰ Now when Daniel knew that the document was signed, he went into his house (now in his roof chamber his windows were open ^(C1)toward Jerusalem); he continued to get ^(C2)down on his knees three times a day, ^(C3)praying and ^(C4)giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously. ^(VR1)11 Then, ^(C1)by agreement, these men came together and found Daniel praying and making requests before his God.¹² Then they approached and ^(C1)spoke before the king regarding his injunction, "Have you not signed an injunction that anyone who petitions (prays to) any god or man except you, O king, within the designated thirty days, is to be thrown into the den of lions?" The king answered, "The statement is true, in accordance with the ^(C2)law of the Medes and Persians, which may not be altered or revoked."¹³ Then they answered and said before the king, "^(C1)Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, does ^(C2)not pay any attention to you, O king, or to the injunction which you have signed, but keeps praying to his God three times a day."

¹⁴ Then, as soon as the king heard these words, he was deeply ^(C1)distressed over what he had done and set his mind on rescuing Daniel; and he struggled until the sun went down trying to work out a way to save him.¹⁵ Then, by agreement, these same men came to the king and said, "Know, O king, that it is a ^(C1)law of the Medes and Persians that no injunction or statute which the king establishes may be altered or revoked."

Daniel in the Den of Lions

¹⁶ Then the king gave a command, and Daniel was brought and ^(C1)thrown into the den of lions. The king said to Daniel, "May ^(C2)your God, whom you constantly serve, rescue you Himself!" ^(VR1)17 A ^(C1)stone was brought and laid over the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signet rings of his nobles, so that nothing would be changed concerning Daniel.¹⁸ Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night ^(C1)fasting; and no music or entertainment was brought before him, and he remained unable to ^(C2)sleep.

¹⁹ Then the king arose at dawn, at the break of day, and hurried to the den of lions.²⁰ When he had come near the den, he called out to Daniel with a troubled voice. The king said to Daniel, "O Daniel, servant of the living God, has ^(C1)your God, whom you constantly serve, been ^(C2)able to rescue you from the lions?"²¹ Then Daniel spoke to the king, "^(C1)O king, live forever!²² "My God has ^(C1)sent His angel and has ^(C2)shut the mouths of the lions so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also before you, O king, I have committed no crime." ^(VR1)23 Then the king was greatly pleased and ordered that Daniel be taken out of the den. So Daniel was taken out of the den, and ^(C1)no injury whatever was found on him, because he ^(C2)believed in and relied on and trusted in his God.²⁴ The king then gave a command, and those men who had maliciously accused Daniel were brought and ^(C1)thrown into the den of lions, they, their ^(C2)children and their wives; and before they reached the bottom of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.

²⁵ Then Darius the king wrote to all the ^(C1)peoples, nations, and speakers of every language who were living in all the land: "^(C2)May peace abound to you!²⁶ "I ^(C1)issue a decree that in all the dominion of my kingdom men are to reverently fear and tremble before the God of Daniel,

For He is the ^(C2)living God, ^(C3)enduring and steadfast forever,
And ^(C4)His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed,
And His dominion will be forever.

²⁷ "He rescues and saves and performs ^(C1)signs and wonders
In heaven and on earth—
He who has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions."

²⁸ So this man ^(C1)Daniel prospered and enjoyed success in the reign of Darius and in the reign of ^(C2)Cyrus the Persian.