It pleased{H6925} Darius{H1868} to set{H6966} over{H5922} the kingdom{H4437} a hundred{H3969} and twenty{H6243} satraps,{H324} who should be{H1934} throughout the whole{H3606} kingdom;{H4437}

and over{H5924} them{H4481} three{H8532} presidents,{H5632} of whom{H4481} Daniel{H1841} was one;{H2298} that{H459} these satraps{H324} might{H1934} give{H3052} account{H2941} unto them, and that the king{H4430} should have{H1934} no{H3809} damage.{H5142}

Then{H116} this{H1836} Daniel{H1841} was{H1934} distinguished{H5330} above{H5922} the presidents{H5632} and the satraps,{H324} because{H3606} an excellent{H3493} spirit{H7308} was in him; and the king{H4430} thought{H6246} to set{H6966} him over{H5922} the whole{H3606} realm.{H4437}

Then{H116} the presidents{H5632} and the satraps{H324} sought{H1934} to find{H7912} occasion{H5931} against Daniel{H1841} as touching{H6655} the kingdom;{H4437} but{H3606} they could{H3202} find{H7912} no{H3809} occasion{H5931} nor{H3809} fault,{H7844} forasmuch{H6903} as he was faithful,{H540} neither{H3809} was there any{H3606} error{H7960} or fault{H7844} found{H7912} in him.{H5922}

Then{H116} said{H560} these{H479} men,{H1400} We shall not{H3809} find{H7912} any{H3606} occasion{H5931} against{H5922} this{H1836} Daniel,{H1841} except{H3861} we find{H7912} it against him concerning the law{H1882} of his God.{H426}

Then{H116} these{H459} presidents{H5632} and satraps{H324} assembled together{H7284} to the king,{H4430} and said{H560} thus{H3652} unto him,{H5922} King{H4430} Darius,{H1868} live{H2418} for ever.{H5957}

All{H3606} the presidents{H5632} of the kingdom,{H4437} the deputies{H5460} and the satraps,{H324} the counsellors{H1907} and the governors,{H6347} have consulted together{H3272} to establish{H6966} a royal{H4430} statute,{H7010} and to make a strong{H8631} interdict,{H633} that whosoever shall ask{H1156} a petition{H1159} of{H4481} any{H3606} god{H426} or man{H606} for{H5705} thirty{H8533} days,{H3118} save{H3861} of thee,{H4481} O king,{H4430} he shall be cast{H7412} into the den{H1358} of lions.{H744}

Now,{H3705} O king,{H4430} establish{H6966} the interdict,{H633} and sign{H7560} the writing,{H3792} that it be not{H3809} changed,{H8133} according to the law{H1882} of the Medes{H4076} and Persians,{H6540} which altereth{H5709} not.{H3809}

Wherefore{H1836} king{H4430} Darius{H1868} signed{H7560} the writing{H3792} and the interdict.{H633}

And when Daniel{H1841} knew{H3046} that the writing{H3792} was signed,{H7560} he went{H5954} into his house{H1005} (now his windows{H3551} were open{H6606} in his chamber{H5952} toward{H5049} Jerusalem){H3390} and he kneeled{H1289} upon{H5922} his knees{H1291} three{H8532} times{H2166} a day,{H3118} and prayed,{H6739} and gave thanks{H3029} before{H6925} his God,{H426} as{H6903} he did{H1934} aforetime.{H1836}

Then{H116} these{H479} men{H1400} assembled{H7284} together, and found{H7912} Daniel{H1841} making petition{H1156} and supplication{H2604} before{H6925} his God.{H426}

Then{H116} they came near,{H7127} and spake{H560} before{H6925} the king{H4430} concerning{H5922} the king's{H4430} interdict:{H633} Hast thou not{H3809} signed{H7560} an interdict,{H633} that every{H3606} man{H606} that shall make{H1156} petition unto{H4481} any{H3606} god{H426} or man{H606} within{H5705} thirty{H8533} days,{H3118} save{H3861} unto thee,{H4481} O king,{H4430} shall be cast{H7412} into the den{H1358} of lions?{H744} The king{H4430} answered{H6032} and said,{H560} The thing{H4406} is true,{H3330} according to the law{H1882} of the Medes{H4076} and Persians,{H6540} which altereth{H5709} not.{H3809}

Then{H116} answered{H6032} they and said{H560} before{H6925} the king,{H4430} That Daniel,{H1841} who is of{H4481} the children{H1123} of the captivity{H1547} of Judah,{H3061} regardeth{H7761} not{H3809} thee,{H5922} O king,{H4430} nor the interdict{H633} that thou hast signed,{H7560} but maketh{H1156} his petition{H1159} three{H8532} times{H2166} a day.{H3118}

Then{H116} the king,{H4430} when he heard{H8086} these words,{H4406} was sore{H7690} displeased,{H888} and set{H7761} his heart{H1079} on{H5922} Daniel{H1841} to deliver{H7804} him; and he labored{H1934} till{H5705} the going down{H4606} of the sun{H8122} to rescue{H5338} him.

Then{H116} these{H479} men{H1400} assembled{H7284} together unto{H5922} the king,{H4430} and said{H560} unto the king,{H4430} Know,{H3046} O king,{H4430} that it is a law{H1882} of the Medes{H4076} and Persians,{H6540} that no{H3606} interdict{H633} nor statute{H7010} which the king{H4430} establisheth{H6966} may be changed.{H8133}

Then{H116} the king{H4430} commanded,{H560} and they brought{H858} Daniel,{H1841} and cast{H7412} him into the den{H1358} of lions.{H744} [Now] the king{H4430} spake{H6032} and said{H560} unto Daniel,{H1841} Thy God{H426} whom thou{H607} servest{H6399} continually,{H8411} he will deliver{H7804} thee.

And a{H2298} stone{H69} was brought,{H858} and laid{H7761} upon{H5922} the mouth{H6433} of the den;{H1358} and the king{H4430} sealed{H2857} it with his own signet,{H5824} and with the signet{H5824} of his lords;{H7261} that nothing{H3809} might be changed{H8133} concerning{H6640} Daniel.{H1841}

Then{H116} the king{H4430} went{H236} to his palace,{H1965} and passed the night{H956} fasting;{H2908} neither{H3809} were instruments{H1761} of music brought{H5954} before{H6925} him: and his sleep{H8139} fled{H5075} from him.{H5922}

Then{H116} the king{H4430} arose{H6966} very early{H8238} in the morning,{H5053} and went{H236} in haste{H927} unto the den{H1358} of lions.{H744}

And when he came{H7127} near unto the den{H1358} to Daniel,{H1841} he cried{H2200} with a lamentable{H6088} voice;{H7032} the king{H4430} spake{H6032} and said{H560} to Daniel,{H1841} O Daniel,{H1841} servant{H5649} of the living{H2417} God,{H426} is thy God,{H426} whom thou servest{H6399} continually,{H8411} able{H3202} to deliver{H7804} thee from{H4481} the lions?{H744}

Then{H116} said{H4449} Daniel{H1841} unto{H5974} the king,{H4430} O king,{H4430} live{H2418} for ever.{H5957}

My God{H426} hath sent{H7972} his angel,{H4398} and hath shut{H5463} the lions'{H744} mouths,{H6433} and they have not{H3809} hurt{H2255} me; forasmuch as{H3606} before{H6925} him innocency{H2136} was found{H7912} in me; and also{H638} before{H6925} thee, O king,{H4430} have I done{H5648} no{H3809} hurt.{H2248}

Then{H116} was the king{H4430} exceeding{H7690} glad,{H2868} and commanded{H560} that they should take{H5267} Daniel{H1841} up{H5267} out of{H4481} the den.{H1358} So Daniel{H1841} was taken up{H5267} out of{H4481} the den,{H1358} and no{H3809} manner{H3606} of{H4481} hurt{H2257} was found{H7912} upon him, because he had trusted{H540} in his God.{H426}

And the king{H4430} commanded,{H560} and they brought{H858} those{H479} men{H1400} that had accused{H399} Daniel,{H1841} and they cast{H7412} them{H581} into the den{H1358} of lions,{H744} them,{H581} their children,{H1123} and their wives;{H5389} and the lions{H744} had the mastery{H5705} of them, and brake{H1855} all{H3606} their bones{H1635} in pieces,{H1855} before they came{H4291} to the bottom{H773} of the den.{H1358}

Then{H116} king{H4430} Darius{H1868} wrote{H3790} unto all{H3606} the peoples,{H5972} nations,{H524} and languages,{H3961} that dwell{H1753} in all{H3606} the earth:{H772} Peace{H8001} be multiplied{H7680} unto you.

I{H4481} make{H7761} a decree,{H2942} that in{H4481} all the dominion{H7985} of my kingdom{H4437} men tremble{H1934} and fear{H1763} before{H4481} the God{H426} of Daniel;{H1841} for he is the living{H2417} God,{H426} and stedfast{H7011} for ever,{H5957} And his kingdom{H4437} that which shall not{H3809} be destroyed;{H2255} and his dominion{H7985} shall be even unto{H5705} the end.{H5491}

He delivereth{H7804} and rescueth,{H5338} and he worketh{H5648} signs{H852} and wonders{H8540} in heaven{H8065} and in earth,{H772} who hath delivered{H7804} Daniel{H1841} from{H4481} the power{H3028} of the lions.{H744}

So this{H1836} Daniel{H1841} prospered{H6744} in the reign{H4437} of Darius,{H1868} and in the reign{H4437} of Cyrus{H3567} the Persian.{H6543}