It pleased{H6925}{H8232}{(H8754)} Darius{H1868} to set{H6966}{(H8684)} over{H5922} the kingdom{H4437} an hundred{H3969} and twenty{H6243} princes{H324}, which should be{H1934}{(H8748)} over the whole{H3606} kingdom{H4437};

And over{H5924} these{H4481} three{H8532} presidents{H5632}; of whom{H4481} Daniel{H1841} was first{H2298}: that{H459} the princes{H324} might{H1934}{(H8748)} give{H3052}{(H8751)} accounts{H2941} unto them, and the king{H4430} should have{H1934}{(H8748)} no{H3809} damage{H5142}{(H8752)}.

Then{H116} this{H1836} Daniel{H1841} was{H1934}{(H8754)} preferred{H5330}{(H8723)} above{H5922} the presidents{H5632} and princes{H324}, because{H3606}{H6903} an excellent{H3493} spirit{H7308} was in him; and the king{H4430} thought{H6246}{(H8754)} to set{H6966}{(H8682)} him over{H5922} the whole{H3606} realm{H4437}.

Then{H116} the presidents{H5632} and princes{H324} sought{H1934}{(H8754)}{H1156}{(H8750)} to find{H7912}{(H8682)} occasion{H5931} against Daniel{H1841} concerning{H6655} the kingdom{H4437}; but{H3606} they could{H3202}{(H8750)} find{H7912}{(H8682)} none{H3809} occasion{H5931} nor{H3809} fault{H7844}{(H8752)}; forasmuch{H6903} as he was faithful{H540}{(H8683)}, neither{H3809} was there any{H3606} error{H7960} or fault{H7844}{(H8752)} found{H7912}{(H8728)} in him{H5922}.

Then{H116} said{H560}{(H8750)} these{H479} men{H1400}, We shall not{H3809} find{H7912}{(H8684)} any{H3606} occasion{H5931} against{H5922} this{H1836} Daniel{H1841}, except{H3861} we find{H7912}{(H8681)} it against him concerning the law{H1882} of his God{H426}.

Then{H116} these{H459} presidents{H5632} and princes{H324} assembled together{H7284}{(H8684)} to the king{H4430}, and said{H560}{(H8750)} thus{H3652} unto him{H5922}, King{H4430} Darius{H1868}, live{H2418}{(H8747)} for ever{H5957}.

All{H3606} the presidents{H5632} of the kingdom{H4437}, the governors{H5460}, and the princes{H324}, the counsellors{H1907}, and the captains{H6347}, have consulted together{H3272}{(H8724)} to establish{H6966}{(H8742)} a royal{H4430} statute{H7010}, and to make a firm{H8631}{(H8742)} decree{H633}, that whosoever shall ask{H1156}{(H8748)} 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}{(H8729)} into the den{H1358} of lions{H744}.

Now{H3705}, O king{H4430}, establish{H6966}{(H8681)} the decree{H633}, and sign{H7560}{(H8748)} the writing{H3792}, that it be not{H3809} changed{H8133}{(H8682)}, according to the law{H1882} of the Medes{H4076} and Persians{H6540}, which altereth{H5709}{(H8748)} not{H3809}.

Wherefore{H3606}{H1836}{H6903} king{H4430} Darius{H1868} signed{H7560}{(H8754)} the writing{H3792} and the decree{H633}.

Now when Daniel{H1841} knew{H3046}{(H8754)} that the writing{H3792} was signed{H7560}{(H8752)}, he went{H5954}{(H8754)} into his house{H1005}; and his windows{H3551} being open{H6606}{(H8759)} in his chamber{H5952} toward{H5049} Jerusalem{H3390}, he kneeled{H1289}{(H8750)} upon{H5922} his knees{H1291} three{H8532} times{H2166} a day{H3118}, and prayed{H6739}{(H8743)}, and gave thanks{H3029}{(H8683)} before{H6925} his God{H426}, as{H6903}{H3606} he did{H1934}{(H8754)}{H5648}{(H8751)} aforetime{H4481}{H1836}{H6928}.

Then{H116} these{H479} men{H1400} assembled{H7284}{(H8684)}, and found{H7912}{(H8684)} Daniel{H1841} praying{H1156}{(H8750)} and making supplication{H2604}{(H8723)} before{H6925} his God{H426}.

Then{H116} they came near{H7127}{(H8754)}, and spake{H560}{(H8750)} before{H6925} the king{H4430} concerning{H5922} the king's{H4430} decree{H633}; Hast thou not{H3809} signed{H7560}{(H8754)} a decree{H633}, that every{H3606} man{H606} that shall ask{H1156}{(H8748)} a petition of{H4481} any{H3606} God{H426} or man{H606} within{H5705} thirty{H8533} days{H3118}, save{H3861} of thee{H4481}, O king{H4430}, shall be cast{H7412}{(H8729)} into the den{H1358} of lions{H744}? The king{H4430} answered{H6032}{(H8750)} and said{H560}{(H8750)}, The thing{H4406} is true{H3330}, according to the law{H1882} of the Medes{H4076} and Persians{H6540}, which altereth{H5709}{(H8748)} not{H3809}.

Then{H116} answered{H6032}{(H8754)} they and said{H560}{(H8750)} before{H6925} the king{H4430}, That Daniel{H1841}, which is of{H4481} the children{H1123} of the captivity{H1547} of Judah{H3061}, regardeth{H7761}{(H8754)}{H2942} not{H3809} thee{H5922}, O king{H4430}, nor the decree{H633} that thou hast signed{H7560}{(H8754)}, but maketh{H1156}{(H8750)} his petition{H1159} three{H8532} times{H2166} a day{H3118}.

Then{H116} the king{H4430}, when he heard{H8086}{(H8754)} these words{H4406}, was sore{H7690} displeased{H888}{(H8754)} with himself, and set{H7761}{(H8754)} his heart{H1079} on{H5922} Daniel{H1841} to deliver{H7804}{(H8756)} him: and he laboured{H1934}{(H8754)}{H7712}{(H8723)} till{H5705} the going down{H4606} of the sun{H8122} to deliver{H5338}{(H8682)} him.

Then{H116} these{H479} men{H1400} assembled{H7284}{(H8684)} unto{H5922} the king{H4430}, and said{H560}{(H8750)} unto the king{H4430}, Know{H3046}{(H8747)}, O king{H4430}, that the law{H1882} of the Medes{H4076} and Persians{H6540} is, That no{H3606} decree{H633} nor statute{H7010} which the king{H4430} establisheth{H6966}{(H8681)} may be changed{H8133}{(H8682)}.

Then{H116} the king{H4430} commanded{H560}{(H8754)}, and they brought{H858}{(H8684)} Daniel{H1841}, and cast{H7412}{(H8754)} him into the den{H1358} of lions{H744}. Now the king{H4430} spake{H6032}{(H8750)} and said{H560}{(H8750)} unto Daniel{H1841}, Thy God{H426} whom thou{H607} servest{H6399}{(H8750)} continually{H8411}, he will deliver{H7804}{(H8755)} thee.

And a{H2298} stone{H69} was brought{H858}{(H8717)}, and laid{H7761}{(H8752)} upon{H5922} the mouth{H6433} of the den{H1358}; and the king{H4430} sealed{H2857}{(H8754)} it with his own signet{H5824}, and with the signet{H5824} of his lords{H7261}; that the purpose{H6640} might not{H3809} be changed{H8133}{(H8748)} concerning Daniel{H1841}.

Then{H116} the king{H4430} went{H236}{(H8754)} to his palace{H1965}, and passed the night{H956}{(H8754)} fasting{H2908}: neither{H3809} were instruments{H1761} of musick brought{H5954}{(H8684)} before{H6925} him: and his sleep{H8139} went{H5075}{(H8754)} from him{H5922}.

Then{H116} the king{H4430} arose{H6966}{(H8748)} very early{H8238} in the morning{H5053}, and went{H236}{(H8754)} in haste{H927}{(H8726)} unto the den{H1358} of lions{H744}.

And when he came{H7127}{(H8749)} to the den{H1358}, he cried{H2200}{(H8754)} with a lamentable{H6088}{(H8750)} voice{H7032} unto Daniel{H1841}: and the king{H4430} spake{H6032}{(H8750)} and said{H560}{(H8750)} to Daniel{H1841}, O Daniel{H1841}, servant{H5649} of the living{H2417} God{H426}, is thy God{H426}, whom thou servest{H6399}{(H8750)} continually{H8411}, able{H3202}{(H8754)} to deliver{H7804}{(H8756)} thee from{H4481} the lions{H744}?

Then{H116} said{H4449}{(H8745)} Daniel{H1841} unto{H5974} the king{H4430}, O king{H4430}, live{H2418}{(H8747)} for ever{H5957}.

My God{H426} hath sent{H7972}{(H8754)} his angel{H4398}, and hath shut{H5463}{(H8754)} the lions{H744}' mouths{H6433}, that they have not{H3809} hurt{H2255}{(H8745)} me: forasmuch as{H3606}{H6903} before{H6925} him innocency{H2136} was found{H7912}{(H8728)} in me; and also{H638} before{H6925} thee, O king{H4430}, have I done{H5648}{(H8754)} no{H3809} hurt{H2248}.

Then{H116} was the king{H4430} exceeding{H7690} glad{H2868}{(H8754)} for him{H5922}, and commanded{H560}{(H8754)} that they should take{H5267} Daniel{H1841} up{H5267}{(H8682)} out of{H4481} the den{H1358}. So Daniel{H1841} was taken up{H5267}{(H8717)} out of{H4481} the den{H1358}, and no{H3809} manner{H3606} of hurt{H2257} was found{H7912}{(H8728)} upon him, because he believed{H540}{(H8684)} in his God{H426}.

And the king{H4430} commanded{H560}{(H8754)}, and they brought{H858}{(H8684)} those{H479} men{H1400} which had accused{H399}{(H8754)}{H7170} Daniel{H1841}, and they cast{H7412}{(H8754)} them into the den{H1358} of lions{H744}, them{H581}, their children{H1123}, and their wives{H5389}; and the lions{H744} had the mastery{H5705}{H7981}{(H8754)} of them, and brake{H1855} all{H3606} their bones{H1635} in pieces{H1855}{(H8684)} or ever{H3809} they came{H4291}{(H8754)} at the bottom{H773} of the den{H1358}.

Then{H116} king{H4430} Darius{H1868} wrote{H3790}{(H8754)} unto all{H3606} people{H5972}, nations{H524}, and languages{H3961}, that dwell{H1753}{(H8748)} in all{H3606} the earth{H772}; Peace{H8001} be multiplied{H7680}{(H8748)} unto you.

I{H4481}{H6925} make{H7761}{(H8752)} a decree{H2942}, That in every{H3606} dominion{H7985} of my kingdom{H4437} men tremble{H1934}{(H8748)}{H2112} and fear{H1763}{(H8751)} before{H4481}{H6925} 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}{(H8721)}, and his dominion{H7985} shall be even unto{H5705} the end{H5491}.

He delivereth{H7804}{(H8757)} and rescueth{H5338}{(H8683)}, and he worketh{H5648}{(H8751)} signs{H852} and wonders{H8540} in heaven{H8065} and in earth{H772}, who hath delivered{H7804}{(H8758)} Daniel{H1841} from{H4481} the power{H3028} of the lions{H744}.

So this{H1836} Daniel{H1841} prospered{H6744}{(H8684)} in the reign{H4437} of Darius{H1868}, and in the reign{H4437} of Cyrus{H3567} the Persian{H6543}.