Daniel 6

1 Darius decided to appoint 120 satraps over the kingdom, throughout all his realm. 2 Over them he appointed three governors, one of whom was Daniel. The satraps were to report to them so that the king would not be troubled. 3 Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps because an exceptional spirit was in him, and the king set him over his whole kingdom. 4 The governors and satraps tried to find grounds for a charge against Daniel, but they found no grounds, trespass, or error because he was faithful. 5 The governors said, “We will find no grounds for a charge against Daniel unless it concerns the laws of his God.” 6 Then the governors and satraps came before the king and said, “King Darius, live forever!” 7 “Everyone who presides over your kingdom—the captains, satraps, chiefs, and local governors—has agreed that the king should establish and confirm a decree: for thirty days, anyone who makes a request to any god or person except you, king, must be thrown into the lions’ den.” 8 “Now, king, establish the decree and publish the document so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians.” 9 So King Darius ordered the decree to be written.

10 When Daniel learned that the decree had been issued, he went home. The windows in his upper room opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he knelt, prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he had always done. † 11 Then these men watched and found Daniel praying and pleading with his God. 12 They came and asked the king, “King, did you not issue a decree that for thirty days anyone who makes a request to any god or person except you must be thrown into the lions’ den?” The king answered, “The word is true. The decree of the Medes and Persians cannot be revoked.” 13 They answered before the king, “Daniel, one of the exiles from Judea, has not submitted to your decree. Three times a day he makes his requests to his God.” 14 When the king heard this, he was deeply distressed over Daniel. He exerted himself until evening to rescue him. 15 Then those men told the king, “Know, king, that under the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or ruling established by the king may be changed.”

16 Then the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The king told Daniel, “Your God, whom you serve continually, will rescue you.” 17 They brought a stone and placed it over the mouth of the den. The king sealed it with his signet and the signets of his nobles so that nothing concerning Daniel could be changed. 18 The king went to his palace and spent the night fasting. No food was brought to him, and sleep fled from him. But God shut the lions’ mouths, and they did not harm Daniel. 19 At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. 20 When he approached the den, he cried out, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions’ mouths?” 21 Daniel answered the king, “King, live forever!” 22 “My God sent his messenger and shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not hurt me. Uprightness was found in me before him, and I have also done no wrong before you, king.” [a] 23 The king was overjoyed and ordered Daniel to be lifted from the den. Daniel was lifted out, and no injury was found on him because he trusted his God. 24 The king ordered Daniel’s accusers to be brought and thrown into the lions’ den along with their children and wives. Before they reached the bottom, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.

25 Then King Darius wrote to all peoples, tribes, and languages living throughout the earth: “May your peace increase.” 26 “I issue a decree throughout every dominion of my kingdom: people must tremble in fear before Daniel’s God, because he is the living and eternal God. His kingdom will not be destroyed, and his dominion lasts forever.” 27 “He helps and rescues and works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth. He rescued Daniel from the lions’ power.” 28 Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.