1 Dario achou por bem nomear cento e vinte sátrapas para governarem todo o reino;
2 e colocou três supervisores sobre eles, um dos quais era Daniel. Os sátrapas tinham que prestar contas a eles para que o rei não sofresse nenhuma perda.
3 Ora, Daniel se destacou tanto entre os supervisores e os sátrapas por suas grandes qualidades, que o rei planejava colocá-lo à frente do governo de todo o império.
4 Diante disso, os supervisores e os sátrapas procuraram motivos para acusar Daniel em sua administração governamental, mas nada conseguiram. Não puderam achar falta alguma nele, pois ele era fiel; não era desonesto nem negligente.
5 Finalmente esses homens disseram: "Jamais encontraremos algum motivo para acusar esse Daniel, a menos que seja algo relacionado com a lei do Deus dele".
6 E assim os supervisores e os sátrapas de comum acordo foram falar com o rei: "Ó rei Dario, vive para sempre!
7 Todos os supervisores reais, os prefeitos, os sátrapas, os conselheiros e os governadores concordaram em que o rei deve emitir um decreto ordenando que todo aquele que orar a qualquer deus ou a qualquer homem nos próximos trinta dias, exceto a ti, ó rei, seja atirado na cova dos leões.
8 Agora, ó rei, emite o decreto e assina-o para que não seja alterado, conforme a lei dos medos e dos persas, que não pode ser revogada".
9 E o rei Dario assinou o decreto.
10 Quando Daniel soube que o decreto tinha sido publicado, foi para casa, para o seu quarto, no andar de cima, onde as janelas davam para Jerusalém. Três vezes por dia ele se ajoelhava e orava, agradecendo ao seu Deus, como costumava fazer.
11 Então aqueles homens foram ver e encontraram Daniel orando, pedindo ajuda a Deus.
12 Assim foram falar com o rei acerca do decreto real: "Tu não publicaste um decreto ordenando que nos próximos trinta dias todo aquele que fizesse algum pedido a qualquer deus ou a qualquer homem, exceto a ti, ó rei, seria lançado na cova dos leões? " O rei respondeu: "O decreto está em vigor, conforme a lei dos medos e dos persas, que não pode ser revogada".
13 Então disseram ao rei: "Daniel, um dos exilados de Judá, não te dá ouvidos, ó rei, nem ao decreto que assinaste. Ele continua orando três vezes por dia".
14 Quando o rei ouviu isso, ficou muito contrariado, e como estava decidido a salvar Daniel, até o pôr-do-sol fez todo o esforço que pôde para livrá-lo.
15 Mas os homens lhe disseram: "Lembra-te, ó rei, que, conforme a lei dos medos e dos persas, nenhum decreto ou edito do rei pode ser modificado".
16 Então o rei deu ordens, e eles trouxeram Daniel e o jogaram na cova dos leões. O rei, porém, disse a Daniel: "Que o seu Deus, a quem você serve continuamente, o livre! "
17 Taparam a cova com uma pedra, e o rei a selou com o seu próprio anel-selo e com os anéis dos seus nobres, para que a situação de Daniel não se modificasse.
18 Tendo voltado ao palácio, o rei passou a noite sem comer e não aceitou nenhum divertimento em sua presença. Além disso, não conseguiu dormir.
19 Logo ao alvorecer, o rei se levantou e correu para a cova dos leões.
20 Quando ia se aproximando da cova, chamou Daniel com voz aflita: "Daniel, servo do Deus vivo, será que o seu Deus, a quem você serve continuamente, pôde livrá-lo dos leões? "
21 Daniel respondeu: "Ó rei, vive para sempre!
22 O meu Deus enviou o seu anjo, que fechou a boca dos leões. Eles não me fizeram mal algum, pois fui considerado inocente à vista de Deus. Também contra ti não cometi mal algum, ó rei".
23 O rei muito se alegrou e ordenou que tirassem Daniel da cova. Quando o tiraram da cova, viram que não havia nele nenhum ferimento, pois ele tinha confiado no seu Deus.
24 E por ordem do rei, os homens que tinham acusado Daniel foram atirados na cova dos leões, juntamente com as suas mulheres e os seus filhos. E, antes de chegarem ao fundo, os leões os atacaram e despedaçaram todos os seus ossos.
25 Então o rei Dario escreveu aos homens de todas as nações, povos e línguas de toda a terra: "Paz e prosperidade!
26 "Estou editando um decreto para que nos domínios do império os homens temam e reverenciem o Deus de Daniel. "Pois ele é o Deus vivo e permanece para sempre; o seu reino não será destruído, o seu domínio jamais acabará.
27 Ele livra e salva; faz sinais e maravilhas nos céus e na terra. Ele livrou Daniel do poder dos leões".
28 Assim Daniel prosperou durante os reinados de Dario e de Ciro, o persa.
1 It was pleasing before Darius, that he should set up over the kingdom, a hundred and twenty satraps,that they should be over all the kingdom;
2 and, over these, three confidential ministers, of whom, Daniel, was first,that, to them, these satraps should render an account, and, the king, not be suffering loss.
3 Then, this Daniel, signalised himself, above the ministers and the satraps, because, a distinguished spirit, was in him, and, the king, thought to set him up over all the kingdom,
4 Then, the ministers and the satraps, began seeking to find, occasion, against Daniel, in respect of the kingdom,but, no occasion nor wickedness, could they find, inasmuch as, faithful, was he, and, neither error nor wickedness, could be found against him.
5 Then, these men, were saying, We shall not find against this Daniel, any occasion; unless we find it against him in respect of the law of his God.
6 Then, these ministers and satraps, crowded together unto the king,and, thus, were saying to him, O Darius the king! for ages, live!
7 All the ministers of the kingdom, the nobles and satraps, the near friends and the pashas, have consulted together, to establish a royal statute, and to confirm an interdict,That, whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man, for thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions.
8 Now, O king! wilt thou establish the interdict, and sign the writing, that it may not be changedaccording to the law of the Medes and Persians, which may not be abolished,
9 Wherefore, King Darius, signed the writing and the interdict.
10 But, Daniel, when he knew that the writing, was signed, went to his own house, and, the windows being opened to him, in his chamber, toward Jerusalem, three times a day, was he kneeling upon his knees, and praying and giving thanks before his God, in like manner as he had been doing aforetime.
11 Then, these men, crowded together, and found Daniel,praying and making supplication, before his God.
12 Then drew they near, and began to speak before the king, concerning the royal interdict, Didst thou not sign, an interdict, that, any man who should petition of any God or man, for thirty days, save of thee, O king, should be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, Certain is the thingaccording to the law of the Medes and Persians, which may not be abolished.
13 Then answered they and were saying before the king, Daniel, who is of the sons of the exile of Judah, hath made thee, O king, of none account, also the interdict which thou hast signed,but, three times a day, is asking his petition.
14 Then, the king, when he heard, the matter, was sorely displeased with himself, and, upon Daniel, set his heart, to deliver him,and, until the going in of the sun, was striving to rescue him.
15 Then, these men, crowded unto the king,and were saying to the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, that, no interdict nor statute which the king establisheth, may be changed.
16 Then, the king, gave word, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. The king spake and said to Daniel,Thy God, whom thou art serving continually, he, will deliver thee.
17 And there was brought a certain stone, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet-ring, and with the signet-ring of his nobles, that nothing might be changed, as to Daniel.
18 Then the king departed to his palace, and spent the night fasting, and no, table, was brought in before him,and, his sleep, fled from him.
19 Then the king rose early, with the dawn,and, hastilyunto the den of lions, departed;
20 and, when he drew near to the den, unto Daniel, with distressed voice, made he outcry,the king spake and said unto Daniel, O Daniel! servant of the Living God! Thy God, whom thou art serving continually, hath he been able to deliver thee from the lions?
21 Then, Daniel, with the king, spake,O king! for ages, live!
22 My God, hath sent his messenger, and hath shut the mouth of the lions, and they have not hurt me; forasmuch as, before him, rectitude was found in me, moreover also, before thee, O king, no, crime, had I committed.
23 Then, the king, was exceedingly glad concerning him, and gave word to take up, Daniel, out of the den. So Daniel, was taken up, out of the den, and, no manner of hurt, was found in him, for that he had trusted in his God.
24 And the king, gave word, that they should bring those men who had accused Daniel, and, into the den of lions, they cast themthem, their children, and their wives,and, they had not reached the bottom of the den, when the lions, seized them, and, all their bones, brake they in pieces.
25 Then, Darius the king, wrote to all the peoples, the races, and the tongues who were dwelling in all the earth, Your prosperity abound!
26 From before me, is appointed a decree that, throughout every dominion of my kingdom, men tremble and withdraw falteringly from before the God of Daniel,for that, he, is the Living God, and abiding for ages, and, his kingdom, that which shall not be destroyed, and, his dominion, is unto the end:
27 who delivereth and rescueth and worketh signs and wonders, in the heavens, and in the earth,for that he hath delivered Daniel out of the power of the lions.
28 And, this Daniel, prospered in the reign of Darius,and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian. :