1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred twenty local governors, who should be throughout the whole kingdom; 2 and over them three presidents, of whom Daniel was one, that these local governors might give account to them, and that the king should suffer no loss. 3 Then this Daniel was distinguished above the presidents and the local governors, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.

4 Then the presidents and the local governors sought to find occasion against Daniel as touching the kingdom; but they could find no occasion or fault, because he was faithful. There wasn’t any error or fault found in him. 5 Then these men said, "We won’t find any occasion against this Daniel, unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God."

6 Then these presidents and local governors assembled together to the king, and said this to him, "King Darius, live forever! 7 All the presidents of the kingdom, the deputies and the local governors, the counselors and the governors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a strong decree, that whoever asks a petition of any god or man for thirty days, except of you, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. 8 Now, O king, establish the decree and sign the writing, that it not be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which doesn’t alter." 9 Therefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.

10 When Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house (now his windows were open in his room toward Jerusalem) and he kneeled on his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did before. 11 Then these men assembled together, and found Daniel making petition and supplication before his God. 12 Then they came near, and spoke before the king concerning the king’s decree: "Haven’t you signed a decree that every man who makes a petition to any god or man within thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?"

The king answered, "This thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which doesn’t alter."

13 Then they answered and said before the king, "That Daniel, who is of the children of the captivity of Judah, doesn’t respect you, O king, nor the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day." 14 Then the king, when he heard these words, was very displeased, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored until the going down of the sun to rescue him.

15 Then these men assembled together to the king, and said to the king, "Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians, that no decree nor statute which the king establishes may be changed."

16 Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions. The king spoke and said to Daniel, "Your God whom you serve continually, he will deliver you."

17 A stone was brought, and laid on the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel. 18 Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting. No musical instruments were brought before him; and his sleep fled from him.

19 Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste to the den of lions. 20 When he came near to the den to Daniel, he cried with a troubled voice. The king spoke and said to Daniel, "Daniel, servant of the living God, is your God, whom you serve continually, able to deliver you from the lions?"

21 Then Daniel said to the king, "O king, live forever! 22 My God has sent his angel, and has shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not hurt me, because innocence was found in me before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm."

23 Then the king was exceedingly glad, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.

24 The king commanded, and they brought those men who had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions—them, their children, and their wives; and the lions mauled them, and broke all their bones in pieces before they came to the bottom of the den.

25 Then king Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages who dwell in all the earth:

"Peace be multiplied to you.

26 "I make a decree that in all the dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel.

"For he is the living God,

and steadfast forever.

His kingdom is that which will not be destroyed.

His dominion will be even to the end.

27 He delivers and rescues.

He works signs and wonders in heaven and in earth,

who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions."

28 So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty governors who should be in all the kingdom;

2 and over these three presidents, of whom Daniel [was] first, that the governors might give accounts unto them, and the king should not be bothered.

3 Then this Daniel was preferred above these governors and presidents because an over abundance of [the] Spirit [was] in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole kingdom.

4 Then the presidents and governors looked for occasions against Daniel on behalf of the kingdom, but they could find no occasion or fault because he was faithful, and no vice nor fault was found in him.

5 Then these men said, We shall never find any occasion against this Daniel except we find [it] against him in the law of his God.

6 Then these governors and presidents assembled together before the king and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever.

7 All the presidents of the kingdom, magistrates, governors, great [ones], and captains have agreed in common accord to promote a royal decree and to confirm it that whoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, except of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.

8 Now, O king, confirm the decree and sign the writing that it not be moved, according to the law of Media and of Persia, which does not change.

9 Therefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.

10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he entered into his house; and with the windows open toward Jerusalem in his dining chamber, he knelt three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God as he was used to doing before.

11 Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.

12 Then they went and spoke before the king concerning the royal decree; Hast thou not confirmed a decree that whoever shall ask [a petition] of any God or man within thirty days save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing [is] true, according to the law of the Media and Persia, which does not change.

13 Then they answered and said before the king, That Daniel, which [is] of the sons of the captivity of the Jews, has not regarded thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast confirmed, but makes his petition three times a day.

14 When the king, heard the matter, it weighed very heavy upon him, and [he] set [his] heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured until the going down of the sun to deliver him.

15 Then those men assembled near the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that this is the law of Media and of Persia: No decree nor statute which the king has confirmed may be moved.

16 Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast [him] into the den of lions. [Now] the king, speaking unto Daniel, said, Thy God whom thou servest continually, [may] he deliver thee.

17 And a stone was brought 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 princes that the agreement concerning Daniel might not be changed.

18 Then the king went to his palace and lay down without eating; neither were instruments of music brought before him, and his sleep fled from him.

19 Therefore, the king arose very early in the morning at dawn and went in haste unto the den of lions.

20 And when he came to the den, he cried loudly with a sad voice unto Daniel; [and] the king, in speaking to Daniel said, Daniel, servant of the living God, has thy God, whom thou servest continually, been able to deliver thee from the lions?

21 Then Daniel said unto the king, O king, live for ever.

22 My God has sent his angel, who shut the lions' mouths, that they do me no evil because before him righteousness was found in me; and even before thee, O king, I have done no corruption.

23 Then the king was exceeding glad because of him and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no injury was found upon him because he believed in his God.

24 And the king commanded, and they brought those men who had accused Daniel, and they cast [them] into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and even before they reached the bottom of the den, the lions had the mastery of them, and broke all their bones in pieces.

25 Then king Darius wrote unto all the peoples, nations, and tongues, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied unto you.

26 On my behalf a statute is put into effect, That in all the dominion of my kingdom everyone tremble at the presence of the God of Daniel for he [is] the Living God and endures for all ages, and his kingdom [is such] that it shall never come apart, and his dominion [shall be even] unto the end:

27 that saves and frees, and makes signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.

28 So this Daniel was prospered during the reign of Darius and during the reign of Cyrus, [the] Persian.: