The Plot against Daniel

1Darius decideda to appoint 120 satraps over the kingdom, stationed throughout the realm, 2and over them three administrators, including Daniel.b These satraps would be accountable to them so that the king would not be defrauded.c 3Danield distinguished himself above the administrators and satraps because he had an extraordinary spirit,e so the king planned to set him over the whole realm.f 4The administrators and satraps, therefore, kept trying to find a charge against Danielg regarding the kingdom. But they could find no charge or corruption,h for he was trustworthy, and no negligence or corruption was found in him. 5Then these men said, “We will never find any charge against this Daniel unless we find something against him concerning the law of his God.”i

6So the administrators and satraps went together to the king and said to him, “May King Darius live forever.j 7All the administrators of the kingdom,k the prefects, satraps, advisers, and governors have agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an edict that for 30 days, anyone who petitions any god or man except you, the king, will be thrown into the lions’ den.l 8Therefore, Your Majesty, establish the edictm and sign the document so that, as a law of the Medes and Persians, it is irrevocable and cannot be changed.”n 9So King Darius signed the document.o

Daniel in the Lions’ Den

10When Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went into his house. The windows in its upper room opened toward Jerusalem,p and three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God,q just as he had done before. 11Then these men went as a group and foundr Daniel petitioning and imploring his God. 12So they approached the kings and asked about his edict: “Didn’t you sign an edict that for 30 days any man who petitions any god or man except you, the king, will be thrown into the lions’ den? ”

The king answered, “As a law of the Medes and Persians, the order stands and is irrevocable.”t

13Then they replied to the king, “Daniel, one of the Judean exiles, has ignored you,u the king, and the edict you signed, for he prays three times a day.” 14As soon as the king heard this, he was very displeased; he set his mind on rescuing Danielv and made every effort until sundown to deliver him.

15Then these men went to the king and said to him, “You as king know it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no edict or ordinance the king establishes can be changed.”w

16So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den.x The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually,y rescue you! ” 17A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den.z The king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signet rings of his nobles, so that nothing in regard to Daniel could be changed. 18Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting.aa No diversionsab were brought to him, and he could not sleep.ac

Daniel Released

19At the first light of dawn the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. 20When he reached the den, he cried out in anguish to Daniel. “Daniel, servant of the living God,” the king said,ad “has your God whom you serve continually been able to rescue youae from the lions? ”

21Then Daniel spoke with the king: “May the king live forever. 22My God sent His angelaf and shut the lions’ mouths. They haven’t hurt me, for I was found innocent before Him. Also, I have not committed a crime against you my king.”

23The king was overjoyed and gave orders to take Daniel out of the den. So Daniel was taken out of the den, uninjured, for he trusted in his God.ag 24The king then gave the command, and those men who had maliciously accused Danielah, ai were brought and thrown into the lions’ den — they, their children, and their wives.aj They had not reached the bottom of the den before the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.

Darius Honors God

25Then King Darius wrote to those of every people, nation, and language who live in all the earth: “May your prosperity abound.ak 26I issue a decreeal that in all my royal dominion, people must tremble in fear before the God of Daniel:am

For He is the living God,

and He endures forever;

His kingdom will never be destroyed,an

and His dominion has no end.

27He rescues and delivers;

He performs signs and wonders

in the heavens and on the earth,ao

for He has rescued Daniel

from the power of the lions.”

28So Daniel prosperedap during the reign of Darius andaq the reign of Cyrus the Persian.ar