1It pleased Daryavesh (Darius) [lord] to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom; 2And over these three presidents; of whom Dani’el [God is Judge] [was] first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage. 3Then this Dani’el [God is Judge] was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit [was] in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm. 4Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Dani’el [God is Judge] concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he [was] faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. 5Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Dani’el [God is Judge], except we find [it] against him concerning the law of his God-Elohim (The Living Word) [The Many Powered].

6Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Daryavesh (Darius) [lord], live forever. 7All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counselors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God-Elohim (The Living Word) [The Many Powered] or man for thirty days, save of youⁱ, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. 8Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes [middle land] and Persians, which alters not. 9For what reason king Daryavesh (Darius) [lord] signed the writing and the decree.

10Now when Dani’el [God is Judge] knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Yerushalayim [Foundation of Peace], he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God-Elohim (The Living Word) [The Many Powered], as he did aforetime. 11Then these men assembled, and found Dani’el [God is Judge] praying and making supplication before his God-Elohim (The Living Word) [The Many Powered]. 12Then they came near, and spoke before the king concerning the king's decree; Have youⁱ not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask [a petition] of any God-Elohim (The Living Word) [The Many Powered] or man within thirty days, save of youⁱ, 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 Medes [middle land] and Persians, which alters not. 13Then answered they and said before the king, That Dani’el [God is Judge], which [is] of the children of the captivity of Y’hudah [Let Him (God) Be Praised], regards not youⁱ, O king, nor the decree that youⁱ have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.

14Then the king, when he heard [these] words, was sore displeased with himself, and set [his] heart on Dani’el [God is Judge] to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him. 15Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes [middle land] and Persians [is], That no decree nor statute which the king establishes may be changed.

16Then the king commanded, and they brought Dani’el [God is Judge], and cast [him] into the den of lions. [Now] the king spoke and said unto Dani’el [God is Judge], You1s God-Elohim (The Living Word) [The Many Powered] whom youⁱ serve continually, he will deliver youⁱ. 17And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet (seal or stamp), and with the signet (seal or stamp) of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Dani’el [God is Judge]. 18Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of music brought before him: and his sleep went from him.

19Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions. 20And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Dani’el [God is Judge]: [and] the king spoke and said to Dani’el [God is Judge], O Dani’el [God is Judge], servant of the living God-Elohim (The Living Word) [The Many Powered], is youⁱ God-Elohim (The Living Word) [The Many Powered], whom youⁱ serve continually, able to deliver youⁱ from the lions? 21Then said Dani’el [God is Judge] unto the king, O king, live forever. 22My God-Elohim (The Living Word) [The Many Powered] has sent his angel, and has shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before youⁱ, O king, have I done no hurt. 23Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Dani’el [God is Judge] up out of the den. So Dani’el [God is Judge] was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God-Elohim (The Living Word) [The Many Powered]. 24And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Dani’el [God is Judge], and they cast [them] into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and broke all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.

25Then king Daryavesh (Darius) [lord] wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.

26I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God-Elohim (The Living Word) [The Many Powered] of Dani’el [God is Judge]: for he [is] the living God-Elohim (The Living Word) [The Many Powered], and steadfast forever, and his kingdom [that] which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion [shall be even] unto the end.

27He delivers and rescues, and he works signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who has delivered Dani’el [God is Judge] from the power of the lions.

28So this Dani’el [God is Judge] prospered in the reign of Daryavesh (Darius) [lord], and in the reign of Koresh (Cyrus) [possess you the furnace] the Persian.