Daniel 6:1-13 ▼

1 IT pleased Darius to appoint over the kingdom a hundred and twenty generals to be over his whole kingdom;

2 And over them three presidents, of whom Daniel was one, that the generals might give account to them, so that they might not trouble the king.

3 Then Daniel excelled above all the presidents and generals, because he was more spiritual; and the king thought to set him over his whole kingdom.

4 Then the governors and generals sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the affairs of the kingdom; but they could find no fault or occasion because he was faithful to his God, neither were they able to find any blame or charge against him.

5 Then these men said, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel unless we find it against him in connection with the law of his God.

6 Then the governors and the generals came before the king, and said to him, King Darius, live for ever!

7 All the governors of the kingdom, the princes, the generals, and the lords have consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a firm decree that whosoever shall ask a petition of any god or man for thirty days, except of you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions.

8 Now, O king, establish this decree and let it be put in writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be altered.

9 Then King Darius signed the writing and issued the decree.

10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house, and the windows of his chamber were open toward Jerusalem; he knelt upon his knees three times a day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done before.

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

12 And they came near and said before the king, O king, live for ever! Did you not decree and sign, O king, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any god or man within thirty days, except of you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The decree is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be altered.

13 Then they answered and said before the king, Daniel, who is of the exiles from Judea, has not regarded you, O king, nor the decree which you have made, but he makes his petition three times a day.