It pleased Darius
to set
over
the kingdom
an hundred
and twenty
princes
, which should be
over the whole
kingdom
;
And over these
three
presidents
; of whom
Daniel
was first
: that
the princes
might
give
accounts
unto them, and the king
should have
no
damage
.
Then this
Daniel
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
.
Then the presidents
and princes
sought
to find
occasion
against Daniel
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
.
Then said
these
men
, We shall not
find
any
occasion
against
this
Daniel
, except
we find
it against him concerning the law
of his God
.
Then these
presidents
and princes
assembled together
to the king
, and said
thus
unto him
, King
Darius
, live
for ever
.
All the presidents
of the kingdom
, the governors
, and the princes
, the counsellors
, 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
or man
for
thirty
days
, save
of thee
, O king
, he shall be cast
into the den
of lions
.
Now, O king
, establish
the decree
, and sign
the writing
, that it be not
changed
, according to the law
of the Medes
and Persians
, which altereth
not
.
Wherefore king
Darius
signed
the writing
and the decree
.
Now when Daniel knew
that the writing
was signed
, he went
into his house
; and his windows
being open
in his chamber
toward
Jerusalem
, he kneeled
upon
his knees
three
times
a day
, and prayed
, and gave thanks
before
his God
, as
he did
aforetime
.
Then these
men
assembled
, and found
Daniel
praying
and making supplication
before
his God
.
Then they came near
, and spake
before
the king
concerning
the king's
decree
; Hast thou not
signed
a decree
, that every
man
that 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 Medes
and Persians
, which altereth
not
.
Then answered
they and said
before
the king
, That Daniel
, which is of
the children
of the captivity
of Judah
, regardeth
not
thee
, O king
, nor the decree
that thou hast signed
, but maketh
his petition
three
times
a day
.
Then the king
, when he heard
these words
, was sore
displeased
with himself, and set
his heart
on
Daniel
to deliver
him: and he laboured
till
the going down
of the sun
to deliver
him.
Then these
men
assembled
unto
the king
, and said
unto the king
, Know
, O king
, that the law
of the Medes
and Persians
is , That no
decree
nor statute
which the king
establisheth
may be changed
.
Then the king
commanded
, and they brought
Daniel
, and cast
him into the den
of lions
. Now the king
spake
and said
unto Daniel
, Thy God
whom thou
servest
continually
, he will deliver
thee.
And a stone
was brought
, and laid
upon
the mouth
of the den
; and the king
sealed
it with his own signet
, and with the signet
of his lords
; that the purpose
might not
be changed
concerning Daniel
.
Then the king
went
to his palace
, and passed the night
fasting
: neither
were instruments
of musick brought
before
him: and his sleep
went
from him
.
Then the king
arose
very early
in the morning
, and went
in haste
unto the den
of lions
.
And when he came to the den
, he cried
with a lamentable
voice
unto Daniel
: and the king
spake
and said
to Daniel
, O Daniel
, servant
of the living
God
, is thy God
, whom thou servest
continually
, able
to deliver
thee from
the lions
?
Then said
Daniel
unto
the king
, O king
, live
for ever
.
My God hath sent
his angel
, and hath shut
the lions
' mouths
, that they have not
hurt
me: forasmuch as
before
him innocency
was found
in me; and also
before
thee, O king
, have I done
no
hurt
.
Then was the king
exceeding
glad
for him
, and commanded
that they should take
Daniel
up
out of
the den
. So Daniel
was taken up
out of
the den
, and no
manner
of hurt
was found
upon him, because he believed
in his God
.
And the king commanded
, and they brought
those
men
which had accused
Daniel
, and they cast
them into the den
of lions
, them
, their children
, and their wives
; and the lions
had the mastery
of them, and brake
all
their bones
in pieces
or ever
they came
at the bottom
of the den
.
Then king
Darius
wrote
unto all
people
, nations
, and languages
, that dwell
in all
the earth
; Peace
be multiplied
unto you.
I make
a decree
, That in every
dominion
of my kingdom
men tremble
and fear
before
the God
of Daniel
: for he is the living
God
, and stedfast
for ever
, and his kingdom
that which shall not
be destroyed
, and his dominion
shall be even unto
the end
.
He delivereth and rescueth
, and he worketh
signs
and wonders
in heaven
and in earth
, who hath delivered
Daniel
from
the power
of the lions
.
So this Daniel
prospered
in the reign
of Darius
, and in the reign
of Cyrus
the Persian
.