1 It pleased Darius|strong="H1868" to|strong="H1868" set over the|strong="H1868" kingdom|strong="H4437" a|strong="H3068" hundred and|strong="H4437" twenty satraps, who should be throughout the|strong="H1868" whole kingdom|strong="H4437";
2 and|strong="H4437" over|strong="H5922" them|strong="H5922" three presidents, of|strong="H4437" whom|strong="H1768" Daniel was|strong="H1934" one; that|strong="H1768" these satraps might|strong="H1934" give account|strong="H5922" unto|strong="H5922" them|strong="H5922", and|strong="H4437" that|strong="H1768" the|strong="H3606" king should have|strong="H1934" no|strong="H3606" damage.
3 Then|strong="H1768" this|strong="H4481" Daniel|strong="H1841" was|strong="H1934" distinguished above the|strong="H4481" presidents|strong="H5632" and|strong="H4430" the|strong="H4481" satraps, because|strong="H4481" an|strong="H4430" excellent spirit was|strong="H1934" in|strong="H4430" him|strong="H4481"; and|strong="H4430" the|strong="H4481" king|strong="H4430" thought to|strong="H4481" set him|strong="H4481" over|strong="H5924" the|strong="H4481" whole realm.
4 Then|strong="H6903" the|strong="H3606" presidents|strong="H5632" and|strong="H4430" the|strong="H3606" satraps sought|strong="H1934" to|strong="H5922" find occasion against|strong="H5922" Daniel|strong="H1841" as|strong="H3606" touching the|strong="H3606" kingdom|strong="H4437"; but|strong="H1768" they|strong="H3606" could|strong="H1768" find no|strong="H3606" occasion nor fault, forasmuch|strong="H3606" as|strong="H3606" he|strong="H1768" was|strong="H1934" faithful, neither was|strong="H1934" there|strong="H6903" any|strong="H3606" error or|strong="H4430" fault found in|strong="H5922" him|strong="H5922".
5 Then|strong="H6903" said these men|strong="H4437", We|strong="H1768" shall|strong="H4437" not|strong="H3809" find|strong="H7912" any|strong="H3606" occasion|strong="H5931" against|strong="H5922" this|strong="H1932" Daniel|strong="H1841", except we|strong="H3068" find|strong="H7912" it|strong="H5922" against|strong="H5922" him|strong="H5922" concerning|strong="H5922" the|strong="H3606" law of|strong="H4437" his|strong="H5922" God.
6 Then|strong="H1768" these|strong="H1836" presidents and|strong="H1841" satraps assembled together to|strong="H5922" the|strong="H3606" king, and|strong="H1841" said thus|strong="H1836" unto|strong="H5922" him|strong="H5922", King Darius, live forever.
7 All|strong="H5957" the|strong="H5922" presidents|strong="H5632" of|strong="H4430" the|strong="H5922" kingdom, the|strong="H5922" deputies and|strong="H4430" the|strong="H5922" satraps, the|strong="H5922" counselors and|strong="H4430" the|strong="H5922" governors, have|strong="H1868" consulted together|strong="H7284" to|strong="H5922" establish a|strong="H3068" royal|strong="H4430" statute, and|strong="H4430" to|strong="H5922" make a|strong="H3068" strong interdict, that|strong="H5922" whosoever shall ask a|strong="H3068" petition of|strong="H4430" any god or|strong="H4430" man for|strong="H5922" thirty days, save of|strong="H4430" thee|strong="H5922", O|strong="H3068" king|strong="H4430", he|strong="H3652" shall be|strong="H5957" cast into the|strong="H5922" den of|strong="H4430" lions.
8 Now|strong="H4430", O|strong="H3068" king|strong="H4430", establish|strong="H6966" the|strong="H3606" interdict, and|strong="H4430" sign the|strong="H3606" writing, that|strong="H1768" it|strong="H4481" be not changed, according|strong="H4481" to|strong="H5705" the|strong="H3606" law of|strong="H4481" the|strong="H3606" Medes and|strong="H4430" Persians, which|strong="H1768" altereth not.
9 Wherefore king|strong="H4430" Darius signed|strong="H7560" the|strong="H1768" writing|strong="H3792" and|strong="H4430" the|strong="H1768" interdict.
10 And|strong="H4430" when Daniel knew that|strong="H3606" the|strong="H3606" writing|strong="H3792" was|strong="H4430" signed|strong="H7560", he|strong="H6903" went into his|strong="H3606" house (now|strong="H4430" his|strong="H3606" windows were open in|strong="H4430" his|strong="H3606" chamber toward Jerusalem); and|strong="H4430" he|strong="H6903" knelt upon his|strong="H3606" knees three times a|strong="H3068" day, and|strong="H4430" prayed, and|strong="H4430" gave thanks before|strong="H6903" his|strong="H3606" God, as|strong="H3606" he|strong="H6903" did aforetime.
11 Then|strong="H6903" these|strong="H1836" men assembled together, and|strong="H1005" found Daniel|strong="H1841" making|strong="H3046" petition and|strong="H1005" supplication before|strong="H6925" his|strong="H5922" God.
12 Then they came|strong="H7284" near, and|strong="H1841" spake before|strong="H6925" the|strong="H6925" king concerning the|strong="H6925" king’s interdict: Hast thou not signed an interdict, that|strong="H1400" every man|strong="H1400" that|strong="H1400" shall make petition|strong="H1156" unto|strong="H1156" any god or man|strong="H1400" within thirty days, save unto|strong="H1156" thee, O|strong="H3068" king, shall be|strong="H1841" cast into the|strong="H6925" den of|strong="H6925" lions? The|strong="H6925" king answered and|strong="H1841" said, The|strong="H6925" thing is true, according to|strong="H6925" the|strong="H6925" law of|strong="H6925" the|strong="H6925" Medes and|strong="H1841" Persians, which altereth not.
13 Then|strong="H1768" answered|strong="H6032" they|strong="H3606" and|strong="H6032" said|strong="H6032" before|strong="H6925" the|strong="H3606" king|strong="H4430", That|strong="H1768" Daniel, who|strong="H1768" is|strong="H1768" of|strong="H4481" the|strong="H3606" children of|strong="H4481" the|strong="H3606" captivity of|strong="H4481" Judah, regardeth not|strong="H3809" thee|strong="H5922", O|strong="H3068" king|strong="H4430", nor|strong="H3809" the|strong="H3606" interdict that|strong="H1768" thou|strong="H3606" hast signed|strong="H7560", but|strong="H3861" maketh|strong="H1156" his|strong="H5922" petition|strong="H1156" three times a|strong="H3068" day|strong="H3118".
14 Then|strong="H1768" the|strong="H5922" king|strong="H4430", when|strong="H1768" he|strong="H1768" heard these|strong="H4481" words, was|strong="H1841" sore displeased, and|strong="H6032" set|strong="H7761" his|strong="H5922" heart on|strong="H5922" Daniel|strong="H1841" to|strong="H5922" deliver him|strong="H5922"; and|strong="H6032" he|strong="H1768" labored till the|strong="H5922" going down of|strong="H4481" the|strong="H5922" sun to|strong="H5922" rescue him|strong="H5922".
15 Then|strong="H1768" these men assembled together unto|strong="H5922" the|strong="H5922" king|strong="H4430", and|strong="H4430" said unto|strong="H5922" the|strong="H5922" king|strong="H4430", Know, O|strong="H3068" king|strong="H4430", that|strong="H1768" it|strong="H5922" is|strong="H1768" a|strong="H3068" law of|strong="H4430" the|strong="H5922" Medes and|strong="H4430" Persians, that|strong="H1768" no interdict nor statute which|strong="H1768" the|strong="H5922" king|strong="H4430" establisheth may be|strong="H1934" changed.
16 Then|strong="H1768" the|strong="H3606" king|strong="H4430" commanded, and|strong="H4430" they|strong="H3606" brought Daniel, and|strong="H4430" cast him|strong="H5922" into the|strong="H3606" den of|strong="H4430" lions. Now the|strong="H3606" king|strong="H4430" spake and|strong="H4430" said unto|strong="H5922" Daniel, Thy|strong="H5922" God whom|strong="H1768" thou|strong="H3606" servest continually, he|strong="H1768" will|strong="H1768" deliver thee|strong="H5922".
17 And|strong="H6032" a|strong="H3068" stone was|strong="H1841" brought|strong="H1841", and|strong="H6032" laid upon the|strong="H1768" mouth of|strong="H4430" the|strong="H1768" den|strong="H1358"; and|strong="H6032" the|strong="H1768" king|strong="H4430" sealed it|strong="H1932" with|strong="H1841" his|strong="H7804" own signet, and|strong="H6032" with|strong="H1841" the|strong="H1768" signet of|strong="H4430" his|strong="H7804" lords; that|strong="H1768" nothing might be|strong="H1841" changed concerning Daniel|strong="H1841".
18 Then|strong="H1768" the|strong="H5922" king|strong="H4430" went|strong="H1841" to|strong="H5922" his|strong="H5922" palace, and|strong="H4430" passed the|strong="H5922" night fasting; neither|strong="H3809" were|strong="H1768" instruments of|strong="H4430" music brought|strong="H1841" before|strong="H5922" him|strong="H5922": and|strong="H4430" his|strong="H5922" sleep fled from|strong="H8133" him|strong="H5922".
19 Then|strong="H4430" the|strong="H5922" king|strong="H4430" arose very early in|strong="H5954" the|strong="H5922" morning, and|strong="H4430" went|strong="H5954" in|strong="H5954" haste unto|strong="H5922" the|strong="H5922" den of|strong="H4430" lions.
20 And|strong="H4430" when|strong="H1768" he|strong="H1768" came|strong="H1768" near unto the|strong="H1768" den|strong="H1358" to|strong="H4430" Daniel, he|strong="H1768" cried with a|strong="H3068" lamentable voice; the|strong="H1768" king|strong="H4430" spake and|strong="H4430" said to|strong="H4430" Daniel, O|strong="H3068" Daniel, servant of|strong="H4430" the|strong="H1768" living God, is|strong="H1768" thy God, whom|strong="H1768" thou|strong="H1768" servest continually, able to|strong="H4430" deliver thee from|strong="H1768" the|strong="H1768" lions?
21 Then|strong="H1768" said|strong="H6032" Daniel|strong="H1841" unto|strong="H6032" the|strong="H4481" king|strong="H4430", O|strong="H3068" king|strong="H4430", live forever.
22 My|strong="H4430" God hath|strong="H4430" sent his angel, and|strong="H4430" hath|strong="H4430" shut the|strong="H5974" lions’ mouths, and|strong="H4430" they have|strong="H4430" not hurt me; forasmuch as before him|strong="H5974" innocency was|strong="H4430" found in|strong="H4430" me; and|strong="H4430" also|strong="H4430" before thee|strong="H5974", O|strong="H3068" king|strong="H4430", have|strong="H4430" I done no hurt.
23 Then|strong="H6903" was|strong="H4430" the|strong="H3606" king|strong="H4430" exceeding glad, and|strong="H4430" commanded that|strong="H1768" they|strong="H3606" should|strong="H4430" take Daniel up|strong="H6925" out|strong="H5648" of|strong="H4430" the|strong="H3606" den. So|strong="H1768" Daniel was|strong="H4430" taken up|strong="H6925" out|strong="H5648" of|strong="H4430" the|strong="H3606" den, and|strong="H4430" no|strong="H3809" manner|strong="H3606" of|strong="H4430" hurt|strong="H2255" was|strong="H4430" found|strong="H7912" upon him|strong="H6925", because|strong="H6903" he|strong="H1768" had|strong="H4430" trusted in|strong="H4430" his|strong="H7972" God.
24 And|strong="H4430" the|strong="H3606" king|strong="H4430" commanded|strong="H4481", and|strong="H4430" they|strong="H3606" brought|strong="H1841" those|strong="H1768" men that|strong="H1768" had|strong="H4430" accused Daniel|strong="H1841", and|strong="H4430" they|strong="H3606" cast them|strong="H5922" into the|strong="H3606" den|strong="H1358" of|strong="H4481" lions, them|strong="H5922", their|strong="H3606" children, and|strong="H4430" their|strong="H3606" wives; and|strong="H4430" the|strong="H3606" lions had|strong="H4430" the|strong="H3606" mastery of|strong="H4481" them|strong="H5922", and|strong="H4430" brake all|strong="H3606" their|strong="H3606" bones in|strong="H5922" pieces, before|strong="H4481" they|strong="H3606" came|strong="H1768" to|strong="H5922" the|strong="H3606" bottom of|strong="H4481" the|strong="H3606" den|strong="H1358".
25 Then|strong="H1768" king|strong="H4430" Darius wrote unto|strong="H5705" all|strong="H3606" the|strong="H3606" peoples, nations, and|strong="H4430" languages, that|strong="H1768" dwell in|strong="H4430" all|strong="H3606" the|strong="H3606" earth: Peace be|strong="H3809" multiplied unto|strong="H5705" you|strong="H1768".
26 I|strong="H1768" make a|strong="H3068" decree, that|strong="H1768" in|strong="H1753" all|strong="H3606" the|strong="H3606" dominion of|strong="H4430" my|strong="H4430" kingdom men tremble and|strong="H4430" fear before the|strong="H3606" God of|strong="H4430" Daniel; for|strong="H1768" he|strong="H1768" is|strong="H1768" the|strong="H3606" living|strong="H1753" God, and|strong="H4430" steadfast forever, And|strong="H4430" his|strong="H3606" kingdom that|strong="H1768" which|strong="H1768" shall|strong="H3606" not be|strong="H8001" destroyed; and|strong="H4430" his|strong="H3606" dominion shall|strong="H3606" be|strong="H8001" even|strong="H1768" unto|strong="H3790" the|strong="H3606" end.
27 He|strong="H1768" delivereth and|strong="H4437" rescueth, and|strong="H4437" he|strong="H1768" worketh signs and|strong="H4437" wonders in|strong="H4437" heaven and|strong="H4437" in|strong="H4437" earth, who|strong="H1768" hath delivered Daniel|strong="H1841" from|strong="H4481" the|strong="H3606" power of|strong="H4481" the|strong="H3606" lions.
28 So|strong="H1768" this|strong="H4481" Daniel|strong="H1841" prospered in|strong="H5648" the|strong="H4481" reign of|strong="H4481" Darius, and|strong="H8065" in|strong="H5648" the|strong="H4481" reign of|strong="H4481" Cyrus the|strong="H4481" Persian.