Daniel 6

Daniel Is Set over the Kingdom

1It seemed good to Darius to appoint over the kingdom one hundred twenty satraps who would be throughout the whole kingdom, 2and over them three high officials, of whom Daniel was one, so that these satraps might give account to them and the king would suffer no loss. 3Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the high officials and satraps because an extraordinary spirit was in him, and the king planned to appoint him over the whole kingdom.

Daniel’s Rivals Seek a Charge against Him

4Then the high officials and satraps sought to find a ground for accusation against Daniel concerning the kingdom, but they were not able to find any ground for accusation or corruption, because he was faithful, and no negligence or corruption was found in him. 5Then these men said, “We will not find any ground for accusation against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God.”

The Officials Manipulate the King

6Then these high officials and satraps came together before the king and said thus to him, “King Darius, live forever! 7All the high officials of the kingdom, prefects, satraps, counselors, and governors have taken counsel to establish a royal statute and enforce an injunction that whoever makes a petition to any god or person for thirty days except to you, O king, shall be thrown into a den of lions. 8Now, O king, establish the injunction and sign the document so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked.” 9Therefore King Darius signed the document, the injunction.

Daniel Continues to Pray

10When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went into his house. His windows in his upper room were open toward Jerusalem, and three times a day he knelt on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks before his God, just as he had done before. 11Then these men came together and found Daniel making petition and seeking mercy before his God. 12Then they approached and spoke before the king concerning the royal injunction: “Did you not sign an injunction that anyone who makes a petition to any god or person within thirty days except to you, O king, shall be thrown into a den of lions?” The king answered and said, “The matter is certain, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked.” 13Then they answered and said before the king, “Daniel, who is from the exiles of Judah, has paid no attention to you, O king, or to the injunction that you signed, but three times a day he makes his petition.”

Darius Tries to Rescue Daniel

14Then the king, when he heard the matter, was greatly distressed, and he set his heart on Daniel to rescue him. Until the sun went down he exerted himself to deliver him. 15Then these men came together before the king and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no injunction or statute that the king establishes may be changed.”

Daniel Is Thrown into the Lions’ Den

16Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the den of lions. The king answered and said to Daniel, “Your God whom you serve continually—he will rescue you.” 17A stone was brought and placed over the opening of the den, and the king sealed it with his signet ring and with the signet rings of his nobles, so that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel. 18Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting. No entertainment was brought before him, and his sleep fled from him.

God Shuts the Lions’ Mouths

19Then the king arose at dawn, at first light, and went hurriedly to the den of lions. 20When he came near the den to Daniel, he cried out with a grieving voice. The king answered and said to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God whom you serve continually been able to rescue you from the lions?” 21Then Daniel spoke with the king: “O king, live forever! 22My God sent his messenger and shut the mouths of the lions, and they did not harm me, because before him innocence was found in me, and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.” 23Then the king was exceedingly glad concerning him and commanded that Daniel be brought up from the den. So Daniel was brought up from the den, and no wound was found upon him because he had trusted in his God.

Daniel’s Accusers Are Thrown to the Lions

24Then the king commanded, and they brought those men who had maliciously accused Daniel, and they threw them, their children, and their wives into the den of lions. They had not reached the bottom of the den before the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.

Darius Issues a Decree

25Then King Darius wrote to all peoples, nations, and languages who dwell in all the earth:

“May your peace increase. 26I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom people shall tremble and fear before the God of Daniel:

For he is the living God
and endures forever.
His kingdom will not be destroyed,
and his rule
will be to the end. 27He rescues and delivers;
he does signs and wonders
in the heavens and on the earth,
for he has rescued Daniel
from the power of the lions.”

Daniel Prospers

28So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.