Daniel 6

The decree against prayer

1Darius decided to appoint 120 satraps over the kingdom, with responsibilities throughout it. 2Over them he placed three administrators, one of whom was Daniel. The satraps reported to them so that the king would suffer no loss. 3Daniel distinguished himself above the other administrators and satraps because he had an extraordinary spirit. The king planned to put him over the entire kingdom. 4The administrators and satraps looked for grounds to accuse Daniel in his conduct of the kingdom’s affairs. But they could find no negligence or corruption: he was trustworthy, and no fault or corruption was found in him. 5The men said, “We will find no grounds against this Daniel unless we find something connected with the law of his God.” 6So these administrators and satraps came together before the king. “King Darius, may you live forever!” they said. 7“All the kingdom’s administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers, and governors have agreed that the king should establish and enforce this decree: for thirty days, anyone who petitions any god or person except you, O king, must be thrown into the lions’ den. 8Now, O king, establish the decree and sign the document so it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked.” 9So King Darius signed the document and the decree.

Daniel’s prayer

10When Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went home. His upstairs room had windows open toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he knelt, prayed, and gave thanks before his God, just as he had done before. 11The men came together and found Daniel praying and asking mercy before his God. 12They approached the king about his decree: “Didn’t you sign a decree that for thirty days anyone who petitions any god or person except you, O king, must be thrown into the lions’ den?” The king answered, “The matter is settled, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked.” 13Then they told the king, “Daniel, one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or to the decree you signed. He makes his petition three times a day.” 14When the king heard this, he was deeply distressed. He set his mind on rescuing Daniel and worked until sunset to save him. 15Then the men came together before the king and said, “Remember, O king: by the law of the Medes and Persians, no decree or statute the king establishes can be changed.”

The lions’ den

16The king gave the order, and Daniel was brought in and thrown into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you.” 17A stone was brought and laid over the den’s opening. The king sealed it with his own signet and those of his nobles, so that nothing concerning Daniel could be changed. 18The king returned to his palace and spent the night fasting. No diversions were brought to him, and sleep fled from him. 19At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. 20As he approached the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice: “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?” 21Daniel answered the king, “May the king live forever! 22My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths. They have not harmed me, because I was found innocent before him. Nor have I done you any harm, O king.” 23The king was overjoyed and ordered Daniel lifted from the den. Daniel was lifted out, and no injury was found on him, because he had trusted his God. 24At the king’s command, the men who had accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions’ den, together with their children and wives. Before they reached the bottom, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.

The king’s decree

25Then King Darius wrote to all peoples, nations, and languages throughout the earth: “May your well-being increase! 26I decree that throughout my realm people must tremble in fear before Daniel’s God.
For he is the living God,
enduring forever.
His kingdom will not be destroyed;
his rule will last to the end. 27He rescues and delivers;
he performs signs and wonders
in heaven and on earth.
He rescued Daniel from the lions’ power.” 28So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and during the reign of Cyrus the Persian.