| 1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom a hundred and twenty
satraps, who should be throughout the whole kingdom; 2 and over them three
presidents, of whom Daniel was one; that these satraps might give account
unto them, and that the king should have no damage. 3 Then this Daniel was
distinguished above the presidents and the satraps, because an excellent
spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.
4 Then the presidents and the satraps sought to find occasion against
Daniel as touching the kingdom; but they could find no occasion nor fault,
forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in
him. 5 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.
6 Then these presidents and satraps assembled together to the king, and
said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever. 7 All the presidents of
the kingdom, the deputies and the satraps, the counsellors and the governors,
have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a strong
interdict, 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. 8 Now,
O king, establish the interdict, and sign the writing, that it be not
changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.
9 Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the interdict. 10 And
when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house (now his
windows were open in his chamber toward Jerusalem) and he kneeled upon his
knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he
did aforetime. 11 Then these men assembled together, and found Daniel
making petition and supplication before his God. 12 Then they came near,
and spake before the king concerning the king's interdict: Hast thou not
signed an interdict, that every man that shall make petition unto any god or
man within thirty days, save unto 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. 13 Then answered they and said
before the king, That Daniel, who is of the children of the captivity of
Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the interdict that thou hast signed,
but maketh his petition three times a day. 14 Then the king, when he heard
these words, was sore displeased, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him;
and he labored till the going down of the sun to rescue him. 15 Then these
men assembled together unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king,
that it is a law of the Medes and Persians, that no interdict nor statute
which the king establisheth may be changed. 16 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. 17 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 nothing might be changed concerning Daniel. 18 Then the
king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting; neither were
instruments of music brought before him: and his sleep fled from him.
19 Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto
the den of lions. 20 And when he came near unto the den to Daniel, he
cried with a lamentable voice; 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? 21 Then said Daniel unto the king, O king,
live for ever. 22 My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions'
mouths, and 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. 23 Then
was the king exceeding glad, 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 had trusted in his God. 24 And the king
commanded, and they brought those men that 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, before
they came to the bottom of the den. 25 Then king Darius wrote unto all the
peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be
multiplied unto you. 26 I make a decree, that in all the 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. 27 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. 28 So this Daniel
prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
Genesis - Public
Domain
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