Daniel, 6

1. It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom;

1. Darius the Mede, at the age of sixty-two, took over the kingdom.

2. 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.

2. Darius appointed one hundred and twenty satraps throughout the whole kingdom. They were made accountable to three administrators, one of whom was Daniel. This was to ensure that no loss or harm should come to the king.

3. 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.

3. Because of the extraordinary spirit residing in him, Daniel excelled above all the other administrators and satraps, so that the king planned to give him authority over the entire kingdom.

4. 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.

4. This provoked envy among the administrators and satraps, who tried to find grounds for filing charges against Daniel as regard his performance of official duties. But he was so trustworthy that neither corruption nor negligence could be 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.

5. Finally the men decided: "We will never find any grounds for charges against this man Daniel except in something that has to do with the law of his God."

6. Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever.

6. These administrators and satraps, therefore, went as a group to the king and said to him, "Live forever, O King Darius!

7. 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.

7. The administrators of the kingdom, the prefects, satraps, counselors and governors are all agreed that the king should issue and enforce a decree that anyone who prays and makes petition to any god or man within the next thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be thrown into the lions' den.

8. 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.

8. And now, O king, put the decree in writing and have it signed at once, so that it cannot be altered or annulled, in accordance with Medo-Persian laws.

9. Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.

9. King Darius put in writing and signed the prohibition, thus making it a law.

10. 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.

10. Daniel heard about the new law, but just as usual, he returned home and prayed three times a day, giving thanks to his God, in his room upstairs with the windows opened towards Jerusalem.

11. Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.

11. There the men spying on him found Daniel kneeling in prayer and asking God for help.

12. 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.

12. So they went to the king and reminded him about the prohibition, "O king, did you not publish a decree that anyone who prays or makes petition to any god or man except to you would be thrown into the lions' den?" The king answered, "Yes, and the decree stands, in accordance with Medo-Persian laws which cannot be altered or annulled."

13. 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.

13. Then they said, "But the Jewish exile Daniel pays no attention to you and to your decree. Three times a day he still prays to some god other than you."

14. 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.

14. Greatly aggrieved at what he heard, the king decided to help Daniel. He made every effort till sundown to save him.

15. 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.

15. But the men kept coming to him and insisting, "Remember, O king, that under the Medo-Persian laws every decree or prohibition issued by the king is irrevocable."

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.

16. The king, therefore, could not help giving the order that Daniel be brought and thrown into the lions' den. The king said to Daniel, "May your God, whom you serve faithfully, save you."

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 the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.

17. A stone was placed at the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with that of his nobles, so that Daniel's situation might remain unchanged.

18. 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.

18. Then the king returned to his palace and spent a sleepless night, refusing food and entertainment.

19. Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.

19. Very early next morning, he rose and hurried to the lions' den.

20. 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?

20. As he came near he called in an anguished voice, "Daniel, servant of the living God, did your God whom you serve faithfully save you from the lions?"

21. Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.

21. Daniel answered, "Live forever, O king!

22. 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.

22. My God sent his angel who closed the lions' mouths so that they did not hurt me. God did that because I am innocent in his sight. Neither have I wronged you, O king."

23. 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.

23. The king felt very glad and ordered Daniel released from the lions' den. No wound was found on him for he had trusted in his God.

24. 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.

24. At the king's order, the men who had accused Daniel were thrown into the lions' den, together with their wives and children. No sooner had they reached the floor of the den than the lions lunged at them and tore them to pieces.

25. Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.

25. King Darius wrote to the nations, to peoples of every language, "Peace to you all!

26. 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.

26. I decree that throughout my kingdom people should reverence and fear the God of Daniel. "For he is the living God, and forever he endures; his kingdom will not be crushed, his dominion will never cease.

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.

27. He rescues and he delivers; he performs signs and wonders both in heaven and on earth. And he came to Daniel's rescue saving him from the lions' tooth and claw."

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

28. Daniel greatly prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.