1 It pleased8232 Darius1868 to set6966 over5922 the kingdom4437 an hundred3969 and twenty6243 princes,324 which should be over the whole3606 kingdom;4437

2 And over5924 these4481 three8532 presidents;5632 of whom1768 2006 Daniel1841 was first:2298 that the princes324 might give3052 accounts2941 to them, and the king4430 should have1934 no3809 damage.5142

3 Then116 this1836 Daniel1841 was preferred5330 above5922 the presidents5632 and princes,324 because3606 an excellent3493 spirit7308 was in him; and the king4430 thought6246 to set6966 him over5922 the whole3606 realm.4437

4 Then116 the presidents5632 and princes324 sought1158 to find7912 occasion5931 against Daniel1841 concerning6655 the kingdom;4437 but they could3202 find7912 none3809 occasion5931 nor3809 fault;7844 for as much3606 as he was faithful,540 neither3809 was there any3606 error7960 or fault7844 found7912 in him.

5 Then116 said560 these479 men,1400 We shall not find7912 any3606 occasion5931 against5922 this1836 Daniel,1841 except3861 we find7912 it against him concerning the law1882 of his God.426

6 Then116 these459 presidents5632 and princes324 assembled7284 together to the king,4430 and said560 thus3652 to him, King4430 Darius,1868 live2418 for ever.5957

7 All3606 the presidents5632 of the kingdom,4437 the governors,5461 and the princes,324 the counsellors,1907 and the captains,6347 have consulted3272 together to establish6966 a royal4430 statute,7010 and to make a firm8631 decree,633 that whoever3605 shall ask1156 a petition1159 of any3606 God426 or man606 for thirty8533 days,3118 save3861 of you, O king,4430 he shall be cast7412 into the den1358 of lions.744

8 Now,3705 O king,4430 establish6966 the decree,633 and sign7560 the writing,3792 that it be not changed,8133 according to the law1882 of the Medes4076 and Persians,6540 which1768 alters5709 not.

9 Why3605 king4430 Darius1868 signed7560 the writing3792 and the decree.633

10 Now1768 when1768 Daniel1841 knew3046 that the writing3792 was signed,7560 he went5954 into his house;1005 and his windows3551 being open6606 in his chamber5952 toward5049 Jerusalem,3390 he kneeled1289 on his knees1291 three8532 times2166 a day,3118 and prayed,6739 and gave thanks3029 before6925 his God,426 as he did5648 aforetime.4481

11 Then116 these479 men1400 assembled,7284 and found7912 Daniel1841 praying1156 and making supplication2604 before6925 his God.426

12 Then116 they came7127 near,7127 and spoke560 before6925 the king4430 concerning5922 the king's4430 decree;633 Have you not signed7560 a decree,633 that every3606 man606 that shall ask1156 a petition of any3606 God426 or man606 within5705 thirty8533 days,3118 save3861 of you, O king,4430 shall be cast7412 into the den1358 of lions?744 The king4430 answered6032 and said,560 The thing4406 is true,3330 according to the law1882 of the Medes4076 and Persians,6540 which1768 alters5709 not.

13 Then116 answered6032 they and said560 before6925 the king,4430 That Daniel,1841 which1768 is of the children1123 of the captivity1547 of Judah,3061 regards7761 2942 not you, O king,4430 nor the decree633 that you have signed,7560 but makes his petition1159 three8532 times2166 a day.3118

14 Then116 the king,4430 when1768 he heard8086 these words,4406 was sore7690 displeased888 with himself, and set7761 his heart1079 on5922 Daniel1841 to deliver7804 him: and he labored7712 till5704 the going4606 down4606 of the sun8122 to deliver5338 him.

15 Then116 these479 men1400 assembled7284 to the king,4430 and said560 to the king,4430 Know,3046 O king,4430 that the law1882 of the Medes4076 and Persians6540 is, That no3606 3809 decree633 nor statute7010 which1768 the king4430 establishes6966 may be changed.8133

16 Then116 the king4430 commanded,560 and they brought858 Daniel,1841 and cast7412 him into the den1358 of lions.744 Now116 the king4430 spoke6032 and said560 to Daniel,1841 Your God426 whom1768 you serve6399 continually,8411 he will deliver7804 you.

17 And a stone69 was brought,858 and laid7760 on the mouth6433 of the den;1358 and the king4430 sealed2857 it with his own signet,5824 and with the signet5824 of his lords;7261 that the purpose6640 might not be changed8133 concerning Daniel.1841

18 Then116 the king4430 went236 to his palace,1965 and passed the night956 fasting:2908 neither3809 were instruments1761 of music brought5954 before6925 him: and his sleep8139 went5075 from him.

19 Then116 the king4430 arose6966 very early8238 in the morning,5053 and went236 in haste927 to the den1358 of lions.744

20 And when he came7127 to the den,1358 he cried2200 with a lamentable6088 voice7032 to Daniel:1841 and the king4430 spoke6032 and said560 to Daniel,1841 O Daniel,1841 servant5649 of the living2417 God,426 is your God,426 whom1768 you serve6399 continually,8411 able3202 to deliver7804 you from the lions?744

21 Then116 said4449 Daniel1841 to the king,4430 O king,4430 live2418 for ever.5957

22 My God426 has sent7972 his angel,4398 and has shut5463 the lions'744 mouths,6433 that they have not hurt2255 me: for as much3606 as before6925 him innocence2136 was found7912 in me; and also638 before6925 you, O king,4430 have I done5648 no3809 hurt.2248

23 Then116 was the king4430 exceedingly7689 glad2868 for him, and commanded560 that they should take5267 Daniel1841 up out of the den.1358 So Daniel1841 was taken5267 up out of the den,1358 and no3606 3809 manner of hurt2257 was found7912 on him, because1768 he believed540 in his God.426

24 And the king4430 commanded,560 and they brought858 those479 men1400 which1768 had accused399 7170 Daniel,1841 and they cast7412 them into the den1358 of lions,744 them, their children,1123 and their wives;5389 and the lions744 had the mastery7981 of them, and broke1855 all3606 their bones1635 in pieces or ever3809 they came4291 at the bottom773 of the den.1358

25 Then116 king4430 Darius1868 wrote3790 to all3606 people,5972 nations,524 and languages,3961 that dwell1753 in all3606 the earth;772 Peace8001 be multiplied7680 to you.

26 I make7761 a decree,2942 That in every3606 dominion7985 of my kingdom4437 men tremble2112 and fear1763 before4481 6925 the God426 of Daniel:1841 for he is the living2417 God,426 and steadfast7011 for ever,5957 and his kingdom4437 that which1768 shall not be destroyed,2255 and his dominion7985 shall be even to the end.5491

27 He delivers7804 and rescues,5338 and he works5648 signs852 and wonders8540 in heaven8065 and in earth,772 who1768 has delivered7804 Daniel1841 from the power3028 of the lions.744

28 So this1836 Daniel1841 prospered6744 in the reign4437 of Darius,1868 and in the reign4437 of Cyrus3567 the Persian.6542