3
ThenthisDaniel began distinguishing himself among the commissioners and satrapsbecause** he possessed an extraordinaryspirit, and the kingplanned to appoint him over the entirekingdom.
4
Then the commissioners and satraps began trying to find a ground of accusation against Daniel in regard to governmentaffairs; but they couldfindno*ground of accusation or evidence of corruption, inasmuch** as he was faithful, and no*negligence or corruption was to be found in him.
7
"All the commissioners of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the highofficials and the governors have consultedtogether that the king should establish a statute and enforce an injunction that anyonewhomakes a petition to anygod or manbesides* you, O king, for thirtydays, shall be cast into the lions'den.
8
"Now, O king, establish the injunction and sign the documentso that it may not be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which may not be revoked."
10
Now whenDanielknew that the document was signed, he entered his house (now in his roofchamber he had windowsopentowardJerusalem ); and he continued kneeling on his kneesthreetimes a day, praying and givingthanksbefore his God, as he had been doingpreviously.
12
Then they approached and spokebefore the kingabout the king'sinjunction, "Did you not sign an injunction that anymanwhomakes a petition to anygod or manbesides* you, O king, for thirtydays, is to be cast into the lions'den?" The kingreplied, "The statement is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which may not be revoked."
13
Then they answered and spokebefore the king, "Daniel, who is one of the exiles* from Judah, paysnoattention to you, O king, or to the injunctionwhich you signed, but keeps making his petitionthreetimes a day."
14
Then, as soon as the kingheard this statement, he was deeplydistressed and set his mind on deliveringDaniel; and even untilsunset* he kept exerting himself to rescue him.
15
Thenthesemencame by agreement to the king and said to the king, "Recognize, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no*injunction or statutewhich the kingestablishes may be changed."
16
Then the kinggaveorders, and Daniel was brought in and cast into the lions'den. The kingspoke and said to Daniel, "Your Godwhom you constantlyserve will Himselfdeliver you."
17
A stone was brought and laidover the mouth of the den; and the kingsealed it with his own signetring and with the signetrings of his nobles, so that nothing* would be changed in regard to Daniel.
20
When he had comenear the den to Daniel, he cried out with a troubledvoice. The kingspoke and said to Daniel, "Daniel, servant of the livingGod, has your God, whom you constantlyserve, beenable to deliver you from the lions?"
22
"My Godsent His angel and shut the lions'mouths and they have not harmed me, inasmuch** as I was foundinnocentbefore Him; and alsotoward you, O king, I have committednocrime."
23
Then the king was verypleased and gaveorders for Daniel to be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den and no*injurywhatever was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.
24
The king then gaveorders, and they broughtthosemenwho had maliciously*accused*Daniel, and they cast them, their children and their wives into the lions'den; and they had not reached the bottom of the denbefore* the lionsoverpowered them and crushedall their bones.
26
"I make a decree that in all the dominion of my kingdom men are to fear and tremblebefore* the God of Daniel; For He is the livingGod and enduringforever, And His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed, And His dominion will be forever.