The Message Bible MSG
The Latin Vulgate VUL
1 Darius reorganized his kingdom. He appointed one hundred twenty governors to administer all the parts of his realm.
1
Placuit Dario, et constituit super regnum satrapas centum viginti ut essent in toto regno suo.
2 Over them were three vice-regents, one of whom was Daniel. The governors reported to the vice-regents, who made sure that everything was in order for the king.
2
Et super eos principes tres, ex quibus Daniel unus erat: ut satrapae illis redderent rationem, et rex non sustineret molestiam.
3 But Daniel, brimming with spirit and intelligence, so completely outclassed the other vice-regents and governors that the king decided to put him in charge of the whole kingdom.
3
Igitur Daniel superabat omnes principes, et satrapas: quia spiritus Dei amplior erat in illo.
4 The vice-regents and governors got together to find some old scandal or skeleton in Daniel's life that they could use against him, but they couldn't dig up anything. He was totally exemplary and trustworthy. They could find no evidence of negligence or misconduct.
4
Porro rex cogitabat constituere eum super omne regnum: unde principes, et satrapae quaerebant occasionem ut invenirent Danieli ex latere regis: nullamque causam, et suspicionem reperire potuerunt, eo quod fidelis esset, et omnis culpa, et suspicio non inveniretur in eo.
5 So they finally gave up and said, "We're never going to find anything against this Daniel unless we can cook up something religious."
5
Dixerunt ergo viri illi: Non inveniemus Danieli huic aliquam occasionem, nisi forte in lege Dei sui.
6 The vice-regents and governors conspired together and then went to the king and said, "King Darius, live forever!
6
Tunc principes, et satrapae surripuerunt regi, et sic locuti sunt ei: Dari rex in aeternum vive:
7 We've convened your vice-regents, governors, and all your leading officials, and have agreed that the king should issue the following decree: For the next thirty days no one is to pray to any god or mortal except you, O king. Anyone who disobeys will be thrown into the lions' den.
7
consilium inierunt omnes principes regni tui, magistratus, et satrapae, senatores, et iudices ut decretum imperatorium exeat, et edictum: Ut omnis, qui petierit aliquam petitionem a quocumque deo, et homine usque ad triginta dies, nisi a te rex, mittatur in lacum leonum.
8 "Issue this decree, O king, and make it unconditional, as if written in stone like all the laws of the Medes and the Persians."
8
Nunc itaque rex confirma sententiam, et scribe decretum: ut non immutetur quod statutum est a Medis et Persis, nec praevaricari cuiquam liceat.
9 King Darius signed the decree.
9
Porro rex Darius proposuit edictum, et statuit.
10 When Daniel learned that the decree had been signed and posted, he continued to pray just as he had always done. His house had windows in the upstairs that opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he knelt there in prayer, thanking and praising his God.
10
Quod cum Daniel comperisset, id est, constitutam legem, ingressus est domum suam: et fenestris apertis in coenaculo suo contra Ierusalem tribus temporibus in die flectebat genua sua, et adorabat, confitebaturque coram Deo suo sicut et ante facere consueverat.
11 The conspirators came and found him praying, asking God for help.
11
Viri ergo illi curiosius inquirentes invenerunt Danielem orantem, et obscerantem Deum suum.
12 They went straight to the king and reminded him of the royal decree that he had signed. "Did you not," they said, "sign a decree forbidding anyone to pray to any god or man except you for the next thirty days? And anyone caught doing it would be thrown into the lions' den?" "Absolutely," said the king. "Written in stone, like all the laws of the Medes and Persians."
12
Et accedentes locuti sunt regi super edicto: Rex numquid non constituisti, ut omnis homo, qui rogaret quemquam de diis, et hominibus usque ad dies triginta, nisi te, rex, mitteretur in lacum leonum? Ad quos respondens rex, ait: verus est sermo iuxta decretum Medorum, atque Persarum, quod praevaricari non licet.
13 Then they said, "Daniel, one of the Jewish exiles, ignores you, O king, and defies your decree. Three times a day he prays."
13
Tunc respondentes dixerunt coram rege: Daniel de filiis captivitatis Iuda, non curavit de lege tua, et de edicto, quod constituisti: sed tribus temporibus per diem orat obsecratione sua.
14 At this, the king was very upset and tried his best to get Daniel out of the fix he'd put him in. He worked at it the whole day long.
14
Quod verbum cum audisset rex, satis contristatus est: et pro Daniele posuit cor ut liberaret eum, et usque ad occasum solis laborabat ut erueret illum.
15 But then the conspirators were back: "Remember, O king, it's the law of the Medes and Persians that the king's decree can never be changed."
15
Viri autem illi intelligentes regem dixerunt ei: Scito rex, quia lex Medorum, atque Persarum est ut omne decretum, quod constituerit rex, non liceat immutari.
16 The king caved in and ordered Daniel brought and thrown into the lions' den. But he said to Daniel, "Your God, to whom you are so loyal, is going to get you out of this."
16
Tunc rex praecepit: et adduxerunt Danielem, et miserunt eum in lacum leonum. Dixitque rex Danieli: Deus tuus, quem colis semper, ipse liberabit te.
17 A stone slab was placed over the opening of the den. The king sealed the cover with his signet ring and the signet rings of all his nobles, fixing Daniel's fate.
17
Allatusque est lapis unus, et positus est super os laci: quem obsignavit rex annulo suo, et annulo optimatum suorum, nequid fieret contra Danielem.
18 The king then went back to his palace. He refused supper. He couldn't sleep. He spent the night fasting.
18
Et abiit rex in domum suam, et dormivit incoenatus, cibique non sunt allati coram eo, insuper et somnus recessit ab eo.
19 At daybreak the king got up and hurried to the lions' den.
19
Tunc rex primo diluculo consurgens, festinus ad lacum leonum perrexit:
20 As he approached the den, he called out anxiously, "Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve so loyally, saved you from the lions?"
20
appropinquansque lacui, Danielem voce lacrymabili inclamavit, et affatus est eum: Daniel serve Dei viventis, Deus tuus, cui tu servis semper, putasne valuit te liberare a leonibus?
21 "O king, live forever!" said Daniel.
21
Et Daniel regi respondens ait: Rex in aeternum vive:
22 "My God sent his angel, who closed the mouths of the lions so that they would not hurt me. I've been found innocent before God and also before you, O king. I've done nothing to harm you."
22
Deus meus misit angelum suum, et conclusit ora leonum, et non nocuerunt mihi: quia coram eo iustitia inventa est in me: sed et coram te, rex, delictum non feci.
23 When the king heard these words, he was happy. He ordered Daniel taken up out of the den. When he was hauled up, there wasn't a scratch on him. He had trusted his God.
23
Tunc vehementer rex gavisus est super eo, et Danielem praecepit educi de lacu: eductusque est Daniel de lacu, et nulla laesio inventa est in eo, quia credidit Deo suo.
24 Then the king commanded that the conspirators who had informed on Daniel be thrown into the lions' den, along with their wives and children. Before they hit the floor, the lions had them in their jaws, tearing them to pieces.
24
Iubente autem rege, adducti sunt viri illi, qui accusaverant Danielem: et in lacum leonum missi sunt, ipsi, et filii, et uxores eorum: et non pervenerunt usque ad pavimentum laci, donec arriperent eos leones, et omnia ossa eorum comminuerunt.
25 King Darius published this proclamation to every race, color, and creed on earth: Peace to you! Abundant peace!
25
Tunc Darius rex scripsit universis populis, tribubus, et linguis habitantibus in universa terra: PAX vobis multiplicetur.
26 I decree that Daniel's God shall be worshiped and feared in all parts of my kingdom. He is the living God, world without end. His kingdom never falls. His rule continues eternally.
26
A me constitutum est decretum, ut in universo imperio, et regno meo tremiscant, et paveant Deum Danielis. ipse est enim Deus vivens, et aeternus in saecula: et regnum eius non dissipabitur, et potestas eius usque in aeternum.
27 He is a savior and rescuer. He performs astonishing miracles in heaven and on earth. He saved Daniel from the power of the lions.
27
Ipse liberator, atque salvator, faciens signa, et mirabilia in caelo, et in terra: qui liberavit Danielem de lacu leonum.
28 From then on, Daniel was treated well during the reign of Darius, and also in the following reign of Cyrus the Persian.
28
Porro Daniel perseveravit usque ad regnum Darii, regnumque Cyri Persae.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.
The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.