6 The new King Dareyavesh (Darius) decided to divide the kingdom into 120 provinces with a governor over each one. 2 Over them were three higher officials (Daniel was one of them) that those governors were accountable to so that the king wouldn’t be ripped off, 3 but because Daniel was exceptionally talented, he became noticed above the other high officials and governors, and the king decided to appoint him over the whole kingdom. 4 That led the high officials and the governors to try to find some fault with Daniel with regard to his administrative duties. However, they weren’t able to find any misdemeanours or corruption that he could be accused of because he was honest, reliable, and diligent. 5 Then these men concluded, “We won’t find any grounds for making an accusation against this Daniel unless we find something against him to do with the laws of his god.”

6 So those high officials and governors made a plan and went as a group to the king and made this suggestion, “Long live your majesty, King Dareyavesh. 7 All the high officials of the kingdom, the various leaders, the counsellors, and the governors have consulted together that the king should establish and enforce a law that for thirty days, whoever makes a request of any god or of any man other than you, your majesty, shall be thrown into the lions’ den. 8 Now, your majesty, sign the document and establish this law so that it can’t then be revoked according to the law of the Medes and Persians.” 9 So King Dareyavesh signed the document and it became law. 10 However although Daniel knew that that law had been passed, he still went into his house (with the windows in his upper room open toward Yerushalem), and he continued to kneel three times a day to pray and give thanks to God, just as he’d always done.

11 Then those officials went as a group and found Daniel praying to his god and presenting him with his requests. 12 Then they approached the king and reminded him about the law, “Didn’t you introduce a law that within thirty days, any man who makes a petition to any god or man, except to you, your majesty, must be thrown into the lions’ den?”

“Yes, that’s correct,” answered the king. “It can’t be revoked now according to the law of the Medes and Persians.”

13 Then they informed the king, “Daniel who was exiled from Yehudah, pays no attention to you, your majesty, or to the law that you introduced, because he petitions his god three times a day.”

14 When the king heard that, was very upset and for that entire day, he actively tried to think of a way to get Daniel out of it. 15 However, the group of men returned to the king and said, “You know, your majesty, that it’s a law of the Medes and Persians, that no rule or law that the king establishes can be changed.”

16 So the king gave an order, and Daniel was brought in and the king responded and told him, “May your god, who you serve continually, save you.” Then Daniel was thrown down into the lions’ den. 17 A stone was brought and laid over the opening of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signet rings of his nobles so that no one could sneak Daniel out. 18 Then the king went to his palace and spent the night without eating. He refused all entertainment, and he couldn’t sleep.

19 Then the king got up at dawn, and hurried out to the lions’ den. 20 As he approached the den, he called out in a worried voice, “Daniel, Daniel, servant of the living god. Has your god, who you serve continually, been able to save you from the lions?”

21 “Long live the king,” Daniel called back. 22 “My god sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths, and they haven’t hurt me, because he saw that I wasn’t guilty of anything. Also, your majesty, I haven’t wronged you in any way.”

23 Then the king was very happy, and ordered that Daniel be pulled up out of the den. So Daniel was lifted out of the den, and he didn’t even have a scratch on him, because he had trusted in his god. 24 Then the king ordered the arrest of the men who had maliciously accused Daniel, and had them and their wives and children thrown into the lions’ den—they didn’t even reach the bottom of the den before the lions overpowered them and tore them to pieces.

25 Then King Dareyavesh (Darius) wrote to all the peoples, nations, and ethnic groups right across his kingdom: “May you all be enjoying peace and prosperity. 26 I decree that everyone throughout my kingdom is to obey and respect Daniel’s god, because he is the eternal, living God. His kingdom will never be destroyed, and his rule will continue forever. 27 He delivers and rescues, and he does all kinds of miracles in the heavens and on earth. He’s rescued Daniel from the strength and power of the lions.”

28 So Daniel prospered during the reign of Dareyavesh and during the reign of Koresh (Cyrus) the Persian.