ULT by section DAN 6:1

⌂ ← DAN 6:1–6:28 → ║ ©

The Book of Daniel 6

6 It pleased Darius to appoint over the kingdom 120 satraps, who would be throughout the whole kingdom. 2 Over them were three high officials, of whom Daniel was one, to whom these satraps should give account, so that the king might suffer no loss. 3 Then this Daniel became distinguished above the high officials and satraps because an extraordinary spirit was in him, and the king planned to appoint him over the whole kingdom.

4 Then the high officials and the satraps were seeking to find a ground for accusation against Daniel with regard to the kingdom, but they were not able to find any ground for accusation or corruption because he was faithful, and no negligence or corruption was found in him. 5 Then these men said, “We will not find any ground for accusation against this Daniel unless we find something against him with regard to the law of his God.” 6 Then these high officials and satraps went as a group to the king and said to him as follows, “O King Darius, live forever! 7 All the high officials of the kingdom, the prefects, and the satraps, the counselors, and the governors have consulted together that the king should establish a statute and enforce an injunction, that whoever makes a petition to any god or man for thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be thrown into the den of lions. 8 Now, O king, establish the injunction and sign the document so that it may not be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which may not be revoked.” 9 Therefore king Darius signed the document and injunction.

10 Now when Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went into his house (now his windows were open in his roof chamber toward Jerusalem), and he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously. 11 Then these men went as a group and found Daniel making petition and imploring favor before his God. 12 Then they approached and spoke before the king about the injunction of the king: “Did you not sign an injunction that any man who makes a petition to any god or man within thirty days, except to you, O king, must be thrown into the den of lions?” The king answered and said, “The matter is certain, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which may not be revoked.” 13 Then they answered and said before the king, “Daniel, who is one of the people of the exile from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or to the injunction that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.” 14 Then the king, when he heard the matter, was greatly distressed, and he set his mind on Daniel to deliver him; and until the sun went down he kept exerting himself to rescue him. 15 Then these men went as a group to the king and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians, that no injunction or statute that the king establishes can be changed.”

16 Then the king gave an order, and Daniel was brought in and thrown into the den of lions. The king responded and said to Daniel, “Your God, whom you serve continually, may he deliver you.” 17 A stone was brought and laid over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signet rings of his nobles so that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel. 18 Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting. No entertainment was brought before him, and his sleep fled from him.

19 Then the king got up at dawn, at the break of day, and went in haste to the den of lions. 20 As he came near to the den to Daniel, he cried out in a troubled voice. The king responded and said to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?” 21 Then Daniel spoke to the king, “O king, live forever! 22 My God sent his angel and shut the mouths of the lions, and they have not hurt me, because I was found blameless before him and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.” 23 Then the king was exceedingly glad, and gave an order for Daniel to be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.

24 The king gave an order, and they brought those men who had maliciously accused Daniel and threw them, their children, and their wives into the den of lions; and they had not reached the bottom of the den before the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones. 25 Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages that live in all the earth:

“May your peace abound. 26 I make a decree that in all the dominion of my kingdom men are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel,

for he is the living God and enduring forever,

and his kingdom is one which will not be destroyed,

and his dominion will be to the end.

27 He delivers and rescues,

and he does signs and wonders

in heaven and on earth,

he who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.” 28 So this Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and during the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

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