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.