1 Darius saw fit to appoint over the kingdom a hundred and twenty satraps to be stationed throughout the whole kingdom,
2 and above them three high officials, one of whom was Daniel; the satraps were to report to them so that the king would not suffer loss.
3 This Daniel began to stand out above the high officials and the satraps, because an exceptional spirit was in him, and the king intended to put him in charge of the whole kingdom.
4 So the high officials and the satraps tried to find some grounds for a charge against Daniel in his handling of the kingdom, but they could find no grounds and no corruption, because he was trustworthy; no negligence or corruption could be found in him.
5 Then these men said, "We will never find any grounds for a charge against this Daniel, unless we find something against him in connection with the law of his God."
6 So these high officials and satraps rushed in a body to the king and said to him, "King Darius, live forever!
7 All the high officials of the kingdom, the prefects and satraps, the counselors and governors, have agreed that the king should issue a decree and put an injunction in force: for thirty days, anyone who makes a request of any god or man except you, O king, is to be thrown into the lions' den.
8 Now, O king, issue the injunction and sign the document so that it cannot be altered, in keeping with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed."
9 So King Darius signed the document, the injunction.
10 When Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went home. In his upper room the windows were open toward Jerusalem, and three times a day he got down on his knees, praying and giving thanks before his God, just as he had always done.
11 Then these men rushed in together and found Daniel making requests and pleading before his God.
12 So they went to the king and spoke about the royal injunction: "Did you not sign an injunction that for thirty days anyone who makes a request of any god or man except you, O king, would be thrown into the lions' den?" The king answered, "The matter is settled, in keeping with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed."
13 Then they told the king, "Daniel, one of the exiles from Judah, takes no notice of you, O king, or of the injunction you signed; three times a day he makes his request."
14 When the king heard this, he was deeply distressed; he set his mind on saving Daniel, and he worked until sunset to rescue him.
15 Then these men rushed in together to the king and said, "Remember, O king, that by the law of the Medes and Persians no injunction or decree the king issues can be altered."
16 So the king gave the order, and Daniel was brought and thrown into the lions' den. The king said to Daniel, "Your God, whom you serve without ceasing, may he rescue you!"
17 A stone was brought and placed over the opening of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and the signet rings of his nobles, so that nothing could be changed in Daniel's case.
18 Then the king went back to his palace and spent the night without eating; no diversions were brought to him, and sleep escaped him.
19 At daybreak, as soon as it was light, the king got up and hurried to the lions' den.
20 When he came near the den he called to Daniel in an anguished voice. The king said to Daniel, "Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve without ceasing, been able to rescue you from the lions?"
21 Daniel answered the king, "O king, live forever!
22 My God sent his angel and shut the lions' mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found innocent before him; and before you too, O king, I have committed no crime."
23 The king was overjoyed and ordered Daniel to be lifted out of the den. So Daniel was lifted out of the den, and not a wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.
24 At the king's order, the men who had denounced Daniel were brought and thrown into the lions' den, they, their sons and their wives; and before they reached the floor of the den the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.
25 Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations and languages living in the whole earth: "May you have abundant peace!
26 I issue a decree that throughout my royal dominion people must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. For he is the living God, who endures forever; his kingdom will never be destroyed, and his dominion will last to the end.
27 He rescues and saves; he performs signs and wonders in heaven and on earth; he has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions."
28 So this Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.