It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom 120 satraps to be throughout the whole kingdom;
and over them were three presidents, of whom Daniel was one, so that these satraps would give account to them so that the king would suffer no damage.
Then this Daniel was distinguished above the presidents and the satraps because an excellent spirit was in him, and so the king planned to set him over the whole realm.
Then the presidents and the satraps began trying to find a charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom, but they could find no charge or fault because he was faithful, nor was there any negligence or corruption found in him.
Then these men said, “We will not find any basis for a charge against this Daniel, unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God.”
Then these presidents and satraps assembled together to the king, and spoke to him as follows: “King Darius, live forever.
All the presidents of the kingdom, the deputies and the satraps, the counselors and the governors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a strong decree, that whoever will ask a petition of any god or man for 30 days, except of you, O king, he will be cast into the den of lions.
Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing so that it will not be changed, in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians that does not alter.”
So King Darius signed the writing and the decree.
When Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house (now in his upper chamber his windows were open toward Jerusalem) and he kneeled on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God as he did before.
Then these men assembled together and found Daniel making petitions and supplications before his God.
Then they approached and spoke before the king concerning the king’s decree: “Have you not signed a decree that every man who makes a petition to any god or man within 30 days except to you, O king, will be cast into the den of lions?” The king answered, “The thing is true, in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians that does not alter.”
Then they answered and said before the king, “That Daniel, who is of the children of the captivity of Judah, does not respect you, O king, nor the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.”
Then the king, when he heard these words, was very displeased, and he set his heart on Daniel to deliver him, and he labored until the going down of the sun to rescue him.
Then these men assembled together to the king and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no decree or statute that the king establishes can be changed.”
Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spoke and said to Daniel, “Your God whom you serve continually, he will deliver you.”
A stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords, so that nothing would be changed concerning Daniel.
Then the king went to his palace and passed the night fasting; and no entertainment was brought into his presence, and his sleep fled from him.
Then the king arose very early in the morning and went in haste to the den of lions.
When he came near to the den to Daniel, he cried out with a lamentable voice; the king spoke and said to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, is your God whom you serve continually able to deliver you from the lions?”
Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever.
My God has sent his angel, and has shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not hurt me because I was found innocent before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.”
Then the king was exceedingly glad, and he commanded them to take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no injury whatever was found on him because he had trusted in his God.
Then the king commanded and they brought those men who had accused Daniel and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and before they even reached the bottom of the den the lions mauled them and broke all their bones in pieces.
Then king Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages who dwell on all the earth: “Peace be multiplied to you.
I make a decree that in all the dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, because he is the living God, and endures forever, his kingdom will not be destroyed, and his dominion will be to the end.
He delivers and rescues, and he works signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, for he has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.”
So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.