It seemed good to Darius who became king after Belshazzar to appoint over the kingdom 120 ¹satraps who would be in charge throughout the kingdom, 2 and over them three chief commissioners (of whom ^aDaniel was one), that these satraps might be accountable to them, so that the king would have no ^bloss from disloyalty or mismanagement. 3 Then this Daniel, because of the ^aextraordinary spirit within him, began distinguishing himself among the commissioners and the satraps, and the king planned to appoint him over the ^bentire realm. 4 Then the other two commissioners and the satraps ^abegan trying to find a reason to bring a complaint against Daniel concerning the administration of the kingdom; but they could find ^bno reason for an accusation or evidence of corruption, because he was faithful a man of high moral character and personal integrity, and no negligence or corruption of any kind was found in him. 5 Then these men said, “We will not find any basis for an accusation against this Daniel unless we find something against him in connection with the ^alaw of his God.” Acts 24:13-21; 1+@Pet 4:12-16

6 Then these commissioners and satraps agreed to approach the king and said to him, “King Darius, ^alive forever! 7 All the ^acommissioners of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the counselors and the governors have ^bconsulted and agreed together that the king should establish a royal statute and enforce an injunction that anyone who petitions (prays to) any god or man besides you, O king, during the next thirty days, shall ^cbe thrown into the den of lions. 8 Now, O king, ^aestablish the injunction and sign the document so that it may not be changed, in accordance with the ^blaw of the Medes and Persians, which insures that it may not be altered or revoked.” 9 So King Darius ^asigned the document, that is, the injunction.

10 Now when Daniel knew that the document was signed, he went into his house (now in his roof chamber his windows were open ^atoward Jerusalem); he continued to get ^bdown on his knees three times a day, ^cpraying and ^dgiving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously. Ps 5:7 11 Then, ^aby agreement, these men came together and found Daniel praying and making requests before his God. 12 Then they approached and ^aspoke before the king regarding his injunction, “Have you not signed an injunction that anyone who petitions (prays to) any god or man except you, O king, within the designated thirty days, is to be thrown into the den of lions?” The king answered, “The statement is true, in accordance with the ^blaw of the Medes and Persians, which may not be altered or revoked.” 13 Then they answered and said before the king, “^aDaniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, does ^bnot pay any attention to you, O king, or to the injunction which you have signed, but keeps praying to his God three times a day.”

14 Then, as soon as the king heard these words, he was deeply ^adistressed over what he had done and set his mind on rescuing Daniel; and he struggled until the sun went down trying to work out a way to save him. 15 Then, by agreement, these same men came to the king and said, “Know, O king, that it is a ^alaw of the Medes and Persians that no injunction or statute which the king establishes may be altered or revoked.”

16 Then the king gave a command, and Daniel was brought and ^athrown into the den of lions. The king said to Daniel, “May ^byour God, whom you constantly serve, rescue you Himself!” Ps 34:7, 19; 37:39, 40; 50:15 17 A ^astone 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 would be changed concerning Daniel. 18 Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night ^afasting; and no music or entertainment was brought before him, and he remained unable to ^bsleep.

19 Then the king arose at dawn, at the break of day, and hurried to the den of lions. 20 When he had come near the den, he called out to Daniel with a troubled voice. The king said to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has ^ayour God, whom you constantly serve, been ^bable to rescue you from the lions?” 21 Then Daniel spoke to the king, “^aO king, live forever! 22 My God has ^asent His angel and has ^bshut the mouths of the lions so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also before you, O king, I have committed no crime.” 2+@Tim 4:17 23 Then the king was greatly pleased and ordered that Daniel be taken out of the den. So Daniel was taken out of the den, and ^ano injury whatever was found on him, because he ^bbelieved in and relied on and trusted in his God. 24 The king then gave a command, and those men who had maliciously accused Daniel were brought and ^athrown into the den of lions, they, their ^bchildren and their wives; and before they reached the bottom of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.

25 Then Darius the king wrote to all the ^apeoples, nations, and speakers of every language who were living in all the land: “^bMay peace abound to you! 26 I ^aissue a decree that in all the dominion of my kingdom men are to reverently fear and tremble before the God of Daniel,For He is the ^bliving God, ^cenduring and steadfast forever,And ^dHis kingdom is one which will not be destroyed,And His dominion will be forever.

28 So this man ^aDaniel prospered and enjoyed success in the reign of Darius and in the reign of ^bCyrus the Persian.