^{1 2} It was·​·good before Darius to raise·​·up over the kingdom a hundred and twenty princes, who were to be in all the kingdom,

^{2 3} and over them three leaders, of whom Daniel was first^◦, that these princes might^▫ give^▵ the report to them, and the king should not be harmed.

^{3 4} Then this Daniel was preferred^▫ above the leaders and princes, because an excellent^◦ spirit was in him; and the king reflected on setting· him ·up over all the kingdom.

^{4 5} Then the leaders and the princes were seeking to find an offense of^◦ Daniel against the kingdom; but they were· not ·able to find any offense or^◦ corruption, because he was·​·faithful, neither was there any fault or^◦ any corruption found against him.

^{5 6} Then said these men^▫, We shall not find any offense of^◦ this Daniel except we find it against him in the law^◦ of his God.

^{6 7} Then these leaders and princes crowded^▵ around^▫ the king, and said thus^◦ to him: Darius, O king, live for ages.

^{7 8} All the leaders of the kingdom, the dukes and the princes, the chancellors and the governors, have consulted together to raise·​·up a statute of the king, and to make·​·strong a binding·​·decree, that all who shall seek a petition from any god or man^▵ even·​·for thirty days, except from thee, O king, he shall be cast into^◦ the pit of the lions.

^{8 9} Now, O king, raise·​·up the binding·​·decree, and inscribe the writing, that it be not changed^◦, according·​·to the law^◦ of the Medes and Persia, which passes· not ·away.

^{9 10} All because·​·of this Darius the king inscribed the writing and the binding·​·decree.

^{10 11} And when Daniel knew that the writing was inscribed, he went·​·into his house; and his windows being·​·open in his upper·​·room toward Jerusalem, he knelt on his knees three times^▵ in a day, and prayed, and confessed before his God, even as he was doing before^▵ this.

^{11 12} Then these men^▫ assembled and found Daniel beseeching and asking·​·for·​·grace before his God.

^{12 13} Then they came·​·near, and said before the king, concerning the binding·​·decree of the king: Hast thou not inscribed a binding·​·decree, that every man^▵ who shall seek a petition from any God or^◦ man^▵ until thirty days, except from thee, O king, shall be cast into the pit of lions? The king answered and said, The statement^◦ is certain, from the law^◦ of the Medes and Persia, which passes· not ·away.

^{13 14} Then they answered and said before the king, Daniel, who is of the sons of the exile of Judah, regards not thee, O king, nor^◦ the binding·​·decree that thou hast inscribed, but beseeches with his petition three times^▵ in the day.

^{14 15} Then the king, when he heard these words, stank much to himself, and set his heart^▫ on Daniel to deliver him; and he was laboring until the setting^* of the sun to rescue him.

^{15 16} Then these men^▫ crowded^▵ around^▫ the king, and said to the king, Know, O king, that the law^◦ of^◦ the Medes and Persia is such, that any binding·​·decree or^◦ statute which the king sets·​·up is not to be changed^◦.

^{16 17} Then the king ordered, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into^▵ the pit of the lions. The king answered and said to Daniel, Thy God, whom thou^◦ servest continually, He will deliver thee.

^{17 18} And one stone was brought, and set on the mouth of the pit, and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his magnates, that the desire^▫ might not change^◦ against^◦ Daniel.

^{18 19} Then the king went·​·up to his palace^◦, and was·​·in·​·his·​·house fasting; neither were instruments·​·of·​·music brought·​·in before him, and his sleep fled·​·away from^* him.

^{19 20} Then the king arose very·​·early^◦ in the morning^*, and went·​·up vexed to the pit of the lions.

^{20 21} And as he came·​·near to the pit, he cried with a grieving voice to Daniel, and the king answered and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is· thy God, whom thou servest continually, ·able to deliver thee from the lions?

^{21 22} Then spoke Daniel with^▵ the king, O king, live for ages.

^{22 23} My God has sent His angel, and has shut the mouths of the lions, that they have not hurt me, because before Him I was found clean; and yea, before thee, O king, I have not done any hurt.

^{23 24} Then was· the king very ·glad^▫ over him, and said to take· Daniel ·up out·​·of the pit. And Daniel was taken·​·up out·​·of the pit, and not any hurt was found on him, because he believed in his God.

^{24 25} And the king ordered, and they brought those men^▫ who had accused^* Daniel, and they cast them into^▵ the pit of the lions, them^◦, their sons, and their women; and they did not reach the bottom of the pit before the lions had·​·dominion over them, and crushed· all their bones^◦ ·thin.

^{25 26} Then King Darius wrote, To all peoples, nations^◦, and tongues, who dwell^◦ in all the earth: Your peace be multiplied.

^{26 27} A decree is set forth from me that in every dominion of my kingdom there be trembling^▵ and fearing before the God of Daniel; for He^◦ is the living God, and steadfast to eternity, and His kingdom that which shall not be destroyed^◦, and His dominion shall be even·​·to the end^▫.

^{27 28} He delivers and rescues, and He does signs and amazing things in the heavens and on^◦ the earth, who has delivered Daniel from the hand of the lions.

^{28 29} And this Daniel prospered in the kingdom of Darius, and in the kingdom of Cyrus the Persian.