1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred twenty satraps, who would be throughout the whole kingdom, 2 and over them three presidents, of whom Daniel was one; so that these satraps might give account to them, and so that the king would suffer no loss. 3 Then this Daniel was distinguished above the presidents and the satraps because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.

4 Then the presidents and the satraps sought to find grounds against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no grounds nor fault, because he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. 5 Then these men said, “We shall not find any grounds against this Daniel, unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God.” 6 Then these presidents and satraps assembled together before the king and said this to him, “King Darius, live forever. 7 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 prohibition, that whoever shall ask a petition of any god or man for thirty days, except of you, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. 8 Now, O king, establish the prohibition and sign the writing, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians which doesn’t alter.” 9 Therefore king Darius signed the writing and the prohibition.

10 When Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house, (now his windows were open in his room facing Jerusalem,) and he kneeled on his knees three times a day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he did before. 11 Then these men assembled together and found Daniel making petition and supplication before his God. 12 Then they came near and spoke before the king concerning the king’s prohibition: “Haven’t you signed a prohibition, so that every man who shall make petition to any god or man within thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?” The king answered, “The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians which doesn’t alter.” 13 Then they answered and said before the king, “That Daniel, who is of the children of the captivity of Judah, disregards you, O king, and the prohibition which you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.”

14 Then the king, when he heard these words, was very displeased and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored until the going down of the sun to rescue him. 15 Then these men assembled together before the king and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no prohibition or statute which the king establishes may be changed.” 16 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.” 17 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; that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel.

18 Then the king went to his palace and passed the night fasting; no instruments of music were brought before him; and his sleep fled from him. 19 Then the king arose very early in the morning and went in haste to the den of lions. 20 When he came near to the den, he cried to Daniel 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?” 21 Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever. 22 My God has sent his angel and has shut the lions’ mouths and they have not hurt me; because innocence was found in me before him; and also before you, O king, have I done no wrong.” 23 Then was the king exceeding glad and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found in him because he had trusted in his God. 24 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 the lions overcame them and broke all their bones in pieces, before they reached the bottom of the den.

25 Then king Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages, who dwell in all the earth: “Peace be multiplied to you. 26 I make a decree, that in all the dominion of my kingdom men shall tremble and fear before the God of Daniel; for he is the living God and steadfast forever, His kingdom is that which shall not be destroyed; and his dominion shall be even to the end. 27 He delivers and rescues, and he works signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.” 28 So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.