Daniel 6
1 It pleased Darius, and so he appointed over the kingdom one hundred twenty governors, to be placed throughout his whole kingdom.
他認為更好在國內設立一百二十個總督，分治全國；
2 And over these, three leaders, of whom Daniel was one, so that the governors would be accountable to them and the king would have no trouble.
在這些總督之上另設三位監察史－達尼爾便是其中之一－各總督應向他們述職，這樣可免君王煩勞。
3 And so Daniel excelled above all the leaders and governors, because a greater spirit of God was in him.
這位達尼爾，由於他具有超凡的精神，辦事勝過其他監察史和總督，所以君王有意立他治理全國。
4 Furthermore, the king considered setting him over the entire kingdom; whereupon the leaders and the governors sought to find a complaint against Daniel and in favor of the king. And they could find no case, or even suspicion, because he was faithful, and no fault or suspicion was found in him.
因此監察史和總督，竭力在達尼爾處理國事上，尋找機會陷害他，卻總不能找到任何可控告他的事實和過失，因為達尼爾忠信可靠，所以在他身上總找不到任何疏忽和過錯。
5 Therefore, these men said, “We will not find any complaint against this Daniel, unless it is against the law of his God.”
於是這些人說道：「我們若不在他的神的法律上尋找，就找不到陷害達尼爾的任何事。」
6 Then the leaders and governors took the king aside privately and spoke to him in this way: “King Darius, live forever.
這些監察史和總督，便群集到君王前，對君王說：「達理阿大王，萬歲!
7 All the leaders of your kingdom, the magistrates and governors, the senators and judges, have taken counsel that an imperial decree and edict should be published, so that all who ask any petition of any god or man for thirty days, except of you, O king, will be cast into the den of lions.
國內的眾監察史、知縣、總督、大臣和省長，都計議請下一道詔書，立一禁令：三十天內，凡不向你大王，而向任何神祇或任何人祈求的，應將他投入獅子圈內。
8 Now, therefore, O king, confirm this judgment and write the decree, so that what is established by the Medes and Persians may not be altered, nor will any man be allowed to transgress it.”
大王! 請你現在就立刻下這道禁令，簽署這項文告，人就不能再更改，因為按瑪待人和波斯人的法律，那是不可更改的。」
9 And so king Darius set forth the decree and established it.
達理阿遂簽署了這文告禁令。
10 Now when Daniel learned of this, namely, that the law had been established, he entered his house, and, opening the windows in his upper room towards Jerusalem, he knelt down three times a day, and he adored and gave thanks before his God, as he had been accustomed to do previously.
達尼爾一知道君王簽署了這項文告，便回了家。他樓房的窗戶是向著耶路撒冷開的－他每天仍照常三次屈膝跪拜，祈求稱謝自己的天主，如往日所行的一樣。
11 Therefore, these men, inquiring diligently, discovered that Daniel was praying and making supplication to his God.
那些人群集前來，看見達尼爾正在自己的天主前祈求哀禱，
12 And they approached and spoke to the king about the edict. “O king, did you not decree that every man who makes a request to any of the gods or men for thirty days, except to yourself, O king, would be cast into the den of lions?” To which the king replied, saying, “The sentence is true, and according to the decree of the Medes and Persians, it is not lawful to violate it.”
他們遂去見君王，向他提及禁令說：「陛下不是簽署了這樣的一道禁令：三十天內，凡不向大王，而向任何神祇或任何人祈求的，應將他投入獅子圈內嗎﹖」君王回答說：「確有此事! 照瑪待人和波斯人的法律是不可更改的。」
13 Then they answered and said before the king, “Daniel, of the sons of the captivity of Judah, is not concerned about your law, nor about the decree that you have established, but three times a day he prays his supplication.”
他們便對君王說道：「大王! 猶大俘虜中的那個達尼爾，竟然不介意陛下和陛下所簽署的禁令，仍照常一日三次自作祈禱。」
14 Now when the king had heard these words, he was greatly grieved, and, on behalf of Daniel, he set his heart to free him, and he labored even until sunset to rescue him.
君王聽了這些話，十分難過，有心要救達尼爾，君王直到日落要設法解救他。
15 But these men, knowing the king, said to him, “You know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is that every decree which the king has established may not be altered.”
但是那些人又群集到君王前，對君王說：「大王! 陛下要知道瑪待人和波斯人的法律：凡君王所立的禁令和法令，是不可更改的。」
16 Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions. And the king said to Daniel, “Your God, whom you always serve, he himself will free you.”
君王於是下令，將達尼爾逮捕投入獅子圈內。君王對達尼爾說：「願你恒心恭敬的天主拯救救你! 」
17 And a stone was brought, and it was placed over the mouth of the den, which the king sealed with his own ring, and with the ring of his nobles, so that no one would act against Daniel.
遂即移了一塊大石，封住圈口，君王蓋上自己的御璽，大臣們蓋上自己的印章，免得達尼爾的案件發生意外的變化。
18 And the king departed into his house, and he went to bed without eating, and food was not set before him, moreover, even sleep fled from him.
然後君王回了王宮，整夜絕食，斷絕娛樂，並徹夜失眠未睡。
19 Then the king, getting himself up at first light, went quickly to the den of lions.
清晨，天一亮，君王便起來，急速往獅子圈去了，
20 And coming near to the den, he cried out with a tearful voice to Daniel and spoke to him. “Daniel, servant of the living God, your God, whom you serve always, do you believe he has prevailed to free you from the lions?”
一來到獅子圈旁，就哀聲呼喊，向達尼爾說道：「永生天主的僕人達尼爾! 你恒心恭敬的天主真能由獅子口裏拯救你嗎﹖」
21 And Daniel, answering the king, said, “O king, live forever.
達尼爾遂對君王說：「大王萬歲!
22 My God has sent his angel, and he has closed the mouths of the lions, and they have not harmed me, because before him justice has been found in me, and, even before you, O king, I have committed no offense.”
我的天主曾打發他的天使閉住獅子的口，一點沒有傷害我，因為我在他面前是無罪的；大王! 我即在陛下面前，也從沒有做過什麼傷害人的事。」
23 Then was the king exceedingly glad for him, and he commanded that Daniel should be taken out of the den. And Daniel was taken out of the den, and no wound was found in him, because he believed in his God.
君王非常高興，遂下令將達尼爾從獅子圈裏提出來。達尼爾便從獅子圈裏被提出來，他身上絲毫沒有受到損傷，因為他信賴了自己的天主。
24 Moreover, by order of the king, those men were brought who had accused Daniel, and they were cast into the lions’ den, they, and their sons, and their wives, and they did not reach the bottom of the den before the lions seized them and crushed all their bones.
君王遂下令逮捕那些控告達尼爾的人，將他們和他們的兒子、妻子，都投入獅子圈裏，他們還沒有到獅子圈底，獅子就向他們撲來，捉住他們，將他們的骨頭全咬碎了。
25 Then king Darius wrote to all peoples, tribes, and languages dwelling in all the land. “May peace be increased with you.
達理阿於是詔告居民於普世的各民族，各邦國及各異語人民說：「願平安常與你們同在!
26 It is hereby established by my decree that, in all my empire and my kingdom, they shall begin to tremble and fear the God of Daniel. For he is the living and eternal God forever, and his kingdom will not be destroyed, and his power will last forever.
我今頒發詔書，諭令我所統轄的全國人民，都應在達尼爾的天主前起敬起畏，因為他是生活永在的天主，他的國永不滅亡，他的王權永遠常存。
27 He is the liberator and the savior, performing signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, who has freed Daniel from the lions’ den.”
他拯救施援，在天上地下實行神蹟奇事；是他拯救達尼爾脫免獅子的爪牙。」
28 Thereafter, Daniel continued through the reign of Darius until the reign of Cyrus, the Persian.
這位達尼爾就這樣在達理阿和波斯人居魯士為王時，事事亨通。
