Daniel 6
1 Darius decided it would be good to place the kingdom under the control of one hundred and twenty provincial governors.
他認為更好在國內設立一百二十個總督，分治全國；
2 Three chief ministers were placed over them to look after the king's interests. Daniel was one of the three.
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 Soon Daniel was shown to be a far better administrator than the other chief ministers and provincial governors. Because of his exceptional ability, the king planned to put him in charge of the whole kingdom.
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 As a result the other chief ministers and provincial governors tried to find a pretext against Daniel as to the way he ran the kingdom. But they couldn't find any cause for complaint or any corruption, for he was trustworthy. They could not discover any evidence that Daniel was negligent or corrupt.
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 So they said to themselves, “We won't find any pretext to attack Daniel unless we use his observance of his God's laws against him.”
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 So these chief ministers and provincial governors went together to see the king. “May Your Majesty King Darius live forever!” they said.
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 “We have all agreed—chief ministers, prefects, provincial governors, counselors, and local governors—that Your Majesty should issue a decree, legally enforced, that for the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human being except you, Your Majesty, shall be thrown into the lions' den.
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, Your Majesty, if you will sign the decree and have it issued so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and the Persians that cannot be revoked.”
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 So Darius signed the decree into law.
達理阿遂簽署了這文告禁令。
10 When Daniel found out that the decree had been signed he went home to his upstairs room where he would pray three times a day, with the windows open facing Jerusalem. There he kneeled down, praying and thanking his God as he always did.
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 Then the men who had plotted against Daniel went together and found him praying to his God and asking for help.
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 They went to the king right away and asked him about the decree. “Didn't Your Majesty sign a decree that for the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human being except you, Your Majesty, shall be thrown into the lions' den?” “I certainly did!” the king replied. “The decree stands. According to the law of the Medes and the Persians it cannot be revoked.”
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 told the king, “Daniel, one of those captives from Judah, pays no attention to Your Majesty or to the decree you signed and prays three times a day.”
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 When the king heard this, he was very upset and tried to think of how to save Daniel. He worked hard until sundown trying 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 Then the men returned together and said to the king, “You know, Your Majesty, that according to the law of the Medes and the Persians no decree or statute can be changed.”
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 Eventually the king gave the order and Daniel was taken and thrown into the lions' den. The king told him, “May the God you so loyally serve save 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 A stone was brought and placed over the entrance to the den and the king sealed it with his own personal seal and those of his nobles so that no one could interfere with what was happening to 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 Then the king went back to his palace. He ate nothing at all that night and refused any kind of entertainment. He couldn't sleep a wink.
然後君王回了王宮，整夜絕食，斷絕娛樂，並徹夜失眠未睡。
19 At dawn, as soon as it was light, the king got up and rushed to the lions' den.
清晨，天一亮，君王便起來，急速往獅子圈去了，
20 As he approached the den, he called out anxiously to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God whom you honor so faithfully, was your God able to save 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 Daniel replied, “May Your Majesty the king live forever!
達尼爾遂對君王說：「大王萬歲!
22 My God sent his angel to shut the lions' mouths. They have not hurt me because I was found innocent in his sight. In addition, I have never done you any wrong, Your Majesty.”
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 The king was extremely pleased and ordered Daniel brought up from the den. Daniel was lifted up from the den and he was found to have no injuries at all because he had trusted 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 Then the king ordered the men who had accused Daniel to be brought and they were thrown into the lions' den along with their wives and children. Before they even reached the floor of the den the lions attacked them, ripping them to pieces.
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 Darius wrote to all the people of the world, the different nations and languages, saying, “I wish you well!
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 I decree that throughout my entire kingdom everyone should respect and honor the God of Daniel, for he is the living God. He is everlasting and his kingdom will never be destroyed. His reign will never end.
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 one who rescues and saves; he does miracles and wonders in the heavens and on earth. He saved Daniel from death in 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 Daniel experienced good success during the reigns of Darius and 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。
