Daniel 6
1 It was pleasing before Darius, that he should set up over the kingdom, a hundred and twenty satraps, —that they should be over all the kingdom;
Now it pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom,
2 and, over these, three confidential ministers, of whom, Daniel, was first, —that, to them, these satraps should render an account, and, the king, not be suffering loss.
and over them three administrators, including Daniel, to whom these satraps were accountable so that the king would not suffer loss.
3 Then, this Daniel, signalised himself, above the ministers and the satraps, because, a distinguished spirit, was in him, and, the king, thought to set him up over all the kingdom,
Soon, by his extraordinary spirit, Daniel distinguished himself among the administrators and satraps. So the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.
4 Then, the ministers and the satraps, began seeking to find, occasion, against Daniel, in respect of the kingdom, —but, no occasion nor wickedness, could they find, inasmuch as, faithful, was he, and, neither error nor wickedness, could be found against him.
Thus the administrators and satraps sought a charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom, but they could find no charge or corruption, because he was trustworthy, and no negligence or corruption was found in him.
5 Then, these men, were saying, We shall not find against this Daniel, any occasion; unless we find it against him in respect of the law of his God.
Finally these men said, “We will never find any charge against this Daniel, unless we find something against him concerning the law of his God.”
6 Then, these ministers and satraps, crowded together unto the king, —and, thus, were saying to him, O Darius the king! for ages, live!
So the administrators and satraps went together to the king and said, “O King Darius, may you live forever!
7 All the ministers of the kingdom, the nobles and satraps, the near friends and the pashas, have consulted together, to establish a royal statute, and to confirm an interdict, —That, whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man, for thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions.
All the royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers, and governors have agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce a decree that for thirty days anyone who petitions any god or man except you, O king, will be thrown into the den of lions.
8 Now, O king! wilt thou establish the interdict, and sign the writing, that it may not be changed—according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which may not be abolished,
Therefore, O king, establish the decree and sign the document so that it cannot be changed—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”
9 Wherefore, King Darius, signed the writing and the interdict.
Therefore King Darius signed the written decree.
10 But, Daniel, when he knew that the writing, was signed, went to his own house, and, the windows being opened to him, in his chamber, toward Jerusalem, three times a day, was he kneeling upon his knees, and praying and giving thanks before his God, in like manner as he had been doing aforetime.
Now when Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went into his house, where the windows of his upper room opened toward Jerusalem, and three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God, just as he had done before.
11 Then, these men, crowded together, and found Daniel, —praying and making supplication, before his God.
Then these men went as a group and found Daniel petitioning and imploring his God.
12 Then drew they near, and began to speak before the king, concerning the royal interdict, Didst thou not sign, an interdict, that, any man who should petition of any God or man, for thirty days, save of thee, O king, should be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, Certain is the thing—according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which may not be abolished.
So they approached the king and asked about his royal decree: “Did you not sign a decree that for thirty days any man who petitions any god or man except you, O king, will be thrown into the den of lions?” The king replied, “According to the law of the Medes and Persians the order stands, and it cannot be repealed.”
13 Then answered they and were saying before the king, Daniel, who is of the sons of the exile of Judah, hath made thee, O king, of none account, also the interdict which thou hast signed, —but, three times a day, is asking his petition.
Then they told the king, “Daniel, one of the exiles from Judah, shows no regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed. He still makes his petition three times a day.”
14 Then, the king, when he heard, the matter, was sorely displeased with himself, and, upon Daniel, set his heart, to deliver him, —and, until the going in of the sun, was striving to rescue him.
As soon as the king heard this, he was deeply distressed and set his mind on delivering Daniel, and he labored until sundown to rescue him.
15 Then, these men, crowded unto the king, —and were saying to the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, that, no interdict nor statute which the king establisheth, may be changed.
Then the men approached the king together and said to him, “Remember, O king, that by the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or ordinance established by the king can be changed.”
16 Then, the king, gave word, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. The king spake and said to Daniel, —Thy God, whom thou art serving continually, he, will deliver thee.
So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the den of lions. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!”
17 And there was brought a certain stone, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet-ring, and with the signet-ring of his nobles, that nothing might be changed, as to Daniel.
A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that nothing concerning Daniel could be changed.
18 Then the king departed to his palace, and spent the night fasting, and no, table, was brought in before him, —and, his sleep, fled from him.
Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting. No entertainment was brought before him, and sleep fled from him.
19 Then the king rose early, with the dawn, —and, hastily—unto the den of lions, departed;
At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the den of lions.
20 and, when he drew near to the den, unto Daniel, with distressed voice, made he outcry, —the king spake and said unto Daniel, O Daniel! servant of the Living God! Thy God, whom thou art serving continually, hath he been able to deliver thee from the lions?
When he reached the den, he cried out in a voice of anguish, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?”
21 Then, Daniel, with the king, spake, —O king! for ages, live!
Then Daniel replied, “O king, may you live forever!
22 My God, hath sent his messenger, and hath shut the mouth of the lions, and they have not hurt me; forasmuch as, before him, rectitude was found in me, moreover also, before thee, O king, no, crime, had I committed.
My God sent His angel and shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, for I was found innocent in His sight, and I have done no wrong against you, O king.”
23 Then, the king, was exceedingly glad concerning him, and gave word to take up, Daniel, out of the den. So Daniel, was taken up, out of the den, and, no manner of hurt, was found in him, for that he had trusted in his God.
The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den, and when Daniel was lifted out of the den, no wounds whatsoever were found on him, because he had trusted in his God.
24 And the king, gave word, that they should bring those men who had accused Daniel, and, into the den of lions, they cast them—them, their children, and their wives, —and, they had not reached the bottom of the den, when the lions, seized them, and, all their bones, brake they in pieces.
At the command of the king, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought and thrown into the den of lions—they and their children and wives. And before they had reached the bottom of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.
25 Then, Darius the king, wrote to all the peoples, the races, and the tongues who were dwelling in all the earth, Your prosperity abound!
Then King Darius wrote to the people of every nation and language throughout the land: “May your prosperity abound.
26 From before me, is appointed a decree that, throughout every dominion of my kingdom, men tremble and withdraw falteringly from before the God of Daniel, —for that, he, is the Living God, and abiding for ages, and, his kingdom, that which shall not be destroyed, and, his dominion, is unto the end:
I hereby decree that in every part of my kingdom, men are to tremble in fear before the God of Daniel: For He is the living God, and He endures forever; His kingdom will never be destroyed, and His dominion will never end.
27 who delivereth and rescueth and worketh signs and wonders, in the heavens, and in the earth, —for that he hath delivered Daniel out of the power of the lions.
He delivers and rescues; He performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth, for He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.”
28 And, this Daniel, prospered in the reign of Darius, —and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.:
So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
