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;
It seemed good to Darius, and he appointed over the kingdom a hundred and twenty governors to be over his whole 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 three princes over them, of whom Daniel was one: that the governors might give an account to them, and the king might have no trouble.
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,
And Daniel excelled all the princes, and governors: because a greater spirit of God was in him.
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.
And the king thought to set him over all the kingdom: whereupon the princes, and the governors sought to find occasion against Daniel with regard to the king: and they could find no cause, nor suspicion, because he was faithful, and no fault, nor suspicion 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.
Then these men said: We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, unless perhaps 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!
Then the princes, and the governors craftily suggested to the king, and spoke thus unto him: King Darius, live for ever:
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 princes of the kingdom, the magistrates, and governors, the senators, and judges have consulted together, that an imperial decree, and an edict be published: That whosoever shall ask any petition of any god, or man, for thirty days, but of thee, O king, shall be cast 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,
Now, therefore, O king, confirm the sentence, and sign the decree: that what is decreed by the Medes and Persians may not be altered, nor any man be allowed to transgress it.
9 Wherefore, King Darius, signed the writing and the interdict.
So king Darius set forth the decree, and established it.
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 knew this, that is to say, that the law was made, he went into his house: and opening the windows in his upper chamber towards Jerusalem, he knelt down three times a day, and adored, and gave thanks before his God, as he had been accustomed to do before.
11 Then, these men, crowded together, and found Daniel, —praying and making supplication, before his God.
Wherefore those men carefully watching him, found Daniel praying and making supplication to 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.
And they came and spoke to the king concerning the edict: O king, hast thou not decreed, that every man that should make a request to any of the gods, or men, for thirty days, but to thyself, O king, should be cast into the den of the lions? And the king answered them, saying: The word is true according to the decree of the Medes and Persians, which it is not lawful to violate.
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 answered, and said before the king: Daniel, who is of the children of the captivity of Juda, hath not regarded thy law, nor the decree that thou hast made: but three times a day he maketh his prayer.
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.
Now when the king had heard these words, he was very much grieved, and in behalf of Daniel he set his heart to deliver him and even till sunset he laboured to save 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.
But those men perceiving the king’s design, said to him: Know thou, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, that no decree which the king hath made, may be altered.
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.
Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of the lions. And the king said to Daniel: Thy God, whom thou always servest, he will deliver thee.
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.
And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den: which the king sealed with his own ring, and with the ring of his nobles, that nothing should be done against Daniel.
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.
And the king went away to his house and laid himself down without taking supper, and meat was not set before him, and even sleep departed from him.
19 Then the king rose early, with the dawn, —and, hastily—unto the den of lions, departed;
Then the king rising very early in the morning, went in haste to the lions’ den:
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?
And coming near to the den, cried with a lamentable voice to Daniel, and said to him: Daniel, servant of the living God, hath thy God, whom thou servest always, been able, thinkest thou, to deliver thee from the lions?
21 Then, Daniel, with the king, spake, —O king! for ages, live!
And Daniel answering the king, said: O king, live for ever:
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 hath sent his angel, and hath shut up the mouths of the lions, and they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him justice hath been found in me: yea and before thee, O king, I have done no offence.
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.
Then was the king exceeding 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 hurt was found in him, because he believed 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.
And by the king’s commandment, those men were brought that bad accused Daniel: and they were cast into the lions’ den, they and their children, and their wives: and they did not reach the bottom of the den, before the lions caught them, and broke all their bones in pieces.
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 all people, tribes, and languages, dwelling in the whole earth: PEACE be multiplied unto you.
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:
It is decreed by me, that in all my empire and my kingdom all men dread and fear the God of Daniel. For he is the living and eternal God for ever: and his kingdom shall not be destroyed, and his power shall be for ever.
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 is the deliverer, and saviour, doing signs and wonders in heaven, and in earth: who hath delivered Daniel out of the lions’ den.
28 And, this Daniel, prospered in the reign of Darius, —and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.:
Now Daniel continued unto the reign of Darius, and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
