6:1It pleased Darius, and he appointed over the kingdom a hundred and twenty satraps, to be in his whole kingdom. 6:2And over them three chiefs, of whom Daniel was one: so that the satraps should render account to them, and the king should not suffer trouble. 6:3So Daniel was surpassing all the chiefs and satraps, because a greater spirit of God was in him. 6:4Further, the king was thinking of appointing him over the whole kingdom: whereupon the chiefs and satraps were seeking an occasion to find against Daniel on the side of the king: and they could discover no charge, and no suspicion, because he was faithful, and no fault, and no suspicion was found in him.
6:5So those men said: "We will not find against this Daniel any occasion, unless perhaps in the law of his God." 6:6Then the chiefs and satraps stole upon the king, and spoke thus to him: "King Darius, live for ever! 6:7All the chiefs of your kingdom, the magistrates, and satraps, senators, and judges, have entered into counsel that an imperial decree should go out, and an edict: that everyone who asks any petition from any god or man for up to thirty days, except from you, king, should be sent into the pit of lions. 6:8Now therefore, king, confirm the sentence, and write the decree: so that what has been established by the Medes and Persians may not be changed, nor may it be lawful for anyone to transgress it."
6:9Then King Darius put forth the edict, and established it. 6:10And when Daniel had learnt this, that is, that the law had been established, he went into his house: and, the windows having been opened in his upper room towards Jerusalem, three times in the day he was bending his knees, and worshipping, and giving thanks before his God, just as he had been accustomed to do before as well. 6:11So those men, inquiring rather curiously, found Daniel praying, and beseeching his God. 6:12And approaching, they spoke to the king about the edict: "King, did you not establish that every man who asked any of gods or men for up to thirty days, except you, king, should be sent into the pit of lions?"
6:12Answering them, the king said: "The word is true, according to the decree of the Medes and Persians, which it is not lawful to transgress." 6:13Then, answering, they said before the king: "Daniel, of the sons of the captivity of Judah, has not cared for your law, nor for the edict which you established: but three times a day he prays with his supplication." 6:14When the king had heard this word, he was greatly saddened: and on Daniel's behalf he set his heart on freeing him, and right up to the setting of the sun he was labouring to rescue him. 6:15But those men, understanding the king, said to him: "Know, king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is that every decree which the king has established may not be changed."
6:16Then the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel, and sent him into the pit of lions. 6:16And the king said to Daniel: "Your God, whom you always worship, he himself will free you." 6:17And a stone was brought, and was placed over the mouth of the pit: which the king sealed with his ring, and with the ring of his nobles, so that nothing should be done against Daniel. 6:18And the king went away into his house, and slept without supper, and food was not brought before him, and moreover sleep went away from him. 6:19Then the king, rising at first dawn, went in haste to the pit of lions: and drawing near the pit, he called out to Daniel with a tearful voice, and addressed him: "Daniel, servant of the living God, your God, whom you always serve, do you think he has been able to free you from the lions?"
6:21And Daniel, answering the king, said: "King, live for ever! 6:22My God sent his angel, and shut the mouths of the lions, and they did not harm me: because before him justice was found in me: but before you too, king, I have done no wrong." 6:23Then the king rejoiced greatly over him, and ordered Daniel to be brought out of the pit: and Daniel was brought out of the pit, and no injury was found in him, because he believed in his God. 6:24And, the king ordering it, those men who had accused Daniel were brought: and into the pit of lions they were sent, they themselves, and their sons, and their wives: and they did not reach the floor of the pit before the lions seized them, and broke all their bones in pieces.
6:25Then King Darius wrote to all peoples, tribes, and tongues dwelling in the whole earth: "May peace be multiplied for you. 6:26By me a decree has been established, that in my whole empire and kingdom they should tremble and be in dread before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and eternal for ever, and his kingdom will not be scattered, and his power right up to eternity. 6:27He is a deliverer and saviour, doing signs and wonders in heaven and on earth: who has freed Daniel from the pit of lions." 6:28And Daniel continued right up to the reign of Darius, and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.