Daniel in the Den of Lions

6 ^[a]It pleased Darius^(A) to appoint 120 satraps^(B) to rule throughout the kingdom, ² with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel.^(C) The satraps were made accountable^(D) to them so that the king might not suffer loss. ³ Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.^{(E) 4} At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges^(F) against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. ⁵ Finally these men said, “We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.”^(G)

⁶ So these administrators and satraps went as a group to the king and said: “May King Darius live forever!^{(H) 7} The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors^(I) have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or human being during the next thirty days, except to you, Your Majesty, shall be thrown into the lions’ den.^{(J) 8} Now, Your Majesty, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”^{(K) 9} So King Darius put the decree in writing.

¹⁰ Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward^(L) Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees^(M) and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.^{(N) 11} Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help.^{(O) 12} So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: “Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human being except to you, Your Majesty, would be thrown into the lions’ den?”

The king answered, “The decree stands—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”^(P)

¹³ Then they said to the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah,^(Q) pays no attention^(R) to you, Your Majesty, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day.” ¹⁴ When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed;^(S) he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him.

¹⁵ Then the men went as a group to King Darius and said to him, “Remember, Your Majesty, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed.”^(T)

¹⁶ So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den.^(U) The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue^(V) you!”

¹⁷ A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed^(W) it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel’s situation might not be changed. ¹⁸ Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating^(X) and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep.^(Y)

¹⁹ At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. ²⁰ When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?”^(Z)

²¹ Daniel answered, “May the king live forever!^{(AA) 22} My God sent his angel,^(AB) and he shut the mouths of the lions.^(AC) They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight.^(AD) Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.”

²³ The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound^(AE) was found on him, because he had trusted^(AF) in his God.

²⁴ At the king’s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions’ den,^(AG) along with their wives and children.^(AH) And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.^(AI)

²⁵ Then King Darius wrote to all the nations and peoples of every language^(AJ) in all the earth:

²⁸ So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus^[b](AT) the Persian.^(AU)

Daniel’s Vision of a Man

10 In the third year of Cyrus^(A) king of Persia, a revelation was given to Daniel (who was called Belteshazzar).^(B) Its message was true^(C) and it concerned a great war.^[a] The understanding of the message came to him in a vision.

² At that time I, Daniel, mourned^(D) for three weeks. ³ I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips;^(E) and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over.

⁴ On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank^(F) of the great river, the Tigris,^{(G) 5} I looked up^(H) and there before me was a man dressed in linen,^(I) with a belt of fine gold^(J) from Uphaz around his waist. ⁶ His body was like topaz,^(K) his face like lightning,^(L) his eyes like flaming torches,^(M) his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze,^(N) and his voice^(O) like the sound of a multitude.

⁷ I, Daniel, was the only one who saw the vision; those who were with me did not see it,^(P) but such terror overwhelmed them that they fled and hid themselves. ⁸ So I was left alone,^(Q) gazing at this great vision; I had no strength left,^(R) my face turned deathly pale^(S) and I was helpless.^{(T) 9} Then I heard him speaking, and as I listened to him, I fell into a deep sleep, my face to the ground.^(U)

¹⁰ A hand touched me^(V) and set me trembling on my hands and knees.^{(W) 11} He said, “Daniel, you who are highly esteemed,^(X) consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you, and stand up,^(Y) for I have now been sent to you.” And when he said this to me, I stood up trembling.

¹² Then he continued, “Do not be afraid,^(Z) Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble^(AA) yourself before your God, your words^(AB) were heard, and I have come in response to them.^{(AC) 13} But the prince^(AD) of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael,^(AE) one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. ¹⁴ Now I have come to explain^(AF) to you what will happen to your people in the future,^(AG) for the vision concerns a time yet to come.^(AH)”

¹⁵ While he was saying this to me, I bowed with my face toward the ground and was speechless.^{(AI) 16} Then one who looked like a man^[b] touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and began to speak.^(AJ) I said to the one standing before me, “I am overcome with anguish^(AK) because of the vision, my lord, and I feel very weak. ¹⁷ How can I, your servant, talk with you, my lord? My strength is gone and I can hardly breathe.”^(AL)

¹⁸ Again the one who looked like a man touched^(AM) me and gave me strength.^{(AN) 19} “Do not be afraid, you who are highly esteemed,”^(AO) he said. “Peace!^(AP) Be strong now; be strong.”^(AQ)

When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Speak, my lord, since you have given me strength.”^(AR)

²⁰ So he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? Soon I will return to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I go, the prince of Greece^(AS) will come; ²¹ but first I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth.^(AT) (No one supports me against them except Michael,^(AU) your prince.