The Plot against Daniel

Darius decided[a] to appoint 120 satraps over the kingdom, stationed throughout the realm, and over them three administrators, including Daniel.(A) These satraps would be accountable to them so that the king would not be defrauded.(B) Daniel[b] distinguished himself above the administrators and satraps because he had an extraordinary spirit,(C) so the king planned to set him over the whole realm.(D) The administrators and satraps, therefore, kept trying to find a charge against Daniel(E) regarding the kingdom. But they could find no charge or corruption,(F) for he was trustworthy, and no negligence or corruption was found in him. Then these men said, “We will never find any charge against this Daniel unless we find something against him concerning the law of his God.”(G)

So the administrators and satraps went together to the king and said to him, “May King Darius live forever.(H) All the administrators of the kingdom(I)—the prefects, satraps, advisers, and governors—have agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an edict that, for thirty days, anyone who petitions any god or man except you, the king, will be thrown into the lions’ den.(J) Therefore, Your Majesty, establish the edict(K) and sign the document so that, as a law of the Medes and Persians, it is irrevocable and cannot be changed.”(L) So King Darius signed the written edict.(M)

Daniel in the Lions’ Den

10 When Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went into his house. The windows in its upstairs room opened toward Jerusalem,(N) and three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God,(O) just as he had done before. 11 Then these men went as a group and found(P) Daniel petitioning and imploring his God. 12 So they approached the king(Q) and asked about his edict: “Didn’t you sign an edict that for thirty days any person who petitions any god or man except you, the king, will be thrown into the lions’ den?”

The king answered, “As a law of the Medes and Persians, the order stands[c] and is irrevocable.”(R)

13 Then they replied to the king, “Daniel, one of the Judean exiles, has ignored you,(S) the king, and the edict you signed, for he prays three times a day.” 14 As soon as the king heard this, he was very displeased; he set his mind on rescuing Daniel(T) and made every effort until sundown to deliver him.

15 Then these men went together to the king and said to him, “You know, Your Majesty, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no edict or ordinance the king establishes can be changed.”(U)

16 So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den.(V) The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you continually serve,(W) rescue you!” 17 A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den.(X) The king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signet rings of his nobles, so that nothing in regard to Daniel could be changed. 18 Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting.(Y) No diversions[d] were brought to him, and he could not sleep.(Z)

Daniel Released

19 At the first light of dawn the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. 20 When he reached the den, he cried out in anguish to Daniel. “Daniel, servant of the living God,” the king said,[e] “has your God, whom you continually serve, been able to rescue you(AA) from the lions?”

21 Then Daniel spoke with the king: “May the king live forever. 22 My God sent his angel(AB) and shut the lions’ mouths; and they haven’t harmed me, for I was found innocent before him. And also before you, Your Majesty, I have not done harm.”

23 The king was overjoyed and gave orders to take Daniel out of the den. When Daniel was brought up from the den, he was found to be unharmed, for he trusted in his God.(AC) 24 The king then gave the command, and those men who had maliciously accused Daniel[f](AD) were brought and thrown into the lions’ den—they, their children, and their wives.(AE) They had not reached the bottom of the den before the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.

Darius Honors God

25 Then King Darius wrote to those of every people, nation, and language who live on the whole earth: “May your prosperity abound.(AF) 26 I issue a decree(AG) that in all my royal dominion, people must tremble in fear before the God of Daniel:(AH)

For he is the living God,
and he endures forever;
his kingdom will never be destroyed,(AI)
and his dominion has no end.
27 He rescues and delivers;
he performs signs and wonders
in the heavens and on the earth,(AJ)
for he has rescued Daniel
from the power of the lions.”

28 So Daniel prospered(AK) during the reign of Darius and[g] the reign of Cyrus the Persian.(AL)

Footnotes

  1. 6:1 Lit It was pleasing before Darius
  2. 6:3 Lit Now this Daniel
  3. 6:12 Lit the word is certain
  4. 6:18 Aramaic obscure
  5. 6:20 Lit said to Daniel
  6. 6:24 Lit had eaten his pieces
  7. 6:28 Or Darius, even

但以理在狮子坑

大流士决定设立一百二十个总督治理全国。 总督之上,设三个总长,以维护王的统治,但以理是其中之一。 因为但以理有非凡的心智,远超过其他总长和总督,王便考虑让他治理全国。 于是,其他总长和总督想在但以理的政务中找把柄控告他,却找不到任何把柄或过失,因为他诚实可靠,毫无过失。 最后他们说:“除非我们从但以理上帝的律法下手,否则找不到指控他的把柄。”

于是,这些总长和总督齐来见王,说:“愿大流士王万岁! 所有总长、行政官、总督、谋士和省长都认为王应该下一道禁令,三十天内,任何人不得向王以外的神明或人祷告,违者必被扔进狮子坑。 王啊,求你颁布、签署这道禁令,使之不可更改,正如玛代人和波斯人的律令是不可更改的。” 于是大流士王签署了这道禁令。

10 但以理知道王签署禁令后,就回到家里。他楼上的窗户朝向耶路撒冷,他像往常一样每日三次跪下向上帝祷告、感恩。 11 那些官员一同来了,发现但以理向他的上帝祷告、祈求, 12 便去见王,提及王的禁令,说:“王啊,你不是签署禁令,三十天内,任何人不得向王以外的神明或人祷告,违者必被扔进狮子坑吗?”王说:“确有此事,按照玛代人和波斯人的律,这禁令不可更改。” 13 他们对王说:“王啊,被掳来的犹大人但以理不理会你和你的禁令,仍一日三次向他的上帝祈祷。” 14 王听了这些话,十分愁烦,一心想救但以理,直到日落都在筹划解救之道。 15 那些人齐来见王,说:“王啊,按照玛代人和波斯人的律,王颁布的禁令和律例是不可更改的。”

16 王便下令把但以理带来扔进狮子坑。他对但以理说:“愿你忠心事奉的上帝拯救你!” 17 坑口用大石封住,并加上王和大臣的封印,使惩办但以理的事不可更改。 18 王回宫后,整夜禁食,拒绝娱乐,无法入睡。

19 次日黎明,王起来匆忙赶往狮子坑, 20 到了坑边,凄声呼喊但以理:“永活上帝的仆人但以理啊,你忠心事奉的上帝有没有救你脱离狮子的口?” 21 但以理对王说:“愿王万岁! 22 我的上帝差遣天使封住了狮子的口,不让它们伤害我,因为我在上帝面前是清白的。王啊,我在你面前也没有过错。” 23 王非常高兴,便命人把但以理从坑中拉上来。于是,但以理从坑中被拉了上来,他因为信靠他的上帝,身上毫无损伤。 24 王下令把那些恶意控告但以理的人及其儿女妻子都带来,扔进狮子坑。他们还没到坑底,狮子便扑上去,咬碎了他们的骨头。

25 后来,大流士王传谕境内的各族、各邦、各语种的人,说:“愿你们大享平安! 26 我下令,我统治的国民都要敬畏但以理的上帝,

“因为祂是永活长存的上帝,
祂的国度永不灭亡,
祂的统治直到永远。
27 祂庇护、拯救,
在天上地下行神迹奇事,
救但以理脱离狮子的口。”

28 因此,在大流士和波斯人塞鲁士执政期间,但以理凡事亨通。

It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom;

And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage.

Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.

Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.

Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.

Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever.

All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.

Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.

Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.

10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.

11 Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.

12 Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king's decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.

13 Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.

14 Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him.

15 Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed.

16 Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.

17 And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.

18 Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him.

19 Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.

20 And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?

21 Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.

22 My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.

23 Then was the king exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.

24 And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.

25 Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.

26 I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.

27 He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.

28 So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.