Daniel 6:13-22

English Standard Version

¹³ Then they answered and said before the king, ^(A)“Daniel, who is one ^(B)of the exiles ^(C)from Judah, ^(D)pays no attention to you, O king, or ^(E)the injunction you have signed, but makes his petition ^(F)three times a day.”

¹⁴ Then ^(G)the king, when he heard these words, ^(H)was much distressed and set his mind to deliver Daniel. And he labored till the sun went down to rescue him. ¹⁵ Then these men came by agreement to the king and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no ^(I)injunction or ordinance that the king establishes can be changed.”

¹⁶ Then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king declared^[a] to Daniel, “May ^(J)your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!” ^17 (K)And a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, ^(L)and the king sealed it ^(M)with his own signet and with the signet of his ^(N)lords, that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel. ¹⁸ Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; ^(O)no diversions were brought to him, and ^(P)sleep fled from him.

¹⁹ Then, at break of day, the king arose and went in haste to the den of lions. ²⁰ As he came near to the den where Daniel was, he cried out in a tone of anguish. The king declared to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of ^(Q)the living God, ^(R)has your God, whom you serve continually, ^(S)been able to deliver you from the lions?” ²¹ Then Daniel said to the king, ^(T)“O king, live forever! ²² My God ^(U)sent his angel ^(V)and shut the lions' mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless ^(W)before him; ^(X)and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.”