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 Daryavesh to set over the malchut an hundred and twenty satraps, which should be over the whole malchut;

(6:3) And over these three overseers, of whom Daniel was one, that the satraps might give accounts unto them, and that the king should suffer no loss.

(6:4) Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the overseers and satraps, because an excellent ruach was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole malchut.

(6:5) Then the overseers and satraps sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the malchut; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was trustworthy, neither was there any negligence or corrupt thing found in him.

(6:6) Then said these anashim, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the dat (law, religion) of his G-d.

(6:7) Then these overseers and satraps assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Daryavesh, L’olam yicheyeh (live for ever!)

(6:8) All the overseers of the malchut, the administrators, and the satraps, the counselors, and the governors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall make a petition of any g-d or man for shloshim yom (thirty days), except of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.

(6:9) Now, O king, establish the decree and sign the ketav (writing, document), that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.

(6:10) Wherefore king Daryavesh signed the written decree.

10 (6:11) Now when Daniel knew that the ketav was signed, he went into his bais; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Yerushalayim, he kneeled down three times that day, and davened, and gave thanks before his G-d, as he had been doing before this.

11 (6:12) Then these anashim assembled, and found Daniel davening and making supplication before his G-d.

12 (6:13) Then they came near, and spoke before the king concerning the king’s decree: Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall make a petition of any g-d or man within shloshim yom, except 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 cannot be changed.

13 (6:14) Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the Bnei Golus of Yehudah, shows no regard for thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.

14 (6:15) Then the king, when he heard these words, was greatly displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him, and he did strive till the going down of the shemesh to deliver him.

15 (6:16) Then these anashim assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Have da’as, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed.

16 (6:17) Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spoke and said unto Daniel, Elohecha (Thy G-d) whom thou servest continually, He will deliver thee.

17 (6:18) And an even (stone) was brought, 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 the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.

18 (6:19) Then the king went to his heikhal, and spent the night fasting, neither were entertainments brought before him, and his sheynah fled from him.

19 (6:20) Then the king arose very early in the boker, and went in haste unto the den of lions.

20 (6:21) And when he came to the den, he cried with an anguished voice unto Daniel; and the king spoke and said to Daniel, O Daniel, eved of HaElohim HaChai, is thy G-d, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?

21 (6:22) Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, L’olam yicheyeh (live for ever).

22 (6:23) My G-d hath sent his malach, and hath shut the lions’ mouths that they have not hurt me; forasmuch as before Him innocence was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no rah (wrong).

23 (6:24) 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 had emunah in his G-d.

24 (6:25) And the king commanded, and they brought those anashim which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions overpowered them, and broke all their bones in pieces before they ever came to the bottom of the den.

25 (6:26) Then king Daryavesh wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in kol ha’aretz; Shalom aleichem l’machbir (Peace be multiplied unto you).

26 (6:27) I make a decree, That in every dominion of my malchut men must tremble and fear before the G-d of Daniel, for He is HaElohim HaChai, and stedfast l’olamim (forever), and His malchut that which shall not be destroyed, and His dominion shall be even ad hasof (unto the end).

27 (6:28) He delivereth and rescueth, and He worketh otot and mofetim in Shomayim and in ha’aretz, Who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.

28 (6:29) So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Daryavesh, and in the reign of Koresh (Cyrus) the Persian.