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。

Darius divided the kingdom into 120 provinces, each under a governor. The governors were accountable to three presidents (Daniel was one of them) so the king could administer the kingdom efficiently.

Daniel soon proved himself more capable than all the other presidents and governors, for he had great ability, and the king began to think of placing him over the entire empire as his administrative officer.

This made the other presidents and governors very jealous, and they began searching for some fault in the way Daniel was handling his affairs so that they could complain to the king about him. But they couldn’t find anything to criticize! He was faithful and honest and made no mistakes. So they concluded, “Our only chance is his religion!”

They decided to go to the king and say, “King Darius, live forever! We presidents, governors, counselors, and deputies have unanimously decided that you should make a law, irrevocable under any circumstance, that for the next thirty days anyone who asks a favor of God or man—except from you, Your Majesty—shall be thrown to the lions. Your Majesty, we request your signature on this law; sign it so that it cannot be canceled or changed; it will be a ‘law of the Medes and Persians’ that cannot be revoked.”

So King Darius signed the law.

10 But though Daniel knew about it, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs bedroom, with its windows open toward Jerusalem, and prayed three times a day, just as he always had, giving thanks to his God.

11 Then the men thronged to Daniel’s house and found him praying there, asking favors of his God. 12 They rushed back to the king and reminded him about his law. “Haven’t you signed a decree,” they demanded, “that permits no petitions to any God or man—except you—for thirty days? And anyone disobeying will be thrown to the lions?”

“Yes,” the king replied, “it is ‘a law of the Medes and Persians,’ that cannot be altered or revoked.”

13 Then they told the king, “That fellow Daniel, one of the Jewish captives, is paying no attention to you or your law. He is asking favors of his God three times a day.”

14 Hearing this, the king was very angry with himself for signing the law and determined to save Daniel. He spent the rest of the day trying to think of some way to get Daniel out of this predicament.

15 In the evening the men came again to the king and said, “Your Majesty, there is nothing you can do. You signed the law, and it cannot be changed.”

16 So at last the king gave the order for Daniel’s arrest, and he was taken to the den of lions. The king said to him, “May your God, whom you worship continually, deliver you.” And then they threw him in. 17 A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with that of his government, so that no one could rescue Daniel from the lions.

18 Then the king returned to his palace and went to bed without dinner. He refused his usual entertainment and didn’t sleep all night. 19 Very early the next morning he hurried out to the lions’ den 20 and called out in anguish, “O Daniel, servant of the Living God, was your God, whom you worship continually, able to deliver you from the lions?”

21 Then he heard a voice! “Your Majesty, live forever!” It was Daniel! 22 “My God has sent his angel,” he said, “to shut the lions’ mouths so that they can’t touch me, for I am innocent before God; nor, sir, have I wronged you.”

23 The king was beside himself with joy and ordered Daniel lifted from the den. And not a scratch was found on him because he believed in his God.

24 Then the king issued a command to bring the men who had accused Daniel and throw them into the den along with their children and wives, and the lions leaped upon them and tore them apart before they even hit the bottom of the den.

25-26 Afterward King Darius wrote this message addressed to everyone in his empire:

“Greetings! I decree that everyone shall tremble and fear before the God of Daniel in every part of my kingdom. For his God is the living, unchanging God whose kingdom shall never be destroyed and whose power shall never end. 27 He delivers his people, preserving them from harm; he does great miracles in heaven and earth; it is he who delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.”

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

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.

The Plot Against Daniel

It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty satraps, to be over the whole kingdom; and over these, three governors, of whom Daniel was one, that the satraps might give account to them, so that the king would suffer no loss. Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, (A)because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm. (B)So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him. Then these men said, “We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God.”

So these governors and satraps thronged before the king, and said thus to him: (C)“King Darius, live forever! All the governors of the kingdom, the administrators and satraps, the counselors and advisors, have (D)consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a firm decree, that whoever petitions any god or man for thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions. Now, O king, establish the decree and sign the writing, so that it cannot be changed, according to the (E)law of the Medes and Persians, which [a]does not alter.” Therefore King Darius signed the written decree.

Daniel in the Lions’ Den

10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open (F)toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees (G)three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.

11 Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. 12 (H)And they went before the king, and spoke concerning the king’s decree: “Have you not signed a decree that every man who petitions any god or man within thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?”

The king answered and said, “The thing is true, (I)according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which [b]does not alter.”

13 So they answered and said before the king, “That Daniel, (J)who is [c]one of the captives from Judah, (K)does not show due regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.”

14 And the king, when he heard these words, (L)was greatly displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he [d]labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him. 15 Then these men [e]approached the king, and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is (M)the law of the Medes and Persians that no decree or statute which the king establishes may be changed.”

16 So the king gave the command, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions. But the king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you.” 17 (N)Then a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, (O)and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signets of his lords, that the purpose concerning Daniel might not be changed.

Daniel Saved from the Lions

18 Now the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; and no [f]musicians were brought before him. (P)Also his sleep [g]went from him. 19 Then the (Q)king arose very early in the morning and went in haste to the den of lions. 20 And when he came to the den, he cried out with a [h]lamenting voice to Daniel. The king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, (R)has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?”

21 Then Daniel said to the king, (S)“O king, live forever! 22 (T)My God sent His angel and (U)shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you.”

23 Now the king was 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 injury whatever was found on him, (V)because he believed in his God.

Darius Honors God

24 And the king gave the command, (W)and they brought those men who had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions—them, (X)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 (Y)Then King Darius wrote:

To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth:

Peace be multiplied to you.

26 (Z)I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must (AA)tremble and fear before the God of Daniel.

(AB)For He is the living God,
And steadfast forever;
His kingdom is the one which shall not be (AC)destroyed,
And His dominion shall endure to the end.
27 He delivers and rescues,
(AD)And He works signs and wonders
In heaven and on earth,
Who has delivered Daniel from the [i]power of the lions.

28 So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius (AE)and in the reign of (AF)Cyrus the Persian.

Footnotes

  1. Daniel 6:8 Lit. does not pass away
  2. Daniel 6:12 Lit. does not pass away
  3. Daniel 6:13 Lit. of the sons of the captivity
  4. Daniel 6:14 strove
  5. Daniel 6:15 Lit. thronged before
  6. Daniel 6:18 Exact meaning unknown
  7. Daniel 6:18 Or fled
  8. Daniel 6:20 Or grieved
  9. Daniel 6:27 Lit. hand