²⁸ Then he went out and found the body lying on the road, with the donkey and the lion standing beside it. The lion had neither eaten the body nor mauled the donkey.

³³ who through faith conquered kingdoms,^(A) administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions,^{(B) 34} quenched the fury of the flames,^(C) and escaped the edge of the sword;^(D) whose weakness was turned to strength;^(E) and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.^(F)

²⁶ Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken.^(A) At once all the prison doors flew open,^(B) and everyone’s chains came loose.^(C)

²² My God sent his angel,^(A) and he shut the mouths of the lions.^(B) They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight.^(C) 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^(D) was found on him, because he had trusted^(E) 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,^(F) along with their wives and children.^(G) And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.^(H)

²⁷ and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers^(A) crowded around them.^(B) They saw that the fire^(C) had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.

²⁸ Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel^(D) and rescued^(E) his servants! They trusted^(F) in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.^(G)

²² The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego,^(A)