Daniel 6

New International Version

Daniel in the Den of Lions

6 ^[a]It pleased Darius^(A) to appoint 120 satraps^(B) to rule throughout the kingdom, ²with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel.^(C) The satraps were made accountable^(D) to them so that the king might not suffer loss. ³Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.^(E) ⁴At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges^(F) against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. ⁵Finally these men said, “We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.”^(G)

⁶So these administrators and satraps went as a group to the king and said: “May King Darius live forever!^(H) ⁷The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors^(I) have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or human being during the next thirty days, except to you, Your Majesty, shall be thrown into the lions’ den.^(J) ⁸Now, Your Majesty, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”^(K) ⁹So King Darius put the decree in writing.

¹⁰Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward^(L) Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees^(M) and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.^(N) ¹¹Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help.^(O) ¹²So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: “Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human being except to you, Your Majesty, would be thrown into the lions’ den?”

The king answered, “The decree stands—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”^(P)

¹³Then they said to the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah,^(Q) pays no attention^(R) to you, Your Majesty, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day.” ¹⁴When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed;^(S) he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him.

¹⁵Then the men went as a group to King Darius and said to him, “Remember, Your Majesty, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed.”^(T)

¹⁶So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den.^(U) The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue^(V) you!”

¹⁷A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed^(W) it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel’s situation might not be changed. ¹⁸Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating^(X) and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep.^(Y)

¹⁹At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. ²⁰When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?”^(Z)

²¹Daniel answered, “May the king live forever!^(AA) ²²My God sent his angel,^(AB) and he shut the mouths of the lions.^(AC) They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight.^(AD) Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.”

²³The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound^(AE) was found on him, because he had trusted^(AF) in his God.

²⁴At the king’s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions’ den,^(AG) along with their wives and children.^(AH) And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.^(AI)

²⁵Then King Darius wrote to all the nations and peoples of every language^(AJ) in all the earth:

“May you prosper greatly!^(AK)

²⁶“I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence^(AL) the God of Daniel.^(AM)

“For he is the living God^(AN)
    and he endures forever;^(AO)
his kingdom will not be destroyed,
    his dominion will never end.^(AP)
²⁷He rescues and he saves;^(AQ)
    he performs signs and wonders^(AR)
    in the heavens and on the earth.
He has rescued Daniel
    from the power of the lions.”^(AS)

²⁸So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus^[b]^(AT) the Persian.^(AU)

Footnotes

Daniel 6:1 In Aramaic texts 6:1-28 is numbered 6:2-29.
Daniel 6:28 Or Darius, that is, the reign of Cyrus

Psalm 25

New International Version

Psalm 25^[a]

Of David.

¹In you, Lord my God,
I put my trust.^(A)

²I trust in you;^(B)
    do not let me be put to shame,
    nor let my enemies triumph over me.
³No one who hopes in you
    will ever be put to shame,^(C)
but shame will come on those
    who are treacherous^(D) without cause.

⁴Show me your ways, Lord,
    teach me your paths.^(E)
⁵Guide me in your truth^(F) and teach me,
    for you are God my Savior,^(G)
    and my hope is in you^(H) all day long.
⁶Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love,^(I)
    for they are from of old.
⁷Do not remember the sins of my youth^(J)
    and my rebellious ways;^(K)
according to your love^(L) remember me,
    for you, Lord, are good.^(M)

⁸Good and upright^(N) is the Lord;
    therefore he instructs^(O) sinners in his ways.
⁹He guides^(P) the humble in what is right
    and teaches them^(Q) his way.
¹⁰All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful^(R)
    toward those who keep the demands of his covenant.^(S)
¹¹For the sake of your name,^(T) Lord,
    forgive^(U) my iniquity,^(V) though it is great.

¹²Who, then, are those who fear the Lord?^(W)
    He will instruct them in the ways^(X) they should choose.^[b]
¹³They will spend their days in prosperity,^(Y)
    and their descendants will inherit the land.^(Z)
¹⁴The Lord confides^(AA) in those who fear him;
    he makes his covenant known^(AB) to them.
¹⁵My eyes are ever on the Lord,^(AC)
    for only he will release my feet from the snare.^(AD)

¹⁶Turn to me^(AE) and be gracious to me,^(AF)
    for I am lonely^(AG) and afflicted.
¹⁷Relieve the troubles^(AH) of my heart
    and free me from my anguish.^(AI)
¹⁸Look on my affliction^(AJ) and my distress^(AK)
    and take away all my sins.^(AL)
¹⁹See how numerous are my enemies^(AM)
    and how fiercely they hate me!^(AN)

²⁰Guard my life^(AO) and rescue me;^(AP)
    do not let me be put to shame,^(AQ)
    for I take refuge^(AR) in you.
²¹May integrity^(AS) and uprightness^(AT) protect me,
    because my hope, Lord,^[c] is in you.^(AU)

²²Deliver Israel,^(AV) O God,
from all their troubles!

Footnotes

Psalm 25:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, the verses of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
Psalm 25:12 Or ways he chooses
Psalm 25:21 Septuagint; Hebrew does not have Lord.