Daniel 6
English Standard Version
Daniel and the Lions' Den
6 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom (A)120 (B)satraps, to be throughout the whole kingdom; 2 and over them (C)three high officials, of whom Daniel was one, to whom these (D)satraps should give account, so that the king might suffer no loss. 3 Then this Daniel became (E)distinguished above all (F)the other high officials and (G)satraps, because (H)an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned (I)to set him over the whole kingdom. 4 Then (J)the high officials and (K)the satraps (L)sought to find a ground for complaint against Daniel with regard to the kingdom, (M)but they could find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was faithful, (N)and no error or fault was found in him. 5 Then these men said, “We shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God.”
6 Then these (O)high officials and (P)satraps came by agreement[a] to the king and said to him, “O (Q)King Darius, live forever! 7 All the (R)high officials of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the (S)counselors and the governors are agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an (T)injunction, that whoever makes petition to any god or man for thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions. 8 Now, O king, establish (U)the injunction and sign the document, so that it cannot be changed, according to (V)the law of (W)the Medes and the Persians, (X)which cannot be revoked.” 9 Therefore King Darius signed the document and (Y)injunction.
10 When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where (Z)he had windows in his upper chamber open (AA)toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees (AB)three times a day and prayed and (AC)gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously. 11 Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and plea before his God. 12 Then they (AD)came near and said before the king, concerning the injunction, “O king! Did you not sign (AE)an injunction, that anyone who makes petition to any god or man within thirty days except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?” The king answered and said, “The thing stands fast, according to the law of (AF)the Medes and Persians, (AG)which cannot be revoked.” 13 Then they answered and said before the king, (AH)“Daniel, who is one (AI)of the exiles (AJ)from Judah, (AK)pays no attention to you, O king, or (AL)the injunction you have signed, but makes his petition (AM)three times a day.”
14 Then (AN)the king, when he heard these words, (AO)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 (AP)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[b] to Daniel, “May (AQ)your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!” 17 (AR)And a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, (AS)and the king sealed it (AT)with his own signet and with the signet of his (AU)lords, that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel. 18 Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; (AV)no diversions were brought to him, and (AW)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 (AX)the living God, (AY)has your God, whom you serve continually, (AZ)been able to deliver you from the lions?” 21 Then Daniel said to the king, (BA)“O king, live forever! 22 My God (BB)sent his angel (BC)and shut the lions' mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless (BD)before him; (BE)and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.” 23 Then the king was exceedingly glad, and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and (BF)no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. 24 And the king commanded, and (BG)those men who had maliciously accused Daniel were brought and cast into the den of lions—they, their children, and their wives. And before they reached the bottom of the den, the lions overpowered them and broke all their bones in pieces.
25 Then King Darius wrote to all (BH)the peoples, nations, and languages (BI)that dwell in all the earth: (BJ)“Peace be multiplied to you. 26 (BK)I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion (BL)people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel,
for (BM)he is (BN)the living God,
enduring forever;
his kingdom shall never be destroyed,
(BO)and his dominion shall be (BP)to the end.
27 He delivers and rescues;
he works (BQ)signs and wonders
in heaven and on earth,
he who has (BR)saved Daniel
from the power of the lions.”
28 So this Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and (BS)the reign of (BT)Cyrus the Persian.
Footnotes
- Daniel 6:6 Or came thronging; also verses 11, 15
- Daniel 6:16 Aramaic answered and said; also verse 20
Daniel 6
Legacy Standard Bible
Darius’ Officials Seek to Accuse Daniel
6 [a]It seemed good to Darius that he set 120 satraps over the kingdom, that they would be in charge of the whole kingdom, 2 and over them three commissioners (of whom (A)Daniel was one), that these satraps might be accountable to them, and that the king might not suffer (B)loss. 3 Then this Daniel began distinguishing himself [b]among the commissioners and satraps because an (C)extraordinary spirit was in him, and the king planned to set him over the (D)entire kingdom. 4 Then the commissioners and satraps began (E)seeking to find a ground of accusation against Daniel in regard to matters of the kingdom; but they were not able to find (F)any ground of accusation or evidence of corruption, inasmuch as he was faithful, and no negligence or corruption was to be found in him. 5 Then these men said, “We will not find any ground of accusation against this Daniel unless we find it against him with regard to the (G)law of his God.”
6 Then these commissioners and satraps came [c]by agreement to the king and said thus to him: “King Darius, (H)live forever! 7 All the (I)commissioners of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the high officials and the governors have (J)counseled together that the king should establish a statute and enforce an injunction that anyone who seeks to make a petition [d]to any god or man besides you, O king, for thirty days, shall (K)be cast into the lions’ [e]den. 8 Now, O king, (L)establish the injunction and [f]sign the written document so that it may not be changed, according to the (M)law of the Medes and Persians, which [g]may not be revoked.” 9 Therefore King Darius (N)signed the written document, that is, the injunction.
10 Now when Daniel knew that the written document was signed, he entered his house (now in his roof chamber he had windows open (O)toward Jerusalem); and he continued (P)kneeling on his knees three times a day, (Q)praying and (R)giving thanks before his God, [h]as he had been doing previously. 11 Then these men came [i](S)by agreement and found Daniel seeking to make a petition and making supplication before his God. 12 Then they came near and (T)said before the king concerning the king’s injunction, “Did you not sign an injunction that any man who seeks to make a petition [j]to any god or man besides you, O king, for thirty days, is to be cast into the lions’ den?” The king answered and said, “The word is certain, according to the (U)law of the Medes and Persians, which [k]may not be revoked.” 13 Then they answered and said before the king, “(V)Daniel, who is one of the [l]exiles from Judah, pays (W)no attention to you, O king, or to the injunction which you signed, but keeps seeking to make his petition three times a day.”
14 Then, as soon as the king heard this word, he was greatly (X)distressed within himself and set his mind on saving Daniel; and even until sunset he kept exerting himself to deliver him. 15 Then these men came [m]by agreement to the king and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is a (Y)law of the Medes and Persians that no injunction or statute which the king establishes may be changed.”
Daniel in the Lions’ Den
16 Then the king said the word, and Daniel was brought in and (Z)cast into the lions’ den. The king answered and said to Daniel, “[n](AA)Your God whom you constantly serve will Himself save you.” 17 And a (AB)stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signet rings of his nobles so that nothing would be changed in regard to Daniel. 18 Then the king went off to his palace and spent the night (AC)fasting, and no entertainment was brought before him; and his (AD)sleep fled from him.
19 Then the king arose at dawn, at the break of day, and hurriedly went to the lions’ den. 20 When he had come near the den to Daniel, he cried out with a troubled voice. The king answered and said to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has (AE)your God, whom you constantly serve, been (AF)able to save you from the lions?” 21 Then Daniel spoke [o]to the king, “(AG)O king, live forever! 22 My God (AH)sent His angel and (AI)shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not harmed me, inasmuch as [p]I was found innocent before Him; and also [q]toward you, O king, I have done no harm.” 23 Then the king was greatly pleased and said for Daniel to be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and (AJ)no harm whatsoever was found on him because he had (AK)believed in his God. 24 The king then said the word, and they brought those men who had [r]brought charges against Daniel, and they (AL)cast them, their (AM)children, and their wives into the lions’ den; and they had not reached the bottom of the den before the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.
25 Then Darius the king wrote to all the (AN)peoples, nations, and men of every tongue who were inhabiting all the land: “(AO)May your [s]peace abound! 26 [t]I (AP)make a decree that in all the [u]dominion of my kingdom, men are to fear and be in dread before the God of Daniel;
For He is the (AQ)living God and (AR)enduring forever,
And (AS)His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed,
And His [v]dominion will be unto the end.
27 He saves and delivers and does (AT)signs and wonders
In heaven and on earth,
Who has also saved Daniel from the [w]power of the lions.”
28 So this (AU)Daniel enjoyed success in the kingdom of Darius and in the kingdom of (AV)Cyrus the Persian.
Footnotes
- Daniel 6:1 Ch 6:2 in Aram
- Daniel 6:3 Lit above
- Daniel 6:6 Or thronging
- Daniel 6:7 Lit from
- Daniel 6:7 Or pit, so in ch
- Daniel 6:8 Or inscribed, so in ch, cf. 5:24-25; 10:21
- Daniel 6:8 Lit does not pass away
- Daniel 6:10 Or because
- Daniel 6:11 Or thronging
- Daniel 6:12 Lit from
- Daniel 6:12 Lit does not pass away
- Daniel 6:13 Lit sons of the exile
- Daniel 6:15 Or thronging
- Daniel 6:16 Or May your God...Himself deliver you
- Daniel 6:21 Lit with
- Daniel 6:22 Lit innocence was found for me
- Daniel 6:22 Lit before
- Daniel 6:24 Lit eaten the pieces of Daniel
- Daniel 6:25 Or welfare, prosperity
- Daniel 6:26 Lit From me a decree is made
- Daniel 6:26 Or powerful reign; or in Heb powerful rule
- Daniel 6:26 Or powerful reign; or in Heb powerful rule
- Daniel 6:27 Lit hand
Daniel 6
Holman Christian Standard Bible
The Plot against Daniel
6 Darius decided[a] to appoint 120 satraps over the kingdom, stationed throughout the realm, 2 and over them three administrators, including Daniel.(A) These satraps would be accountable to them so that the king would not be defrauded.(B) 3 Daniel[b] distinguished himself above the administrators and satraps because he had an extraordinary spirit,(C) so the king planned to set him over the whole realm.(D) 4 The administrators and satraps, therefore, kept trying to find a charge against Daniel(E) regarding the kingdom. But they could find no charge or corruption,(F) for he was trustworthy, and no negligence or corruption was found in him. 5 Then these men said, “We will never find any charge against this Daniel unless we find something against him concerning the law of his God.”(G)
6 So the administrators and satraps went together to the king and said to him, “May King Darius live forever.(H) 7 All the administrators of the kingdom,(I) the prefects, satraps, advisers, and governors have agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an edict that for 30 days, anyone who petitions any god or man except you, the king, will be thrown into the lions’ den.(J) 8 Therefore, Your Majesty, establish the edict(K) and sign the document so that, as a law of the Medes and Persians, it is irrevocable and cannot be changed.”(L) 9 So King Darius signed the document.(M)
Daniel in the Lions’ Den
10 When Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went into his house. The windows in its upper room opened toward Jerusalem,(N) and three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God,(O) just as he had done before. 11 Then these men went as a group and found(P) Daniel petitioning and imploring his God. 12 So they approached the king(Q) and asked about his edict: “Didn’t you sign an edict that for 30 days any man who petitions any god or man except you, the king, will be thrown into the lions’ den?”
The king answered, “As a law of the Medes and Persians, the order stands and is irrevocable.”(R)
13 Then they replied to the king, “Daniel, one of the Judean exiles, has ignored you,(S) the king, and the edict you signed, for he prays three times a day.” 14 As soon as the king heard this, he was very displeased; he set his mind on rescuing Daniel(T) and made every effort until sundown to deliver him.
15 Then these men went to the king and said to him, “You as king know it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no edict or ordinance the king establishes can be changed.”(U)
16 So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den.(V) The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually,(W) rescue you!” 17 A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den.(X) The king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signet rings of his nobles, so that nothing in regard to Daniel could be changed. 18 Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting.(Y) No diversions[c] were brought to him, and he could not sleep.(Z)
Daniel Released
19 At the first light of dawn the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. 20 When he reached the den, he cried out in anguish to Daniel. “Daniel, servant of the living God,” the king said,[d] “has your God whom you serve continually been able to rescue you(AA) from the lions?”
21 Then Daniel spoke with the king: “May the king live forever. 22 My God sent His angel(AB) and shut the lions’ mouths. They haven’t hurt me, for I was found innocent before Him. Also, I have not committed a crime against you my king.”
23 The king was overjoyed and gave orders to take Daniel out of the den. So Daniel was taken out of the den, uninjured, for he trusted in his God.(AC) 24 The king then gave the command, and those men who had maliciously accused Daniel[e](AD) were brought and thrown into the lions’ den—they, their children, and their wives.(AE) They had not reached the bottom of the den before the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.
Darius Honors God
25 Then King Darius wrote to those of every people, nation, and language who live in all the earth: “May your prosperity abound.(AF) 26 I issue a decree(AG) that in all my royal dominion, people must tremble in fear before the God of Daniel:(AH)
For He is the living God,
and He endures forever;
His kingdom will never be destroyed,(AI)
and His dominion has no end.
27 He rescues and delivers;
He performs signs and wonders
in the heavens and on the earth,(AJ)
for He has rescued Daniel
from the power of the lions.”
28 So Daniel prospered(AK) during the reign of Darius and[f] the reign of Cyrus the Persian.(AL)
Footnotes
- Daniel 6:1 Lit It was pleasing before Darius
- Daniel 6:3 Lit Now this Daniel
- Daniel 6:18 Hb obscure
- Daniel 6:20 Lit said to Daniel
- Daniel 6:24 Lit had eaten his pieces
- Daniel 6:28 Or Darius, even
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