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Daniel 6
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Daniel 6
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
The Plot against Daniel
6 [a]It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred twenty satraps, stationed throughout the whole kingdom,(A) 2 and over them three administrators, one of whom was Daniel; to these the satraps gave account, so that the king might suffer no loss.(B) 3 Soon Daniel distinguished himself above the other administrators and satraps because an excellent spirit was in him, and the king planned to appoint him over the whole kingdom.(C) 4 So the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for complaint against Daniel in connection with the kingdom. But they could find no grounds for complaint or any corruption, because he was faithful, and no negligence or corruption could be found in him.(D) 5 The 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 So the administrators and satraps conspired and came to the king and said to him, “O King Darius, live forever!(E) 7 All the administrators of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the counselors and the governors are agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an interdict, that whoever prays to any god or human, for thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be thrown into the den of lions.(F) 8 Now, O king, establish the interdict and sign the document, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, which cannot be revoked.”(G) 9 Therefore King Darius signed the document and interdict.(H)
Daniel in the Lions’ Den
10 Although Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he continued to go to his house, which had windows in its upper room open toward Jerusalem, and to get down on his knees three times a day to pray to his God and praise him, just as he had done previously.(I) 11 Then those men watched[b] and found Daniel praying and seeking mercy before his God. 12 Then they approached the king and said concerning the interdict, “O king! Did you not sign an interdict, that anyone who prays to any god or human, within thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be thrown into the den of lions?” The king answered, “The thing stands fast, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked.”(J) 13 Then they responded to the king, “Daniel, one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or to the interdict you have signed, but he is saying his prayers three times a day.”(K)
14 When the king heard the charge, he was very much distressed. He was determined to save Daniel, and until the sun went down he made every effort to rescue him.(L) 15 Then the conspirators came to the king and said to him, “Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no interdict or ordinance that the king establishes can be changed.”(M)
16 Then the king gave the command, and Daniel was brought and thrown into the den of lions. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you faithfully serve, deliver you!”(N) 17 A stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signet ring of his lords, so that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel. 18 Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; no entertainment was brought to him, and sleep fled from him.(O)
Daniel Saved from the Lions
19 Then at dawn, the king got up and at first light hurried to the den of lions. 20 When he came near the den where Daniel was, he cried out anxiously to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God whom you faithfully serve been able to deliver you from the lions?”(P) 21 Daniel then said to the king, “O king, live forever! 22 My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me, because I was found blameless before him; also before you, O king, I have done no wrong.”(Q) 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 no kind of harm was found on him because he had trusted in his God.(R) 24 The king gave a command, and those who had maliciously accused Daniel were brought and thrown into the den of lions—they, their children, and their wives. Before they reached the bottom of the den, the lions overpowered them and broke all their bones in pieces.(S)
25 Then King Darius wrote to all peoples and nations of every language throughout the whole world: “May you have abundant prosperity!(T) 26 I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people shall tremble and fear before the God of Daniel:
For he is the living God,
enduring forever.
His kingdom shall never be destroyed,
and his dominion has no end.(U)
27 He delivers and rescues;
he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth;
he has saved Daniel
from the power of the lions.”
28 So this Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.(V)
Daniel 6
nuBibeln (Swedish Contemporary Bible)
Daniel 6
nuBibeln (Swedish Contemporary Bible)
Daniel i lejongropen
6 Dareios fann det för gott att tillsätta 120 satraper[a] som skulle finnas överallt i riket, 2 och över dem tre ministrar, av vilka Daniel var en. Satraperna skulle avlägga räkenskap för dem, så att kungen inte led någon förlust. 3 Daniel med sin enastående begåvning visade sig snart vara dugligare än de andra ministrarna och satraperna, och kungen hade planer på att sätta honom över hela riket.
4 De andra ministrarna och satraperna försökte då finna något att anmärka på i Daniels tjänsteutövning, men de kunde inte hitta något. De kunde inte finna något korrupt hos honom, eftersom han var pålitlig och varken oärlig eller slarvig. Man fann ingenting mot honom. 5 Till sist sa männen: ”Vi kommer aldrig att hitta något att anklaga denne Daniel för, förutom möjligen något som gäller hans Guds lag.”
6 Ministrarna och satraperna gick som en grupp[b] till kungen och sa: ”Kung Dareios, må du leva i evighet! 7 Alla rikets ministrar, landshövdingar, satraper, rådgivare och ståthållare har enats om att en kunglig förordning borde utfärdas och ett påbud ges att den som under de kommande trettio dagarna ber till någon annan, gud eller människa, än till dig, o kung, ska kastas i lejongropen. 8 Utfärda alltså nu, o kung, detta påbud och skriv ner det, så att det i enlighet med Mediens och Persiens orubbliga lag inte kan återkallas.” 9 Kung Dareios gjorde så och skrev ner påbudet.
10 När Daniel fick veta att förordningen var utfärdad gick han hem, där fönstren i övervåningen var öppna mot Jerusalem. Där böjde han knä tre gånger om dagen, bad och tackade sin Gud, precis som han alltid hade gjort.
11 Gruppen av dessa män gick då dit och fann att Daniel bad och åkallade sin Gud. 12 De gick till kungen och tog upp det kungliga påbudet: ”Har inte du utfärdat ett påbud att den som under de närmaste trettio dagarna tillber någon annan, gud eller människa, än dig, o kung, ska kastas i lejongropen?” ”Jo”, svarade kungen, ”det är fastställt enligt Mediens och Persiens lag, som inte kan återkallas.” 13 Då berättade de för kungen: ”Daniel, en av de judiska fångarna, bryr sig inte om dig och ditt påbud som du utfärdat, o kung. Han förrättar sin bön tre gånger om dagen.”
14 När kungen hörde detta, blev han mycket bekymrad och bestämde sig för att försöka rädda Daniel. Ända till solnedgången ansträngde han sig för att komma på något sätt att rädda honom. 15 Sedan kom gruppen till kungen och sa: ”Tänk på, o kung, att i medisk och persisk lag kan inget påbud och ingen förordning som kungen utfärdar återkallas.” 16 Då lät kungen hämta Daniel och kasta honom i lejongropen. Kungen sa till honom: ”Måtte din Gud som du ständigt tillber rädda dig!” 17 En sten hämtades och lades över öppningen, och kungen förseglade den med sitt eget och sina stormäns sigill, så att ingenting skulle kunna ändras när det gällde Daniel.
18 Sedan gick kungen tillbaka till sitt palats och lade sig utan att äta den natten. Han ville inte ha någon kvinna[c], och han låg sömnlös. 19 Kungen steg upp mycket tidigt i gryningen och skyndade sig ut till lejongropen. 20 När han närmade sig gropen ropade han på Daniel med en ängslig röst: ”Daniel, du den levande Gudens tjänare, kunde din Gud, som du ständigt tillber, rädda dig från lejonen?” 21 Då svarade Daniel kungen: ”Må kungen leva i evighet! 22 Min Gud sände sin ängel. Han stängde lejonens gap. De har inte rört mig, eftersom jag har befunnits vara oskyldig inför Gud, och inte heller har jag gjort något orätt mot dig, o kung.”
23 Kungen blev utom sig av glädje och befallde att man skulle hämta upp Daniel. När man hade lyft upp Daniel, kunde man inte finna någon skada på honom. Han hade litat på sin Gud. 24 På kungens befallning hämtade man sedan de män som hade anklagat Daniel och kastade dem i lejongropen tillsammans med deras barn och hustrur. Innan de ens hunnit ner till gropens botten var lejonen över dem och slet dem i stycken.
25 Därefter skrev kung Dareios till alla folk, nationer och språkgrupper i hela riket:
”Jag önskar er stor välgång!
26 Det är min befallning att man överallt i mitt rike ska bäva och frukta för Daniels Gud.
Han är den levande Guden,
som evigt förblir.
Hans rike ska aldrig gå under,
och hans makt tar aldrig slut.
27 Han räddar och befriar,
han gör tecken och under
i himlen och på jorden.
Han har räddat Daniel från lejonen.”
28 Daniel hade framgång under hela Dareios regeringstid och likaså under persern Kyros.
Daniel 6
Expanded Bible
Daniel 6
Expanded Bible
Daniel and the Lions
6 ·Darius thought it would be a good idea [L It pleased Darius; 5:30] to ·choose [L set over the kingdom] one hundred twenty ·governors [L satraps] who would ·rule his [L be over the] kingdom. 2 He chose three men as ·supervisors [presidents; heads] over those ·governors [L satraps], and Daniel was one of the ·supervisors [presidents; heads]. The ·supervisors [presidents; heads] were to ensure that the ·governors did not try to cheat the king [L king would not be troubled/disturbed]. 3 Daniel ·showed that he could do the work better than [distinguished himself above] the other ·supervisors [presidents; heads] and ·governors [L satraps] because an ·excellent [extraordinary] spirit was in him, so the king planned to put Daniel in charge of the whole kingdom. 4 Because of this, the other ·supervisors [presidents; heads] and ·governors [L satraps] tried to find reasons to accuse Daniel ·about his work in the government [L in regard to the kingdom]. But they could not find anything ·wrong with him or any reason to accuse him [in regard to complaint or corruption], because he was trustworthy and not lazy or ·dishonest [corrupt]. 5 Finally these men said, “We will never find any reason to accuse Daniel unless it is about the law of his God.”
6 So the ·supervisors [presidents; heads] and ·governors [L satraps] ·went as a group to [or conspired against] the king and said: “King Darius, live forever! 7 The ·supervisors [presidents; heads], ·assistant governors [prefects], ·governors [L satraps], ·the people who advise you [counselors], and the ·captains of the soldiers [governors] have ·all agreed [taken counsel] that you should ·make a new law [issue a decree] ·for everyone to obey [and enforce an edict]: For the next thirty days no one should pray to any god or human except to you, O king. Anyone who doesn’t obey will be thrown into the lions’ den. 8 Now, O king, ·make the law [enforce the edict] and sign ·your name to it [L the document] so that it cannot be changed, because then it will be a law of the Medes and Persians and cannot be canceled.” 9 So King Darius signed the ·law [L document and edict].
10 Even though Daniel knew that the ·new law [document] had been ·written [signed], he went to pray in an upstairs room in his house, which had windows that opened toward Jerusalem. Three times each day Daniel would kneel down to pray and ·thank [praise] God, just as he always had done [1 Kin. 8:35–36; Ps. 55:17].
11 Then those men ·went as a group [conspired] and found Daniel praying and ·asking God for help [seeking mercy from God]. 12 So they ·went to [approached] the king and talked to him about the ·law he had made [edict]. They said, “Didn’t you sign a ·law [edict] that says no one may pray to any god or human except you, O king? Doesn’t it say that anyone who disobeys during the next thirty days will be thrown into the lions’ den?”
The king answered, “Yes, ·that is the law [L the thing is certain], and the laws of the Medes and Persians cannot be canceled.”
13 Then they said to the king, “Daniel, one of the ·captives [exiles] from Judah, ·is not paying attention to [disregards] you, O king, or to the ·law [edict] you signed. Daniel still prays three times every day.” 14 The king ·became very upset [was displeased] when he heard ·this [L the word]. He ·wanted [L set his mind] to ·save [rescue] Daniel, and he worked hard until sunset trying to think of a way to ·save [rescue] him.
15 Then those men ·went as a group to [or conspired against] the king. They said, “·Remember [Know], O king, the law of the Medes and Persians says that no ·law [edict] or command given by the king can be changed.”
16 So King Darius gave the order, and Daniel was brought in and thrown into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “May the God you ·serve [fear; Prov. 1:7] all the time ·save [rescue] you!” 17 A stone was brought and placed over the ·opening [L mouth] of the lions’ den. Then the king used his signet ring and the rings of his ·royal [noble; important] officers to put special seals on the rock [C rings with personal identification symbols that could be pressed into soft clay]. This ensured that ·no one would move the rock and bring Daniel out [L nothing would be changed with Daniel]. 18 Then King Darius went back to his palace. He ·did not eat [fasted] that night, ·he did not have any entertainment [L nothing was; C referring to food and/or women] brought to him, and he could not sleep.
19 The next morning King Darius got up at dawn and ·hurried [or in agitation went] to the lions’ den. 20 As he came near the den, he was worried. He called out to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God! Has your God that you always ·worship [fear; serve; Prov. 1:7] been able to ·save [rescue] you from the lions?”
21 Daniel answered, “O king, live forever! 22 My God sent his ·angel [or messenger] to close the lions’ mouths [Heb. 11:33]. They have not ·hurt [injured] me, because my God knows I am ·innocent [blameless]. I never did anything ·wrong to [to injure] you, O king.”
23 King Darius was very happy and told his servants to lift Daniel out of the lions’ den. So they lifted him out and did not find any injury on him, because Daniel had trusted in his God.
24 Then the king commanded that the men who had ·accused [conspired against; L eaten pieces of] Daniel be brought to the lions’ den. They, their wives, and their children were thrown into the den. The lions ·grabbed [overpowered] them before they ·hit [reached] the floor of the den and ·crushed their bones [or tore their bodies into pieces; Prov. 28:10].
25 Then King Darius wrote a letter to all people and all nations, ·to those who spoke every language [L and tongues] in the world:
I wish you great ·peace and wealth [prosperity].
26 I ·am making a new law [L set a decree] for people in every part of my ·kingdom [kingly dominion]. All of you must ·fear [tremble] and ·respect [fear] the God of Daniel.
For he is the living God;
he ·lives [endures] forever.
His kingdom will never be destroyed,
and his ·rule [sovereignty] will never end.
27 God rescues and ·saves [delivers] people
and does ·mighty miracles [signs and wonders]
in heaven and on earth.
He is the one who ·saved [rescued] Daniel
from the ·power [L hand] of the lions.
28 So Daniel was ·successful [prosperous] during the time Darius was king ·and [or even] when Cyrus the Persian was king [C may be two different names for the same king].
Daniel 6
New International Version
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, 2 with 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. 3 Now 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) 4 At 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. 5 Finally 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)
6 So these administrators and satraps went as a group to the king and said: “May King Darius live forever!(H) 7 The 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) 8 Now, 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) 9 So King Darius put the decree in writing.
10 Now 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) 11 Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help.(O) 12 So 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)
13 Then 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.” 14 When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed;(S) he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him.
15 Then 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)
16 So 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!”
17 A 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. 18 Then 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)
19 At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. 20 When 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)
21 Daniel answered, “May the king live forever!(AA) 22 My 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.”
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(AE) was found on him, because he had trusted(AF) 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,(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)
25 Then 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)
27 He 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)
28 So 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
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition (NRSVUE)
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
nuBibeln (Swedish Contemporary Bible) (NUB)
Swedish Contemporary Bible (nuBibeln) Copyright © 2015 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Expanded Bible (EXB)
The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.