Daniel 6
New King James Version
The Plot Against Daniel
6 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty satraps, to be over the whole kingdom; 2 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. 3 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. 4 (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. 5 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.”
6 So these governors and satraps thronged before the king, and said thus to him: (C)“King Darius, live forever! 7 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. 8 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.” 9 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
- Daniel 6:8 Lit. does not pass away
- Daniel 6:12 Lit. does not pass away
- Daniel 6:13 Lit. of the sons of the captivity
- Daniel 6:14 strove
- Daniel 6:15 Lit. thronged before
- Daniel 6:18 Exact meaning unknown
- Daniel 6:18 Or fled
- Daniel 6:20 Or grieved
- Daniel 6:27 Lit. hand
Daniel 6
Lexham English Bible
Daniel’s Integrity and His Entrapment by His Enemies
6 It pleased Darius,[a] and he set up one hundred and twenty satraps over the kingdom, that they were throughout the whole kingdom,[b] 2 and over them were three administrators, of whom Daniel was one, so that these satraps were giving account to them, and the king would not be suffering loss. 3 Then Daniel began distinguishing himself[c] above the administrators and the satraps because[d] an exceptional spirit was in him, and so the king planned to appoint him over the whole kingdom. 4 Then the other administrators and satraps began to seek[e] to find a pretext against Daniel in connection with the kingdom,[f] but they were not able to find any pretext and corruption[g] because[h] he was trustworthy, and no[i] negligence or corruption[j] could be found in him.[k] 5 Then these men said,[l] “We will not find any pretext[m] against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God.”
6 So the administrators and the satraps conspired with respect to[n] the king and so they said to him, “Darius, O king, live forever![o] 7 All of the administrators of the kingdom, and the prefects, the satraps, the counselors and the governors took counsel and have agreed to establish an edict of the king and to enforce a decree that whoever[p] will seek a prayer from any god or human except from you for up to thirty days will be thrown into the lion pit.[q] 8 Now, O king, establish the edict and you must sign the document so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians which cannot be revoked.”
9 So[r] the king, Darius, signed the writing and the interdict.[s] 10 Now when[t] Daniel realized that the document was signed, he went to his house (now he had windows in his upper room that were open[u] toward Jerusalem), and three times daily[v] he knelt on his knees and prayed and gave praise before his God, just as[w] he had been doing previously.[x] 11 Then these men came as a group and they found Daniel praying and pleading for mercy before his God. 12 Then they approached and spoke with the king[y] concerning the edict of the king, “Did you not sign an edict[z] that any person who would seek anything from any God or human within thirty days except from you, O king, would be thrown into the lion pit?”[aa] The king answered and said, “The matter as you have just stated is certain according to the law of the Medes and Persians which cannot be revoked.”
God’s Miraculous Deliverance of Daniel Again
13 Then they responded[ab] and said before the king, “Daniel, who is from the exiles[ac] of Judah,[ad] is not paying any attention[ae] to you, O king, or to the decree that you have signed, and three times daily[af] he says his prayer.” 14 Then the king, when[ag] he heard that report,[ah] he was extremely distressed over it; and concerning Daniel[ai] he was determined[aj] to rescue him. And until the setting of the sun he was making every effort to deliver him. 15 Then these men came as a group to the king and said,[ak] “Recall, O king, that with respect to the law of[al] the Medes and Persians that any[am] decree or edict that the king establishes cannot be changed.”
16 Then the king gave the command, and Daniel was brought in and they threw him into the lion pit.[an] The king said[ao] to Daniel, “Your God, whom you serve faithfully,[ap] may he rescue you!” 17 And a[aq] stone was brought and it was put on the entrance of the pit, and the king sealed it with his signet ring and with the signet rings of his lords,[ar] so that nothing would be changed concerning Daniel. 18 Then the king went to his palace and spent the night in fasting, and no food was brought in before him and his sleep fled from him.
19 Then the king got up at daybreak, at first light, and he went in haste[as] to the lion pit.[at] 20 And when he came near[au] to the pit, he cried out to Daniel with a distressed voice, and the king spoke[av] and said to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, your God whom you serve faithfully, was he able to rescue you from the lions?” 21 Then Daniel spoke to[aw] the king, “O king, live forever![ax] 22 My God sent his angel and he shut the mouth of the lions and they did not[ay] hurt me, because[az] before him I was found[ba] blameless, and also before you, O king, I have not done any wrong.”
23 Then the king was exceedingly glad over it[bb] and commanded that Daniel be lifted up from the pit; and there was not any wound found on him, because he had trusted in his God. 24 The king then commanded, and these men were brought who had accused Daniel,[bc] and they threw them and their children and their wives into the lion pit,[bd] and they had not reached the floor of the pit before[be] the lions had overpowered them and they had crushed all of their bones.
The King Praises the God of Daniel and Daniel Prospers
25 Then Darius the king wrote to all the people, the nations, and the languages living in the whole earth, “May your prosperity become great! 26 I make a decree[bf] that in all the dominion of my kingdom people will be trembling and fearing before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God and endures forever[bg] and his[bh] kingdom is one that will not be destroyed and his dominion has no end.[bi] 27 He is rescuing, delivering, and working signs and wonders in the heavens and on earth, for he has rescued Daniel from the power[bj] of the lions.” 28 So this Daniel prospered during the kingdom of Darius and during the kingdom of Cyrus the Persian.
Footnotes
- Daniel 6:1 Literally “It was pleasant before Darius”
- Daniel 6:1 Literally “in all the kingdom”
- Daniel 6:3 Literally “was distinguishing himself”
- Daniel 6:3 Literally “all of because that”
- Daniel 6:4 Literally “were seeking”
- Daniel 6:4 Literally “from the side of the kingdom”
- Daniel 6:4 Literally “being corrupt”
- Daniel 6:4 Literally “all because that”
- Daniel 6:4 Aramaic “any”
- Daniel 6:4 Literally “being corrupt”
- Daniel 6:4 Literally “not could be found”
- Daniel 6:5 Literally “were saying”
- Daniel 6:5 Or “basis for accusation”
- Daniel 6:6 Literally “on/upon”
- Daniel 6:6 Literally “to eternity”
- Daniel 6:7 Literally “all that”
- Daniel 6:7 Literally “pit of lions”
- Daniel 6:9 Literally “Like to before this”
- Daniel 6:9 Or “the writing that is the interdict”
- Daniel 6:10 Literally “as that”
- Daniel 6:10 Literally “and windows were open to him in his upper room”
- Daniel 6:10 Literally “in the day”
- Daniel 6:10 Literally “all because that”
- Daniel 6:10 Literally “from before this”
- Daniel 6:12 Literally “and saying before the king”
- Daniel 6:12 Literally “Not an edict you signed?”
- Daniel 6:12 Literally “pit of lions”
- Daniel 6:13 Literally “they answered”
- Daniel 6:13 Literally “the sons of the exile”
- Daniel 6:13 Aramaic “Jehud”
- Daniel 6:13 Literally “not he sets his mind”
- Daniel 6:13 Literally “and three times on the day”
- Daniel 6:14 Aramaic “as ”
- Daniel 6:14 Literally “word”
- Daniel 6:14 Literally “upon Daniel”
- Daniel 6:14 Literally “he set his heart”
- Daniel 6:15 Literally “saying”
- Daniel 6:15 Aramaic “to”
- Daniel 6:15 Literally “all/every”
- Daniel 6:16 Literally “pit of lions”
- Daniel 6:16 Literally “The king answered and saying”
- Daniel 6:16 Literally “in the loyalty”
- Daniel 6:17 Aramaic “one”
- Daniel 6:17 Or “nobles”
- Daniel 6:19 Literally “to hasten”
- Daniel 6:19 Literally “pit of lions”
- Daniel 6:20 Literally “as coming near him”
- Daniel 6:20 Literally “answered”
- Daniel 6:21 Aramaic “with”
- Daniel 6:21 Literally “unto endless ages”
- Daniel 6:22 Aramaic “would not”
- Daniel 6:22 Literally “all of because that”
- Daniel 6:22 Literally “it was found for me”
- Daniel 6:23 That is, the situation
- Daniel 6:24 Literally “they ate his pieces of Daniel”
- Daniel 6:24 Literally “pit of lions”
- Daniel 6:24 Literally “until that”
- Daniel 6:26 Literally “From before me is put forth a decree”
- Daniel 6:26 Literally “to eternity/endless ages”
- Daniel 6:26 Literally “and whose”
- Daniel 6:26 Literally “dominion his to the end”
- Daniel 6:27 Literally “hand”
Daniel 6
King James Version
6 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom;
2 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.
3 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.
4 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.
5 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.
6 Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever.
7 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.
8 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.
9 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.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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