¹⁹ “Therefore, if it pleases the king,^(A) let him issue a royal decree and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media, which cannot be repealed,^(B) that Vashti is never again to enter the presence of King Xerxes. Also let the king give her royal position to someone else who is better than she.

⁸ Now write another decree^(A) in the king’s name in behalf of the Jews as seems best to you, and seal^(B) it with the king’s signet ring^(C)—for no document written in the king’s name and sealed with his ring can be revoked.”^(D)

²⁸ Samuel said to him, “The Lord has torn^(A) the kingdom^(B) of Israel from you today and has given it to one of your neighbors—to one better than you.^(C)

¹⁷ A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed^(A) it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel’s situation might not be changed.

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put it in writing so that it cannot be altered—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”^{(A) 9} So King Darius put the decree in writing.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^(B) Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees^(C) and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.^{(D) 11} Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help.^{(E) 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The king answered, “The decree stands—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”^(F)

¹³ Then they said to the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah,^(G) pays no attention^(H) 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;^(I) 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.”^(J)

⁵ “If it pleases the king,” she said, “and if he regards me with favor^(A) and thinks it the right thing to do, and if he is pleased with me, let an order be written overruling the dispatches that Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, devised and wrote to destroy the Jews in all the king’s provinces.

⁹ If it pleases the king, let a decree be issued to destroy them, and I will give ten thousand talents^[a] of silver to the king’s administrators for the royal treasury.”^(A)

²⁸ When all Israel heard the verdict the king had given, they held the king in awe, because they saw that he had wisdom^(A) from God to administer justice.

²¹ The king and his nobles were pleased with this advice, so the king did as Memukan proposed.