¹⁴ and were closest to the king—Karshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena and Memukan, the seven nobles^(A) of Persia and Media who had special access to the king and were highest in the kingdom.

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?”^(A)

⁴⁷ The king said to Daniel, “Surely your God is the God of gods^(A) and the Lord of kings^(B) and a revealer of mysteries,^(C) for you were able to reveal this mystery.^(D)”

²⁰ Consult God’s instruction^(A) and the testimony of warning.^(B) If anyone does not speak according to this word, they have no light^(C) of dawn.

²⁵ and I weighed out^(A) to them the offering of silver and gold and the articles that the king, his advisers, his officials and all Israel present there had donated for the house of our God.

²⁸ and who has extended his good favor^(A) to me before the king and his advisers and all the king’s powerful officials. Because the hand of the Lord my God was on me,^(B) I took courage and gathered leaders from Israel to go up with me.