Bible, King James Version
Daniel
Dan.6
[1] 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 counsellers, 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 exceeding 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.
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