Daniel 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 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 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.
