Dual Panel1It seemed<8232> good<8232> to Darius<1868> to appoint<6966> 120 <3969><6243> satraps<324> over<5922> the kingdom<4437>, that they would be in charge of the whole<3606> kingdom<4437>,
2and over<5924> them three<8532> commissioners<5632> (of whom<1768> Daniel<1841> was one<2298>), that these<459> satraps<324> might be accountable<2942> to them, and that the king<4430> might not suffer<5142> loss<5142>.
3Then<116> this<1836> Daniel<1841> began distinguishing<5330> himself among<5922> the commissioners<5632> and satraps<324> because<3606><6903><1768> he possessed an extraordinary<3493> spirit<7308>, and the king<4430> planned<6246> to appoint<6966> him over<5922> the entire<3606> kingdom<4437>.
4Then<116> the commissioners<5632> and satraps<324> began trying<1156> to find<7912> a ground<5931> of accusation<5931> against Daniel<1841> in regard<6655> to government<4437> affairs<4437>; but they could<3202> find<7912> no<3606><3809> ground<5931> of accusation<5931> or evidence of corruption<7844>, inasmuch<3606><6903><1768> as he was faithful<540>, and no<3606><3809> negligence<7960> or corruption<7844> was to be found<7912> in him.
5Then<116> these<479> men<1400> said<560>, "We will not find<7912> any<3606> ground<5931> of accusation<5931> against this<1836> Daniel<1841> unless<3861> we find<7912> it against<5922> him with regard to the law<1882> of his God<426>."
6Then<116> these<459> commissioners<5632> and satraps<324> came<7284> by agreement<7284> to the king<4430> and spoke<560> to him as follows<3652>: "King<4430> Darius<1868>, live<2418> forever<5957>!
7"All<3606> the commissioners<5632> of the kingdom<4437>, the prefects<5460> and the satraps<324>, the high<1907> officials<1907> and the governors<6347> have consulted<3272> together<3272> that the king<4430> should establish<6966> a statute<7010> and enforce<8631> an injunction<633> that anyone<3605> who<1768> makes<1156> a petition<1159> to any<3606> god<426> or man<606> besides<3861><4481> you, O king<4430>, for thirty<8533> days<3118>, shall be cast<7412> into the lions'<744> den<1358>.
8"Now<3705>, O king<4430>, establish<6966> the injunction<633> and sign<7560> the document<3792> so<1768> that it may not be changed<8133>, according to the law<1882> of the Medes<4076> and Persians<6540>, which<1768> may not be revoked<5709>."
9Therefore<3606><6903><1836> King<4430> Darius<1868> signed<7560> the document<3792>, that is, the injunction<633>.
10Now when<1768> Daniel<1841> knew<3046> that the document<3792> was signed<7560>, he entered<5954> his house<1005> (now in his roof<5952> chamber<5952> he had windows<3551> open<6606> toward<5049> Jerusalem<3390>); and he continued kneeling<1289> on his knees<1291> three<8532> times<2166> a day<3118>, praying<6739> and giving<3029> thanks<3029> before<6925> his God<426>, as he had been doing<5648> previously<6928>.
11Then<116> these<479> men<1400> came<7284> by agreement<7284> and found<7912> Daniel<1841> making<1156> petition<1156> and supplication<2604> before<6925> his God<426>.
12Then<116> they approached<7127> and spoke<560> before<6925> the king<4430> about<5922> the king's<4430> injunction<633>, "Did you not sign<7560> an injunction<633> that any<3606> man<606> who<1768> makes<1156> a petition<1156> to any<3606> god<426> or man<606> besides<3861><4481> you, O king<4430>, for thirty<8533> days<3118>, is to be cast<7412> into the lions'<744> den<1358>?" The king<4430> replied<6032>, "The statement<4406> is true<3330>, according to the law<1882> of the Medes<4076> and Persians<6540>, which<1768> may not be revoked<5709>."
13Then<116> they answered<6032> and spoke<560> before<6925> the king<4430>, "Daniel<1841>, who<1768> is one of the exiles<1123><1547> from Judah<3061>, pays<7761> no<3809> attention<7761> to you, O king<4430>, or to the injunction<633> which<1768> you signed<7560>, but keeps making<1156> his petition<1159> three<8532> times<2166> a day<3118>."
14Then<116>, as soon<1768> as the king<4430> heard<8086> this statement<4406>, he was deeply<7690> distressed<888> and set<7761> his mind<1079> on delivering<7804> Daniel<1841>; and even until<5705> sunset<4606><8122> he kept exerting<7712> himself to rescue<5338> him.
15Then<116> these<479> men<1400> came<7284> by agreement<7284> to the king<4430> and said<560> to the king<4430>, "Recognize<3046>, O king<4430>, that it is a law<1882> of the Medes<4076> and Persians<6540> that no<3606><3809> injunction<633> or statute<7010> which<1768> the king<4430> establishes<6966> may be changed<8133>."
16Then<116> the king<4430> gave<560> orders<560>, and Daniel<1841> was brought<858> in and cast<7412> into the lions'<744> den<1358>. The king<4430> spoke<6032> and said<560> to Daniel<1841>, "Your God<426> whom<1768> you constantly<8411> serve<6399> will Himself<1932> deliver<7804> you."
17A stone<69> was brought<858> and laid<7761> over<5922> the mouth<6433> of the den<1358>; and the king<4430> sealed<2857> it with his own signet<5824> ring<5824> and with the signet<5824> rings<5824> of his nobles<7261>, so<1768> that nothing<3809><6640> would be changed<8133> in regard to Daniel<1841>.
18Then<116> the king<4430> went<236> off<236> to his palace<1965> and spent<1006> the night<1006> fasting<2908>, and no<3809> entertainment<1761> was brought<5954> before<6925> him; and his sleep<8139> fled<5075> from him.
19Then<116> the king<4430> arose<6966> at dawn<8238>, at the break<5053> of day<5053>, and went<236> in haste<927> to the lions'<744> den<1358>.
20When he had come<7127> near<7127> the den<1358> to Daniel<1841>, he cried<2200> out with a troubled<6088> voice<7032>. The king<4430> spoke<6032> and said<560> to Daniel<1841>, "Daniel<1841>, servant<5649> of the living<2417> God<426>, has your God<426>, whom<1768> you constantly<8411> serve<6399>, been<3202> able<3202> to deliver<7804> you from the lions<744>?"
21Then<116> Daniel<1841> spoke<4449> to the king<4430>, "O king<4430>, live<2418> forever<5957>!
22"My God<426> sent<7972> His angel<4398> and shut<5463> the lions'<744> mouths<6433> and they have not harmed<2255> me, inasmuch<3606><6903><1768> as I was found<7912> innocent<2136> before<6925> Him; and also<638> toward<6925> you, O king<4430>, I have committed<5648> no<3809> crime<2248>."
23Then<116> the king<4430> was very<7690> pleased<2868> and gave<560> orders<560> for Daniel<1841> to be taken<5559> up out of the den<1358>. So Daniel<1841> was taken<5559> up out of the den<1358> and no<3606><3809> injury<2257> whatever<3606> was found<7912> on him, because<1768> he had trusted<540> in his God<426>.
24The king<4430> then gave<560> orders<560>, and they brought<858> those<479> men<1400> who<1768> had maliciously<399><7170> accused<399><7170> Daniel<1841>, and they cast<7412> them, their children<1123> and their wives<5389> into the lions'<744> den<1358>; and they had not reached<4291> the bottom<773> of the den<1358> before<5705><1768> the lions<744> overpowered<7981> them and crushed<1855> all<3606> their bones<1635>.
25Then<116> Darius<1868> the king<4430> wrote<3790> to all<3606> the peoples<5972>, nations<524> and men of every language<3961> who<1768> were living<1753> in all<3606> the land<772>: "May your peace<8001> abound<7680>!
26"I make<7761> a decree<2942> that in all<3606> the dominion<7985> of my kingdom<4437> men are to fear<1763> and tremble<2112> before<4481><6925> the God<426> of Daniel<1841>; For He is the living<2417> God<426> and enduring<7011> forever<5957>, And His kingdom<4437> is one which<1768> will not be destroyed<2255>, And His dominion<7985> will be forever<5491>.
27"He delivers<7804> and rescues<5338> and performs<5648> signs<852> and wonders<8540> In heaven<8065> and on earth<772>, Who<1768> has also delivered<7804> Daniel<1841> from the power<3028> of the lions<744>."
28So this<1836> Daniel<1841> enjoyed<6744> success<6744> in the reign<4437> of Darius<1868> and in the reign<4437> of Cyrus<3567> the Persian<6543>.