Daniel In The Lions Den
It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom a hundred and twenty officers
who ruled the whole kingdom, and over them three chief officials, of
whom Daniel was one, that these officers might report to them and that
the king should lose nothing. Daniel was better than the other chief
officials and the officers, for he had a fine spirit; and the king
intended to set him over the whole empire.
Then the chief of
Daniel of not having done his duty, but they could not find anything
against him, for he was faithful and was not guilty of any mistake or
wrong-doing.
Then these men said, "We shall not find any way to accuse this Daniel
unless we find it in connection with the law of his God." So these chief
officials and officers all went to the king, and said to him, "King
Darius, live forever. All the chief officials of the kingdom, the
counsellors and the officers, the judges and the governors, have
consulted together to have the king make a law and give a strong command
that whoever shall ask a petition of any god or man for thirty days,
except of you, O king, shall be thrown into a den of lions. Now, O king,
give the command and sign the law that, like the law of the Medes and
Persians, it may not be changed." So King Darius signed the law and the
command.
When Daniel knew that the law was signed, he went into his house. His
windows were open in his room toward Jerusalem, and he knelt upon his
knees three times a day and prayed, and gave thanks to his God as he had
done before. Then these men rushed in and found Daniel praying and
calling upon his God. So they went before the king and spoke to him
about the royal command: "Have you not signed a command, that every man
who shall ask a petition of any man or god within thirty days, except of
you, O king, shall be thrown into the den of lions?" The king answered,
"The rule is fixed according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which
cannot be changed." Then they went on to say to the king, "That Daniel,
who is one of the captives from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king,
nor to the command that you have signed, but prays three times a day."
When the king heard these words, he was greatly displeased, and set his
heart on saving Daniel, and he worked until the sun set to save him.
Then these men all went to the king and said to him, "Know, O king, that
it is a law of the Medes and Persians, that no command nor law which the
king gives may be changed."
So the king gave his command, and they brought Daniel and threw him into
the den of lions. But the king said to Daniel, "Your God, whom you
always serve, will save you." Then a stone was brought and laid at the
entrance to the den; and the king sealed it with his own seal-ring and
with those of his nobles, that no change might be made so as to rescue
Daniel. Then the king went to his palace and passed the night fasting.
At dawn, as soon as it was light, the king rose and hurried to the den
of lions. When he came near to the den where Daniel was, he cried with a
very sad voice, "O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom
you always serve, been able to save you from the lions?" Daniel said to
the king, "O king, live forever. My God has sent his angel and has
closed the lions' mouths, and they have not hurt me, for I was innocent
before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no wrong." Then the
king was very glad and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of
the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and it was found that he
was not injured, for he had trusted in his God.
Then the king commanded that those men who had accused Daniel should be
brought and thrown into the den of lions.
And King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and races in all his
kingdom, "May your peace be great! I make a law that throughout all my
kingdom, men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel; for he is the
living God, and is the same forever, and his kingdom is one that shall
not be destroyed; and his rule shall be without end. He saves and
rescues, and does wonderful things in heaven and earth; it is he who has
saved Daniel from the power of the lions." So Daniel was successful and
happy during the reign of Darius.
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