1Darius decided to appoint 120 governors throughout his entire kingdom.
2Above them, he appointed three administrators, and Daniel was one of them. The purpose was for the governors to report to these administrators so that the king would not suffer any losses.
3Daniel distinguished himself above the other administrators and governors because he had an outstanding spirit within him. The king even considered putting him in charge of the entire realm.
4Then the other administrators and governors tried to find a reason to accuse Daniel about his work for the kingdom, but they couldn't find any fault or wrong because he was faithful; they found no error or wrongdoing in him.
5These men then said, "We will never find any reason to accuse this Daniel unless we find something against him concerning the law of his God."
6Then these presidents and high officials went to the king and said to him, "King Darius, may you live forever!"
7"All the presidents of the kingdom, the officials, the governors, the advisors, and the administrators have agreed to propose a royal law, and to make a firm rule, that for the next thirty days, anyone who prays to any god or human, except to you, O king, will be thrown into the lions' den."
8"Now, O king, establish this decree and sign the written order so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be altered."
9So King Darius signed the written order and the decree.
10When Daniel learned that the order had been signed, he went to his house. His windows in his upstairs room were open toward Jerusalem. He knelt down on his knees three times a day, prayed, and gave thanks to his God, just as he had always done.
11Then these men gathered together and found Daniel praying and asking for help from his God.
12Then they approached the king and spoke to him about his decree: "Didn't you sign a decree that anyone who prays to any god or human within thirty days, except to you, O king, will be thrown into the lions' den?" The king answered, "That is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be changed."
13Then they answered the king, "Daniel, one of the exiles from Judah, does not respect you, O king, or the decree you signed. He prays three times a day."
14When the king heard these words, he was very upset and was determined to rescue Daniel. He worked until sunset to find a way to save him.
15Then these men gathered again before the king and said to him, "Remember, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no decree or law the king establishes can ever be changed."
16Then the king gave an order. They brought Daniel and threw him into the lions' den. The king said to Daniel, "Your God, whom you serve constantly, will rescue you."
17A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den. The king sealed it with his own ring and with the rings of his lords, so that nothing could be changed regarding Daniel.
18Then the king went back to his palace. He spent the night fasting, and no musical instruments were brought to him. He could not sleep.
19Then the king got up very early in the morning and rushed to the lions' den.
20When he came near the den, he cried out to Daniel in a distressed voice. The king asked Daniel, "Daniel, servant of the living God, is your God, whom you serve constantly, able to rescue you from the lions?"
21Then Daniel said to the king, "May you live forever, O King.
22My God sent his angel and shut the lions' mouths. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Also, I have done nothing wrong to you, O King."
23The king was extremely happy and ordered that Daniel be lifted out of the den. So Daniel was lifted out of the den, and no injury was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.
24The king gave an order, and they brought those men who had accused Daniel. They threw them, their children, and their wives into the lions' den. The lions immediately overpowered them and completely crushed all their bones before they even reached the bottom of the den.
25Then King Darius wrote to all the people, nations, and language groups throughout the whole earth: "May you have abundant peace.
26I am issuing a decree that in every part of my kingdom, people must tremble and show respect before the God of Daniel. For he is the living God, and he endures forever. His kingdom will never be destroyed, and his authority will last until the very end.
27He delivers and rescues, and he performs signs and wonders in heaven and on earth. He is the one who rescued Daniel from the power of the lions."
28So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and during the reign of Cyrus the Persian.