THE PLOT AGAINST DANIEL

6 Darius decidedL to appoint 120 satraps over the kingdom, stationed throughout the realm, 2 and over them three administrators, including Daniel.w These satraps would be accountable to them so that the king would not be defrauded.a 3 DanielA distinguished himself above the administrators and satraps because he had an extraordinary spirit,b so the king planned to set him over the whole realm.c 4 The administrators and satraps, therefore, kept trying to find a charge against Danield regarding the kingdom. But they could find no charge or corruption,e for he was trustworthy, and no negligence or corruption was found in him. 5 Then these men said, “We will never find any charge against this Daniel unless we find something against him concerning the law of his God.”f

6 So the administrators and satraps went together to the king and said to him, “May King Darius live forever.g 7 All the administrators of the kingdomh—the prefects, satraps, advisers, and governors—have agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an edict that, for thirty days, anyone who petitions any god or man except you, the king, will be thrown into the lions’ den.i 8 Therefore, Your Majesty, establish the edictj and sign the document so that, as a law of the Medes and Persians, it is irrevocable and cannot be changed.”k 9 So King Darius signed the written edict.l

DANIEL IN THE LIONS’ DEN

10 When Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went into his house. The windows in its upstairs room opened toward Jerusalem,m and three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God,n just as he had done before. 11 Then these men went as a group and foundo Daniel petitioning and imploring his God. 12 So they approached the kingp and asked about his edict: “Didn’t you sign an edict that for thirty days any person who petitions any god or man except you, the king, will be thrown into the lions’ den?”

The king answered, “As a law of the Medes and Persians, the order standsB and is irrevocable.”q

13 Then they replied to the king, “Daniel, one of the Judean exiles, has ignored you,r the king, and the edict you signed, for he prays three times a day.” 14 As soon as the king heard this, he was very displeased; he set his mind on rescuing Daniels and made every effort until sundown to deliver him.

15 Then these men went together to the king and said to him, “You know, Your Majesty, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no edict or ordinance the king establishes can be changed.”t

16 So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den.u The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you continually serve,v rescue you!”