Daniel 6:18–24

18 Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting.x No diversionsA were brought to him, and he could not sleep.y

DANIEL RELEASED

19 At the first light of dawn the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. 20 When he reached the den, he cried out in anguish to Daniel. “Daniel, servant of the living God,” the king said,B “has your God, whom you continually serve, been able to rescue youz from the lions?”

21 Then Daniel spoke with the king: “May the king live forever. 22 My God sent his angelaa and shut the lions’ mouths; and they haven’t harmed me, for I was found innocent before him. And also before you, Your Majesty, I have not done harm.”

23 The king was overjoyed and gave orders to take Daniel out of the den. When Daniel was brought up from the den, he was found to be unharmed, for he trusted in his God.ab 24 The king then gave the command, and those men who had maliciously accused DanielC,ac were brought and thrown into the lions’ den—they, their children, and their wives.ad They had not reached the bottom of the den before the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.