Daniel 6:1–9

1  It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom a hundred and twenty satraps, who should be in all the kingdom; 2  and over these, three presidents—of whom Daniel was one—to whom these satraps should render account, and that the king should suffer no loss. 3  Now this Daniel surpassed the presidents and the satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to appoint him over the whole realm. 4  Then the presidents and the satraps sought to find a pretext against Daniel with respect to the kingdom; but they could not find any pretext or fault; inasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. 5  Then said these men, We shall not find any pretext against this Daniel, unless we find it against him touching the law of his God.

6  Then these presidents and satraps came in a body to the king, and said thus unto him: King Darius, live for ever! 7  All the presidents of the kingdom, the prefects, and the satraps, the counsellors, and the governors have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any god or man for thirty days, except of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. 8  Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which may not be revoked. 9  Therefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.