Daniel 6:16–23

¹⁶So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. ^hThe king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, ⁱrescue you!” ¹⁷A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den. ^jThe king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signet rings of his nobles, so that nothing in regard to Daniel could be changed. ¹⁸Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting. ^kNo diversions ^lwere brought to him, and he could not sleep. ^m

Daniel Released

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

²¹Then Daniel spoke with the king: “May the king live forever. ²²My God sent His angel ^pand shut the lions’ mouths. They haven’t hurt me, for I was found innocent before Him. Also, I have not committed a crime against you my king.”

²³The king was overjoyed and gave orders to take Daniel out of the den. So Daniel was taken out of the den, uninjured, for he trusted in his God. ^q