10 Now ⌊when⌋t Daniel realized that the document was signed, he went to his house (⌊now he had windows in his upper room that were open⌋u toward Jerusalem), and three times ⌊daily⌋v he knelt on his knees and prayed and gave praise before his God, ⌊just as⌋w he had been doing ⌊previously⌋.x 11 Then these men came as a group and they found Daniel praying and pleading for mercy before his God. 12 Then they approached ⌊and spoke with the king⌋y concerning the edict of the king, “⌊Did you not sign an edict⌋z that any person who would seek anything from any God or human within thirty days except from you, O king, would be thrown into ⌊the lion pit⌋?”a The king answered and said, “The matter as you have just stated is certain according to the law of the Medes and Persians which cannot be revoked.”

God’s Miraculous Deliverance of Daniel Again

13 Then ⌊they responded⌋b and said before the king, “Daniel, who is from ⌊the exiles⌋c of Judah,d ⌊is not paying any attention⌋e to you, O king, or to the decree that you have signed, ⌊and three times daily⌋f he says his prayer.” 14 Then the king, wheng he heard that ⌊report⌋,h he was extremely distressed over it; and ⌊concerning Daniel⌋i ⌊he was determined⌋j to rescue him. And until the setting of the sun he was making every effort to deliver him. 15 Then these men came as a group to the king and ⌊said⌋,k “Recall, O king, that with respect to the law ofl the Medes and Persians that ⌊any⌋m decree or edict that the king establishes cannot be changed.”

16 Then the king gave the command, and Daniel was brought in and they threw him into ⌊the lion pit⌋.n ⌊The king said⌋o to Daniel, “Your God, whom you serve ⌊faithfully⌋,p may he rescue you!” 17 And aq stone was brought and it was put on the entrance of the pit, and the king sealed it with his signet ring and with the signet rings of his lords,r so that nothing would be changed concerning Daniel. 18 Then the king went to his palace and spent the night in fasting, and no food was brought in before him and his sleep fled from him.

19 Then the king got up at daybreak, at first light, and he went ⌊in haste⌋s to ⌊the lion pit⌋.t 20 And ⌊when he came near⌋u to the pit, he cried out to Daniel with a distressed voice, and the king ⌊spoke⌋v and said to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, your God whom you serve faithfully, was he able to rescue you from the lions?” 21 Then Daniel spoke tow the king, “O king, live ⌊forever⌋!x 22 My God sent his angel and he shut the mouth of the lions and they did noty hurt me, ⌊because⌋z before him ⌊I was found⌋a blameless, and also before you, O king, I have not done any wrong.”

23 Then the king was exceedingly glad over itb and commanded that Daniel be lifted up from the pit; and there was not any wound found on him, because he had trusted in his God.