12 Then they approached and aspoke before the king about the king’s injunction, “Did you not sign an injunction that any man who makes a petition to any god or man besides you, O king, for thirty days, is to be cast into the lions’ den?” The king replied, “The statement is true, according to the blaw of the Medes and Persians, which 1may not be revoked.”

13 Then they answered and spoke before the king, “aDaniel, who is one of the 1exiles from Judah, pays bno attention to you, O king, or to the injunction which you signed, but keeps making his petition three times a day.”

14 Then, as soon as the king heard this statement, he was deeply adistressed and set his mind on delivering Daniel; and even until sunset he kept exerting himself to rescue him.

15 Then these men came 1by agreement to the king and said to the king, “Recognize, O king, that it is a alaw of the Medes and Persians that no injunction or statute which the king establishes may be changed.”

Daniel in the Lions’ Den

16 Then the king gave orders, and Daniel was brought in and acast into the lions’ den. The king spoke and said to Daniel, “1bYour God whom you constantly serve will Himself deliver you.”

17 A astone was brought and laid over the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signet rings of his nobles, so that nothing would be changed in regard to Daniel.