¹²So they went to the king. They spoke to him about his royal order. They said, “King Darius, didn’t you sign an official order? It said that for the next 30 days none of your people could pray to any god or man except to you. If they did, they would be thrown into the lions’ den.”

The king answered, “The order must still be obeyed. It’s one of the laws of the Medes and Persians. So it can’t be changed.”

¹³Then they spoke to the king again. They said, “Daniel is one of the prisoners from Judah. He doesn’t pay any attention to you, King Darius. He doesn’t obey the order you put in writing. He still prays to his God three times a day.”

¹⁴When the king heard that, he was very upset. He didn’t want Daniel to be harmed in any way. Until sunset, he did everything he could to save him.

¹⁵Then the men went as a group to the king. They said to him, “King Darius, remember that no order or law you make can be changed. That’s what the laws of the Medes and Persians require.”

¹⁶So the king gave the order. Daniel was brought out and thrown into the lions’ den. The king said to him, “You always serve your God faithfully. So may he save you!”

¹⁷A stone was brought and placed over the opening of the den. The king sealed it with his own special ring. He also sealed it with the rings of his nobles. Then nothing could be done to help Daniel.

Read in Logos

Daniel 6:16: Then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king declared to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!”