Daniel 6:10–28

Daniel in the Lions’ Den

¹⁰Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open ^ftoward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees ^gthree times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.

¹¹Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. ^12hAnd they went before the king, and spoke concerning the king’s decree: “Have you not signed a decree that every man who petitions any god or man within thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?”

The king answered and said, “The thing is true, ⁱaccording to the law of the Medes and Persians, which ²does not alter.”

¹³So they answered and said before the king, “That Daniel, ^jwho is ³one of the captives from Judah, ^kdoes not show due regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.”

¹⁴And the king, when he heard these words, ^lwas greatly displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he ⁴labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him. ¹⁵Then these men ⁵approached the king, and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is ^mthe law of the Medes and Persians that no decree or statute which the king establishes may be changed.”

¹⁶So the king gave the command, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions. But the king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you.” ¹⁷ⁿThen a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, ^oand the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signets of his lords, that the purpose concerning Daniel might not be changed.

Daniel Saved from the Lions

¹⁸Now the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; and no ⁶musicians were brought before him. ^pAlso his sleep ⁷went from him. ¹⁹Then the ^qking arose very early in the morning and went in haste to the den of lions. ²⁰And when he came to the den, he cried out with a ⁸lamenting voice to Daniel. The king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, ^rhas your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?”

²¹Then Daniel said to the king, ^s“O king, live forever! ^22tMy God sent His angel and ^ushut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you.”

²³Now the king was exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no injury whatever was found on him, ^vbecause he believed in his God.

Darius Honors God

²⁴And the king gave the command, ^wand they brought those men who had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions—them, ^xtheir children, and their wives; and the lions overpowered them, and broke all their bones in pieces before they ever came to the bottom of the den.

^25yThen King Darius wrote:

To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth:

Peace be multiplied to you.

^26zI make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must ^atremble and fear before the God of Daniel.

^bFor He is the living God,

And steadfast forever;

His kingdom is the one which shall not be ^cdestroyed,

And His dominion shall endure to the end.

²⁷He delivers and rescues,

^dAnd He works signs and wonders

In heaven and on earth,

Who has delivered Daniel from the ⁹power of the lions.

²⁸So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius ^eand in the reign of ^fCyrus the Persian.