Daniel is Thrown into a Lions’ Den

6:1 It seemed like a good idea to Darius1 to appoint over the kingdom 120 satraps2 who would be in charge of the entire kingdom. 6:2 Over them would be three supervisors, one of whom was Daniel. These satraps were accountable3 to them, so that the king’s interests might not incur damage. 6:3 Now this Daniel was distinguishing himself above the other supervisors and the satraps, for he had an extraordinary spirit. In fact, the king intended to appoint him over the entire kingdom. 6:4 Consequently the supervisors and satraps were trying to find4 some pretext against Daniel in connection with administrative matters.5 But they were unable to find any such damaging evidence,6 because he was trustworthy and guilty of no negligence or corruption.7 6:5 So these men concluded,8 “We won’t find any pretext against this man Daniel unless it is9 in connection with the law of his God.”

6:6 So these supervisors and satraps came by collusion10 to the king and said11 to him, “O King Darius, live forever! 6:7 To all the supervisors of the kingdom, the prefects, satraps, counselors, and governors it seemed like a good idea for a royal edict to be issued and an interdict to be enforced. For the next thirty days anyone who prays12 to any god or human other than you, O king, should be thrown into a den of lions. 6:8 Now let the king issue a written interdict13 so that it cannot be altered, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be changed.14 6:9 So King Darius issued the written interdict.

6:10 When Daniel realized15 that a written decree had been issued, he entered his home, where the windows16 in his upper room opened toward Jerusalem.17 Three18 times daily he was19 kneeling20 and offering prayers and thanks to his God just as he had been accustomed to do previously. 6:11 Then those officials who had gone to the king21 came by collusion and found Daniel praying and asking for help before his God. 6:12 So they approached the king and said to him,22 “Did you not issue an edict to the effect that for the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human other than to you, O king, would be thrown into a den of lions?” The king replied, “That is correct,23 according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be changed.” 6:13 Then they said to the king, “Daniel, who is one of the captives24 from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or to the edict that you issued. Three times daily he offers his prayer.”25

6:14 When the king heard this,26 he was very upset and began thinking about27 how he might rescue Daniel. Until late afternoon28 he was struggling to find a way to rescue him. 6:15 Then those men came by collusion to the king and29 said to him,30 “Recall,31 O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no edict or decree that the king issues can be changed.” 6:16 So the king gave the order,32 and Daniel was brought and thrown into a den33 of lions. The king consoled34 Daniel by saying, “Your God whom you continually serve will rescue you!” 6:17 Then a stone was brought and placed over the opening35 to the den. The king sealed36 it with his signet ring and with those37 of his nobles so that nothing could be changed with regard to Daniel. 6:18 Then the king departed to his palace. But he spent the night without eating, and no diversions38 were brought to him. He was unable to sleep.39