Darius appoints Daniel as one of three administrators, and jealous officials trick the king into a law forbidding prayer to anyone but the king. Daniel keeps praying and is thrown into the lions' den, but God shuts the lions' mouths. Darius praises Daniel's God.
1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes , which should be over the whole kingdom ;
2 And over these three presidents ; of whom Daniel was first : that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage .
3 Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes , because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm .
4 Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom ; but they could find none occasion nor fault ; forasmuch as he was faithful , neither was there any error or fault found in him .
5 Then said these men , We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel , except we find it against him concerning the law of his God .
6 Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king , and said thus unto him , King Darius , live for ever .
7 All the presidents of the kingdom , the governors , and the princes , the counsellors , and the captains , have consulted together to establish a royal statute , and to make a firm decree , that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days , save of thee , O king , he shall be cast into the den of lions .
8 Now , O king , establish the decree , and sign the writing , that it be not changed , according to the law of the Medes and Persians , which altereth not .
9 Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree .
10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed , he went into his house ; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem , he kneeled upon his knees three times a day , and prayed , and gave thanks before his God , as he did aforetime .
11 Then these men assembled , and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God .
12 Then they came near , and spake before the king concerning the king's decree ; Hast thou not signed a decree , that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days , save of thee , O king , shall be cast into the den of lions ? The king answered and said , The thing is true , according to the law of the Medes and Persians , which altereth not .
13 Then answered they and said before the king , That Daniel , which is of the children of the captivity of Judah , regardeth not thee , O king , nor the decree that thou hast signed , but maketh his petition three times a day .
14 Then the king , when he heard these words , was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him.
15 Then these men assembled unto the king , and said unto the king , Know , O king , that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed .
16 Then the king commanded , and they brought Daniel , and cast him into the den of lions . Now the king spake and said unto Daniel , Thy God whom thou servest continually , he will deliver thee.
17 And a stone was brought , and laid upon the mouth of the den ; and the king sealed it with his own signet , and with the signet of his lords ; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel .
18 Then the king went to his palace , and passed the night fasting : neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him .
19 Then the king arose very early in the morning , and went in haste unto the den of lions .
20 And when he came to the den , he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel : and the king spake and said to Daniel , O Daniel , servant of the living God , is thy God , whom thou servest continually , able to deliver thee from the lions ?
21 Then said Daniel unto the king , O king , live for ever .
22 My God hath sent his angel , and hath shut the lions ' mouths , that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king , have I done no hurt .
23 Then was the king exceeding 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 manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God .
24 And the king commanded , and they brought those men which had accused Daniel , and they cast them into the den of lions , them , their children , and their wives ; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den .
25 Then king Darius wrote unto all people , nations , and languages , that dwell in all the earth ; Peace be multiplied unto you.
26 I make a decree , That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel : for he is the living God , and stedfast for ever , and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed , and his dominion shall be even unto the end .
27 He delivereth and rescueth , and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth , who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions .
28 So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius , and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian .