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.