THE BOOK OF
DANIEL

Daniel 6 ©

Darius intends to advance Daniel above his hundred and twenty princes, v. 1, etc. Who, being possessed with envy at this, 5. Moves the king to make an idolatrous decree, that no man should in thirty days put up a petition to and save to the king alone upon pain of being cast into the den of lions, 8. Daniel transgressing this commandment is cast into the lion’s den, 11, 12, etc. But is wonderfully preserved and delivered by God, 22, 23, etc. His enemies being cast into the lions’ den are straightway devoured by the lions, 25. For which God is praised, 26.

1

IT1 pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, 2which should be over the whole kingdom;

2

And over these three 3presidents; of whom Daniel was 4first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage.

3

5Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and 6the king thought to set him over the whole realm.

4

7Then the presidents and princes sought to find 8occasion against Daniel 9concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor 10fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any 11error or fault found in him.

5

Then said these men, We shall not find 12any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him 13concerning the law of his God.

6

14Then these presidents and princes assembled 15together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever.

7

All the presidents of the kingdom, 16the 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 17a petition 18of 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, 19that it be not changed, 20accordinga to the law 21of the Medes and Persians, which altereth 22not.

9

23Wherefore 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 24chamber 25towardb Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees 26threec times a day, and prayed, and 27gave thanks before his God, 28as he did aforetime.

11

Then these men 29assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication 30before 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, 31The 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 32Daniel, 33which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, 34regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition 35three times a day.

14

Then the king, when he heard these words, 36was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he 37laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him.

15

38Then these men 39assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, 40Know, O king, that the 41law 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, 42Thy God whom thou servest continually, 43he will deliver thee.

17

And 44a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and 45the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; 46that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.

18

¶Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: 47neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and 48his sleep went from him.

19

Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went 49in 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 50spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant 51of the living God, 52is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?

21

Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, 53live for ever.

22

My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, 54that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him 55innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done 56no hurt.

23

Then was the king exceeding 57glad 58for him, and commanded that they should 59take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and 60no manner of hurt was found upon him, 61because he believed in his God.

24

¶And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had 62accused Daniel, and 63they cast them into the den of lions, them, their 64children, and their wives; and the lions 65had the mastery of them, and 66brake all their bones in pieces or ever 67they came at the bottom of the den.

25

¶Then king Darius wrote 68unto 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 69the God of Daniel: for he is 70the living God, and stedfast for ever, and 71hisd kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion 72shall be even unto the end.

27

He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath 73delivered Daniel from 74the power of the lions.

28

So this Daniel 75prospered in the reign of Darius, and 76in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.77