Daniel 6 :: Legacy Standard Bible (LSB)

Darius’ Officials Seek to Accuse Daniel

[fn]It seemed^H8232 good^H8232 to Darius^H1868 that he set^H6966 120^H3969^H6243 satraps^H324 over^H5922 the kingdom^H4437, that they would be in charge of the whole^H3606 kingdom^H4437,

Dan 6:2

Dan 6:2and over them three commissioners (of whom Daniel was one), that these satraps might be accountable to them, and that the king might not suffer loss.

Dan 6:3

Dan 6:3Then this Daniel began distinguishing himself [fn]among the commissioners and satraps because an extraordinary spirit was in him, and the king planned to set him over the entire kingdom.

Dan 6:4

Dan 6:4Then the commissioners and satraps began seeking to find a ground of accusation against Daniel in regard to matters of the kingdom; but they were not able to find any ground of accusation or evidence of corruption, inasmuch as he was faithful, and no negligence or corruption was to be found in him.

Dan 6:5

Dan 6:5Then these men said, “We will not find any ground of accusation against this Daniel unless we find it against him with regard to the law of his God.”

Dan 6:6

Then^H116 these^H459 commissioners^H5632 and satraps^H324 came^H7284 [fn]by^H7284 agreement^H7284 to the king^H4430 and said^H560 thus^H3652 to him: “King^H4430 Darius^H1868, live^H2418 forever^H5957!

Dan 6:7

Dan 6:7“All the commissioners of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the high officials and the governors have counseled together that the king should establish a statute and enforce an injunction that anyone who seeks to make a petition [fn]to any god or man besides you, O king, for thirty days, shall be cast into the lions’ [fn]den.

Dan 6:8

Dan 6:8“Now, O king, establish the injunction and [fn]sign the written document so that it may not be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which [fn]may not be revoked.”

Dan 6:9

Dan 6:9Therefore King Darius signed the written document, that is, the injunction.

Dan 6:10

Now when^H1768 Daniel^H1841 knew^H3046 that the written^H3792 document was signed^H7560, he entered^H5954 his house^H1005 (now in^H5954 his roof^H5952 chamber^H5952 he had windows^H3551 open^H6606 toward^H5049 Jerusalem^H3390); and he continued kneeling^H1289 on his knees^H1291 three^H8532 times^H2166 a day^H3118, praying^H6739 and giving^H3029 thanks^H3029 before^H6925 his God^H426, [fn]as he had been doing^H5648 previously^H6928.

Dan 6:11

Dan 6:11Then these men came [fn]by agreement and found Daniel seeking to make a petition and making supplication before his God.

Dan 6:12

Dan 6:12Then they came near and said before the king concerning the king’s injunction, “Did you not sign an injunction that any man who seeks to make a petition [fn]to any god or man besides you, O king, for thirty days, is to be cast into the lions’ den?” The king answered and said, “The word is certain, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which [fn]may not be revoked.”

Dan 6:13

Dan 6:13Then they answered and said before the king, “Daniel, who is one of the [fn]exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or to the injunction which you signed, but keeps seeking to make his petition three times a day.”

Dan 6:14

Then^H116, as soon^H1768 as the king^H4430 heard^H8086 this word^H4406, he was greatly^H7690 distressed^H888 within^H5922 himself and set^H7761 his mind^H1079 on saving^H7804 Daniel^H1841; and even until^H5705 sunset^H4606^H8122 he kept exerting^H7712 himself to deliver^H5338 him.

Dan 6:15

Dan 6:15Then these men came [fn]by agreement to the king and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no injunction or statute which the king establishes may be changed.”

Daniel in the Lions’ Den

Dan 6:16

Then^H116 the king^H4430 said^H560 the word, and Daniel^H1841 was brought^H858 in and cast^H7412 into the lions’^H744 den^H1358. The king^H4430 answered^H6032 and said^H560 to Daniel^H1841, “[fn]Your God^H426 whom^H1768 you constantly^H8411 serve^H6399 will Himself^H1932 save^H7804 you.”

Dan 6:17

Dan 6:17And a stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signet rings of his nobles so that nothing would be changed in regard to Daniel.

Dan 6:18

Dan 6:18Then the king went off to his palace and spent the night fasting, and no entertainment was brought before him; and his sleep fled from him.

Dan 6:19

Then^H116 the king^H4430 arose^H6966 at dawn^H8238, at the break^H5053 of^H5053 day^H5053, and hurriedly^H927 went^H236 to the lions’^H744 den^H1358.

Dan 6:20

Dan 6:20When he had come near the den to Daniel, he cried out with a troubled voice. The king answered and said to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you constantly serve, been able to save you from the lions?”

Dan 6:21

Dan 6:21Then Daniel spoke [fn]to the king, “O king, live forever!

Dan 6:22

Dan 6:22“My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not harmed me, inasmuch as [fn]I was found innocent before Him; and also [fn]toward you, O king, I have done no harm.”

Dan 6:23

Dan 6:23Then the king was greatly pleased and said for Daniel to be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no harm whatsoever was found on him because he had believed in his God.

Dan 6:24

Dan 6:24The king then said the word, and they brought those men who had [fn]brought charges against Daniel, and they cast them, their children, and their wives into the lions’ den; and they had not reached the bottom of the den before the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.

Dan 6:25

Then^H116 Darius^H1868 the king^H4430 wrote^H3790 to all^H3606 the peoples^H5972, nations^H524, and men of every tongue^H3961 who^H1768 were inhabiting^H1753 all^H3606 the land^H772: “May your [fn]peace^H8001 abound^H7680!

Dan 6:26

Dan 6:26“[fn]I make a decree that in all the [fn]dominion of my kingdom, men are to fear and be in dread before the God of Daniel;

For He is the living^H2417 God^H426 and enduring^H7011 forever^H5957,

And His kingdom^H4437 is one which^H1768 will not be destroyed^H2255,

And His [fn]dominion^H7985 will be unto the end^H5491.

Dan 6:27

“He saves^H7804 and delivers^H5338 and does^H5648 signs^H852 and wonders^H8540

In heaven^H8065 and on earth^H772,

Who^H1768 has also saved^H7804 Daniel^H1841 from the [fn]power^H3028 of the lions^H744.”

Dan 6:28

So this^H1836 Daniel^H1841 enjoyed^H6744 success^H6744 in the kingdom^H4437 of Darius^H1868 and in the kingdom^H4437 of Cyrus^H3567 the Persian^H6543.