الإصحَاحُ
السَّادِسُ
Chapter
6
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.
