Darius appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom, with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel. Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel. They went to the king and said that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or human being during the next thirty days, except to the king shall be thrown into the lions’ den. So King Darius put the decree in writing.
Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. Then these men found Daniel praying and asking God for help. So they went to the king and said, “Daniel pays no attention to you. He still prays three times a day.” When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him.
Then the men went to King Darius and said to him, “Remember, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed.”
So Daniel was threw him into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!”
Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and could not sleep. At dawn, the king hurried to the lions’ den and called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?”
Daniel answered, “May the king live forever! 22 My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.”
23 The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.
24 At the king’s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions’ den, along with their wives and children. And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.
25 Then King Darius wrote to all the nations and peoples of every language in all the earth:
“May you prosper greatly!
26 “I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. “For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end.
27 He rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth.He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.”
28 So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.”(Daniel 6:1- 28)
