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Daniel 1-2
Legacy Standard Bible

Daniel Brought to Babylon

1 In the third year of the reign of (A)Jehoiakim king of Judah, (B)Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 And the (C)Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the (D)vessels of the house of God; and he brought them to the land of (E)Shinar, to the house of his [a]god, and he brought the vessels into the treasury of his [b](F)god.

3 Then the king said for Ashpenaz, the chief of his [c]officials, to bring in some of the sons of Israel, including some of the royal (G)seed and of the nobles, 4 youths in whom was (H)no defect, who were good in appearance, showing (I)insight in every branch of wisdom, being thoroughly [d]knowledgeable and discerning knowledge, and who had ability to stand in the king’s palace; and he said for him to teach them the [e]literature and (J)tongue of the (K)Chaldeans. 5 And the king appointed for them a daily ration from the (L)king’s choice food and from the wine which he drank, and appointed that they should be [f]educated three years, at the end of which they were to (M)stand before the king. 6 Now among them from the sons of Judah were (N)Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. 7 Then the commander of the officials set names for them; and for Daniel he set the name (O)Belteshazzar, for Hananiah (P)Shadrach, for Mishael (Q)Meshach, and for Azariah (R)Abed-nego.

Daniel’s Heart

8 But Daniel set in his heart that he would not (S)defile himself with the (T)king’s choice food or with the (U)wine which he drank; so he sought permission from the commander of the officials that he might not defile himself. 9 Now God granted Daniel (V)lovingkindness and compassion before the commander of the officials, 10 and the commander of the officials said to Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has appointed your food and your drink; for why should he see your faces looking more haggard than the youths who are your own age? Then you would [g]make me forfeit my head to the king.” 11 But Daniel said to the overseer whom the commander of the officials had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 “Please test your servants for ten days, and let us be (W)given some vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then let our appearance be [h]observed before you and the appearance of the youths who are eating the king’s choice food; and deal with your servants according to what you see.”

14 So he listened to them in this matter and tested them for ten days. 15 At the end of ten days it was seen that their appearance was (X)better and that [i]they were fatter than all the youths who had been eating the king’s choice food. 16 So the overseer continued to [j]withhold their choice food and the wine they were to drink, and kept (Y)giving them vegetables.

17 And as for these four youths, (Z)God gave them knowledge and insight in every branch of [k]literature and wisdom; Daniel even understood all kinds of (AA)visions and dreams.

18 Then at the end of the days which the king had spoken of for bringing them in, the commander of the officials brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. 19 And the king talked with them, and out of them all not one was found like (AB)Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; so they (AC)stood in service before the king. 20 And as for every matter of (AD)wisdom in understanding which the king sought from them, he found them (AE)ten times (AF)better than all the [l](AG)magicians and conjurers who were in all his kingdom. 21 And Daniel [m]continued until the (AH)first year of Cyrus the king.

Nebuchadnezzar’s Troubling Dream

2 Now in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar [n](AI)had dreams; and his spirit was troubled, and his (AJ)sleep [o]left him. 2 Then the king said to call in the [p](AK)magicians, the conjurers, the sorcerers, and the [q]Chaldeans to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king. 3 Then the king said to them, “I [r](AL)had a dream, and my spirit is troubled to know the dream.”

4 Then the Chaldeans spoke to the king in [s](AM)Aramaic: “(AN)O king, live forever! (AO)Say the dream to your servants, and we will declare the interpretation.” 5 The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, “The word from me is firm: if you do not make known to me the dream and its interpretation, you will be [t](AP)torn limb from limb, and your houses will be made a rubbish heap. 6 But if you declare the dream and its interpretation, you will receive from me (AQ)gifts and a reward and great glory; therefore declare to me the dream and its interpretation.” 7 They answered a second time and said, “Let the king (AR)say the dream to his servants, and we will declare the interpretation.” 8 The king answered and said, “I know for certain that you are buying time, inasmuch as you have seen that the word from me is firm, 9 that if you do not make the dream known to me, there is only (AS)one law for you. Indeed, you have agreed together to speak lying and corrupt [u]words before me until the time is changed; therefore say the dream to me, that I may (AT)know that you can declare to me its interpretation.” 10 The Chaldeans answered [v]the king and said, “There is not a man on earth who is able to declare the matter [w]for the king, inasmuch as no great king or powerful ruler has ever asked about a matter like this of any [x](AU)magician, conjurer, or Chaldean. 11 Moreover, the matter which the king asks is [y]difficult, and there is no one else who could declare it [z]to the king except (AV)gods, whose (AW)dwelling place is not with flesh.”

12 Because of this the king became (AX)indignant and very furious and said for them to destroy all the wise men of Babylon. 13 So the law went forth that the wise men were to be killed; and they sought out (AY)Daniel and his friends to [aa]kill them.

14 Then Daniel replied with discretion and discernment to (AZ)Arioch, the captain of the king’s [ab]bodyguard, who had gone forth to kill the wise men of Babylon; 15 he answered and said to Arioch, a powerful [ac]official for the king, “For what reason is the law from the king so [ad]urgent?” Then Arioch made the matter known to Daniel. 16 So Daniel went in and sought from the king that he would [ae]give him time, in order that he might declare the interpretation to the king.

God Reveals Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream

17 Then Daniel went to his house and made the matter known to his friends, to (BA)Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 18 so that they might (BB)seek compassion from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his friends would not be (BC)destroyed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. 19 Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a night (BD)vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven; 20 Daniel answered and said,

“Let the name of God be (BE)blessed forever and ever,
For (BF)wisdom and might belong to Him.
21 And He (BG)changes the times and the seasons;
He (BH)removes kings and [af]establishes kings;
He gives (BI)wisdom to wise men
And knowledge to [ag]men of understanding.
22 He (BJ)reveals the deep and hidden things;
(BK)He knows what is in the darkness,
And the (BL)light dwells with Him.
23 To You, O (BM)God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise,
For You have given me (BN)wisdom and might;
Even now You have made known to me what we (BO)sought from You,
For You have made known to us the king’s matter.”

24 Therefore, Daniel went in to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon; he went and said thus to him: “(BP)Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon! Bring me before the king, and I will declare the interpretation to the king.”

25 Then Arioch hurriedly (BQ)brought Daniel before the king and said thus to him: “I have found a man among the [ah](BR)exiles from Judah who can make the interpretation known to the king!” 26 The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was (BS)Belteshazzar, “Are you able to make known to me the dream which I have seen and its interpretation?” 27 Daniel answered before the king and said, “As for the mystery about which the king is asking, neither (BT)wise men, conjurers, [ai]magicians, nor diviners are able to declare it to the king. 28 However, there is a (BU)God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will take place in the [aj](BV)last days. This was your dream and the (BW)visions of your head while on your bed. 29 As for you, O king, while on your bed your thoughts [ak]turned to what would happen [al]in the future; and (BX)He who reveals mysteries has made known to you what will happen. 30 But as for me, this mystery has not been revealed to me by any (BY)wisdom which is in me more than in any other living man, but for the purpose of making the interpretation known to the king, and that you may know the (BZ)thoughts of your heart.

Daniel Interprets the Dream

31 “You, O king, were looking, and behold, there was a single great [am]image; that image, which was large and [an]of extraordinary splendor, was rising up in front of you, and its appearance was [ao](CA)awesome. 32 The (CB)head of that image was made of fine gold, its breast and its arms of silver, its belly and its thighs of bronze, 33 its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. 34 You [ap]continued looking until a (CC)stone was cut out (CD)without hands, and it struck the image on its feet of iron and clay and (CE)crushed them. 35 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed [aq]all at the same time and became (CF)like chaff from the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away so that (CG)not a trace of them was found. But the stone that struck the image became a great (CH)mountain and filled the whole earth.

36 “This was the dream; now we will say (CI)its interpretation before the king. 37 You, O king, are the (CJ)king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the [ar]kingdom, the (CK)power, the strength, and the glory; 38 and wherever the sons of men inhabit, or the (CL)beasts of the field, or the birds of the sky, He has given them into your hand and has made you rule with power over them all. You are the head of gold. 39 But after you there will arise another kingdom inferior to you, then another third kingdom of bronze, which will rule with power over all the earth. 40 Then there will be a (CM)fourth kingdom as strong as iron; inasmuch as iron crushes and shatters all things, so, like iron that breaks in pieces, it will crush and break all these in pieces. 41 Now in that you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron; it will be a divided kingdom; but it will have in it the toughness of iron, inasmuch as you saw the iron mixed with [as]common clay. 42 And as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, so some of the kingdom will be strong and part of it will be brittle. 43 And in that you saw the iron mixed with [at]common clay; they will combine with one another [au]in the seed of men; but they will not cling to one another, even as iron does not combine with clay. 44 And in the days of those kings the (CN)God of heaven will (CO)cause a (CP)kingdom to rise up which will never be destroyed, and that kingdom will not be [av]left for another people; it will (CQ)crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself stand forever. 45 Inasmuch as you saw that a (CR)stone was cut out of the mountain without hands and that it crushed the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold, the (CS)great God has made known to the king what (CT)will happen [aw]in the future; so the dream is certain, and its interpretation is trustworthy.”

Daniel and Friends Promoted

46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face and did (CU)homage to Daniel and said for them to present to him an offering and [ax](CV)fragrant incense. 47 The king answered Daniel and said, “Truly (CW)your God is a (CX)God of gods and a Lord of kings and a (CY)revealer of mysteries since you have been able to reveal this mystery.” 48 Then the king [ay](CZ)promoted Daniel and gave him many great gifts, and he made him rule with power over the whole (DA)province of Babylon and chief [az]prefect over all the wise men of Babylon. 49 And Daniel sought of the king, and he (DB)appointed (DC)Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego over the administration of the province of Babylon, while Daniel was at the king’s [ba](DD)court.

Footnotes

  1. Daniel 1:2 Or gods
  2. Daniel 1:2 Or gods
  3. Daniel 1:3 Or eunuchs, so in ch
  4. Daniel 1:4 Lit knowing knowledge
  5. Daniel 1:4 Or writing
  6. Daniel 1:5 Or reared
  7. Daniel 1:10 Lit make my head guilty
  8. Daniel 1:13 Lit seen
  9. Daniel 1:15 Lit fat of flesh
  10. Daniel 1:16 Lit take away
  11. Daniel 1:17 Or writing
  12. Daniel 1:20 Or soothsayer priests
  13. Daniel 1:21 Lit was
  14. Daniel 2:1 Lit dreamed dreams
  15. Daniel 2:1 Lit was gone upon him
  16. Daniel 2:2 Or soothsayer priests
  17. Daniel 2:2 Or master astrologers, so in ch
  18. Daniel 2:3 Lit dreamed
  19. Daniel 2:4 The text is in Aramaic from here through 7:28
  20. Daniel 2:5 Lit made into limbs
  21. Daniel 2:9 Lit word
  22. Daniel 2:10 Lit before the
  23. Daniel 2:10 Lit of
  24. Daniel 2:10 Or soothsayer priest
  25. Daniel 2:11 Or rare
  26. Daniel 2:11 Lit before
  27. Daniel 2:13 Lit be killed
  28. Daniel 2:14 Or executioners
  29. Daniel 2:15 Or ruler
  30. Daniel 2:15 Or harsh
  31. Daniel 2:16 Or appoint a time for him
  32. Daniel 2:21 Or sets up
  33. Daniel 2:21 Lit knowers
  34. Daniel 2:25 Lit sons of the exile of
  35. Daniel 2:27 Or soothsayer priests
  36. Daniel 2:28 Lit end of the days
  37. Daniel 2:29 Lit came up
  38. Daniel 2:29 Lit after this
  39. Daniel 2:31 Or statue, so in ch
  40. Daniel 2:31 Lit its splendor was surpassing
  41. Daniel 2:31 Or fearsome
  42. Daniel 2:34 Lit were
  43. Daniel 2:35 Lit like one
  44. Daniel 2:37 Or sovereignty
  45. Daniel 2:41 Lit clay of mud
  46. Daniel 2:43 Lit clay of mud
  47. Daniel 2:43 Or with
  48. Daniel 2:44 Or passed on to
  49. Daniel 2:45 Lit after this
  50. Daniel 2:46 Lit sweet odors
  51. Daniel 2:48 Lit made great
  52. Daniel 2:48 Lit of the prefects
  53. Daniel 2:49 Lit gate
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Daniel 1-2
New International Version

Daniel’s Training in Babylon

1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim(A) king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar(B) king of Babylon(C) came to Jerusalem and besieged it.(D) 2 And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried(E) off to the temple of his god in Babylonia[a] and put in the treasure house of his god.(F)

3 Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring into the king’s service some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility(G)— 4 young men without any physical defect, handsome,(H) showing aptitude for every kind of learning,(I) well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language(J) and literature of the Babylonians.[b] 5 The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine(K) from the king’s table.(L) They were to be trained for three years,(M) and after that they were to enter the king’s service.(N)

6 Among those who were chosen were some from Judah: Daniel,(O) Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.(P) 7 The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar;(Q) to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.(R)

8 But Daniel resolved not to defile(S) himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. 9 Now God had caused the official to show favor(T) and compassion(U) to Daniel, 10 but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your[c] food and drink.(V) Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.”

11 Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, 12 “Please test(W) your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.”(X) 14 So he agreed to this and tested(Y) them for ten days.

15 At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food.(Z) 16 So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.(AA)

17 To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding(AB) of all kinds of literature and learning.(AC) And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.(AD)

18 At the end of the time(AE) set by the king to bring them into his service, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. 19 The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service.(AF) 20 In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians(AG) and enchanters in his whole kingdom.(AH)

21 And Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus.(AI)

Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream

2 In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams;(AJ) his mind was troubled(AK) and he could not sleep.(AL) 2 So the king summoned the magicians,(AM) enchanters, sorcerers(AN) and astrologers[d](AO) to tell him what he had dreamed.(AP) When they came in and stood before the king, 3 he said to them, “I have had a dream that troubles(AQ) me and I want to know what it means.[e]”

4 Then the astrologers answered the king,[f](AR) “May the king live forever!(AS) Tell your servants the dream, and we will interpret it.”

5 The king replied to the astrologers, “This is what I have firmly decided:(AT) If you do not tell me what my dream was and interpret it, I will have you cut into pieces(AU) and your houses turned into piles of rubble.(AV) 6 But if you tell me the dream and explain it, you will receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor.(AW) So tell me the dream and interpret it for me.”

7 Once more they replied, “Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will interpret it.”

8 Then the king answered, “I am certain that you are trying to gain time, because you realize that this is what I have firmly decided: 9 If you do not tell me the dream, there is only one penalty(AX) for you. You have conspired to tell me misleading and wicked things, hoping the situation will change. So then, tell me the dream, and I will know that you can interpret it for me.”(AY)

10 The astrologers(AZ) answered the king, “There is no one on earth who can do what the king asks! No king, however great and mighty, has ever asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or astrologer.(BA) 11 What the king asks is too difficult. No one can reveal it to the king except the gods,(BB) and they do not live among humans.”

12 This made the king so angry and furious(BC) that he ordered the execution(BD) of all the wise men of Babylon. 13 So the decree was issued to put the wise men to death, and men were sent to look for Daniel and his friends to put them to death.(BE)

14 When Arioch, the commander of the king’s guard, had gone out to put to death the wise men of Babylon, Daniel spoke to him with wisdom and tact. 15 He asked the king’s officer, “Why did the king issue such a harsh decree?” Arioch then explained the matter to Daniel. 16 At this, Daniel went in to the king and asked for time, so that he might interpret the dream for him.

17 Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.(BF) 18 He urged them to plead for mercy(BG) from the God of heaven(BH) concerning this mystery,(BI) so that he and his friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. 19 During the night the mystery(BJ) was revealed to Daniel in a vision.(BK) Then Daniel praised the God of heaven(BL) 20 and said:

“Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever;(BM)
    wisdom and power(BN) are his.
21 He changes times and seasons;(BO)
    he deposes(BP) kings and raises up others.(BQ)
He gives wisdom(BR) to the wise
    and knowledge to the discerning.(BS)
22 He reveals deep and hidden things;(BT)
    he knows what lies in darkness,(BU)
    and light(BV) dwells with him.
23 I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors:(BW)
    You have given me wisdom(BX) and power,
you have made known to me what we asked of you,
    you have made known to us the dream of the king.(BY)”

Daniel Interprets the Dream

24 Then Daniel went to Arioch,(BZ) whom the king had appointed to execute the wise men of Babylon, and said to him, “Do not execute the wise men of Babylon. Take me to the king, and I will interpret his dream for him.”

25 Arioch took Daniel to the king at once and said, “I have found a man among the exiles(CA) from Judah(CB) who can tell the king what his dream means.”

26 The king asked Daniel (also called Belteshazzar),(CC) “Are you able to tell me what I saw in my dream and interpret it?”

27 Daniel replied, “No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about,(CD) 28 but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries.(CE) He has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in days to come.(CF) Your dream and the visions that passed through your mind(CG) as you were lying in bed(CH) are these:(CI)

29 “As Your Majesty was lying there, your mind turned to things to come, and the revealer of mysteries showed you what is going to happen.(CJ) 30 As for me, this mystery has been revealed(CK) to me, not because I have greater wisdom than anyone else alive, but so that Your Majesty may know the interpretation and that you may understand what went through your mind.

31 “Your Majesty looked, and there before you stood a large statue—an enormous, dazzling statue,(CL) awesome(CM) in appearance. 32 The head of the statue was made of pure gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, 33 its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of baked clay. 34 While you were watching, a rock was cut out, but not by human hands.(CN) It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed(CO) them.(CP) 35 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were all broken to pieces and became like chaff on a threshing floor in the summer. The wind swept them away(CQ) without leaving a trace. But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain(CR) and filled the whole earth.(CS)

36 “This was the dream, and now we will interpret it to the king.(CT) 37 Your Majesty, you are the king of kings.(CU) The God of heaven has given you dominion(CV) and power and might and glory; 38 in your hands he has placed all mankind and the beasts of the field and the birds in the sky. Wherever they live, he has made you ruler over them all.(CW) You are that head of gold.

39 “After you, another kingdom will arise, inferior to yours. Next, a third kingdom, one of bronze, will rule over the whole earth.(CX) 40 Finally, there will be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron—for iron breaks and smashes everything—and as iron breaks things to pieces, so it will crush and break all the others.(CY) 41 Just as you saw that the feet and toes were partly of baked clay and partly of iron, so this will be a divided kingdom; yet it will have some of the strength of iron in it, even as you saw iron mixed with clay. 42 As the toes were partly iron and partly clay, so this kingdom will be partly strong and partly brittle. 43 And just as you saw the iron mixed with baked clay, so the people will be a mixture and will not remain united, any more than iron mixes with clay.

44 “In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush(CZ) all those kingdoms(DA) and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever.(DB) 45 This is the meaning of the vision of the rock(DC) cut out of a mountain, but not by human hands(DD)—a rock that broke the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold to pieces.

“The great God has shown the king what will take place in the future.(DE) The dream is true(DF) and its interpretation is trustworthy.”

46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell prostrate(DG) before Daniel and paid him honor and ordered that an offering(DH) and incense be presented to him. 47 The king said to Daniel, “Surely your God is the God of gods(DI) and the Lord of kings(DJ) and a revealer of mysteries,(DK) for you were able to reveal this mystery.(DL)”

48 Then the king placed Daniel in a high(DM) position and lavished many gifts on him. He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and placed him in charge of all its wise men.(DN) 49 Moreover, at Daniel’s request the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego administrators over the province of Babylon,(DO) while Daniel himself remained at the royal court.(DP)

Footnotes

  1. Daniel 1:2 Hebrew Shinar
  2. Daniel 1:4 Or Chaldeans
  3. Daniel 1:10 The Hebrew for your and you in this verse is plural.
  4. Daniel 2:2 Or Chaldeans; also in verses 4, 5 and 10
  5. Daniel 2:3 Or was
  6. Daniel 2:4 At this point the Hebrew text has in Aramaic, indicating that the text from here through the end of chapter 7 is in Aramaic.
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Ezekiel 48
Daniel 3
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Daniel 6
Legacy Standard Bible

Darius’ Officials Seek to Accuse Daniel

6 [a]It seemed good to Darius that he set 120 satraps over the kingdom, that they would be in charge of the whole kingdom, 2 and over them three commissioners (of whom (A)Daniel was one), that these satraps might be accountable to them, and that the king might not suffer (B)loss. 3 Then this Daniel began distinguishing himself [b]among the commissioners and satraps because an (C)extraordinary spirit was in him, and the king planned to set him over the (D)entire kingdom. 4 Then the commissioners and satraps began (E)seeking to find a ground of accusation against Daniel in regard to matters of the kingdom; but they were not able to find (F)any ground of accusation or evidence of corruption, inasmuch as he was faithful, and no negligence or corruption was to be found in him. 5 Then these men said, “We will not find any ground of accusation against this Daniel unless we find it against him with regard to the (G)law of his God.”

6 Then these commissioners and satraps came [c]by agreement to the king and said thus to him: “King Darius, (H)live forever! 7 All the (I)commissioners of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the high officials and the governors have (J)counseled together that the king should establish a statute and enforce an injunction that anyone who seeks to make a petition [d]to any god or man besides you, O king, for thirty days, shall (K)be cast into the lions’ [e]den. 8 Now, O king, (L)establish the injunction and [f]sign the written document so that it may not be changed, according to the (M)law of the Medes and Persians, which [g]may not be revoked.” 9 Therefore King Darius (N)signed the written document, that is, the injunction.

10 Now when Daniel knew that the written document was signed, he entered his house (now in his roof chamber he had windows open (O)toward Jerusalem); and he continued (P)kneeling on his knees three times a day, (Q)praying and (R)giving thanks before his God, [h]as he had been doing previously. 11 Then these men came [i](S)by agreement and found Daniel seeking to make a petition and making supplication before his God. 12 Then they came near and (T)said before the king concerning the king’s injunction, “Did you not sign an injunction that any man who seeks to make a petition [j]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 (U)law of the Medes and Persians, which [k]may not be revoked.” 13 Then they answered and said before the king, “(V)Daniel, who is one of the [l]exiles from Judah, pays (W)no attention to you, O king, or to the injunction which you signed, but keeps seeking to make his petition three times a day.”

14 Then, as soon as the king heard this word, he was greatly (X)distressed within himself and set his mind on saving Daniel; and even until sunset he kept exerting himself to deliver him. 15 Then these men came [m]by agreement to the king and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is a (Y)law of the Medes and Persians that no injunction or statute which the king establishes may be changed.”

Daniel in the Lions’ Den

16 Then the king said the word, and Daniel was brought in and (Z)cast into the lions’ den. The king answered and said to Daniel, “[n](AA)Your God whom you constantly serve will Himself save you.” 17 And a (AB)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. 18 Then the king went off to his palace and spent the night (AC)fasting, and no entertainment was brought before him; and his (AD)sleep fled from him.

19 Then the king arose at dawn, at the break of day, and hurriedly went to the lions’ den. 20 When 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 (AE)your God, whom you constantly serve, been (AF)able to save you from the lions?” 21 Then Daniel spoke [o]to the king, “(AG)O king, live forever! 22 My God (AH)sent His angel and (AI)shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not harmed me, inasmuch as [p]I was found innocent before Him; and also [q]toward you, O king, I have done no harm.” 23 Then 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 (AJ)no harm whatsoever was found on him because he had (AK)believed in his God. 24 The king then said the word, and they brought those men who had [r]brought charges against Daniel, and they (AL)cast them, their (AM)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.

25 Then Darius the king wrote to all the (AN)peoples, nations, and men of every tongue who were inhabiting all the land: “(AO)May your [s]peace abound! 26 [t]I (AP)make a decree that in all the [u]dominion of my kingdom, men are to fear and be in dread before the God of Daniel;

For He is the (AQ)living God and (AR)enduring forever,
And (AS)His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed,
And His [v]dominion will be unto the end.
27 He saves and delivers and does (AT)signs and wonders
In heaven and on earth,
Who has also saved Daniel from the [w]power of the lions.”

28 So this (AU)Daniel enjoyed success in the kingdom of Darius and in the kingdom of (AV)Cyrus the Persian.

Footnotes

  1. Daniel 6:1 Ch 6:2 in Aram
  2. Daniel 6:3 Lit above
  3. Daniel 6:6 Or thronging
  4. Daniel 6:7 Lit from
  5. Daniel 6:7 Or pit, so in ch
  6. Daniel 6:8 Or inscribed, so in ch, cf. 5:24-25; 10:21
  7. Daniel 6:8 Lit does not pass away
  8. Daniel 6:10 Or because
  9. Daniel 6:11 Or thronging
  10. Daniel 6:12 Lit from
  11. Daniel 6:12 Lit does not pass away
  12. Daniel 6:13 Lit sons of the exile
  13. Daniel 6:15 Or thronging
  14. Daniel 6:16 Or May your God...Himself deliver you
  15. Daniel 6:21 Lit with
  16. Daniel 6:22 Lit innocence was found for me
  17. Daniel 6:22 Lit before
  18. Daniel 6:24 Lit eaten the pieces of Daniel
  19. Daniel 6:25 Or welfare, prosperity
  20. Daniel 6:26 Lit From me a decree is made
  21. Daniel 6:26 Or powerful reign; or in Heb powerful rule
  22. Daniel 6:26 Or powerful reign; or in Heb powerful rule
  23. Daniel 6:27 Lit hand
Close NIV

Daniel 6
New International Version

Daniel in the Den of Lions

6 [a]It pleased Darius(A) to appoint 120 satraps(B) to rule throughout the kingdom, 2 with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel.(C) The satraps were made accountable(D) to them so that the king might not suffer loss. 3 Now 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.(E) 4 At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges(F) against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. 5 Finally these men said, “We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.”(G)

6 So these administrators and satraps went as a group to the king and said: “May King Darius live forever!(H) 7 The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors(I) have all agreed 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 you, Your Majesty, shall be thrown into the lions’ den.(J) 8 Now, Your Majesty, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”(K) 9 So King Darius put the decree in writing.

10 Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward(L) Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees(M) and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.(N) 11 Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help.(O) 12 So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: “Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human being except to you, Your Majesty, would be thrown into the lions’ den?”

The king answered, “The decree stands—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”(P)

13 Then they said to the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah,(Q) pays no attention(R) to you, Your Majesty, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day.” 14 When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed;(S) he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him.

15 Then the men went as a group to King Darius and said to him, “Remember, Your Majesty, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed.”(T)

16 So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den.(U) The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue(V) you!”

17 A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed(W) it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel’s situation might not be changed. 18 Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating(X) and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep.(Y)

19 At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. 20 When he came near the den, he 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?”(Z)

21 Daniel answered, “May the king live forever!(AA) 22 My God sent his angel,(AB) and he shut the mouths of the lions.(AC) They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight.(AD) 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(AE) was found on him, because he had trusted(AF) 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,(AG) along with their wives and children.(AH) And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.(AI)

25 Then King Darius wrote to all the nations and peoples of every language(AJ) in all the earth:

“May you prosper greatly!(AK)

26 “I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence(AL) the God of Daniel.(AM)

“For he is the living God(AN)
    and he endures forever;(AO)
his kingdom will not be destroyed,
    his dominion will never end.(AP)
27 He rescues and he saves;(AQ)
    he performs signs and wonders(AR)
    in the heavens and on the earth.
He has rescued Daniel
    from the power of the lions.”(AS)

28 So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus[b](AT) the Persian.(AU)

Footnotes

  1. Daniel 6:1 In Aramaic texts 6:1-28 is numbered 6:2-29.
  2. Daniel 6:28 Or Darius, that is, the reign of Cyrus
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