IT pleased Dareyavesh to set over the kingdom a hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom;
And over these three presidents; of whom Daniy'el was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage.
Then this Daniy'el was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent ruach was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.
Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniy'el 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.
Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniy'el, except we find it against him concerning the Torah of his Eloah.
Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Dareyavesh, live forever.
All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counselors, 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 Eloah or man for thirty days, save of you, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.
Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Madai and Persians, which alters not.
Wherefore King Dareyavesh signed the writing and the decree.
Now when Daniy'el knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Yerushalayim, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his Eloah, as he did aforetime.
Then these men assembled, and found Daniy'el praying and making supplication before his Eloah.
Then they came near, and spoke before the king concerning the king's decree; Have you not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any Eloah or man within thirty days, save of you, 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 Madai and Persians, which alters not.
Then answered they and said before the king, that Daniy'el, which is of the children of the captivity of Yahudah, regards not you, O king, nor the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.
Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniy'el to deliver him: and he labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him.
Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Madai and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establishes may be changed.
Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniy'el, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spoke and said unto Daniy'el, Your Eloah whom you serve continually, he will deliver you.
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 princes; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniy'el.
Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of music brought before him: and his sleep went from him.
Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.
And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniy'el: and the king spoke and said to Daniy'el, O Daniy'el, servant of the living Eloah, is your Eloah, whom you serve continually, able to deliver you from the lions?
Then said Daniy'el unto the king, O king, live forever.
My Eloah has sent his angel, and has shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before you, O king, have I done no hurt.
Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniy'el up out of the den. So Daniy'el was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his Eloah.
And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniy'el, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their women; and the lions had the mastery of them, and broke all their bones in pieces before they came at the bottom of the den.
Then King Dareyavesh wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.
I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the Eloah of Daniy'el: for he is the living Eloah, and stedfast forever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.
He delivers and rescues, and he works signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who has delivered Daniy'el from the power of the lions.
So this Daniy'el prospered in the reign of Dareyavesh, and in the reign of Koresh the Persian.