Daniel 6
6
The Plot Against Daniel
1It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty satraps, to be over the whole kingdom; 2and over these, three governors, of whom Daniel was one, that the satraps might give account to them, so that the king would suffer no loss. 3Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, #Dan. 5:12because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm. 4#Eccl. 4:4So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him. 5Then these men said, “We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God.”
6So these governors and satraps thronged before the king, and said thus to him: #Neh. 2:3; Dan. 2:4; 6:21“King Darius, live forever! 7All the governors of the kingdom, the administrators and satraps, the counselors and advisors, have #Ps. 59:3; 62:4; 64:2–6consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a firm decree, that whoever petitions any god or man for thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions. 8Now, O king, establish the decree and sign the writing, so that it cannot be changed, according to the #Esth. 1:19; 8:8; Dan. 6:12, 15law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.” 9Therefore King Darius signed the written decree.
Daniel in the Lions’ Den
10Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open #1 Kin. 8:29, 30, 46–48; Ps. 5:7; Jon. 2:4toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees #Ps. 55:17; Acts 2:1, 2, 15; (Phil. 4:6); 1 Thess. 5:17, 18three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.
11Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. 12#Dan. 3:8–12; Acts 16:19–21And they went before the king, and spoke concerning the king’s decree: “Have you not signed a decree that every man who petitions any god or man within thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?”
The king answered and said, “The thing is true, #Esth. 1:19; Dan. 6:8, 15according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.”
13So they answered and said before the king, “That Daniel, #Dan. 1:6; 5:13who is one of the captives from Judah, #Esth. 3:8; Dan. 3:12; Acts 5:29does not show due regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.”
14And the king, when he heard these words, #Mark 6:26was greatly displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him. 15Then these men approached the king, and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is #Esth. 8:8; Ps. 94:20, 21; Dan. 6:8, 12the law of the Medes and Persians that no decree or statute which the king establishes may be changed.”
16So the king gave the command, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions. But the king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you.” 17#Lam. 3:53Then a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, #Matt. 27:66and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signets of his lords, that the purpose concerning Daniel might not be changed.
Daniel Saved from the Lions
18Now the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; and no musicians were brought before him. #Esth. 6:1; Ps. 77:4; Dan. 2:1Also his sleep went from him. 19Then the #Dan. 3:24king arose very early in the morning and went in haste to the den of lions. 20And when he came to the den, he cried out with a lamenting voice to Daniel. The king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, #Gen. 18:14; Num. 11:23; Jer. 32:17; Dan. 3:17; (Luke 1:37)has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?”
21Then Daniel said to the king, #Dan. 2:4; 6:6“O king, live forever! 22#Num. 20:16; Is. 63:9; Dan. 3:28; Acts 12:11; (Heb. 1:14)My God sent His angel and #Ps. 91:11–13; 2 Tim. 4:17; Heb. 11:33shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you.”
23Now the king was exceedingly 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 injury whatever was found on him, #Heb. 11:33because he believed in his God.
Darius Honors God
24And the king gave the command, #Deut. 19:18, 19; Esth. 7:10and they brought those men who had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions—them, #Deut. 24:16; 2 Kin. 14:6; Esth. 9:10their children, and their wives; and the lions overpowered them, and broke all their bones in pieces before they ever came to the bottom of the den.
25#Ezra 1:1, 2; Esth. 3:12; 8:9; Dan. 4:1Then King Darius wrote:
To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth:
Peace be multiplied to you.
26#Ezra 6:8–12; 7:13; Dan. 3:29I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must #Ps. 99:1tremble and fear before the God of Daniel.
#Dan. 4:34; 6:20; Hos. 1:10; Rom. 9:26For He is the living God,
And steadfast forever;
His kingdom is the one which shall not be #Dan. 2:44; 4:3; 7:14, 27; (Luke 1:33)destroyed,
And His dominion shall endure to the end.
27He delivers and rescues,
#Dan. 4:2, 3And He works signs and wonders
In heaven and on earth,
Who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.
28So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius #Dan. 1:21and in the reign of #Ezra 1:1, 2Cyrus the Persian.
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Daniel 6: NKJV
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The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.