It pleasedDariusto setoverthe kingdoma hundredand twentyprinces, whichshould beover the wholekingdom; And overthese threepresidents; of whomDaniel was first: thattheprincesmightgiveaccountsunto them, and the kingshould havenodamage. ThenthisDanielwaspreferredabovethe presidentsand princes, becausean excellentspirit was in him; and the kingthoughtto sethim overthe wholerealm. Thenthe presidentsand princessoughtto findoccasionagainst Danielconcerningthe kingdom; but they couldfindnoneoccasionnor fault; forasmuch ashe was faithful, neitherwas there anyerroror faultfoundinhim. Thensaidthesemen, We shall notfindanyoccasionagainst thisDaniel, exceptwe find it againsthim concerning the lawof his God. Thenthesepresidentsand princesassembled togethertothe king, and saidthusunto him, KingDarius, liveforever. Allthe presidentsof the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counselors, and the captains, have consulted togetherto establisha royalstatute, and to make a firmdecree, thatwhosoevershall aska petitionofanyGodor manforthirtydays, saveofthee, O king, he shall be castinto the denof lions. Now, O king, establishthe decree, and signthe writing, thatit be notchanged, according to the lawof the Medesand Persians, whichalterethnot. WhereforekingDariussignedthe writingand the decree. Now whenDanielknewthatthe writingwas signed, he wentinto his house; and his windowsbeing openin his chambertowardJerusalem, hekneeleduponhis kneesthreetimesa day, and prayed, and gave thanksbeforehis God, ashe didformerly. Thenthesemenassembled, and foundDanielprayingand making supplicationbeforehis God. Thenthey came near, and spokebeforethe kingconcerningthe king's decree; Hast thou notsigneda decree, thateverymanthatshall ask a petition ofanyGodor manwithinthirtydays, saveofthee, O king, shall be castinto the denof lions? The kingansweredand said, The thing is true, according to the lawof the Medesand Persians, whichalterethnot. Thenansweredthey and saidbeforethe king, ThatDaniel, which is ofthe childrenof the captivityofJudah, regardethnotthee, O king, nor the decreethatthou hast signed, but makethhis petitionthreetimesa day. Thenthe king, whenhe heard these words, was soredispleasedwithhimself, and set his heartonDanielto deliverhim: and he laboredtillthe going downof the sunto deliverhim. Thenthesemenassembleduntothe king, and saidunto the king, Know, O king, thatthe lawof the Medesand Persians is , Thatnodecreenor statutewhichthe kingestablishethmay be changed. Thenthe kingcommanded, and they broughtDaniel, and cast him into the denoflions. Now the kingspokeand saidunto Daniel, Thy Godwhomthouservestcontinually, hewill deliverthee. And astonewas brought, and laiduponthe mouthof the den; and the kingsealedit with his own signet, and with the signetof his lords; thatthe purposemight notbe changedconcerning Daniel. Thenthe kingwentto his palace, and passed the nightfasting: neitherwere instruments of musicbroughtbeforehim: and his sleepwentfromhim. Thenthe kingarosevery early in the morning, and wentin hasteunto the denoflions. And when he cameto the den, he criedwith a lamentablevoiceunto Daniel: and the kingspokeand saidto Daniel, O Daniel, servantof the livingGod, is thy God, whomthouservestcontinually, ableto deliverthee fromthe lions? ThensaidDanieluntothe king, O king, liveforever. My Godhath senthis angel, and hath shutthe lions' mouths, that they have nothurtme: forasmuch asbeforehim innocencywas foundin me; and alsobeforethee, O king, have I donenohurt. Thenwas the king exceeding gladforhim, and commandedthat they should take Daniel upout ofthe den. So Danielwas taken upout ofthe den, and no mannerof hurtwas foundupon him, becausehe believedin his God. And the kingcommanded, and they broughtthosemenwhichhad accusedDaniel, and they cast them into the denof lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lionshad the masteryof them, and broke all their bones in piecesor ever they cameat the bottomof the den. ThenkingDariuswroteunto allpeople, nations, and languages, thatdwellin allthe earth; Peacebe multipliedunto you. I makea decree, Thatin everydominionof my kingdommen trembleand fearbeforethe GodofDaniel: forhe is the livingGod, and steadfastforever, and his kingdom that whichshall notbe destroyed, and his dominion shall be even untothe end. He deliverethand rescueth, and he workethsignsand wondersin heavenand in earth, whohath deliveredDanielfromthe powerof the lions. So thisDanielprosperedin the reignof Darius, and in the reignof Cyrusthe Persian.