4
Then the presidents and princessought* to findoccasion against Danielconcerning the kingdom;but they couldfindnoneoccasionnorfault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there anyerror or faultfound in him.
7
All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royalstatute, and to make a firmdecree, that whosoever shall ask a petitionofanyGod or manforthirtydays,save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.
10
Now when Danielknew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chambertowardJerusalem, he kneeledupon his kneesthreetimes a day, and prayed, and gave thanksbefore his God,ashedid*aforetime**.
12
Then they came near, and spakebefore the kingconcerning the king'sdecree; Hast thou notsigned a decree, that everyman that shall ask a petition ofanyGod or manwithinthirtydays,save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The kinganswered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which alterethnot.
13
Thenanswered they and saidbefore the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah,regardeth*notthee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petitionthreetimes a day.
14
Then the king, when he heard these words, was soredispleased with himself, and set his heartonDaniel to deliver him: and he laboured*till the going down of the sun to deliver him.
15
Thenthesemenassembledunto the king, and said unto the king,Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That nodecree nor statute which the kingestablisheth may be changed.
16
Then the kingcommanded, and they broughtDaniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the kingspake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thouservestcontinually, he will deliver thee.
17
And astone was brought, and laidupon the mouth of the den; and the kingsealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.
20
And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentablevoice unto Daniel: and the kingspake and said to Daniel, O Daniel,servant of the livingGod, is thy God, whom thou servestcontinually,able to deliver thee from the lions?
22
My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions'mouths, that they have nothurt me: forasmuch as*before him innocency was found in me; and alsobefore thee, O king, have I donenohurt.
23
Then was the kingexceedingglad for him, and commanded that they should takeDanielup out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and nomanner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.
24
And the kingcommanded, and they broughtthosemen which had accused*Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions,them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery* of them, and brakeall their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.
26
I*make a decree, That in everydominion of my kingdom men tremble* and fearbeforetheGod of Daniel: for he is the livingGod, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.