Daniel 6 - New International Version (NIV)

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put it in writing so that it cannot be altered—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”(K) 9 So King Darius put the decree in writing.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The king answered, “The decree stands—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”(P)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

Cross references

  1. Daniel 6:1 : S Da 5:31
  2. Daniel 6:1 : S Est 1:1
  3. Daniel 6:2 : Da 2:48-49
  4. Daniel 6:2 : Ezr 4:22
  5. Daniel 6:3 : S Ge 41:41; S Est 10:3; S Da 1:20; 5:12-14
  6. Daniel 6:4 : Jer 20:10
  7. Daniel 6:5 : Ac 24:13-16
  8. Daniel 6:6 : S Ne 2:3
  9. Daniel 6:7 : S Da 3:2
  10. Daniel 6:7 : Ps 59:3; 64:2-6; S Da 3:6
  11. Daniel 6:8 : S Est 1:19
  12. Daniel 6:10 : S 1Ki 8:29
  13. Daniel 6:10 : Ps 95:6
  14. Daniel 6:10 : Mt 6:6; Ac 5:29
  15. Daniel 6:11 : 1Ki 8:48-50; Ps 55:17; 1Th 5:17-18
  16. Daniel 6:12 : S Est 1:19; Da 3:8-12
  17. Daniel 6:13 : S Eze 14:14; Da 2:25
  18. Daniel 6:13 : S Est 3:8
  19. Daniel 6:14 : Mk 6:26
  20. Daniel 6:15 : S Est 8:8
  21. Daniel 6:16 : S ver 7
  22. Daniel 6:16 : S Job 5:19; Ps 37:39-40; S 97:10
  23. Daniel 6:17 : Mt 27:66
  24. Daniel 6:18 : S 2Sa 12:17; Da 10:3
  25. Daniel 6:18 : S Est 6:1
  26. Daniel 6:20 : S Da 3:17
  27. Daniel 6:21 : S Ne 2:3; Da 3:9
  28. Daniel 6:22 : S Ge 32:1; S Da 3:28
  29. Daniel 6:22 : ver 27; Ps 91:11-13; Heb 11:33
  30. Daniel 6:22 : Ac 12:11; 2Ti 4:17
  31. Daniel 6:23 : Da 3:27
  32. Daniel 6:23 : S 1Ch 5:20; S Isa 12:2
  33. Daniel 6:24 : Dt 19:18-19; Est 7:9-10; Ps 54:5
  34. Daniel 6:24 : Dt 24:16; 2Ki 14:6
  35. Daniel 6:24 : S Isa 38:13
  36. Daniel 6:25 : S Da 3:4
  37. Daniel 6:25 : Da 4:1
  38. Daniel 6:26 : S Ps 5:7
  39. Daniel 6:26 : S Est 8:17; Ps 99:1-3; Da 3:29
  40. Daniel 6:26 : S Jos 2:11; S 3:10
  41. Daniel 6:26 : S Jer 10:10; Da 12:7; Rev 1:18
  42. Daniel 6:26 : S Da 2:44
  43. Daniel 6:27 : Da 3:29
  44. Daniel 6:27 : S Da 4:3
  45. Daniel 6:27 : S ver 22
  46. Daniel 6:28 : S 2Ch 36:22; S Da 1:21
  47. Daniel 6:28 : S Da 5:28

You Might Also Like:

Daniel 6 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

6 It hath been good before Darius, and he hath established over the kingdom satraps -- a hundred and twenty -- that they may be throughout the whole kingdom, 2 and higher than they three presidents, of whom Daniel [is] first, that these satraps may give to them an account, and the king have no loss....
Read More

Daniel 6 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

6 It pleased Darius, and he ordained sixscore dukes over the realm, that they should be in all his realm. (And it pleased Darius, and he ordained one hundred and twenty governors over the kingdom, and that they should be throughout all his kingdom.) 2 And over them he ordained three princes, of whic...
Read More

Daniel 6 - World English Bible (WEB)

6 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred twenty local governors, who should be throughout the whole kingdom; 2 and over them three presidents, of whom Daniel was one; that these local governors might give account to them, and that the king should suffer no loss. 3 Then this Daniel w...
Read More

Daniel 6 - The Voice (VOICE)

Belshazzar makes a promise he cannot keep. The night that he gives the order to reward Daniel for his service is his last night on earth. By sunrise a new king—even a new empire—rules Belshazzar’s kingdom. But Daniel doesn’t mind because the true King is with him. Darius, Belshazzar’s successor, wil...
Read More

Daniel 6 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

6 So Darius the Mede took over the kingdom at the age of 62. Delivered from the Lions’ Den2 It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the whole kingdom 3 with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel. These satraps were accountable to them so that the king would not ...
Read More

Daniel 6 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

The Plot against Daniel6 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom a hundred and twenty satraps, to be throughout the whole kingdom; 2 and over them three presidents, of whom Daniel was one, to whom these satraps should give account, so that the king might suffer no loss. 3 Then this Daniel became...
Read More

Daniel 6 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

The Plot against Daniel6 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom a hundred and twenty satraps, to be throughout the whole kingdom; 2 and over them three presidents, of whom Daniel was one, to whom these satraps should give account, so that the king might suffer no loss. 3 Then this Daniel became...
Read More

Daniel 6 - Orthodox Jewish Bible (OJB)

6 It pleased Daryavesh to set over the malchut an hundred and twenty satraps, which should be over the whole malchut; 2 (6:3) And over these three overseers, of whom Daniel was one, that the satraps might give accounts unto them, and that the king should suffer no loss. 3 (6:4) Then this Daniel dist...
Read More

Daniel 6 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

The Plot against Daniel6 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty satraps, stationed throughout the whole kingdom, 2 and over them three presidents, including Daniel; to these the satraps gave account, so that the king might suffer no loss. 3 Soon Daniel distinguished himse...
Read More

Daniel 6 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

The Plot against Daniel6 [a]It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred twenty satraps, stationed throughout the whole kingdom,(A)2 and over them three adminstrators, one of whom was Daniel; to these the satraps gave account, so that the king might suffer no loss.(B)3 Soon Daniel distingui...
Read More

Daniel 6 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Daniel in the Lions’ Den6 [a]Darius the Mede decided to divide the kingdom into 120 provinces, and he appointed a high officer to rule over each province. 2 The king also chose Daniel and two others as administrators to supervise the high officers and protect the king’s interests. 3 Daniel soon prov...
Read More

Daniel 6 - New Life Version (NLV)

Daniel Is Thrown to the Lions6 It pleased Darius to choose 120 captains to rule over the people. They would rule over the whole nation. 2 And three leaders were to rule over them, and Daniel was one. The captains were to answer to them, so that the king might suffer no loss. 3 Then Daniel showed t...
Read More

Daniel 6 - New King James Version (NKJV)

The Plot Against Daniel6 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty satraps, to be over the whole kingdom; 2 and 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. 3 Then this Daniel disting...
Read More

Daniel 6 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Daniel in the den of lions6 [a]It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom, 2 with three chief ministers over them, one of whom was Daniel. The satraps were made accountable to them so that the king might not suffer loss. 3 Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the ...
Read More

Daniel 6 - New International Version (NIV)

Daniel in the Den of Lions6 [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 a...
Read More

Daniel 6 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

Daniel Is Thrown Into a Den of Lions6 It pleased Darius to appoint 120 royal rulers over his entire kingdom. 2 He placed three leaders over them. One of the leaders was Daniel. The royal rulers were made accountable to the three leaders. Then the king wouldn’t lose any of his wealth. 3 Daniel did ...
Read More