Daniel in the lions' den

6:1It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred twenty local governors, who should be throughout the whole kingdom;

6:2and 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.

6:3Then this Daniel was distinguished above the presidents and the local governors, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.

6:4Then the presidents and the local governors sought to find occasion against Daniel as touching the kingdom; but they could find no occasion or fault, because he was faithful. There wasn’t any error or fault found in him.

6:5Then these men said, “We won’t find any occasion against this Daniel, unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God.”

6:6Then these presidents and local governors assembled together to the king, and said this to him, “King Darius, live forever!

6:7All the presidents of the kingdom, the deputies and the local governors, the counselors and the governors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a strong decree, that whoever asks a petition of any god or man for thirty days, except of you, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.

6:8Now, O king, establish the decree and sign the writing, that it not be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which doesn’t alter.”

6:9Therefore King Darius signed the writing and the decree.

6:10When Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house (now his windows were open in his room toward Jerusalem) and he kneeled on his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did before.

6:11Then these men assembled together, and found Daniel making petition and supplication before his God.

6:12Then they came near, and spoke before the king concerning the king’s decree: “Haven’t you signed a decree that every man who makes a petition to any god or man within thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?” The king answered, “This thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which doesn’t alter.”