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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
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      <div class="chapter ch6" data-usfm="DAN.6">
         <div class="label">6</div><div class="s1"><span class="heading">Daniel in the Den of Lions</span></div><div class="p"><span class="note f"><span class="label">#</span><span class="body"><span class="ft">In Aramaic texts 6:1-28 is numbered 6:2-29.</span><span class="ft"> </span></span></span><span class="verse v1" data-usfm="DAN.6.1"><span class="label">1</span><span class="content">It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom, </span></span><span class="verse v2" data-usfm="DAN.6.2"><span class="label">2</span><span class="content">with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel. The satraps were made accountable to them so that the king might not suffer loss. </span></span><span class="verse v3" data-usfm="DAN.6.3"><span class="label">3</span><span class="content">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. </span></span><span class="verse v4" data-usfm="DAN.6.4"><span class="label">4</span><span class="content">At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges 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. </span></span><span class="verse v5" data-usfm="DAN.6.5"><span class="label">5</span><span class="content">Finally these men said, &#8220;We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v5" data-usfm="DAN.6.5"></span><span class="verse v6" data-usfm="DAN.6.6"><span class="label">6</span><span class="content">So these administrators and satraps went as a group to the king and said: &#8220;May King Darius live forever! </span></span><span class="verse v7" data-usfm="DAN.6.7"><span class="label">7</span><span class="content">The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors 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&#8217; den. </span></span><span class="verse v8" data-usfm="DAN.6.8"><span class="label">8</span><span class="content">Now, Your Majesty, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered&#8212;in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.&#8221; </span></span><span class="verse v9" data-usfm="DAN.6.9"><span class="label">9</span><span class="content">So King Darius put the decree in writing.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v9" data-usfm="DAN.6.9"></span><span class="verse v10" data-usfm="DAN.6.10"><span class="label">10</span><span class="content">Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. </span></span><span class="verse v11" data-usfm="DAN.6.11"><span class="label">11</span><span class="content">Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help. </span></span><span class="verse v12" data-usfm="DAN.6.12"><span class="label">12</span><span class="content">So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: &#8220;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&#8217; den?&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v12" data-usfm="DAN.6.12"><span class="content">The king answered, &#8220;The decree stands&#8212;in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v12" data-usfm="DAN.6.12"></span><span class="verse v13" data-usfm="DAN.6.13"><span class="label">13</span><span class="content">Then they said to the king, &#8220;Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, Your Majesty, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day.&#8221; </span></span><span class="verse v14" data-usfm="DAN.6.14"><span class="label">14</span><span class="content">When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v14" data-usfm="DAN.6.14"></span><span class="verse v15" data-usfm="DAN.6.15"><span class="label">15</span><span class="content">Then the men went as a group to King Darius and said to him, &#8220;Remember, Your Majesty, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed.&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v15" data-usfm="DAN.6.15"></span><span class="verse v16" data-usfm="DAN.6.16"><span class="label">16</span><span class="content">So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions&#8217; den. The king said to Daniel, &#8220;May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v16" data-usfm="DAN.6.16"></span><span class="verse v17" data-usfm="DAN.6.17"><span class="label">17</span><span class="content">A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel&#8217;s situation might not be changed. </span></span><span class="verse v18" data-usfm="DAN.6.18"><span class="label">18</span><span class="content">Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v18" data-usfm="DAN.6.18"></span><span class="verse v19" data-usfm="DAN.6.19"><span class="label">19</span><span class="content">At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions&#8217; den. </span></span><span class="verse v20" data-usfm="DAN.6.20"><span class="label">20</span><span class="content">When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, &#8220;Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v20" data-usfm="DAN.6.20"></span><span class="verse v21" data-usfm="DAN.6.21"><span class="label">21</span><span class="content">Daniel answered, &#8220;May the king live forever! </span></span><span class="verse v22" data-usfm="DAN.6.22"><span class="label">22</span><span class="content">My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v22" data-usfm="DAN.6.22"></span><span class="verse v23" data-usfm="DAN.6.23"><span class="label">23</span><span class="content">The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v23" data-usfm="DAN.6.23"></span><span class="verse v24" data-usfm="DAN.6.24"><span class="label">24</span><span class="content">At the king&#8217;s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions&#8217; den, along with their wives and children. And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v24" data-usfm="DAN.6.24"></span><span class="verse v25" data-usfm="DAN.6.25"><span class="label">25</span><span class="content">Then King Darius wrote to all the nations and peoples of every language in all the earth:</span></span></div><div class="pmo"><span class="verse v25" data-usfm="DAN.6.25"><span class="content">&#8220;May you prosper greatly!</span></span></div><div class="b"><span class="verse v25" data-usfm="DAN.6.25"></span></div><div class="pm"><span class="verse v25" data-usfm="DAN.6.25"></span><span class="verse v26" data-usfm="DAN.6.26"><span class="label">26</span><span class="content">&#8220;I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel.</span></span></div><div class="qm1"><span class="verse v26" data-usfm="DAN.6.26"><span class="content">&#8220;For he is the living God</span></span></div><div class="qm2"><span class="verse v26" data-usfm="DAN.6.26"><span class="content">and he endures forever;</span></span></div><div class="qm1"><span class="verse v26" data-usfm="DAN.6.26"><span class="content">his kingdom will not be destroyed,</span></span></div><div class="qm2"><span class="verse v26" data-usfm="DAN.6.26"><span class="content">his dominion will never end.</span></span></div><div class="qm1"><span class="verse v26" data-usfm="DAN.6.26"></span><span class="verse v27" data-usfm="DAN.6.27"><span class="label">27</span><span class="content">He rescues and he saves;</span></span></div><div class="qm2"><span class="verse v27" data-usfm="DAN.6.27"><span class="content">he performs signs and wonders</span></span></div><div class="qm2"><span class="verse v27" data-usfm="DAN.6.27"><span class="content">in the heavens and on the earth.</span></span></div><div class="qm1"><span class="verse v27" data-usfm="DAN.6.27"><span class="content">He has rescued Daniel</span></span></div><div class="qm2"><span class="verse v27" data-usfm="DAN.6.27"><span class="content">from the power of the lions.&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v27" data-usfm="DAN.6.27"></span><span class="verse v28" data-usfm="DAN.6.28"><span class="label">28</span><span class="content">So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus</span><span class="note f"><span class="label">#</span><span class="body"><span class="fr">6:28 </span><span class="ft">Or </span><span class="fqa">Darius, that is, the reign of Cyrus</span></span></span><span class="content"> the Persian.</span></span></div>
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