Study Desk

Then they approached and ^(C1)spoke before the king about the king's injunction: "Did you not sign an injunction that any person who offers a prayer to any god or person besides you, O king, for thirty days, is to be thrown into the lions' den?" The king replied, "The statement is true, according to the ^(C2)law of the Medes and Persians, which ^(F1)may not be revoked."

Then they responded and spoke before the king, "^(C1)Daniel, who is one of the ^(F1)exiles from Judah, pays ^(C2)no attention to you, O king, or to the injunction which you signed, but keeps offering his prayer three times a day."

Then, as soon as the king heard this statement, he was deeply ^(C1)distressed, and set his mind on rescuing Daniel; and until sunset he kept exerting himself to save him.

Then these men came ^(F1)by agreement to the king and said to the king, "Recognize, O king, that it is a ^(C1)law of the Medes and Persians that no injunction or statute which the king establishes may be changed."

Then the king gave orders, and Daniel was brought in and ^(C1)thrown into the lions' den. The king said to Daniel, "^(F1)(C2)Your God whom you continually serve will Himself rescue you."

And a ^(C1)stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signet rings of his nobles, so that nothing would be changed regarding Daniel.

Then the king went to his palace and spent the night ^(C1)fasting, and no entertainment was brought before him; and his ^(C2)sleep fled from him.

Then the king got up at dawn, at the break of day, and went in a hurry to the lions' den.

And when he had come near the den to Daniel, he cried out with a troubled voice. The king began speaking and said to Daniel, "Daniel, servant of the living God, has ^(C1)your God, whom you continually serve, been ^(C2)able to rescue you from the lions?"

Then Daniel spoke ^(F1)to the king, "^(C1)O king, live forever!

"My God ^(C1)sent His angel and ^(C2)shut the lions' mouths, and they have not harmed me, since ^(F1)I was found innocent before Him; and also ^(F2)toward you, O king, I have committed no crime."

Then the king was very glad and gave orders for Daniel to be lifted up out of the den. So Daniel was lifted up out of the den, and ^(C1)no injury whatever was found on him, because he had ^(C2)trusted in his God.