1 GLT It pleased Darius to appoint over the kingdom 120 satraps, who would be throughout the whole kingdom. BSB BSB: Now it pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom,
2 GLT Over them were three high officials, of whom Daniel was one, to whom these satraps should give account, so that the king might suffer no loss. BSB BSB: and over them three administrators, including Daniel, to whom these satraps were accountable so that the king would not suffer loss.
3 GLT Then this Daniel became distinguished above the high officials and satraps because an extraordinary spirit was in him, and the king planned to appoint him over the whole kingdom. BSB BSB: Soon, by his extraordinary spirit, Daniel distinguished himself among the administrators and satraps. So the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.
4 GLT Then the high officials and the satraps were seeking to find a ground for accusation against Daniel with regard to the kingdom, but they were not able to find any ground for accusation or corruption because he was faithful, and no negligence or corruption was found in him. BSB BSB: Thus the administrators and satraps sought a charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom, but they could find no charge or corruption, because he was trustworthy, and no negligence or corruption was found in him.
5 GLT Then these men said,“We will not find any ground for accusation against this Daniel unless we find something against him with regard to the law of his God.” BSB BSB: Finally these men said, “We will never find any charge against this Daniel unless we find something against him concerning the law of his God.”
6 GLT Then these high officials and satraps went as a group to the king and said to him as follows,“O King Darius, live forever! BSB BSB: So the administrators and satraps went together to the king and said, “O King Darius, may you live forever!
7 GLT All the high officials of the kingdom, the prefects, and the satraps, the counselors, and the governors have consulted together that the king should establish a statute and enforce an injunction, that whoever makes a petition to any god or man for thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be thrown into the den of lions. BSB BSB: All the royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers, and governors have agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce a decree that for thirty days anyone who petitions any god or man except you, O king, will be thrown into the den of lions.
8 GLT Now, O king, establish the injunction and sign the document so that it may not be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which may not be revoked.” BSB BSB: Therefore, O king, establish the decree and sign the document so that it cannot be changed—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”
9 GLT Therefore king Darius signed the document and injunction. BSB BSB: Therefore King Darius signed the written decree.
10 GLT Now when Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went into his house(now his windows were open in his roof chamber toward Jerusalem), and he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously. BSB BSB: Now when Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went into his house, where the windows of his upper room opened toward Jerusalem, and three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God, just as he had done before.
11 GLT Then these men went as a group and found Daniel making petition and imploring favor before his God. BSB BSB: Then these men went as a group and found Daniel petitioning and imploring his God.
12 GLT Then they approached and spoke before the king about the injunction of the king:“Did you not sign an injunction that any man who makes a petition to any god or man within thirty days, except to you, O king, must be thrown into the den of lions?” The king answered and said,“The matter is certain, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which may not be revoked.” BSB BSB: So they approached the king and asked about his royal decree: “Did you not sign a decree that for thirty days any man who petitions any god or man except you, O king, will be thrown into the den of lions?” The king replied, “According to the law of the Medes and Persians the order stands, and it cannot be repealed.”
13 GLT Then they answered and said before the king,“Daniel, who is one of the people of the exile from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or to the injunction that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.” BSB BSB: Then they told the king, “Daniel, one of the exiles from Judah, shows no regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed. He still makes his petition three times a day.”
14 GLT Then the king, when he heard the matter, was greatly distressed, and he set his mind on Daniel to deliver him; and until the sun went down he kept exerting himself to rescue him. BSB BSB: As soon as the king heard this, he was deeply distressed and set his mind on delivering Daniel, and he labored until sundown to rescue him.
15 GLT Then these men went as a group to the king and said to the king,“Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians, that no injunction or statute that the king establishes can be changed.” BSB BSB: Then the men approached the king together and said to him, “Remember, O king, that by the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or ordinance established by the king can be changed.”
16 GLT Then the king gave an order, and Daniel was brought in and thrown into the den of lions. The king responded and said to Daniel,“Your God, whom you serve continually, may he deliver you.” BSB BSB: So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the den of lions. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!”
17 GLT A stone was brought and laid 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 might be changed concerning Daniel. BSB BSB: 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 nothing concerning Daniel could be changed.
18 GLT Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting. No entertainment was brought before him, and his sleep fled from him. BSB BSB: Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting. No entertainment was brought before him, and sleep fled from him.
19 GLT Then the king got up at dawn, at the break of day, and went in haste to the den of lions. BSB BSB: At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the den of lions.
20 GLT As he came near to the den to Daniel, he cried out in a troubled voice. The king responded and said to Daniel,“O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?” BSB BSB: When he reached the den, he cried out in a voice of anguish, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?”
21 GLT Then Daniel spoke to the king,“O king, live forever! BSB BSB: Then Daniel replied, “O king, may you live forever!
22 GLT My God sent his angel and shut the mouths of the lions, and they have not hurt me, because I was found blameless before him and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.” BSB BSB: My God sent His angel and shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, for I was found innocent in His sight, and I have done no wrong against you, O king.”
23 GLT Then the king was exceedingly glad, and gave an order for Daniel to be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. BSB BSB: The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den, and when Daniel was lifted out of the den, no wounds whatsoever were found on him, because he had trusted in his God.
24 GLT The king gave an order, and they brought those men who had maliciously accused Daniel and threw them, their children, and their wives into the den of lions; and they had not reached the bottom of the den before the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones. BSB BSB: At the command of the king, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought and thrown into the den of lions—they and their children and wives. And before they had reached the bottom of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.
25 GLT Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages that live in all the earth:“May your peace abound. BSB BSB: Then King Darius wrote to the people of every nation and language throughout the land: “May your prosperity abound.
26 GLT I make a decree that in all the dominion of my kingdom men are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God and enduring forever, and his kingdom is one which will not be destroyed, and his dominion will be to the end. BSB BSB: I hereby decree that in every part of my kingdom, men are to tremble in fear before the God of Daniel: For He is the living God, and He endures forever; His kingdom will never be destroyed, and His dominion will never end.
27 GLT He delivers and rescues, and he does signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, he who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.” BSB BSB: He delivers and rescues; He performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth, for He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.”
28 GLT So this Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and during the reign of Cyrus the Persian. BSB BSB: So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.