Daniel

Stories of Daniel and his friends in exile and visions about future kingdoms and God's sovereignty.

Chapter 6

1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom;

*Darius decided to put 120 leaders in charge of the entire kingdom.

2 And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage.

*Over these three leaders, with Daniel as the first, they wanted the rulers to report to them, so the king wouldn't suffer any harm.

3 Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.

*Then Daniel was more important than the leaders, because he had a great attitude; so the king wanted to make him in charge of the entire country.

4 Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.

*Then the leaders and important people tried to find a reason to go against Daniel about the kingdom, but they couldn't find any reason or mistake. Since he was very trustworthy, no mistakes or faults were found in him.

5 Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.

*Then they said, "We won't find any reason to accuse Daniel unless it's about his God's laws."

6 Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever.

*Then the leaders came to King Darius together and said, "King Darius, live forever."

7 All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.

*All the leaders in the kingdom, including governors, princes, advisors, and captains, met to create a strong rule. This rule states that for thirty days, no one can ask anything from any god or person except the king. If anyone breaks this rule, they will be thrown into a lion's den.

8 Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.

*King, make your rule official and write it down so it doesn't change, following the unchanging laws of the Medes and Persians.

9 Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.

*So, King Darius approved the writing and the order.

10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.

*When Daniel found out about the written law, he went home. In his room, with windows open towards Jerusalem, he knelt down three times daily to pray and thank God, just like before.

11 Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.

*Then, these men gathered, and saw Daniel praying and asking God for help.

12 Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king’s decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.

*Then they approached the king and talked about his rule: "Did you make a rule saying that anyone who asks for something from a god or person within thirty days, except you, O king, will be thrown into the lions' den? The king replied, "Yes, it's true. This rule, based on Medes and Persians' law, doesn't change."

13 Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.

*Then they replied, "King, Daniel, who is from the captured Jewish children, doesn't obey you or your signed order. Instead, he prays three times each day."

14 Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him.

*Then the king became very upset after hearing these words. He decided to try to save Daniel and worked hard until the sun set.

15 Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed.

*Then they told the king, "Your Highness, you should know that the rule of the Medes and Persians says that anything the king makes into a law cannot be changed."

16 Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.

*Then the king ordered them to bring Daniel and throw him into a pit with lions. The king told Daniel, "Your constant God will save you."

17 And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.

*A large rock was placed over the cave's entrance. The king personally sealed it using his official stamp, along with the stamps of his important advisors, to make sure nothing would change regarding Daniel.

18 Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him.

*Then the king went to his house and spent the night without eating. No music instruments were played for him, and he couldn't fall asleep.

19 Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.

*Then the king woke up very early one morning and quickly went to the lions' home.

20 And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?

*And when he reached Daniel's pit, he called out sadly to Daniel. The king then asked Daniel, "Daniel, you who serve God always, can your God save you from these lions?"

21 Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.

*Then Daniel told the king, "O king, live forever."

22 My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.

*My God has sent an angel to stop the lions from hurting me because I am innocent. I haven't done anything wrong, not even towards you, King.

23 Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.

*Then the king was very happy for Daniel and told them to pull him out of the pit. So they took Daniel out, and he wasn't hurt because he trusted in God.

24 And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.

*The king ordered it, and they brought the men who accused Daniel. They threw those men, along with their children and wives, into a lion's den. The lions attacked them immediately, breaking all their bones before they reached the bottom of the den.

25 Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.

*Then King Darius wrote to everyone everywhere: May peace be multiplied for you all.

26 I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.

*I declare that in all parts of my kingdom, people will be afraid and respect the God of Daniel. He is a living God who lasts forever, and his kingdom won't be destroyed. His rule will continue until it ends completely.

27 He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.

*He saves and rescues; he does amazing things in the sky and on the ground, and he saved Daniel from the lions' power.

28 So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

*Daniel did well during Darius's time and also during Cyrus the Persian's rule.

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