Daniel in the Lions' Den
Daniel 6 , line 7 to 25
Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said
thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever. All the presidents of the kingdom,
the governors, and the princes, the counsellers, 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. 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. Wherefore king Darius
signed the writing and the decree. 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.
Then
these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before
his God. 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 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 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 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 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. 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. 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 arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the
den of lions. 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? Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.
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. 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. 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.