Daniel 6

1 Now it pleased [seemed good to] Darius [the king, a title for Persian kings] to appoint [set over, establish] 120 [a hundred and twenty] satraps [governors, provincial rulers] to rule [be in charge, have authority] throughout [over the whole, in every part of] the kingdom [the territory, the realm], word study 2 and over them three administrators [high-ranking officials, chief rulers], including Daniel, to whom these satraps [governors, princes] were accountable [to give accounts, responsible] so that the king [Darius, the ruler] would not suffer loss [damage, harm]. word study 3 Soon, by his extraordinary [excellent] spirit, Daniel [the prophet, God’s judge] distinguished himself [was preferred, shown to be superior] among the [chief, high-ranking] administrators and satraps [high-ranking governors]. So the king [monarch, ruler] planned to set him [to be in charge, to establish him] over the whole [realm, kingdom, empire] kingdom. word study 4 Thus the administrators [high-ranking officials, chief rulers] and satraps [governors, princes] sought a charge [occasion, fault] against Daniel concerning the kingdom [the king’s domain, the realm], but they could find no charge [complaint, corruption] or corruption [wrongdoing, error], because he was trustworthy [faithful, true], and no negligence [error, fault] or corruption [wrong, blame] was found in him. word study 5 Finally [at that time, then] these men said, “We will never find [discover, come across] any charge [occasion, pretext] against this Daniel, unless [except, if not] we find [discover, come across] something against him concerning [regarding, in relation to] the law [commands, teachings] of his God [the one he worshiped, his Lord].” word study 6 So the administrators [chief rulers, high officials] and satraps [governors, princes] went together to the king and said, “O King Darius [may your reign be long], may you live forever [live for ever, have life for ever]! word study 7 All the royal [high-ranking, chief] administrators, prefects [deputies, governors], satraps [regional rulers, princes], advisers [counsellors, wise men], and governors [local rulers, officials] have agreed that the king [monarch, ruler] should establish an ordinance [law, decree] and enforce a decree [firm edict, interdict] that for thirty days anyone who petitions [asks, prays to] any god [deity, idol] or man [human, mortal] except you, O king [sovereign, lord], will be thrown into the den [pit, lair] of lions [wild beasts, fierce animals]. word study 8 Therefore, O [supreme ruler] king, establish [confirm, put in force] the decree [law, interdict] and sign [seal, authenticate] the document [writing, official record] so that it cannot be changed [altered, repealed]—in accordance with the law [custom, statute] of the Medes and Persians [ancient empires, governing authorities], which cannot be repealed [changed, altered, like the law of the Medes and Persians that doth not pass away].” word study 9 Therefore [for this reason, at this time] King [ruler, monarch] Darius [of Media and Persia] signed [wrote, sealed, confirmed] the written [inscribed, decreed] decree [law, interdict, official command]. word study 10 Now when Daniel learned [knew and understood] that the document [inscription, written decree] had been signed [officially ratified, confirmed with a seal], he went into his house, where the windows [openings for light and prayer] of his upper room [private chamber, place of solitude] opened toward Jerusalem [the holy city, direction of worship], and three times a day he got down on his knees [kneeled in reverence, humbled himself], prayed [petitioned and communed with God], and gave thanks [expressed gratitude, praised] to his God [the one true God, his faithful Lord], just as he had done [consistently practiced, habitually worshiped] before. word study 11 Then these men went as a group [together, assembled] and found Daniel [the prophet, a man of God] petitioning [praying, making supplication] and imploring [requesting, beseeching] his God [the one true God, his Lord]. word study 12 So they approached [came near, drew close to] the king and asked about his royal decree [official order, law]: “Did you not sign [put your name to, authorize] a decree that for thirty days any man [person, individual] who petitions [asks, seeks] any god [deity, divine being] or man [human, person] except you, O king [ruler, sovereign], will be thrown [cast, tossed] into the den of lions [a place of certain death, a terrifying fate]?” The king replied, “According to the law [custom, tradition] of the Medes and Persians [a specific cultural and historical context] the order stands [remains in effect, is unchangeable], and it cannot be repealed [changed, annulled, altered].” word study 13 Then [at that time, in response] they told the king, “Daniel, one of the exiles [captives, prisoners] from Judah, shows no regard [disregards, does not respect] for you, O king [ruler, monarch], or for the decree [injunction, interdict] that you have signed [written, sealed]. He still makes his petition [prayer, request] three times a day [daily, every day].” word study 14 As soon as the king [ruler, monarch] heard this, he was deeply distressed [sore displeased, grieved] and set his mind [heart, inner being] on delivering Daniel [to rescue, save], and he labored [worked, strove] until sundown [the going down of the sun, evening] to rescue [deliver, save] him. word study 15 Then the men approached the king together [in unison] and said to him, “Remember [know, be aware of], O king [ruler, monarch], that by the law [established custom, decree] of the Medes and Persians [the ruling authorities] no decree [official order, statute] or ordinance [law, command] established [set in place, confirmed] by the king can be changed [altered, revoked].” word study 16 So the king [ruler, monarch] gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the den [pit, enclosure] of lions. The king said to Daniel, “May your God [Elohim, the one you worship], whom you serve [worship, obey] continually [always, constantly], deliver [rescue, save] you [from harm, danger]!” word study 17 A stone [large rock, huge boulder] was brought and placed over the mouth [entrance, opening] of the den [pit, cave], and the king [ruler, monarch] sealed it with his own signet ring [personal seal, official stamp] and with the rings [seals, stamps] of his nobles [lords, high officials], so that nothing [no one, not anything] concerning Daniel [the prophet, God’s servant] could be changed [altered, modified]. word study 18 Then the king [ruler, monarch] went to his palace [royal residence, house] and spent the night [passed the evening, remained awake] fasting [abstaining from food, in a state of humility]. No entertainment [instruments of musick, joyful activities] was brought before him, and sleep [rest, slumber] fled from him [departed, went away]. word study 19 At the first [very early] light of dawn [as soon as it was light], the king [ruler, monarch] got up [arose, rose] and hurried [went in haste, rushed] to the den [hole, pit] of lions [wild beasts, fierce animals]. word study 20 When he reached the den [a pit or a hiding place], he cried out in a voice of anguish [with a lamentable voice, in a troubled tone], “O Daniel, servant [faithful follower, devoted worshiper] of the living God [the all-powerful, eternal Creator], has your God [the One you continually worship and trust], whom you serve continually [with daily devotion, in constant obedience], been able to deliver you from the lions [these fierce and powerful animals]?” word study 21 Then Daniel [the prophet, God’s servant] replied, “O king [Your Majesty, ruler], may you [have a long life, be blessed with perpetual reign] live forever [in prosperity, with continuous dominion]! word study 22 My God [the supreme Creator, Elohim] sent His angel [messenger] and shut the mouths of the lions [wild beasts]. They have not hurt me, for I was found innocent [blameless, without sin] in His sight [presence, judgment], and I have done no wrong [harm, injury] against you, O king [ruler, monarch].” word study 23 The king [exceedingly glad, overjoyed] was overjoyed and gave orders [commanded] to lift Daniel out of the den [pit, hole], and when Daniel was lifted out of the den, no wounds [harm, injury] whatsoever were found on him, because he had trusted [believed, had faith] in his God [the one true God, Elohim]. word study 24 At the command [order, decree] of the king [ruler, monarch], the men who had falsely accused [wrongly charged, slandered] Daniel [the prophet, God’s judge] were brought and thrown into the den [pit, lair] of lions—they and their children and wives [families, households]. And before they had reached the bottom [lower part, floor] of the den, the lions overpowered [had mastery, dominated] them and crushed [broke, shattered] all their bones [entire bodies, every limb]. word study 25 Then King [ruler, monarch] Darius wrote to the people [nations, languages] of every nation [people-group] and language [tongue] throughout the land: “May your prosperity [peace, well-being] abound [be multiplied, increase]. word study 26 I hereby decree [issue a royal command, make a proclamation] that in every part of my kingdom [domain, territory], men are to tremble in fear [reverence, awe] before the God [Elohim, the living and eternal One] of Daniel: For He is the living God [the self-existent and eternal One], and He endures forever [abides, remains unchanged]; His kingdom [sovereign rule, dominion] will never be destroyed [overthrown, annihilated], and His dominion [authority, power] will never end [cease, come to an end]. word study 27 He delivers [rescues, saves] and rescues [sets free, liberates]; He performs [works, accomplishes] signs [miraculous events, wonders] and wonders [amazing feats, marvels] in the heavens [the spiritual realm, the sky] and on the earth [the physical world, the land], for He has rescued [delivered, saved] Daniel [God is my judge] from the power [dominion, control] of the lions [ferocious beasts].” word study 28 So Daniel [this prophet, a man of God] prospered [experienced good success, was highly favored] during the reign [kingship, rule] of Darius [a king of the Medes] and the reign [kingdom, dominion] of Cyrus [a Persian king, ruler] the Persian [from the land of Persia, a powerful empire]. word study