It pleased Dâreyâwêsh to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom;
And over these three presidents; of whom Dânı̂yêl was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage.
Then this Dânı̂yêl was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent rûach was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.
Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Dânı̂yêl 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 said these men, we shall not find any occasion against this Dânı̂yêl, except we find it against him concerning the law of his ĔLÂHH (אֱלָהּ).
Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Dâreyâwêsh, live for ever.
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 you, 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 Mâday and Pâras, which alters not.
Wherefore king Dâreyâwêsh signed the writing and the decree.
Now when Dânı̂yêl knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Yerûshâlaim, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his ĔLÂHH (אֱלָהּ), as he did foretime.
Then these men assembled, and found Dânı̂yêl praying and making supplication before his ĔLÂHH (אֱלָהּ).
Then they came near, and spoke before the king concerning the king's decree; Have you not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any ĔLÂHH (אֱלָהּ) or man within thirty days, save of you, 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 Mâday and Pâras, which alters not.
Then answered they and said before the king, That Dânı̂yêl, which is of the children of the captivity of Yahûd, regards not you, O king, nor the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.
Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Dânı̂yêl 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 Mâday and Pâras is, that no decree nor statute which the king establishes may be changed.
Then the king commanded, and they brought Dânı̂yêl, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spoke and said unto Dânı̂yêl, your ĔLÂHH (אֱלָהּ) whom you serve continually, he will deliver you.
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 Dânı̂yêl.
Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of music 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 Dânı̂yêl: and the king spoke and said to Dânı̂yêl, O Dânı̂yêl, servant of the living ĔLÂHH (אֱלָהּ), is your ĔLÂHH (אֱלָהּ), whom you serve continually, able to deliver you from the lions?
Then said Dânı̂yêl unto the king, O king, live for ever.
My ĔLÂHH (אֱלָהּ) has sent his angel, and has shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocence was found in me; and also before you, O king, have I done no hurt.
Then was the king exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Dânı̂yêl up out of the den. So Dânı̂yêl was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his ĔLÂHH (אֱלָהּ).
And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Dânı̂yêl, 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.
Then king Dâreyâwêsh wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.
I make a decree, that in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the ĔLÂHH (אֱלָהּ) of Dânı̂yêl: for he is the living ĔLÂHH (אֱלָהּ), and steadfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.
He delivers and rescues, and he works signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who has delivered Dânı̂yêl from the power of the lions.
So this Dânı̂yêl prospered in the reign of Dâreyâwêsh, and in the reign of Kôresh the Parsı̂y (פַּרְסִי).