Dany'AL (Daniel) — 6

Danyal in the Lions’ Den

1 Darius the Madas decided to divide the kingdom into one hundred and twenty provinces, and he appointed a high officer to rule over each province. 

2 The king also chose Danyal and two others as administrators to supervise the high officers and protect the king’s interests. 

3 Danyal soon proved himself more capable than all the other administrators and high officers. Because of Danyal’s great ability, the king made plans to place him over the entire empire.

4 Then the other administrators and high officers began searching for some fault in the way Danyal was handling government affairs, but they could not find anything to criticize or condemn, he was faithful, always responsible, and completely trustworthy. 

5 So they concluded, “Our only chance of finding grounds for accusing Danyal will be in connection with the rules of his worship.”

6 So the administrators and high officers went to the king and said, “Long live King Darius! 

7 We are all in agreement we administrators, officials, high officers, advisers, and governors, that the king should make a law that will be strictly enforced, give orders that for the next thirty days any person who prays to anyone, divine or man except to you, Your Majesty, will be thrown into the den of lions. 

8 And now, Your Majesty, issue and sign this law so it cannot be changed, an official law of the Madas and Parsians that cannot be revoked.” 

9 So King Darius signed the law.

10 But when Danyal learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Yahushalam. Danyal prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving Tudah (thanks) to his 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH. 

11 Then the officials went together to Danyal’s house and found him praying and asking for 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH’s help. 

12 So they went straight to the king and reminded him about his law. “Did you not sign a law that for the next thirty days any person who prays to anyone, divine or man except to you Your Majesty will be thrown into the den of lions? “Yes,” the king replied, “that decision stands; it is an official law of the Madas and Persians that cannot be revoked.”

13 Then they told the king, “That man Danyal, one of the captives from Yahudah, is ignoring you and your law, he still prays to his 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH three times a day.”

14 Hearing this, the king was deeply troubled, and he tried to think of a way to save Danyal, the king spent the rest of the day looking for a way to get Danyal out of this predicament.

15 In the evening the men went together to the king and said, “Your Majesty, you know that according to the law of the Madas and the Parsians, no law that the king signs can be changed.”

16 So at last the king gave orders for Danyal to be arrested and thrown into the den of lions, the king said to Danyal, “May your 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH, whom you serve so faithfully, rescue you.”

17 A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, the king sealed the stone with his own royal seal and the seals of his nobles, so that no one could rescue Danyal. 

18 Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night fasting, he refused his usual entertainment and couldn’t sleep at all that night.

19 Very early the next morning, the king got up and hurried out to the lions’ den. 

20 When he got there, he called out in anguish, “Danyal, servant of the living 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH! Was your 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH whom you serve so faithfully, able to rescue you from the lions?”

21 Danyal answered, “Long live the king! 

22 My 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH sent his Malak to shut the lion's mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH sight, and I have not wronged you, Your Majesty.”

23 The king was overjoyed and ordered that Danyal be lifted from the den, not a scratch was found on Danyal, for Danyal trusted in his 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH.

24 Then the king gave orders to arrest the men who had maliciously accused Danyal, he had them thrown into the lion's den, along with their wives and children, The lions leaped on them and tore them apart before they even hit the floor of the den.

25 Then King Darius sent this message to the people of every race and nation and language throughout the world: “Shalum and prosperity to you!

26 “I decree that everyone throughout my kingdom should tremble with fear before the 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH of Danyal, For 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH is the living 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH, and 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH will endure forever, 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH's kingdom will never be destroyed, and the Reign of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH will never end.

27 For 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH rescues and saves His people; 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH performs miraculous signs and wonders in the Shamaym and on the Arath,  𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH has rescued Danyal from the power of the lions.”

28 So Danyal prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Parsian.