Daniel in the Den of Lions
In Aramaic texts 6:1-28 is numbered 6:2-29. 1It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom, 2with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel. The satraps were made accountable to them so that the king might not suffer loss. 3Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. 4At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. 5Finally these men said, “We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.”
6So these administrators and satraps went as a group to the king and said: “May King Darius live forever! 7The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or human being during the next thirty days, except to you, Your Majesty, shall be thrown into the lions’ den. 8Now, Your Majesty, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.” 9So King Darius put the decree in writing.
10Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. 11Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help. 12So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: “Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human being except to you, Your Majesty, would be thrown into the lions’ den?”
The king answered, “The decree stands—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”
13Then they said to the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, Your Majesty, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day.” 14When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him.
15Then the men went as a group to King Darius and said to him, “Remember, Your Majesty, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed.”
16So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!”
17A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel’s situation might not be changed. 18Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep.
19At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. 20When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?”
21Daniel answered, “May the king live forever! 22My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.”
23The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.
24At the king’s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions’ den, along with their wives and children. And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.
25Then King Darius wrote to all the nations and peoples of every language in all the earth:
“May you prosper greatly!
26“I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel.
“For he is the living God
and he endures forever;
his kingdom will not be destroyed,
his dominion will never end.
27He rescues and he saves;
he performs signs and wonders
in the heavens and on the earth.
He has rescued Daniel
from the power of the lions.”
28So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus6:28 Or Darius, that is, the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
但以理在狮子坑
1大流士决定设立一百二十个总督治理全国。 2总督之上设三个总长，负责管理总督，以维护王的统治，但以理是其中之一。 3因为但以理有非凡的心智，远超过其他总长和总督，王便考虑让他治理全国。 4于是，其他总长和总督想在但以理的政务中找把柄控告他，却找不到任何把柄或过失，因为他诚实可靠，毫无过失。 5最后他们说：“除非我们从但以理上帝的律法下手，否则找不到指控他的把柄。”
6于是，这些总长和总督齐来见王，说：“愿大流士王万岁！ 7所有总长、行政官、总督、谋士和省长都认为王应该颁布诏书并实施一道禁令，三十天内，任何人不得向王以外的神明或人祷告，违者必被扔进狮子坑。 8王啊，求你颁布并签署这道禁令，使之不可更改，正如玛代人和波斯人的律令是不可更改的。” 9于是大流士王签署了这道禁令。
10但以理知道王签署禁令后，就回到家里，他楼上房间的窗户朝向耶路撒冷。他像往常一样每日三次跪下向上帝祷告、感恩。 11那些官员一同来了，发现但以理向他的上帝祷告、祈求， 12便去见王，提及王的禁令，说：“王啊，你不是签署禁令，三十天内，任何人不得向王以外的神明或人祷告，违者必被扔进狮子坑吗？”王说：“确有此事，按照玛代人和波斯人的律令，这禁令不可更改。” 13他们对王说：“王啊，被掳来的犹大人但以理不理会你和你的禁令，仍一日三次向他的上帝祈祷。” 14王听了这些话，十分愁烦，一心想救但以理，直到日落都在筹划解救之道。 15那些人齐来见王，说：“王啊，要知道按照玛代人和波斯人的律令，王颁布的禁令和律例是不可更改的。”
16王便下令把但以理带来扔进狮子坑。他对但以理说：“愿你一直事奉的上帝拯救你！” 17有人搬来一块石头封住坑口，王用他和大臣的印加封，使惩办但以理的事不可更改。 18王回宫后，整夜禁食，拒绝娱乐，无法入睡。
19次日黎明，王起来匆忙赶往狮子坑， 20到了坑边，凄声呼喊但以理：“永活上帝的仆人但以理啊，你一直事奉的上帝有没有救你脱离狮子的口？” 21但以理对王说：“愿王万岁！ 22我的上帝差遣天使封住了狮子的口，不让它们伤害我，因为我在上帝面前是清白的。王啊，我在你面前也没有过错。” 23王非常高兴，便命人把但以理从坑中拉上来。于是，但以理从坑中被拉了上来，他因为信靠他的上帝，身上毫无损伤。 24王下令把那些恶意控告但以理的人及其儿女妻子都带来，扔进狮子坑。他们还没到坑底，狮子便扑上去，咬碎了他们的骨头。
25后来，大流士王传谕境内的各族、各邦、各语种的人，说：“愿你们大享平安！ 26我下令，我统治的国民都要敬畏但以理的上帝，
“因为祂是永活长存的上帝，
祂的国度永不灭亡，
祂的统治直到永远。
27祂庇护、拯救，
在天上地下行神迹奇事，
救但以理脱离狮子的口。”
28因此，在大流士和波斯人塞鲁士执政期间，但以理凡事亨通。
