Daniel 6 JPS Tanakh (1917)
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Notes on this text (1)
- Numbers like (22-2) in the text give the Hebrew verse numbering where it differs.
1 (6-2) It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom a hundred and twenty satraps, who should be throughout the whole kingdom;
1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred twenty local governors, who should be throughout the whole kingdom;
2 (6-3) and over them three presidents, of whom Daniel was one; that these satraps might give account unto them, and that the king should have no damage.
2 and over them three presidents, of whom Daniel was one, that these local governors might give account to them, and that the king should suffer no loss.
3 (6-4) Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the presidents and the satraps, because a surpassing spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.
3 Then this Daniel was distinguished above the presidents and the local governors, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.
4 (6-5) Then the presidents and the satraps sought to find occasion against Daniel as touching the kingdom; but they could find no occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.
4 Then the presidents and the local governors sought to find occasion against Daniel as touching the kingdom; but they could find no occasion or fault, because he was faithful. There wasn’t any error or fault found in him.
5 (6-6) Then said these men: 'We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him in the matter of the law of his God.'
5 Then these men said, “We won’t find any occasion against this Daniel, unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God.”
6 (6-7) Then these presidents and satraps came tumultuously to the king, and said thus unto him: 'King Darius, live for ever!
6 Then these presidents and local governors assembled together to the king, and said this to him, “King Darius, live forever!
7 (6-8) All the presidents of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the ministers and the governors, have consulted together that the king should establish a statute, and make a strong interdict, 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.
7 All the presidents of the kingdom, the deputies and the local governors, the counselors and the governors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a strong decree, that whoever asks a petition of any god or man for thirty days, except of you, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.
8 (6-9) Now, O king, establish the interdict, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.'
8 Now, O king, establish the decree and sign the writing, that it not be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which doesn’t alter.”
9 (6-10) Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the interdict.
9 Therefore King Darius signed the writing and the decree.
10 (6-11) And when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house — now his windows were open in his upper chamber toward Jerusalem — and he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.
10 When Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house (now his windows were open in his room toward Jerusalem) and he kneeled on his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did before.
11 (6-12) Then these men came tumultuously, and found Daniel making petition and supplication before his God.
11 Then these men assembled together, and found Daniel making petition and supplication before his God.
12 (6-13) Then they came near, and spoke before the king concerning the king's interdict: 'Hast thou not signed an interdict, that every man that shall make petition unto 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.'
12 Then they came near, and spoke before the king concerning the king’s decree: “Haven’t you signed a decree that every man who makes a petition to any god or man within thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?” The king answered, “This thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which doesn’t alter.”
13 (6-14) Then answered they and said before the king: 'That Daniel, who is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the interdict that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.'
13 Then they answered and said before the king, “That Daniel, who is of the children of the captivity of Judah, doesn’t respect you, O king, nor the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.”
14 (6-15) Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him.
14 Then the king, when he heard these words, was very displeased, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored until the going down of the sun to rescue him.
15 (6-16) Then these men came tumultuously unto the king, and said unto the king: 'Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians, that no interdict nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed.'
15 Then these men assembled together to the king, and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians, that no decree nor statute which the king establishes may be changed.”
16 (6-17) Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spoke and said unto Daniel: 'Thy God whom thou servest continually, He will deliver thee.'
16 Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions. The king spoke and said to Daniel, “Your God whom you serve continually, he will deliver you.”
17 (6-18) 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 nothing might be changed concerning Daniel.
17 A stone was brought, and laid on the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel.
18 (6-19) Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting; neither were diversions brought before him; and his sleep fled from him.
18 Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting. No musical instruments were brought before him; and his sleep fled from him.
19 (6-20) Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.
19 Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste to the den of lions.
20 (6-21) And when he came near unto the den to Daniel, he cried with a pained voice; the king spoke 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?'
20 When he came near to Daniel in the den, he cried with a troubled voice. The king spoke and said to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, is your God, whom you serve continually, able to deliver you from the lions?”
21 (6-22) Then said Daniel unto the king: 'O king, live for ever!
21 Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever!
22 (6-23) My God hath sent His angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, and 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.'
22 My God has sent his angel, and has shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not hurt me, because innocence was found in me before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.”
23 (6-24) Then was the king exceeding glad, 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 had trusted in his God.
23 Then the king was exceedingly glad, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.
24 (6-25) And the king commanded, and they brought those men that had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and they had not come to the bottom of the den, when the lions had the mastery of them, and broke all their bones in pieces.
24 The king commanded, and they brought those men who had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions—them, their children, and their wives; and the lions mauled them, and broke all their bones in pieces before they came to the bottom of the den.
25 (6-26) Then king Darius wrote unto all the peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: 'Peace be multiplied unto you.
25 Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages who dwell in all the earth: “Peace be multiplied to you.
26 (6-27) I make a decree, that in all the dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel; for He is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and His kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and His dominion shall be even unto the end;
26 “I make a decree that in all the dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. “For he is the living God, and steadfast forever. His kingdom is that which will not be destroyed. His dominion will be even to the end.
27 (6-28) He delivereth and rescueth, and He worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth; who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.'
27 He delivers and rescues. He works signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.”
28 (6-29) So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
28 So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
Cross references (28)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Exodus 18:21–22; Daniel 5:31; Esther 1:1; 1 Peter 2:14
- 2 Ezra 4:22; Daniel 5:29; Daniel 2:48–49; Esther 7:4; Daniel 5:16
- 3 Daniel 5:14; Genesis 41:38–41; Proverbs 22:29; Daniel 5:12; Esther 10:3
- 4 1 Peter 3:16; Philippians 2:15; 1 Peter 2:12; Luke 20:20; Titus 2:8
- 5 Acts 24:13–16; Esther 3:8; Acts 24:20–21; 1 Samuel 24:17; John 19:6–7
- 6 Daniel 2:4; Daniel 6:21; Nehemiah 2:3; Daniel 5:10; Psalm 62:3
- 7 Psalm 59:3; Psalm 83:1–3; Daniel 3:6; Daniel 3:2; Psalm 62:4
- 8 Daniel 6:15; Esther 1:19; Isaiah 10:1; Daniel 6:12; Esther 3:12
- 9 Psalm 118:9; Psalm 146:3; Isaiah 2:22; Psalm 62:9–10; Proverbs 6:2
- 10 Acts 5:29; Psalm 55:17; 1 Thessalonians 5:17–18; Psalm 95:6; Psalm 34:1
- 11 Psalm 37:32–33; Psalm 10:9; Daniel 6:6
- 12 Daniel 6:8; Daniel 3:8–12; Esther 1:19; Acts 16:19; Acts 16:24
- 13 Daniel 3:12; Acts 5:29; Daniel 2:25; Esther 3:8; Daniel 5:13
- 14 Mark 6:26; Luke 23:13–21; John 19:7–12; 2 Samuel 3:28–29; Daniel 3:13
- 15 Daniel 6:12; Esther 8:8; Psalm 94:20–21; Daniel 6:8
- 16 Psalm 37:39–40; Job 5:19; Psalm 91:14–16; Isaiah 43:2; Daniel 3:28
- 17 Lamentations 3:53; Acts 12:4; Acts 16:23–24; Matthew 27:60–66
- 18 Esther 6:1; Daniel 2:1; 2 Samuel 12:16–17; Psalm 77:4; Jonah 3:3–9
- 19 1 Thessalonians 3:5; Mark 16:2; 2 Corinthians 2:13; Matthew 28:1
- 20 Daniel 6:27; 1 Chronicles 16:11; Hebrews 7:25; Daniel 6:16; 2 Timothy 4:16–18
- 21 Daniel 2:4; Daniel 6:6; Nehemiah 2:3
- 22 2 Timothy 4:17; Hebrews 11:33; Psalm 91:11–13; Acts 12:11; Acts 24:16
- 23 1 Chronicles 5:20; Daniel 3:27–28; Daniel 3:25; Mark 9:23; Daniel 6:18
- 24 Isaiah 38:13; Esther 7:10; 2 Kings 14:6; Esther 9:25; Deuteronomy 24:16
- 25 Daniel 4:1; Ezra 1:1–2; Esther 3:12; Ezra 4:17; 1 Peter 1:2
- 26 Daniel 4:34; Luke 1:33; Daniel 7:14; Daniel 4:3; Psalm 2:11
- 27 Daniel 4:2–3; Psalm 18:50; Psalm 97:10; Acts 4:30; 2 Timothy 4:17–18
- 28 Daniel 1:21; 2 Chronicles 36:22; Isaiah 44:28–45:1; Daniel 10:1
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
For what shall we say, brethren? Was Daniel cast into the den of lions by such as feared God?
Faith stoppeth the mouths of lions, as in Daniel's case: for the Scripture saith concerning him, that Daniel was brought up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)