First ReadingDaniel 6:12-28
From the Book of Daniel
12Then these men assembled together,and found Daniel making petitionand supplication before his God.13Then they came near,and spoke before the king concerning the king’s decree:“Haven’t you signed a decree that every manwho 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.”
14Then 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.”15Then 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.
16Then 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 statutewhich the king establishes may be changed.”
17Then 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.”
18A 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.19Then the king went to his palace,and passed the night fasting.No musical instruments were brought before him;and his sleep fled from him.
20Then the king arose very early in the morning,and went in haste to the den of lions.21When 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?”
22Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever!23My God has sent his angel,and has shut the lions’ mouths,and they have not hurt me;because I am innocent in his sight.Also before you, O king, I have done no harm.”
24Then the king was exceedingly glad,and commandedthat 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.
25The 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 themand broke all their bones in pieces before they came to the bottom of the den.
26Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples,nations, and languages,who dwell in all the earth:
“Peace be multiplied to you.
27“I make a decreethat in all the dominion of my kingdom men trembleand 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.28He delivers and rescues.He works signs and wonders in heaven and in earth,who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.”