Daniel 6

1. And Darius was pleased* with him, as he appointed* one hundred and twenty commanders* over all his kingdom.
2. And above them [he appointed three] and Daniel was one of these three, such that the commanders would give [these three] an accounting, so they would not bother the king [with every matter.]*
 
3. Then Daniel was greater than all of them, because he was the most spiritually endowed, and the king praised him before all his kingdom.
4. Then the governors* and the commanders were desperately trying* to find some charge* to bring against Daniel, based on something he had uttered regarding the kingdom, but they could find neither any foolish act [that he may have committed,] nor accusation* that they could levy against him,* for Daniel truly believed in his God and there could be found no outrage or foolishness that could be attributed to him.*
5. And so these men said, "We cannot find any cause against this Daniel, except if we could find something against him in the religion of his God."
6. Then the governors and the commanders approached the king and said to him, "Long live King Darius!*
7. "To prove* their allegiances -- all the governors of the kingdom, the lords and the commanders -- let them declare a covenant* with the king and relieve themselves of their positions,* thence whosoever* beseeches* any god* or any man for Thirty Days -- except if they ask it of you, O, king -- shall be cast into the lion's den.
8. "Therefore, O, king, issue this commandment,* and write the document that cannot be revoked* in the Law of the Medes and Persians, and that which cannot be changed."
 
9. Then King Darius had it inscribed in writing,* and issued the commandment.*
10. And as Daniel knew that the decree had been issued, he entered his house and they opened the windows of his upper chamber toward Jerusalem, and three times* a day he glorified on his knees; he prayed and confessed before his God, as he used to do in times of old.
11. Whence these men drove off and found Daniel praying and dedicating* himself before his God.
12. Then they approached and said to the king, "Long live the king!* Did you not issue the order,* [was it not] a royal decree, that any man* who prays and beseeches* any god or man for [a period of] Thirty Days -- except if they [ask] you first -- shall be cast into the lion's den?" The king replied and said, "Truly that is the manifestation according to the law of the Medes and Persians; that is undeniable."*
13. Then they replied and said before the king, "Daniel, of the Jewish captives, does not uphold you and the decree that you issued;* he has been praying for Thirty Days."*
14. And when the king heard this manifestation, he was very upset,* but he decided* to deliver* Daniel; he wrestled with it, as to how to deliver Daniel, until the setting of the sun.
15. Then those men barged* in on the king and said to him, "Know this, O, king, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians,* that whatever decree and covenant* that the king inaugurates, it cannot be ignored."*
16. Then the king ordered and Daniel was brought, and they cast him into the lion's den. The king came in and said to Daniel, "Your God, whom you serve faithfully,* He will redeem you."
17. So they brought a great stone and placed it at the opening of the den,* and the king sealed it with his ring and the rings of his nobles, those who did not wish Daniel to go free.*
 
18. Then the king went to his temple and began fasting; they did not bring food before him, and sleep departed from him.
19. Then the king rose up in the morning suddenly and went quickly to the lion's den.
20. And as he approached the den, he called out to Daniel in a loud voice. This is what the king said to Daniel,* "Daniel, the servant of the Living God, your God, whom you serve faithfully,* could he not deliver you from the lion's den?"
21. Then Daniel spoke with the king and said, "Long live the king.*
22. "My God sent his angel and closed the mouths of the lions, and they did not devour* me, because I was found to be righteous before Him, and also before you, O, king, I did not commit any foolishness."
23. This then was very pleasing to the king,* and he ordered that they bring Daniel up from the den, and so they brought Daniel up from the den. He was found to be unharmed,* because he was faithful to his God.
 
24. Then the king ordered that they bring those men that accused* Daniel, and [he ordered] that they throw them into the lion's den, together with their women and children. Thus they threw them into the lion's den, and before they reached the bottom of the den, the lions attacked them and chewed all their bones.*
25. Then King Darius wrote all the nations, motherlands and tongues that lived in the entire world,* "Peace be upon you.*
26. "I am issuing this decree,* that every governor of my kingdom should tremble and fear the God of Daniel, that He is the Living God, who rules* forever,* whose kingdom can never be destroyed, and His authority is without limit.
27. "He saves, He rescues and He delivers; He performs signs and wonders in heaven and on earth; [it is] He who rescued Daniel from the lions."
28. Thus Daniel held his seat in the kingdom of Darius and [later in] the kingdom of Cyrus the Persian.*
*6:1.1 Lit. Ar. idiomatic construction: "And he (appeared) beautiful before Daniel." *6:1.2 Lit. Ar. id.: "Raised."
*6:1.3 Lit. Ar. id.: "Chiefs of the Forces."
*6:2 Lit. Ar. idiomatic construction: "And that to the king they did not have to enlighten."
*6:4.1 Lit. Ar. id.: "Authorities."
*6:4.2 Lit. Ar. id.: "Praying," or "begging."
*6:4.3 Lit. Ar. id.: "Causes."
*6:4.4 Lit. Ar. id.: "Cause."
*6:4.5 Lit. Ar. idiomatic expression: "Find after him."
*6:4.6 Lit. Ar. idiomatic construction: "... could be found against him."
*6:6 Lit. Ar. idiomatic expression: "May ... to the end of the universe live."
*6:7.1 Lit. Ar. id.: "Count."
*6:7.2 Lit. Ar. idiomatic figure of speech: "Raise the raising."
*6:7.3 Lit. Ar. idiomatic figure of speech: "Untie the tying."
*6:7.4 Lit. Ar. id.: "Human."
*6:7.5 Lit. Ar. idiomatic figure of speech: "Prayingly prays," or"beggingly begs."
*6:7.6 Lit. Ar. id.: "To his god."
*6:8.1 Lit. Ar. idiomatic figure of speech: "Command the commandment."
*6:8.2 Lit. Ar. id.: "Passed off."
*6:9.1 Lit. Ar. id.: "Marked the book," or "issued the decree."
*6:9.2 Lit. Ar. idiomatic figure of speech: "Commanded the commandment."
*6:11 Lit. Ar. id.: (Bridal dedication ceremony.)
*6:12.1 Lit. Ar. idiomatic expression: "King to the [end of the] universe live."
*6:12.2 Lit. Ar. idiomatic figure of speech: "Layingly laid out [in writing.]"
*6:12.3 Lit. Ar. id.: "Human."
*6:12.4 Lit. Ar. idiomatic figure of speech: "Prayingly prays."
*6:12.5 Lit. Ar. id.: "That does not pass."
*6:13.1 Lit. Ar. idiomatic figure of speech: "The sentence [laying] that you laid out."
*6:13.2 Lit. Ar. id.: "Three seasons."
*6:14.1 Lit. Ar. id.: "Cramped."
*6:14.2 Lit. Ar. idiomatic expression: "Consecrated in his counsel."
*6:14.3 Lit. Ar. id.: "Forgive."
*6:15.1 Lit. Ar. id.: "Put themselves above him."
*6:15.2 Lit. Ar. idiomatic construction: "There is law for the Medes and Persians."
*6:15.2 Lit. Ar. idiomatic expression: "The raising that raises."
*6:15.3 Lit. Ar. id.: "Passed out," or "moved aside."
*6:16 Lit. Ar. idiomatic expression: "Work for with amen-ness."
*6:17.1 Lit. Ar. idiomatic construction: "And they brought one great stone and consecrated it over the mouth of the den."
*6:17.2 Lit. Ar. idiomatic expression: "Wish him passage."
*6:19.1 Lit. Ar. idiomatic construction: "The king replied and said to Daniel."
*6:19.2 Lit. Ar. idiomatic construction: "Your God for whom you work with amen-ness..."
*6:21 Lit. Ar. idiomatic expression: "May the king live to [the end of the] universe."
*6:22 Lit. Ar. id.: "Destroy."
*6:23.1 Lit. Ar. idiomatic expression: "Much beautified him."
*6:23.2 Lit. Ar. idiomatic construction: "No destruction was found with him."
*6:24.1 Lit. Ar. id.: "Ate his crust."
*6:24.2 Lit. Ar. idiomatic construction: "And the lions had authority in them and all their bones into bits they crushed."
*6:25.1 Lit. Ar. id.: "Earth."
*6:25.2 Lit. Ar. idiomatic expression: "May peace increase you."
*6:26.1 Lit. Ar. idiomatic construction: "From before me the law is consecrated."
*6:26.2 Lit. Ar. id.: "Stands."
*6:26.3 Lit. Ar. id.: "To the [end of the] universes."
*6:27 Lit. Aramaic word "Par-Ça-yah" means literally, "the empire builder." The Medes and Persians were not two different people. There were different tribes in the region, which were eventually united in the Persian Empire. The Medes became known as the Persians after Alexander the Great died and Greece ceased to be a world power. Persia became the empire of the Medes. The word "Par-Ça-yeh," or "the Persians" is synonymous with the word "empire" in the Ancient Aramaic, which incidentally was the language of the Medes and the official language of the Persian Empire.

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