¹⁷ Then Daniel answered the king, “You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else.^(A) Nevertheless, I will read the writing for the king and tell him what it means.

¹⁸ “Your Majesty, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar^(B) sovereignty and greatness and glory and splendor.^{(C) 19} Because of the high position he gave him, all the nations and peoples of every language dreaded and feared him. Those the king wanted to put to death, he put to death;^(D) those he wanted to spare, he spared; those he wanted to promote, he promoted; and those he wanted to humble, he humbled.^{(E) 20} But when his heart became arrogant and hardened with pride,^(F) he was deposed from his royal throne^(G) and stripped^(H) of his glory.^{(I) 21} He was driven away from people and given the mind of an animal; he lived with the wild donkeys and ate grass like the ox; and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until he acknowledged that the Most High God is sovereign^(J) over all kingdoms on earth and sets over them anyone he wishes.^(K)

²² “But you, Belshazzar, his son,^[a] have not humbled^(L) yourself, though you knew all this. ²³ Instead, you have set yourself up against^(M) the Lord of heaven. You had the goblets from his temple brought to you, and you and your nobles, your wives^(N) and your concubines drank wine from them. You praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand.^(O) But you did not honor the God who holds in his hand your life^(P) and all your ways.^(Q)

¹⁰ Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward^(A) Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees^(B) and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.^{(C) 11} Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help.^{(D) 12} So 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The king answered, “The decree stands—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”^(E)

¹³ Then they said to the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah,^(F) pays no attention^(G) to you, Your Majesty, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day.” ¹⁴ When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed;^(H) he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him.

¹⁵ Then 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.”^(I)

¹⁶ So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den.^(J) The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue^(K) you!”

¹⁷ A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed^(L) it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel’s situation might not be changed. ¹⁸ Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating^(M) and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep.^(N)

¹⁹ At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. ²⁰ When 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?”^(O)

²¹ Daniel answered, “May the king live forever!^{(P) 22} My God sent his angel,^(Q) and he shut the mouths of the lions.^(R) They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight.^(S) Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.”

²³ The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound^(T) was found on him, because he had trusted^(U) in his God.