Daniel 6 - Easy To Read Version

¹ Darius thought it would be a good idea to choose 120 satraps {\cf2\super [66]} to rule throughout all of his kingdom.

² And he chose three men to rule over those 120 satraps. Daniel was one of these three supervisors. The king set up these men so that no one would cheat him and he would not lose anything in his kingdom.

³ Daniel showed himself to be better than the other supervisors. Daniel did this by his good character and great abilities. The king was so impressed with Daniel that he planned to make Daniel ruler over the whole kingdom.

⁴ But when the other supervisors and the satraps heard about this, they were very jealous. They tried to find reasons to accuse Daniel. So they watched the things Daniel did as he went about doing the business of the government. But they could not find anything wrong with Daniel. So they could not accuse him of doing anything wrong. Daniel was a man people could trust. He did not cheat the king and he worked very hard.

⁵ Finally those men said, “We will never find any reason to accuse Daniel of doing something wrong. So we must find something to complain about that is connected to the law of his God.”

⁶ So those two supervisors and the satraps {\cf2\super [67]} went as a group to the king. They said: “King Darius, live forever!

⁷ The supervisors, prefects, {\cf2\super [68]} satraps, advisers, and governors have all agreed on something. We think that the king should make this law. Everyone must obey this law. This is the law: If anyone prays to any god or man, except to you, king, for the next 30 days, then that person will be thrown into the lions’ den (cage).

⁸ Now, king, make the law and sign the paper it is written on. In this way, the law can’t be changed. Why? Because the laws of the Medes and Persians can’t be canceled or changed.”

⁹ So King Darius made the law and signed it.

¹⁰ Daniel always prayed to God three times every day. Three times every day, Daniel got down on his knees and prayed and praised God. When Daniel heard about the new law he went to his house. Daniel went up to his room on the roof of his house. Daniel went to the windows that opened toward Jerusalem. Then Daniel got down on his knees and prayed, like he always did.

¹¹ Then those men went as a group and found Daniel. They saw him praying and asking God for help.

¹² So they went to the king. They talked to him about the law he had made. They said, “King Darius, you signed a law that says, for the next 30 days anyone that prays to any god or man except you, the king, would be thrown into the lions’ den (cage). You did sign that law, didn’t you?”

¹³ Then those men said to the king, “That man named Daniel is not paying any attention to you. Daniel is one of the captives {\cf2\super [69]} from Judah. And Daniel is not paying attention to the law you signed. Daniel still prays to his God three times every day.”

¹⁴ The king became very sad and upset when he heard this. He decided to save Daniel. He worked until sunset trying to think of a way to save Daniel.

¹⁵ Then those men went as a group to the king. They said to him, “Remember, king, that the law of the Medes and Persians says that no law or command signed by the king can ever be canceled or changed.”

¹⁶ So King Darius gave the order. They brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den (cage). The king said to Daniel, “I hope the God you worship saves you!”

¹⁷ A big rock was brought and put over the opening of the lions’ den. Then the king used his ring and put his seal {\cf2\super [70]} on the rock. And he used the rings of his officials and put their seals on the rock also. This showed that no one could move that rock and bring Daniel out of the lion’s den (cage).

¹⁸ Then King Darius went back to his house. He did not eat that night. He did not want anyone to come and entertain him. The king could not sleep all night.

¹⁹ The next morning, King Darius got up just as it was getting light. He ran to the lions’ den (cage).

²⁰ The king was very worried. When the king went to the lions’ den, he called to Daniel. The king said, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God been able to save you from the lions? You always serve your God.”

²¹ Daniel answered, “King, live forever!

²² My God sent his angel to save me. The angel closed the lions’ mouths. The lions have not hurt me because my God knows I am innocent. I never did anything wrong to you, king.”

²³ King Darius was very happy. He told his servants to lift Daniel out of the lions’ den (cage). And when Daniel was lifted out of the den they did not find any injury on his body. Daniel was not hurt by the lions because he trusted in his God.

²⁴ Then the king gave a command to bring the men that had accused Daniel to the lions’ den (cage). Those men and their wives and children were thrown into the lion’s den. The lions grabbed them before they hit the floor of the lions’ den. The lions ate their bodies and then chewed on their bones.

²⁵ Then King Darius wrote this letter to all the people from other nations that spoke many different languages all around the world:

²⁶ I am making a new law. This law is for people in every part of my kingdom. All of you people must fear and respect the God of Daniel.

²⁷ God helps and saves people.\par God does amazing miracles\par in heaven and on earth.\par God saved Daniel from the lions.”\par

²⁸ So Daniel was successful during the time that Darius was king and during the time that Cyrus the Persian was king.