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1. Darius thought it would be a good idea to choose 120 satraps to rule throughout his kingdom.
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1. It pleased H8232 H6925 Darius H1868 to set H6966 over H5922 the kingdom H4437 a hundred H3969 and twenty H6243 princes H324 , which H1768 should be H1934 over the whole H3606 kingdom H4437 ;
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2. He chose three men to rule over the 120 satraps. Daniel was one of the three supervisors. The king put these men in this position to keep anyone from cheating him.
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2. And over H5924 H4481 these three H8532 presidents H5632 ; of whom H4481 H1768 Daniel H1841 was first H2298 : that H1768 the H459 princes H324 might H1934 give H3052 accounts H2941 unto them , and the king H4430 should have H1934 no H3809 damage H5142 .
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3. Daniel proved himself to be a better supervisor than any of the others. He did this by his good character and great ability. The king was so impressed with Daniel that he planned to make him ruler over the whole kingdom.
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3. Then H116 this H1836 Daniel H1841 was H1934 preferred H5330 above H5922 the presidents H5632 and princes H324 , because H3606 H6903 H1768 an excellent H3493 spirit H7308 was in him ; and the king H4430 thought H6246 to set H6966 him over H5922 the whole H3606 realm H4437 .
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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 what Daniel did as he went about doing the business of the government. But they could not find anything wrong with him, 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.
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4. Then H116 the presidents H5632 and princes H324 sought H1934 H1156 to find H7912 occasion H5931 against Daniel H1841 concerning H4481 H6655 the kingdom H4437 ; but they could H3202 find H7912 none H3809 H3606 occasion H5931 nor fault H7844 ; forasmuch as H3606 H6903 H1768 he H1932 was faithful H540 , neither H3809 was there any H3606 error H7960 or fault H7844 found H7912 in H5922 him.
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5. Finally they 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."
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5. Then H116 said H560 these H479 men H1400 , We shall not H3809 find H7912 any H3606 occasion H5931 against this H1836 Daniel H1841 , except H3861 we find H7912 it against H5922 him concerning the law H1882 of his God H426 .
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6. So the two supervisors and the satraps went as a group to the king. They said, "King Darius, live forever!
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6. Then H116 these H459 presidents H5632 and princes H324 assembled together H7284 to H5922 the king H4430 , and said H560 thus H3652 unto him, King H4430 Darius H1868 , live H2418 forever H5957 .
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7. The supervisors, prefects, satraps, advisors, and governors have all agreed on something. We think that the king should make this law and that everyone must obey it: For the next 30 days, whoever prays to any god or man, except to you, king, will be thrown into the lions' den.
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7. All H3606 the presidents H5632 of the kingdom H4437 , the governors H5460 , and the princes H324 , the counselors H1907 , and the captains H6347 , have consulted together H3272 to establish H6966 a royal H4430 statute H7010 , and to make a firm H8631 decree H633 , that H1768 whosoever H3606 H1768 shall ask H1156 a petition H1159 of H4481 any H3606 God H426 or man H606 for H5705 thirty H8533 days H3118 , save H3861 of H4481 thee , O king H4430 , he shall be cast H7412 into the den H1358 of lions H744 .
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8. Now, king, make the law and sign the paper it is written on so that it cannot be changed, because the laws of the Medes and Persians cannot be canceled or changed."
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8. Now H3705 , O king H4430 , establish H6966 the decree H633 , and sign H7560 the writing H3792 , that H1768 it be not H3809 changed H8133 , according to the law H1882 of the Medes H4076 and Persians H6540 , which H1768 altereth H5709 not H3809 .
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9. So King Darius made the law and signed it.
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9. Wherefore H3606 H6903 H1836 king H4430 Darius H1868 signed H7560 the writing H3792 and the decree H633 .
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10. Daniel always prayed to God three times every day. Three times every day, he bowed down on his knees to pray and praise God. Even though Daniel heard about the new law, he still went to his house to pray. He went up to the upper room of his house and opened the windows that faced toward Jerusalem. Then Daniel bowed down on his knees and prayed just as he always had done.
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10. Now when H1768 Daniel H1841 knew H3046 that H1768 the writing H3792 was signed H7560 , he went H5954 into his house H1005 ; and his windows H3551 being open H6606 in his chamber H5952 toward H5049 Jerusalem H3390 , he H1932 kneeled H1289 upon H5922 his knees H1291 three H8532 times H2166 a day H3118 , and prayed H6739 , and gave thanks H3029 before H6925 his God H426 , as H3606 H6903 H1768 he did H1934 H5648 formerly H4481 H6928 H1836 .
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11. Then the supervisors and satraps went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help.
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11. Then H116 these H479 men H1400 assembled H7284 , and found H7912 Daniel H1841 praying H1156 and making supplication H2604 before H6925 his God H426 .
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12. So they went to the king and 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 who prays to any god or man except you, the king, would be thrown into the lions' den. You did sign that law, didn't you?" The king answered, "Yes, I signed that law, and the laws of the Medes and Persians cannot be canceled or changed."
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12. Then H116 they came near H7127 , and spoke H560 before H6925 the king H4430 concerning H5922 the king H4430 's decree H633 ; Hast thou not H3809 signed H7560 a decree H633 , that H1768 every H3606 man H606 that H1768 shall ask H1156 a petition of H4481 any H3606 God H426 or man H606 within H5705 thirty H8533 days H3118 , save H3861 of H4481 thee , O king H4430 , shall be cast H7412 into the den H1358 of lions H744 ? The king H4430 answered H6032 and said H560 , The thing H4406 is true H3330 , according to the law H1882 of the Medes H4076 and Persians H6540 , which H1768 altereth H5709 not H3809 .
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13. Then they said to the king, "That man named Daniel is not paying any attention to you. He is one of the captives from Judah, and he is not paying attention to the law you signed. Daniel still prays to his God three times every day."
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13. Then H116 answered H6032 they and said H560 before H6925 the king H4430 , That H1768 Daniel H1841 , which H1768 is of H4481 the children H1123 of the captivity H1547 of H1768 Judah H3061 , regardeth H7761 H2942 H5922 not H3809 thee , O king H4430 , nor the decree H633 that H1768 thou hast signed H7560 , but maketh H1156 his petition H1159 three H8532 times H2166 a day H3118 .
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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 him.
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14. Then H116 the king H4430 , when H1768 he heard H8086 these words H4406 , was sore H7690 displeased H888 with H5922 himself , and set H7761 his heart H1079 on H5922 Daniel H1841 to deliver H7804 him : and he labored H1934 H7712 till H5705 the going down H4606 of the sun H8122 to deliver H5338 him.
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15. Then the men went as a group to the king and 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."
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15. Then H116 these H479 men H1400 assembled H7284 unto H5922 the king H4430 , and said H560 unto the king H4430 , Know H3046 , O king H4430 , that H1768 the law H1882 of the Medes H4076 and Persians H6540 is , That H1768 no H3809 H3606 decree H633 nor statute H7010 which H1768 the king H4430 establisheth H6966 may be changed H8133 .
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16. So King Darius gave the order. They brought Daniel and threw him into the lions' den. The king said to Daniel, "May the God you serve save you!"
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16. Then H116 the king H4430 commanded H560 , and they brought H858 Daniel H1841 , and cast H7412 him into the den H1358 of H1768 lions H744 . Now the king H4430 spoke H6032 and said H560 unto Daniel H1841 , Thy God H426 whom H1768 thou H607 servest H6399 continually H8411 , he H1932 will deliver H7804 thee.
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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 on the rock. He also used the rings of his officials and put their seals on the rock. This showed that no one could move that rock and bring Daniel out of the lion's den.
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17. And a H2298 stone H69 was brought H858 , and laid H7761 upon H5922 the mouth H6433 of the den H1358 ; and the king H4430 sealed H2857 it with his own signet H5824 , and with the signet H5824 of his lords H7261 ; that H1768 the purpose H6640 might not H3809 be changed H8133 concerning Daniel H1841 .
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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. He could not sleep all night.
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18. Then H116 the king H4430 went H236 to his palace H1965 , and passed the night H956 fasting H2908 : neither H3809 were instruments of music H1761 brought H5954 before H6925 him : and his sleep H8139 went H5075 from H5922 him.
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19. The next morning, King Darius got up just as it was getting light and ran to the lions' den.
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19. Then H116 the king H4430 arose H6966 very early in the morning H8238 H5053 , and went H236 in haste H927 unto the den H1358 of H1768 lions H744 .
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20. He was very worried. When he got to the lions' den, he called to Daniel. He said, "Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God been able to save you from the lions? You always serve your God."
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20. And when he came H7127 to the den H1358 , he cried H2200 with a lamentable H6088 voice H7032 unto Daniel H1841 : and the king H4430 spoke H6032 and said H560 to Daniel H1841 , O Daniel H1841 , servant H5649 of the living H2417 God H426 , is thy God H426 , whom H1768 thou H607 servest H6399 continually H8411 , able H3202 to deliver H7804 thee from H4481 the lions H744 ?
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21. Daniel answered, "King, live forever!
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21. Then H116 said H4449 Daniel H1841 unto H5974 the king H4430 , O king H4430 , live H2418 forever H5957 .
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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."
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22. My God H426 hath sent H7972 his angel H4398 , and hath shut H5463 the lions H744 ' mouths H6433 , that they have not H3809 hurt H2255 me : forasmuch as H3606 H6903 H1768 before H6925 him innocency H2136 was found H7912 in me ; and also H638 before H6925 thee , O king H4430 , have I done H5648 no H3809 hurt H2248 .
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23. King Darius was very happy. He told his servants to lift Daniel out of the lions' den. And when Daniel was lifted out of the den, they did not find any injury on his body. The lions did not hurt Daniel because he trusted in his God.
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23. Then H116 was the king exceeding glad H4430 H7690 H2868 for H5922 him , and commanded H560 that they should take Daniel up H5267 H1841 out of H4481 the den H1358 . So Daniel H1841 was taken up H5267 out of H4481 the den H1358 , and no manner H3809 H3606 of hurt H2257 was found H7912 upon him, because H1768 he believed H540 in his God H426 .
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24. Then the king gave a command to bring the men who had accused Daniel to the lions' den. The men and their wives and children were thrown into the lion's den. The lions grabbed them before they hit the floor. The lions ate their bodies and then chewed on their bones.
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24. And the king H4430 commanded H560 , and they brought H858 those H479 men H1400 which H1768 had accused H399 H7170 Daniel H1768 H1841 , and they cast H7412 them into the den H1358 of lions H744 , them H581 , their children H1123 , and their wives H5389 ; and the lions H744 had the mastery H7981 of them , and broke all their bones in pieces H1855 H3606 H1635 or ever they came H5705 H1768 H3809 H4291 at the bottom H773 of the den H1358 .
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25. Then King Darius wrote this letter to all the people from other nations and language groups all around the world: Greetings:
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25. Then H116 king H4430 Darius H1868 wrote H3790 unto all H3606 people H5972 , nations H524 , and languages H3961 , that H1768 dwell H1753 in all H3606 the earth H772 ; Peace H8001 be multiplied H7680 unto you.
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26. I am making a new law. This law is for people in every part of my kingdom. All of you must fear and respect the God of Daniel. Daniel's God is the living God; he lives forever. His kingdom will never be destroyed. His rule will never end.
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26. I make H4481 H6925 H7761 a decree H2942 , That H1768 in every H3606 dominion H7985 of my kingdom H4437 men tremble H1934 H2112 and fear H1763 before H4481 H6925 the God H426 of H1768 Daniel H1841 : for H1768 he H1932 is the living H2417 God H426 , and steadfast H7011 forever H5957 , and his kingdom H4437 that which H1768 shall not H3809 be destroyed H2255 , and his dominion H7985 shall be even unto H5705 the end H5491 .
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27. God helps and saves people. He does amazing miracles in heaven and on earth. He saved Daniel from the lions.
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27. He delivereth H7804 and rescueth H5338 , and he worketh H5648 signs H852 and wonders H8540 in heaven H8065 and in earth H772 , who H1768 hath delivered H7804 Daniel H1841 from H4481 the power H3028 of the lions H744 .
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28. So Daniel was successful during the time Darius was king and when Cyrus the Persian was king.
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28. So this H1836 Daniel H1841 prospered H6744 in the reign H4437 of Darius H1868 , and in the reign H4437 of Cyrus H3567 the Persian H6543 .
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