21. Then Daniel spoke with the king: “May the king live forever.
22. My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths. They haven’t hurt me, for I was found innocent before Him. Also, I have not committed a crime against you my king.”
23. The king was overjoyed and gave orders to take Daniel out of the den. So Daniel was taken out of the den, uninjured, for he trusted in his God.
24. The king then gave the command, and those men who had maliciously accused Daniel were brought and thrown into the lions’ den — they, their children, and their wives. They had not reached the bottom of the den before the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.
25. Then King Darius wrote to those of every people, nation, and language who live in all the earth: “May your prosperity abound.
26. I issue a decree that in all my royal dominion, people must tremble in fear before the God of Daniel: For He is the living God,and He endures forever;His kingdom will never be destroyed, and His dominion has no end.
27. He rescues and delivers;He performs signs and wondersin the heavens and on the earth, for He has rescued Danielfrom the power of the lions.”
28. So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.