1. It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom a hundred and twenty satraps, who should be over the whole kingdom;
2. And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the satraps might give accounts unto them, and the king should suffer no loss.
3. Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.
4. Then the presidents and satraps sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no occasion nor fault; because he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.
5. Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.
6. Then these presidents and satraps assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live forever.
7. All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the satraps, the counselors, and the advisors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, except from you, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.
8. Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which alters not.
9. Therefore king Darius signed the written decree.