1. And Darius the Mede succeeded to the kingdom at the age of sixty-two.
2. Darius decided to appoint over his entire kingdom one hundred and twenty satraps.
3. These were accountable to three ministers, one of whom was Daniel; the satraps reported to them, so that the king should suffer no loss.
4. Daniel outshone all the ministers and satraps because an extraordinary spirit was in him, and the king considered setting him over the entire kingdom.
5. Then the ministers and satraps tried to find grounds for accusation against Daniel regarding the kingdom. But they could not accuse him of any corruption. Because he was trustworthy, no fault or corruption was to be found in him.
6. Then these men said to themselves, “We shall find no grounds for accusation against this Daniel except in connection with the law of his God.”
7. So these ministers and satraps stormed in to the king and said to him, “King Darius, live forever!
8. All the ministers of the kingdom, the prefects, satraps, counselors, and governors agree that the following prohibition ought to be put in force by royal decree: for thirty days, whoever makes a petition to anyone, divine or human, except to you, O king, shall be thrown into a den of lions.
9. Now, O king, let the prohibition be issued over your signature, immutable and irrevocable according to the law of the Medes and Persians.”