21. As he drew near, he cried out to Daniel sorrowfully, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God whom you serve so constantly been able to save you from the lions?”
22. Daniel answered the king: “O king, live forever!
23. My God sent his angel and closed the lions’ mouths so that they have not hurt me. For I have been found innocent before him; neither have I done you any harm, O king!”
24. This gave the king great joy. At his order Daniel was brought up from the den; he was found to be unharmed because he trusted in his God.
25. The king then ordered the men who had accused Daniel, along with their children and their wives, to be cast into the lions’ den. Before they reached the bottom of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.
26. Then King Darius wrote to the nations and peoples of every language, wherever they dwell on the earth: “May your peace abound!
27. I decree that throughout my royal domain the God of Daniel is to be reverenced and feared:“For he is the living God, enduring forever,whose kingdom shall not be destroyed,whose dominion shall be without end,
28. A savior and deliverer,working signs and wonders in heaven and on earth,who saved Daniel from the lions’ power.”
29. So Daniel fared well during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.