, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day,
and prayed, and gave thanks before his Elah (אלהּ), as he did
aforetime.
6:1 It pleased Daryavesh (דּריוש) to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom;
6:2 And over these three presidents; of whom Daniyel (דניאל) [was] first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage.
6:3 Then this Daniyel (דניאל) distinguishing himself among the commissioners and achashdarpan (satraps) because he possesed an extraordinary spirit, and the king planned to appoint him over the entire kingdom.
6:4 Then the commissioners and achashdarpan (satraps, viceroys) began trying to find a ground of accusation against Daniyel (דניאל) in regard to government affairs; but they could find no ground of accusation or [evidence of] corruption, inasmuch as he was faithful, and no negligence or corruption was [to be] found in him.
6:5 Then these men said, "We will not find any ground of accusation against this Daniyel (דניאל) unless we find [it] against him with regard to the law of his Elah."
6:6 Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, king Daryavesh (דּריוש), live forever.
6:7 All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any Elah (אלהּ) or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.
6:8 Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Maday (מדי) and Parsiy (פּרס), which altereth not.
6:9 Wherefore king Daryavesh (דּריוש) signed the writing and the decree.
6:10
Now when Daniyel (דניאל) knew that the writing was signed, he went
into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber
toward Yerushalayim, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day,
and prayed, and gave thanks before his Elah (אלהּ), as he did
aforetime.
6:11 Then these men assembled, and found Daniyel (דניאל) praying and making supplication before his Elah (אלהּ).
6:12 Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king's decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask [a petition] of any Elah (אלהּ) or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing [is] true, according to the law of the Maday (מדי) and Parsiy (פּרס)s, which altereth not.
6:13 Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniyel (דניאל), which [is] of the children of the captivity of Yehudah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.
6:14 Then the king, when he heard [these] words, was sore displeased with himself, and set [his] heart on Daniyel (דניאל) to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him.
6:15 Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Maday (מדי) and Parsiy (פּרס)s [is], That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed.
6:16 Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniyel (דניאל), and cast [him] into the den of lions. [Now] the king spake and said unto Daniyel (דניאל), Thy Elah (אלהּ) whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.
6:17 And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his masters; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniyel (דניאל).
6:18 Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him.
6:19 Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.
6:20 And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniyel (דניאל): [and] the king spake and said to Daniyel (דניאל), O Daniyel (דניאל), servant of the living Elah (אלהּ), is thy Elah (אלהּ), whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?
6:21 Then said Daniyel (דניאל) unto the king, O king, live forever.
6:22 My Elah (אלהּ) hath sent His angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.
6:23 Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniyel (דניאל) up out of the den. So Daniyel (דניאל) was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his Elah (אלהּ).
6:24 And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniyel (דניאל), and they cast [them] into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.
The Testimony of Daryavesh (דּריוש) (25-28)
6:25 Then king Daryavesh (דּריוש) wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the eretz; Shalom aleichem l'machbir (Peace be multiplied unto you).
6:26 I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the Elah (אלהּ) of Daniyel (דניאל): for he [is] the living Elah (אלהּ), and steadfast forever, and his kingdom [that] which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion [shall be even] unto the end.
6:27 He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in shamayim and in eretz, who hath delivered Daniyel (דניאל) from the power of the lions.
6:28 So this Daniyel (דניאל) prospered in the reign of Daryavesh (דּריוש), and in the reign of Koresh (כּור) the Parsi (פּרס).
Pocket Luach - The Jewish Calendar (siddur, zmanim)
Interesting link
Al Hillah in IraqLiteral Babylon and Spiritual Babylon
