Hello, this is Father Paul, and I'm glad we're
taking this journey together to read the Bible
in a year. Today's reading is from the book of
Daniel, chapter 6. It pleased Darius to set over
the kingdom 120 satraps to be over the whole
kingdom, and over these three governors, of whom
Daniel was one, that the satraps might give account
to them so that the king would suffer no loss.
Then this Daniel distinguished himself above
the governors and satraps, because an excellent
spirit was in him, and a king gave thought to
setting him over the whole realm. So the governors
and satraps sought to find some charge against
Daniel concerning the kingdom, but they could
find no charge or fault, because he was faithful,
nor was there any error or fault found in him.
Then these men said, We shall not find any charge
against this Daniel. unless we find it against
him concerning the law of his god. So these governors
and satraps thronged before the king and said
thus to him, King Darius live forever. All the
governors of the kingdom, the administrators
and satraps, the counselors and advisors, have
consulted together to establish a royal statute
and to make a firm decree that whoever petitions
any god or man for thirty days except you, O
king, shall be cast into the den of lions. Now
O king, establish the decree and sign the writing,
so that it cannot be changed according to the
law of the Medes and Persians, which does not
alter. Therefore king Darius signed the written
decree. Now when Daniel knew that the writing
was signed, he went home, and in his upper room,
with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt
down on his knees three times that day and prayed,
and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom
since early days. Then these men assembled and
found Daniel praying and making supplication
before his God. And they went before the king
and spoke concerning the king's decree. Have
you not signed the decree that every man who
petitions any god or man within thirty days except
you, 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 Medes and Persians,
which does not alter. So they answered and said
before the king, That Daniel, who is one of the
captives from Judah, does not show due regard
for you, O king, or for the decree that you have
signed, but makes his petition three times a
day. And the king, when he heard these words,
was greatly displeased with himself, and set
his heart on Daniel to deliver him. And he labored
till the going down of the sun to deliver him.
Then these men approached the king and said to
the king, No, O king. that it is the law of the
Medes and Persians that no decree or statute
which the king establishes may be changed. So
the king gave the command, and they brought Daniel
and cast him into the den of lions. But the king
spoke, saying to Daniel, Your God, whom you serve
continually, he will deliver you. Then a stone
was brought and laid on the mouth of the den,
and the king sealed it with his own signet ring
and with the signets of his lords, that the purpose
concerning Daniel might not be changed. Now the
king went to his palace and spent the night fasting,
and no musicians were brought before him. Also
his sleep went from him. Then the king arose
very early in the morning and went in haste to
the den of lions. And when he came to the den,
he cried out with a lamenting voice to Daniel.
The king spoke, saying to Daniel, Daniel, servant
of the living God, has your God, whom you serve
continually, been able to deliver you from the
lions? Then Daniel said to the king, O king,
live forever. My God sent his angel and shut
the lion's mouth so that they have not hurt me
because I was found innocent before him. And
also, O king, I have done no wrong before you.
Now the king was exceedingly glad for him and
commanded that they should take Daniel up out
of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the
den and no injury whatever was found on him because
he believed in his God. And the king gave the
command and they brought those men who had accused
Daniel. And they cast them into the den of lions,
them, their children, and their wives. And the
lions overpowered them, and broke all their bones
in pieces before they ever came to the bottom
of the den. Then King Darius wrote to all peoples,
nations, and languages that dwell in all the
earth, Peace be multiplied to you. I make a decree
that in every dominion of my kingdom, men must
tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for
he is the living God, and steadfast forever.
His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed,
and his dominion shall endure to the end. He
delivers and rescues, and he works signs and
wonders, in heaven and on earth, who has delivered
Daniel from the power of the lions. So this Daniel
prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign
of Cyrus the Persian. I hope you enjoyed today's
reading as much as I did. And I look forward
to seeing you again tomorrow to continue on our
journey. God bless you and have a great day.