writing was signed, he went into his house, and, with the windows of his chamber opened toward Jerusalem, he knelt there three times a day, and prayed and gave thanks to his God, as he had always done. The men gathered together, and saw Daniel praying and asking help of God.

This was just what they wanted; and they went to the king and said, "Hast thou not signed a decree, that whoever shall ask help of any god or man for thirty days, except of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?"

The king answered, "The decree is signed, and is made a law of the Medes and Persians, which changes not. Then said they, "Daniel, who is one of the captives of Judah, obeys thee not, O king, or the decree thou hast made; but prays and asks help of his God three times a day."

The king, when he heard these words, was displeased with himself for having made the decree; for he had no wish to punish Daniel. Indeed, he set his heart on finding an excuse for him; and tried until the evening to save him from punishment. But the presidents and the princes gathered together before the king, and cried, "Thou knowest, O king, that it is the law of the Medes and Persians that no decree or law which the king has made can be changed." So Darius commanded his servants to bring Daniel and cast him into the den of lions. But the king spoke to Daniel, and said to him,

Surely thy God whom thou

continually, He will deliver thee?"

servest

A great stone was brought and laid upon the mouth of the den, and the king went home to his palace to pass the night

fasting. He would not have the instruments of music played before him as at other times; and he could not sleep.

Very early in the morning he rose and came in haste to the den of lions, and cried with a mournful voice unto Daniel, “ O Daniel, thou servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?"

Then said Daniel to the king, “My God has indeed sent His angel to shut the lions' mouths so that they have not hurt me." Then was the king glad; and he commanded that they should take Daniel out of the den, and no hurt was found upon him. "Now," commanded the king, "bring those men who have spoken against Daniel, and cast them into the den of lions."

The men were brought; and the lions