The Plot against Daniel

1  שְׁפַר֙ (It was acceptable) קֳדָ֣ם (before) דָּרְיָ֔וֶשׁ (Darius) וַהֲקִים֙ (and he established) עַל־ (over) מַלְכוּתָ֔א (the kingdom) לַאֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנַיָּ֖א (satraps), מְאָ֣ה (a hundred) וְעֶשְׂרִ֑ין (and twenty) דִּ֥י (who) לֶהֱוֺ֖ן (would be) בְּכָל־ (over all) מַלְכוּתָֽא׃ (the kingdom); 2  וְעֵ֤לָּא (and over) מִנְּהוֹן֙ (them) סָרְכִ֣ין (administrators); תְּלָתָ֔א (three) דִּ֥י (of whom) דָנִיֵּ֖אל (Daniel was) חַֽד־ (one), מִנְּה֑וֹן (of them) דִּֽי־ (that) לֶהֱוֺ֞ן (should be) אֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנַיָּ֣א (the satraps) אִלֵּ֗ין (these) יָהֲבִ֤ין (giving) לְהוֹן֙ (of themselves) טַעְמָ֔א (an account) וּמַלְכָּ֖א (so that the king) לָֽא־ (not) לֶהֱוֵ֥א (should be) נָזִֽק׃ (suffering loss). 3  אֱדַ֙יִן֙ (Then) דָּנִיֵּ֣אל (Daniel) דְּנָ֔ה (this) הֲוָ֣א (came to be) מִתְנַצַּ֔ח (distinguished) עַל־ (over) סָרְכַיָּ֖א (the administrators) וַאֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנַיָּ֑א (and the satraps), כָּל־ (-) קֳבֵ֗ל (because) דִּ֣י (that) ר֤וּחַ (a spirit) יַתִּירָא֙ (extraordinary) בֵּ֔הּ (was in him) וּמַלְכָּ֣א (and the king) עֲשִׁ֔ית (was planning) לַהֲקָמוּתֵ֖הּ (to establish him) עַל־ (over) כָּל־ (all) מַלְכוּתָֽא׃ (of the kingdom).

4  אֱדַ֨יִן (Then) סָֽרְכַיָּ֜א (the administrators) וַאֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנַיָּ֗א (and the satraps) הֲו֨וֹ (were) בָעַ֧יִן (looking for) עִלָּ֛ה (a matter) לְהַשְׁכָּחָ֥ה (to find) לְדָנִיֵּ֖אל (against Daniel) מִצַּ֣ד (regarding) מַלְכוּתָ֑א (the kingdom); וְכָל־ (and any) עִלָּ֨ה (matter) וּשְׁחִיתָ֜ה (or corruption); לָא־ (not) יָכְלִ֣ין (were they able) לְהַשְׁכָּחָ֗ה (to find) כָּל־ (all) קֳבֵל֙ (because) דִּֽי־ (that) מְהֵימַ֣ן (trustworthy), ה֔וּא (he was) וְכָל־ (any) שָׁלוּ֙ (neglect) וּשְׁחִיתָ֔ה (or corruption) לָ֥א (not) הִשְׁתְּכַ֖חַת (was there found) עֲלֽוֹהִי׃ (in him). 5  אֱ֠דַיִן (Then) גֻּבְרַיָּ֤א (the men), אִלֵּךְ֙ (these) אָֽמְרִ֔ין (said) דִּ֣י (that) לָ֧א (Not) נְהַשְׁכַּ֛ח (shall we find) לְדָנִיֵּ֥אל (against Daniel), דְּנָ֖ה (this) כָּל־ (any) עִלָּ֑א (thing wrong) לָהֵ֕ן (unless) הַשְׁכַּ֥חְנָֽה (we find it) עֲל֖וֹהִי (against him) בְּדָ֥ת (concerning the law) אֱלָהֵֽהּ׃ס (of his God).

6  אֱ֠דַיִן (Then) סָרְכַיָּ֤א (administrators) וַאֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנַיָּא֙ (and satraps) אִלֵּ֔ן (these) הַרְגִּ֖שׁוּ (went as a group) עַל־ (to) מַלְכָּ֑א (the king), וְכֵן֙ (and thus) אָמְרִ֣ין (they said) לֵ֔הּ (to him) דָּרְיָ֥וֶשׁ (Darius), מַלְכָּ֖א (O King) לְעָלְמִ֥ין (forever) חֱיִֽי׃ (may you live). 7  אִתְיָעַ֜טוּ (Have consulted together) כֹּ֣ל׀ (all) סָרְכֵ֣י (the administrators) מַלְכוּתָ֗א (of the kingdom), סִגְנַיָּ֤א (the administrators), וַֽאֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנַיָּא֙ (and the satraps), הַדָּֽבְרַיָּ֣א (the counselors), וּפַחֲוָתָ֔א (and the advisors), לְקַיָּמָ֤ה (to establish) קְיָם֙ (a statute), מַלְכָּ֔א (of the king) וּלְתַקָּפָ֖ה (and to make a firm) אֱסָ֑ר (a decree), דִּ֣י (that) כָל־ (anyone) דִּֽי־ (who) יִבְעֵ֣ה (makes) בָ֠עוּ (a petition) מִן־ (of) כָּל־ (any) אֱלָ֨הּ (god) וֶֽאֱנָ֜שׁ (or man) עַד־ (for) יוֹמִ֣ין (days), תְּלָתִ֗ין (thirty) לָהֵן֙ (except) מִנָּ֣ךְ (of you) מַלְכָּ֔א (O king), יִתְרְמֵ֕א (shall be cast) לְגֹ֖ב (into the den) אַרְיָוָתָֽא׃ (of lions). 8  כְּעַ֣ן (Now), מַלְכָּ֔א (O king), תְּקִ֥ים (may you establish) אֱסָרָ֖א (this decree), וְתִרְשֻׁ֣ם (and sign) כְּתָבָ֑א (the writing), דִּ֣י (so that) לָ֧א (not) לְהַשְׁנָיָ֛ה (it can be changed), כְּדָת־ (according to the law) מָדַ֥י (of the Mede) וּפָרַ֖ס (and Persian), דִּי־ (which) לָ֥א (not) תֶעְדֵּֽא׃ (shall pass away).

9  כָּל־ (All) קֳבֵ֖ל (because) דְּנָ֑ה (of this) מַלְכָּא֙ (King) דָּֽרְיָ֔וֶשׁ (Darius) רְשַׁ֥ם (signed) כְּתָבָ֖א (the writing) וֶאֱסָרָֽא׃ (and the decree).

Daniel in the Lions’ Den

10  וְ֠דָנִיֵּאל (And Daniel) כְּדִ֨י (when) יְדַ֜ע (he came to know) דִּֽי־ (that) רְשִׁ֤ים (was signed), כְּתָבָא֙ (the writing) עַ֣ל (he went) לְבַיְתֵ֔הּ (to his house); וְכַוִּ֨ין (and the windows) פְּתִיחָ֥ן (were opened) לֵהּ֙ (unto him) בְּעִלִּיתֵ֔הּ (in his upper room) נֶ֖גֶד (toward) יְרוּשְׁלֶ֑ם (Jerusalem), וְזִמְנִין֩ (and times) תְּלָתָ֨ה (three) בְיוֹמָ֜א (in a day), ה֣וּא׀ (he) בָּרֵ֣ךְ (would kneel down) עַל־ (on) בִּרְכ֗וֹהִי (his knees) וּמְצַלֵּ֤א (and pray), וּמוֹדֵא֙ (and give thanks) קֳדָ֣ם (before) אֱלָהֵ֔הּ (his God), כָּל־ (-) קֳבֵל֙ (as) דִּֽי־ (-) הֲוָ֣א (was) עָבֵ֔ד (his custom) מִן־ (from). קַדְמַ֖ת (Before) דְּנָֽה׃ס (this). 11  אֱ֠דַיִן (Then) גֻּבְרַיָּ֤א (the men) אִלֵּךְ֙ (these) הַרְגִּ֔שׁוּ (went as a group), וְהַשְׁכַּ֖חוּ (and found) לְדָנִיֵּ֑אל (Daniel) בָּעֵ֥א (praying) וּמִתְחַנַּ֖ן (and making supplication) קֳדָ֥ם (before) אֱלָהֵֽהּ׃ (his God). 12  בֵּ֠אדַיִן (Then) קְרִ֨יבוּ (they went), וְאָמְרִ֥ין (and spoke) קֳדָם־ (before) מַלְכָּא֮ (the king) עַל־ (concerning) אֱסָ֣ר (the decree); מַלְכָּא֒ (of the king) הֲלָ֧א (Did not) אֱסָ֣ר (a decree), רְשַׁ֗מְתָּ (you sign) דִּ֣י (that) כָל־ (every) אֱנָ֡שׁ (man) דִּֽי־ (who) יִבְעֵה֩ (makes a petition) מִן־ (-) כָּל־ (of any) אֱלָ֨הּ (god) וֶֽאֱנָ֜שׁ (or man) עַד־ (up to) יוֹמִ֣ין (days), תְּלָתִ֗ין (thirty) לָהֵן֙ (except) מִנָּ֣ךְ (of you) מַלְכָּ֔א (O king), יִתְרְמֵ֕א (shall be cast) לְג֖וֹב (into the den) אַרְיָותָ֑א (of lions)?

עָנֵ֨ה (Answered) מַלְכָּ֜א (the king) וְאָמַ֗ר (and said), יַצִּיבָ֧א (Certain is), מִלְּתָ֛א (the word) כְּדָת־ (according to the law) מָדַ֥י (of the Mede) וּפָרַ֖ס (and Persian), דִּי־ (which) לָ֥א (not) תֶעְדֵּֽא׃ (shall pass away).

13  בֵּ֠אדַיִן (Then) עֲנ֣וֹ (they answered) וְאָמְרִין֮ (and said) קֳדָ֣ם (before) מַלְכָּא֒ (the king), דִּ֣י (-) דָנִיֵּ֡אל (Daniel), דִּי֩ (who is) מִן־ (from) בְּנֵ֨י (the sons) גָלוּתָ֜א (of the captivity) דִּ֣י (of) יְה֗וּד (Judah), לָא־ (not) שָׂ֨ם (does he set) עֲלַיִךְ (on you) מַלְכָּא֙ (O king), טְעֵ֔ם (regard) וְעַל־ (or on) אֱסָרָ֖א (the decree) דִּ֣י (that) רְשַׁ֑מְתָּ (you have signed), וְזִמְנִ֤ין (and times) תְּלָתָה֙ (three) בְּיוֹמָ֔א (in a day) בָּעֵ֖א (he makes) בָּעוּתֵֽהּ׃ (his petition).

14  אֱדַ֨יִן (Then) מַלְכָּ֜א (the king), כְּדִ֧י (when) מִלְּתָ֣א (these words), שְׁמַ֗ע (he heard) שַׂגִּיא֙ (greatly) בְּאֵ֣שׁ (was displeased) עֲל֔וֹהִי (with himself) וְעַ֧ל (and on) דָּנִיֵּ֛אל (Daniel) שָׂ֥ם (he set) בָּ֖ל (his heart) לְשֵׁיזָבוּתֵ֑הּ (to deliver him) וְעַד֙ (and until) מֶֽעָלֵ֣י (the going down) שִׁמְשָׁ֔א (of the sun) הֲוָ֥א (he was) מִשְׁתַּדַּ֖ר (exerting himself) לְהַצָּלוּתֵֽהּ׃ (to rescue him).

15  בֵּאדַ֙יִן֙ (Then) גֻּבְרַיָּ֣א (the men) אִלֵּ֔ךְ (these) הַרְגִּ֖שׁוּ (went as a group) עַל־ (upon) מַלְכָּ֑א (the king), וְאָמְרִ֣ין (and were saying) לְמַלְכָּ֗א (to the king), דַּ֤ע (Know), מַלְכָּא֙ (O king), דִּֽי־ (that) דָת֙ (it is the law) לְמָדַ֣י (of the Mede) וּפָרַ֔ס (and Persian) דִּֽי־ (that) כָל־ (any) אֱסָ֥ר (decree) וּקְיָ֛ם (or statute) דִּֽי־ (that) מַלְכָּ֥א (the king) יְהָקֵ֖ים (establishes) לָ֥א (not) לְהַשְׁנָיָֽה׃ (can be changed).

16  בֵּאדַ֜יִן (Then) מַלְכָּ֣א (the king) אֲמַ֗ר (commanded), וְהַיְתִיו֙ (and they brought) לְדָ֣נִיֵּ֔אל (Daniel), וּרְמ֕וֹ (and they cast him) לְגֻבָּ֖א (into the den) דִּ֣י (of) אַרְיָוָתָ֑א (lions).

עָנֵ֤ה (Spoke) מַלְכָּא֙ (the king) וְאָמַ֣ר (and said) לְדָנִיֵּ֔אל (to Daniel), אֱלָהָ֗ךְ (Your God) דִּ֣י (whom) אַנְתָּה (you) פָּֽלַֽח־ (giving service) לֵהּ֙ (to Him) בִּתְדִירָ֔א (continually), ה֖וּא (He) יְשֵׁיזְבִנָּֽךְ׃ (may deliver you).

17  וְהֵיתָ֙יִת֙ (And was brought), אֶ֣בֶן (stone) חֲדָ֔ה (one) וְשֻׂמַ֖ת (and was laid) עַל־ (over) פֻּ֣ם (the mouth) גֻּבָּ֑א (of the den); וְחַתְמַ֨הּ (and sealed it) מַלְכָּ֜א (the king) בְּעִזְקְתֵ֗הּ (with his signet ring), וּבְעִזְקָת֙ (and with the signets) רַבְרְבָנ֔וֹהִי (of his nobles); דִּ֛י (that) לָא־ (not) תִשְׁנֵ֥א (might be changed) צְב֖וּ (the matter) בְּדָנִיֵּֽאל׃ (concerning Daniel).

18  אֱ֠דַיִן (Then) אֲזַ֨ל (went) מַלְכָּ֤א (the king) לְהֵֽיכְלֵהּ֙ (to his palace), וּבָ֣ת (and spent the night) טְוָ֔ת (fasting), וְדַחֲוָ֖ן (and entertainments) לָא־ (not) הַנְעֵ֣ל (were brought) קָֽדָמ֑וֹהִי (before him) וְשִׁנְתֵּ֖הּ (and his sleep) נַדַּ֥ת (fled) עֲלֽוֹהִי׃ (from him).

19  בֵּאדַ֣יִן (Then) מַלְכָּ֔א (the king) בִּשְׁפַּרְפָּרָ֖א (in the morning), יְק֣וּם (arose) בְּנָגְהָ֑א (at daylight), וּבְהִ֨תְבְּהָלָ֔ה (and in haste) לְגֻבָּ֥א (to the den) דִֽי־ (of) אַרְיָוָתָ֖א (lions) אֲזַֽל׃ (went). 20  וּכְמִקְרְבֵ֣הּ (And at his coming near) לְגֻבָּ֔א (to the den), לְדָ֣נִיֵּ֔אל (to Daniel), בְּקָ֥ל (with a voice) עֲצִ֖יב (pained) זְעִ֑ק (he cried out) עָנֵ֨ה (was speaking) מַלְכָּ֜א (the king) וְאָמַ֣ר (and saying) לְדָנִיֵּ֗אל (to Daniel), דָּֽנִיֵּאל֙ (O Daniel), עֲבֵד֙ (servant) אֱלָהָ֣א (of God), חַיָּ֔א (the living) אֱלָהָ֗ךְ (your God), דִּ֣י (of whom) אַנְתָּה (you) פָּֽלַֽח־ (are giving service) לֵהּ֙ (to Him) בִּתְדִירָ֔א (continually), הַיְכִ֥ל (has He been able) לְשֵׁיזָבוּתָ֖ךְ (to deliver you) מִן־ (from) אַרְיָוָתָֽא׃ (the lions)?

21  אֱדַ֙יִן֙ (Then) דָּנִיֶּ֔אל (Daniel) עִם־ (to) מַלְכָּ֖א (the king), מַלִּ֑ל (said) מַלְכָּ֖א (O king), לְעָלְמִ֥ין (forever) חֱיִֽי׃ (may you live). 22  אֱלָהִ֞י (My God) שְׁלַ֣ח (sent) מַלְאֲכֵ֗הּ (His angel), וּֽסֲגַ֛ר (and he shut) פֻּ֥ם (the mouth), אַרְיָוָתָ֖א (of the lions) וְלָ֣א (and not) חַבְּל֑וּנִי (they have hurt me) כָּל־ (-) קֳבֵ֗ל (because) דִּ֤י (that) קָֽדָמ֙וֹהִי֙ (before Him) זָכוּ֙ (innocence) הִשְׁתְּכַ֣חַת (was found) לִ֔י (for me) וְאַ֤ף (and also) קָדָמַיִךְ (before you) מַלְכָּ֔א (O king), חֲבוּלָ֖ה (wrong) לָ֥א (not) עַבְדֵֽת׃ (have I done).

23  בֵּאדַ֣יִן (Then) מַלְכָּ֗א (the king) שַׂגִּיא֙ (exceedingly) טְאֵ֣ב (was glad) עֲל֔וֹהִי (himself) וּלְדָ֣נִיֵּ֔אל (and for Daniel) אֲמַ֖ר (he commanded) לְהַנְסָקָ֣ה (to be brought up) מִן־ (from) גֻּבָּ֑א (the den). וְהֻסַּ֨ק (And was brought up) דָּנִיֵּ֜אל (Daniel) מִן־ (from) גֻּבָּ֗א (the den), וְכָל־ (and any) חֲבָל֙ (harm) לָא־ (not) הִשְׁתְּכַ֣ח (was found) בֵּ֔הּ (on him) דִּ֖י (because) הֵימִ֥ן (he had trusted) בֵּאלָהֵֽהּ׃ (in his God).

24  וַאֲמַ֣ר (And commanded), מַלְכָּ֗א (the king) וְהַיְתִ֞יו (and they brought) גֻּבְרַיָּ֤א (the men) אִלֵּךְ֙ (these) דִּֽי־ (who) אֲכַ֤לוּ (had sought to eat) קַרְצ֙וֹהִי֙ (to pieces) דִּ֣י (-) דָֽנִיֵּ֔אל (Daniel) וּלְגֹ֤ב (and into the den) אַרְיָוָתָא֙ (of lions), רְמ֔וֹ (they cast them) אִנּ֖וּן (they), בְּנֵיה֣וֹן (their children), וּנְשֵׁיה֑וֹן (and their wives); וְלָֽא־ (and not) מְט֞וֹ (had they reached) לְאַרְעִ֣ית (to the bottom) גֻּבָּ֗א (of the den). עַ֠ד (When) דִּֽי־ (-) שְׁלִ֤טֽוּ (overpowered) בְהוֹן֙ (them) אַרְיָ֣וָתָ֔א ( the lions) וְכָל־ (and all) גַּרְמֵיה֖וֹן (their bones) הַדִּֽקוּ׃ (they broke in pieces).

Darius Honors God

25  בֵּאדַ֜יִן (Then) דָּרְיָ֣וֶשׁ (Darius) מַלְכָּ֗א (the king) כְּ֠תַב (wrote) לְֽכָל־ (to all) עַֽמְמַיָּ֞א (the peoples), אֻמַיָּ֧א (nations), וְלִשָּׁנַיָּ֛א (and languages), דִּֽי־ (who) דָאֲרִין (were dwelling) בְּכָל־ (in all) אַרְעָ֖א (the earth); שְׁלָמְכ֥וֹן (May peace to you⁺) יִשְׂגֵּֽא׃ (abound). 26  מִן־ (From) קֳדָמַי֮ (before me) שִׂ֣ים (is set forth) טְעֵם֒ (a decree), דִּ֣י׀ (that) בְּכָל־ (in every) שָׁלְטָ֣ן (dominion) מַלְכוּתִ֗י (of my kingdom) לֶהֱוֺ֤ן (they are to be) זָאֲעִין (trembling) וְדָ֣חֲלִ֔ין (and fearful) מִן־ (from) קֳדָ֖ם (before) אֱלָהֵ֣הּ (the God) דִּי־ (of) דָֽנִיֵּ֑אל (Daniel);

דִּי־ (for) ה֣וּא׀ (He is) אֱלָהָ֣א (the God), חַיָּ֗א (living)

וְקַיָּם֙ (and enduring) לְעָ֣לְמִ֔ין (forever),

וּמַלְכוּתֵהּ֙ (and His kingdom is) דִּֽי־ (that which) לָ֣א (not) תִתְחַבַּ֔ל (shall be destroyed),

וְשָׁלְטָנֵ֖הּ (and His dominion) עַד־ (is to) סוֹפָֽא׃ (the end).

27  מְשֵׁיזִ֣ב (He delivers) וּמַצִּ֗ל (and rescues),

וְעָבֵד֙ (and He works) אָתִ֣ין (signs) וְתִמְהִ֔ין (and wonders)

בִּשְׁמַיָּ֖א (in the heaven) וּבְאַרְעָ֑א (and on the earth),

דִּ֚י (He who) שֵׁיזִ֣יב (has delivered) לְדָֽנִיֵּ֔אל (Daniel)

מִן־ (from) יַ֖ד (the hand) אַרְיָוָתָֽא׃ (of the lions).

28  וְדָנִיֵּ֣אל (And Daniel) דְּנָ֔ה (this) הַצְלַ֖ח (prospered) בְּמַלְכ֣וּת (in the reign) דָּרְיָ֑וֶשׁ (of Darius), וּבְמַלְכ֖וּת (and in the reign) כּ֥וֹרֶשׁ (of Cyrus) פָּרְסָיָא׃פ (the Persian)