Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you, and break off your sins by righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; if there may be a lengthening of your tranquility."

17. Then DANIEL answered before the king, "Let your gifts be to yourself, and give your rewards to another. Nevertheless, I will read the writing to the king, and make known to him the interpretation.

18. "You, king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father the kingdom, and greatness, and glory, and majesty.

19. Because of the greatness that he gave him, all the peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him. He killed whom he wanted to, and he kept alive whom he wanted to. He raised up whom he wanted to, and he put down whom he wanted to.

20. But when his heart was lifted up, and his spirit was hardened so that he dealt proudly, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him.

21. He was driven from the sons of men, and his heart was made like the animals', and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys. He was fed with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of the sky; until he knew that the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men, and that he sets up over it whomever he will.

22. "You, his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this,

23. but have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before you, and you and your lords, your wives, and your concubines, have drunk wine from them. You have praised the gods of silver and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which don't see, or hear, or know; and you have not glorified the God in whose hand your breath is, and whose are all your ways.

10. When DANIEL knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house (now his windows were open in his room toward Jerusalem) and he kneeled on his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did before.

11. Then these men assembled together, and found DANIEL making petition and supplication before his God.

12. Then they came near, and spoke before the king concerning the king's decree: "Haven't you signed a decree that every man who makes a petition to any god or man within thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?"The king answered, "This thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which doesn't alter."

13. Then they answered and said before the king, "That DANIEL, who is of the children of the captivity of Judah, doesn't respect you, O king, nor the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day."

14. Then the king, when he heard these words, was very displeased, and set his heart on DANIEL to deliver him; and he labored until the going down of the sun to rescue him.

15. Then these men assembled together to the king, and said to the king, "Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians, that no decree nor statute which the king establishes may be changed."

16. Then the king commanded, and they brought DANIEL, and cast him into the den of lions. The king spoke and said to DANIEL, "Your God whom you serve continually, he will deliver you."

17. A stone was brought, and laid on the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that nothing might be changed concerning DANIEL.

18. Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting. No musical instruments were brought before him; and his sleep fled from him.

19. Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste to the den of lions.

20. When he came near to the den to DANIEL, he cried with a troubled voice. The king spoke and said to DANIEL, "DANIEL, servant of the living God, is your God, whom you serve continually, able to deliver you from the lions?"

21. Then DANIEL said to the king, "O king, live forever!

22. My God has sent his angel, and has shut the lions' mouths, and they have not hurt me; because as before him innocence was found in me; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm."

23. Then the king was exceedingly glad, and commanded that they should take DANIEL up out of the den. So DANIEL was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.