^{5 Ref} Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.

^{6 Ref} Then these presidents and satraps assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever.

^{7 Ref} All the presidents of the kingdom, the deputies and the satraps, the counsellors and the governors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a strong interdict, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any god or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.

^{8 Ref} Now, O king, establish the interdict, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.

^{9 Ref} Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the interdict.

^{10 Ref} And when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house (now his windows were open in his chamber toward Jerusalem) and he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.

^{11 Ref} Then these men assembled together, and found Daniel making petition and supplication before his God.

^{12 Ref} Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king's interdict: Hast thou not signed an interdict, that every man that shall make petition unto any god or man within thirty days, save unto 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 Medes and Persians, which altereth not.