Daniel 6

Δανιήλ

1 ΚΑΙ ἤρεσεν ἐνώπιον Δαρείου καὶ κατέστησεν ἐπὶ τῆς βασιλείας σατράπας ἑκατὸν εἴκοσι τοῦ εἶναι αὐτοὺς ἐν ὅλῃ τῇ βασιλείᾳ αὐτοῦ

And it pleased Darius, and he set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty satraps, to be in all his kingdom;

2 καὶ ἐπάνω αὐτῶν τακτικοὺς τρεῖς, ὧν ἦν Δανιὴλ εἷς ἐξ αὐτῶν, τοῦ ἀποδιδόναι αὐτοῖς τοὺς σατράπας λόγον, ὅπως ὁ βασιλεὺς μὴ ἐνοχλῆται.

and over them three governors, of whom one was, Daniel; for the satraps to give account to them, that the king should not be troubled.

3 καὶ ἦν Δανιὴλ ὑπὲρ αὐτούς, ὅτι πνεῦμα περισσὸν ἐν αὐτῷ. καὶ ὁ βασιλεὺς κατέστησεν αὐτὸν ἐφ' ὅλης τῆς βασιλείας αὐτοῦ.

And Daniel was over them, for [there was] an excellent spirit in him; and the king set him over all his kingdom.

4 καὶ οἱ τακτικοὶ καὶ οἱ σατράπαι, ἐζήτουν πρόφασιν εὑρεῖν κατὰ Δανιήλ· καὶ πᾶσαν πρόφασιν καὶ παράπτωμα καὶ ἀμπλάκημα οὐχ εὗρον κατ' αὐτοῦ, ὅτι πιστὸς ἦν.

Then the governors and satraps sought to find occasion against Daniel; but they found against him no occasion, nor trespass, nor error, because he was faithful.

5 καὶ εἶπον οἱ τακτικοί· οὐχ εὑρήσομεν κατὰ Δανιὴλ πρόφασιν, εἰ μὴ ἐν νομίμοις Θεοῦ αὐτοῦ.

And the governors said, We shall not find occasion against Daniel, except in the ordinances of his God.

6 Τότε οἱ τακτικοὶ καὶ οἱ σατράπαι παρέστησαν τῷ βασιλεῖ καὶ εἶπαν αὐτῷ· Δαρεῖε βασιλεῦ, εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας ζῆθι·

Then the governors and satraps stood by the king, and said to him, King Darius, live for ever.

7 συνεβουλεύσαντο πάντες οἱ ἐπὶ τῆς βασιλείας σου στρατηγοὶ καὶ σατράπαι, ὕπατοι καὶ τοπάρχαι, τοῦ στῆσαι στάσει βασιλικῇ καὶ ἐνισχῦσαι ὁρισμόν, ὅπως ὃς ἂν αἰτήσῃ αἴτημα παρὰ παντὸς θεοῦ καὶ ἀνθρώπου ἕως ἡμερῶν τριάκοντα, ἀλλ' ἢ παρὰ σοῦ, βασιλεῦ, ἐμβληθήσεται εἰς τὸν λάκκον τῶν λεόντων.

All who preside over your kingdom, captains and satraps, chiefs and local governors, have taken counsel together, to establish by a royal statue and to confirm a decree, that whoever shall ask a petition of any god or man for thirty days, save of you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions.

8 νῦν οὖν, βασιλεῦ, στῆσον τὸν ὁρισμὸν καὶ ἔκθες γραφήν, ὅπως μὴ ἀλλοιωθῇ τὸ δόγμα Περσῶν καὶ Μήδων.

Now then, O king, establish the decree, and publish a writ, that the decree of the Persians and Medes be not changed.

9 τότε ὁ βασιλεὺς Δαρεῖος ἐπέταξε γραφῆναι τὸ δόγμα.

Then king Darius commanded the decree to be written.

10 Καὶ Δανιήλ, ἡνίκα ἔγνω ὅτι ἐνετάγη τὸ δόγμα, εἰσῆλθεν εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ, καὶ αἱ θυρίδες ἀνεῳγμέναι αὐτῷ ἐν τοῖς ὑπερῴοις αὐτοῦ κατέναντι Ἱερουσαλήμ, καὶ καιροὺς τρεῖς τῆς ἡμέρας ἦν κάμπτων ἐπὶ τὰ γόνατα αὐτοῦ καὶ προσευχόμενος καὶ ἐξομολογούμενος ἐναντίον τοῦ Θεοῦ αὐτοῦ, καθὼς ἦν ποιῶν ἔμπροσθεν.

And when Daniel knew that the decree was ordered, he went into his house; and his windows were opened in his chambers towards Jerusalem, and three times in the day he knelt upon his knees, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he used to do before.

11 τότε οἱ ἄνδρες ἐκεῖνοι παρετήρησαν καὶ εὗρον τὸν Δανιὴλ ἀξιοῦντα καὶ δεόμενον τοῦ Θεοῦ αὐτοῦ.

Then these men watched, and found Daniel praying and supplicating to his God.

12 καὶ προσελθόντες λέγουσι τῷ βασιλεῖ· βασιλεῦ, οὐχ ὁρισμὸν ἔταξας, ὅπως πᾶς ἄνθρωπος, ὃς ἂν αἰτήσῃ παρὰ παντὸς θεοῦ καὶ ἀνθρώπου αἴτημα ἕως ἡμερῶν τριάκοντα, ἀλλ' ἢ παρὰ σοῦ, βασιλεῦ, ἐμβληθήσεται εἰς τὸν λάκκον τῶν λεόντων; καὶ εἶπεν ὁ βασιλεύς· ἀληθινὸς ὁ λόγος, καὶ τὸ δόγμα Μήδων καὶ Περσῶν οὐ παρελεύσεται.

And they came and said to the king, O king, has you not made a decree, that whatever man shall ask a petition of any god or man for thirty days, but of you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? And the king said, The word is true, and the decree of the Medes and Persians shall not pass.

13 τότε ἀπεκρίθησαν καὶ λέγουσιν ἐνώπιον τοῦ βασιλέως· Δανιὴλ ὁ ἀπὸ τῶν υἱῶν τῆς αἰχμαλωσίας τῆς Ἰουδαίας οὐχ ὑπετάγη τῷ δόγματί σου, καὶ καιροὺς τρεῖς τῆς ἡμέρας αἰτεῖ παρὰ τοῦ Θεοῦ αὐτοῦ τὰ αἰτήματα αὐτοῦ.

Then they answered and said before the king, Daniel of the children of the captivity of Judea, has not submitted to your decree; and three times in the day he makes his requests of his God.

14 τότε ὁ βασιλεύς, ὡς τὸ ρῆμα ἤκουσε, πολὺ ἐλυπήθη ἐπ' αὐτῷ καὶ περὶ τοῦ Δανιὴλ ἠγωνίσατο τοῦ ἐξελέσθαι αὐτὸν καὶ ἕως ἑσπέρας ἦν ἀγωνιζόμενος τοῦ ἐξελέσθαι αὐτόν.

Then the king, when he heard the saying, was much grieved for Daniel and he greatly exerted himself for Daniel to deliver him: and he exerted himself till evening to deliver him.

15 τότε οἱ ἄνδρες ἐκεῖνοι λέγουσι τῷ βασιλεῖ· γνῶθι, βασιλεῦ, ὅτι τὸ δόγμα Μήδοις καὶ Πέρσαις τοῦ πᾶν ὁρισμὸν καὶ στάσιν, ἣν ἂν ὁ βασιλεὺς στήσῃ, οὐ δεῖ παραλλάξαι.

Then those men said to the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is that we must not change any decree of statue which the king shall make.

16 Τότε ὁ βασιλεὺς εἶπε καὶ ἤγαγον τὸν Δανιὴλ καὶ ἐνέβαλον αὐτὸν εἰς τὸν λάκκον τῶν λεόντων· καί εἶπεν ὁ βασιλεὺς τῷ Δανιήλ· ὁ Θεός σου, ᾧ σὺ λατρεύεις ἐνδελεχῶς, αὐτὸς ἐξελεῖταί σε.

Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. But the king said to Daniel, Your God whom you serve continually, he will deliver you.

17 καὶ ἤνεγκαν λίθον καὶ ἐπέθηκαν ἐπὶ τὸ στόμα τοῦ λάκκου, καὶ ἐσφραγίσατο ὁ βασιλεὺς ἐν τῷ δακτυλίῳ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐν τῷ δακτυλίῳ τῶν μεγιστάνων αὐτοῦ, ὅπως μὴ ἀλλοιωθῇ πρᾶγμα ἐν τῷ Δανιήλ.

And they brought a stone, and put it on the mouth of the den; and the king sealed [it] with his ring, and with the ring of his nobles; that the case might not be altered with regard to Daniel.

18 καὶ ἀπῆλθεν ὁ βασιλεὺς εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐκοιμήθη ἄδειπνος, καὶ ἐδέσματα οὐκ εἰσήνεγκαν αὐτῷ καὶ ὁ ὕπνος ἀπέστη ἀπ' αὐτοῦ. καὶ ἔκλεισεν ὁ Θεὸς τὰ στόματα τῶν λεόντων, καὶ οὐ παρηνώχλησαν τῷ Δανιήλ.

And the king departed to his house, and lay down fasting, and they brought him no food; and his sleep departed from him. But God shut the mouths of the lions, and they not molest Daniel.

19 τότε ὁ βασιλεὺς ἀνέστη τὸ πρωΐ ἐν τῷ φωτὶ καὶ ἐν σπουδῇ ἦλθεν ἐπὶ τὸν λάκκον τῶν λεόντων·

Then the king arose very early in the morning, and came in have to the den of lions.

20 καὶ ἐν τῷ ἐγγίζειν αὐτὸν τῷ λάκκῳ ἐβόησε φωνῇ ἰσχυρᾷ· Δανιήλ, ὁ δοῦλος τοῦ Θεοῦ τοῦ ζῶντος, ὁ Θεός σου, ᾧ σὺ λατρεύεις ἐνδελεχῶς, εἰ ἠδυνήθη ἐξελέσθαι σε ἐκ τοῦ στόματος τῶν λεόντων;

And when he drew near to the den, he cried with a loud voice, Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lion's mouth?

21 καὶ εἶπε Δανιὴλ τῷ βασιλεῖ· βασιλεῦ, εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας ζῆθι.

And Daniel said to the king, O king, live for ever.

22 ὁ Θεός μου ἀπέστειλε τὸν ἄγγελον αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐνέφραξε τὰ στόματα τῶν λεόντων, καὶ οὐκ ἐλυμήναντό με, ὅτι κατέναντι αὐτοῦ εὐθύτης εὑρέθη ἐμοί· καὶ ἐνώπιον δέ σου, βασιλεῦ, παράπτωμα οὐκ ἐποίησα.

My God has sent his angel, and stopped the lions' mouths, and they have not hurt me: for uprightness was found in me before him; and moreover before you, O king, I have committed no trespass.

23 τότε ὁ βασιλεὺς πολὺ ἠγαθύνθη ἐπ' αὐτῷ, καὶ τὸν Δανιὴλ εἶπεν ἀνενέγκαι ἐκ τοῦ λάκκου. καὶ ἀνηνέχθη Δανιὴλ ἐκ τοῦ λάκκου, καὶ πᾶσα διαφθορὰ οὐχ εὑρέθη ἐν αὐτῷ, ὅτι ἐπίστευσεν ἐν τῷ Θεῷ αὐτοῦ.

Then the king was very glad for him, and he commanded to bring Daniel out of the den. So Daniel was brought out of the den, and there was found no hurt upon him, because he believed in his God.

24 καὶ εἶπεν ὁ βασιλεύς, καὶ ἠγάγοσαν τοὺς ἄνδρας τοὺς διαβαλόντας τὸν Δανιήλ, καὶ εἰς τὸν λάκκον τῶν λεόντων ἐνεβλήθησαν, αὐτοὶ καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ αὐτῶν καὶ αἱ γυναῖκες αὐτῶν· καὶ οὐκ ἔφθασαν εἰς τὸ ἔδαφος τοῦ λάκκου, ἕως οὗ ἐκυρίευσαν αὐτῶν οἱ λέοντες καὶ πάντα τὰ ὀστᾶ αὐτῶν ἐλέπτυναν.

And the king commanded, and they brought the men that had accused Daniel, and they were cast into the den of lions, they, and their children, and their wives: and they reached not the bottom of the den before the lions had the mastery of them, and utterly broke to pieces all their bones.

25 Τότε Δαρεῖος ὁ βασιλεὺς ἔγραψε πᾶσι τοῖς λαοῖς, φυλαῖς, γλώσσαις, τοῖς οἰκοῦσιν ἐν πάσῃ τῇ γῇ· εἰρήνη ὑμῖν πληθυνθείη·

Then king Darius wrote to all nations, tribes, [and] languages, who dwell in all the earth, [saying], Peace be multiplied to you.

26 ἐκ προσώπου μου ἐτέθη δόγμα τοῦτο ἐν πάσῃ ἀρχῇ τῆς βασιλείας μου εἶναι τρέμοντας καὶ φοβουμένους ἀπὸ προσώπου τοῦ Θεοῦ Δανιήλ, ὅτι αὐτός ἐστι Θεὸς ζῶν καὶ μένων εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας, καὶ ἡ βασιλεία αὐτοῦ οὐ διαφθαρήσεται, καὶ ἡ κυριεία αὐτοῦ ἕως τέλους·

This decree has been set forth by me in every dominion of my kingdom, that [men] tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living and eternal God, and his kingdom shall not be destroyed, and his dominion is for ever.

27 ἀντιλαμβάνεται καὶ ρύεται καὶ ποιεῖ σημεῖα καὶ τέρατα ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, ὅστις ἐξείλατο τὸν Δανιὴλ ἐκ χειρὸς τῶν λεόντων.

He helps and delivers, and works signs and wonders in the heaven and on the earth, who has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.

28 καὶ Δανιὴλ κατηύθυνεν ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ Δαρείου καὶ ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ Κύρου τοῦ Πέρσου.

And Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

Greek: the Septuagint as the Orthodox Media Network published it (Mount Athos); 2 Maccabees and the Prayer of Manasseh from Brenton's edition (1851). English: Brenton's translation (1851), its spelling updated by Michael Paul Johnson; public domain. About these texts.