¹Now it pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom, ²and over them three administrators, including Daniel, to whom these satraps were accountable so that the king would not suffer loss. ³Soon, by his extraordinary spirit, Daniel distinguished himself among the administrators and satraps. So the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. ⁴Thus the administrators and satraps sought a charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom, but they could find no charge or corruption, because he was trustworthy, and no negligence or corruption was found in him. ⁵Finally these men said, “We will never find any charge against this Daniel unless we find something against him concerning the law of his God.” ⁶So the administrators and satraps went together to the king and said, “O King Darius, may you live forever! ⁷All the royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers, and governors have agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce a decree that for thirty days anyone who petitions any god or man except you, O king, will be thrown into the den of lions. ⁸Therefore, O king, establish the decree and sign the document so that it cannot be changed — in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.” ⁹Therefore King Darius signed the written decree.