1 و َقَرَّرَ دارِيُوسُ تَعيِينَ مِئَةٍ وَعِشرِينَ والِياً لإدارَةِ المَملَكَةِ.

It seemed good to Darius to appoint 120 satraps over the kingdom, that they would be in charge of the whole kingdom,

2 و َاختارَ ثَلاثَةَ وُزَراءٍ مِنهُمْ دانيالُ، يُقَدِّمُ الوُلاةُ التَّقارِيرَ لَهُمْ، كَي لا يَتَعَرَّضَ المَلِكُ لأيِّ خَسارَةٌ.

and over them three commissioners (of whom Daniel was one), that these satraps might be accountable to them, and that the king might not suffer loss.

3 و َلأنَّهُ كانَ فِي دانِيالَ رُوحٌ يَتَفَوَّقُ بِهِ عَلَى الوُزَراءِ وَالوُلاةِ الآخَرِينَ، فَقَدْ كانَ المَلِكُ يُفَكِّرُ بِأنْ يَجعَلَهُ مَسؤُولاً عَن كُلِّ المَملَكَةِ.

Then this Daniel began distinguishing himself among the commissioners and satraps because he possessed an extraordinary spirit, and the king planned to appoint him over the entire kingdom.

4 و َبَدَأ الوُزَراءُ وَالوُلاةُ يَبحَثُونَ عَن عِلَّةٍ فِي دانِيالَ فِي الأُمُورِ المُتَعَلِّقَةِ بِالحُكُومَةِ لإثباتِ عَدَمِ كَفاءَتِهِ وَأمانَتِهِ، لَكِنَّهُمْ لَمْ يَجِدُوا سَبَباً لإدانَتِهِ، وَلا فَساداً فِيهِ. لأنَّ دانِيالَ كانَ أمِيناً وَلا يَأخُذُ رِشْوَةً وَلا يُشارِكُ فِي احتِيالٍ.

Then the commissioners and satraps began trying to find a ground of accusation against Daniel in regard to government affairs; but they could find no ground of accusation or evidence of corruption, inasmuch as he was faithful, and no negligence or corruption was to be found in him.

5 ف َقالَ هَؤُلاءِ الرِّجالُ: «بِما أنَّنا لَنْ نَقدِرَ أنْ نَجِدَ فَساداً فِي دانِيالَ، فَعَلَينا أنْ نَبحَثَ عَن أمرٍ فِي شَرِيعَةِ إلَهِهِ.»

Then these men said, “We will not find any ground of accusation against this Daniel unless we find it against him with regard to the law of his God.”

6 ف َجاءَ هَؤلاءِ الوُزَراءُ وَالوُلاةُ إلَى المَلِكِ بِهَذا الاقتِراحِ: «أيُّها المَلِكُ دارِيُوسُ، فَلتَعِشْ إلَى الأبَدِ!

Then these commissioners and satraps came by agreement to the king and spoke to him as follows: “King Darius, live forever!

7 أ يُّها المَلِكُ، تَشاوَرَ وُزَراءِ المَملَكَةِ وَالوُلاةِ وَكِبارِ المَسؤُولِينَ وَرُفَقائِهِمْ وَالحُكّامِ، وَاتَّفَقُوا عَلَى أنْ يُصدِرَ المَلِكُ مَرسُوماً يَمنَعُ أيَّ شَخصٍ مِنْ تَقدِيمِ أيَّ دُعاءٍ أوْ طَلَبٍ لأيِّ إلَهٍ أوْ إنسانٍ إلّا لَكَ أيُّها المَلِكُ لِمُدَّةِ شَهرٍ كامِلٍ. وَمَنْ لا يَمتَثِلُ لِهَذا، فَإنَّهُ يُلقَى فِي حُفْرَةِ الأُسُودِ.

All the commissioners of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the high officials and the governors have consulted together that the king should establish a statute and enforce an injunction that anyone who makes a petition to any god or man besides you, O king, for thirty days, shall be cast into the lions’ den.

8 ف َأصدِرْ أيُّها المَلِكُ مَرسُوماً وَاختِمْهُ لِيَصِيرَ مِثلَ شَرِيعَةِ المادِيِّينَ وَالفُرْسِ الَّتِي لا تَتَغَيَّرُ.»

Now, O king, establish the injunction and sign the document so that it may not be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which may not be revoked.”

9 و َهَكَذا أصدَرَ المَلِكُ دارِيُوسُ المُرسُومَ وَخَتَمَهُ.

Therefore King Darius signed the document, that is, the injunction.

10 و َسَمِعَ دانِيالُ أنَّ المَلِكَ خَتَمَ مَرسُوماً بِذَلِكَ، فَذَهَبَ إلَى بَيتِهِ وَفَتَحَ النَّوافِذَ فِي غُرفَتِهِ العُلوِيَّةِ المَفتُوحَةَ باتِّجاهِ مَدينَةِ القُدْسِ كَالمُعتادِ، وَسَجَدَ عَلَى رُكبَتَيهِ وَسَبَّحَ إلَهَهُ. فَقَد اعتادَ أنْ يَفعَلَ ذَلِكَ ثَلاثَ مَرّاتٍ كُلَّ يَومٍ.

Now when Daniel knew that the document was signed, he entered his house (now in his roof chamber he had windows open toward Jerusalem); and he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously.

11 ف َذَهَبَ أولَئِكَ الرِّجالُ إلَى هُناكَ، وَوَجَدُوا دانِيالَ يُصَلِّي وَيَطلُبُ الرَّحمَةَ مِنْ إلَهِهِ.

Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and supplication before his God.

12 ف َأسرَعُوا إلَى المَلِكِ وَقالُوا لَهُ: «أيُّها المَلِكُ، ألَمْ تَختِمْ مَرسُوماً يَمنَعُ أيَّ شَخصٍ مِنَ الصَّلاةِ أوِ الطَّلَبِ مِنْ أيِّ إلَهٍ أوْ إنسانٍ غَيرَكَ لِمُدَّةِ شَهرٍ كامِلٍ؟ وَإنْ فَعَلَ أحَدٌ ذَلِكَ ألا يَنبَغِي أنْ يُلقَى فِي حُفْرَةِ الأُسُودِ؟» فَأجابَ المَلِكُ: «نَعَمْ، هَذا صَحِيحٌ، فَهَذا مَرسُومٌ مِنْ مَراسِيمِ مادِي وَفارِسَ الَّتِي لا يُمكِنُ تَغيِيرُها.»

Then they approached and spoke before the king about the king’s injunction, “Did you not sign an injunction that any man who makes a petition to any god or man besides you, O king, for thirty days, is to be cast into the lions’ den?” The king replied, “The statement is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which may not be revoked.”

13 ف َقالُوا لِلمَلِكِ: «دانِيالُ، الَّذِي مِنَ اليَهُودِ المَسبِيِّينَ، لَمْ يَهتَمَّ بِالمَرسُومِ الَّذِي أنتَ خَتَمتَهُ أيُّها المَلِكُ! بَلْ إنَّهُ يُصَلِّي ثَلاثَ مَرّاتٍ كُلَّ يَومٍ!»

Then they answered and spoke before the king, “ Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or to the injunction which you signed, but keeps making his petition three times a day.”

14 و َحِينَ سَمِعَ المَلِكُ ذَلِكَ انزَعَجَ جِدّاً، وَبَدَأ عَلَى الفَورِ يُفَكِّرُ بِطَرِيقَةٍ لإنقاذِ دانِيالَ. وَقَد حاوَلَ حَتَّى غُرُوبِ الشَّمسِ أنْ يَجِدَ طَرِيقَةً لإنقاذِهِ.

Then, as soon as the king heard this statement, he was deeply distressed and set his mind on delivering Daniel; and even until sunset he kept exerting himself to rescue him.

15 ف َجاءَ أُولَئِكَ الرِّجالُ إلَى المَلِكِ وَقالُوا: «أيُّها المَلِكُ، أنتَ تَعرِفُ أنَّهُ بِحَسَبِ قانُونِ مادِي وَفارِسَ لا يَجُوزُ تَغيِيرُ أيِّ مَرسُومٍ يُصدِرُهُ المَلِكُ.»

Then these men came by agreement to the king and said to the king, “Recognize, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no injunction or statute which the king establishes may be changed.” Daniel in the Lions’ Den

16 ف َأمَرَهُمُ المَلِكُ بِإحضارِ دانِيالَ وَإلقائِهِ فِي حُفْرَةِ الأُسُودِ. وَقالَ المَلِكُ لِدانِيالَ: «لِيُنقِذْكَ اللهُ الَّذِي تَعبُدُهُ دائِماً!»

Then the king gave orders, and Daniel was brought in and cast into the lions’ den. The king spoke and said to Daniel, “ Your God whom you constantly serve will Himself deliver you.”

17 ث ُمَّ وَضَعُوا حَجَراً كَبِيراً عَلَى فُتْحَةِ الحُفرَةِ وَخَتَمُوها بِخاتَمِ المَلِكِ وَوُزَرائِهِ، كَي لا يَستَطِيعَ أحَدٌ تَغيِيرَ الحُكمِ الَّذِي صَدَرَ عَلَى دانِيالَ.

A stone was brought and laid over the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signet rings of his nobles, so that nothing would be changed in regard to Daniel.

18 و َذَهَبَ المَلِكُ إلَى قَصرِهِ وَقَضَى اللَّيلَ بِلا طَعامٍ. وَمَنَعَ أنْ يَأتِي إلَيهِ مَنْ يُسَلِّيهِ، لَكِنَّهُ لَمْ يَستَطِعِ النَّومَ.

Then the king went off to his palace and spent the night fasting, and no entertainment was brought before him; and his sleep fled from him.

19 و َعِندَ الفَجرِ باكِراً جِدّاً، أسرَعَ إلَى حُفرَةِ الأُسُودِ.

Then the king arose at dawn, at the break of day, and went in haste to the lions’ den.

20 ف َاقتَرَبَ مِنَ الحُفرَةِ وَنادَى بِصَوتٍ عالٍ حَزِينٍ عَلَى دانِيالَ: «يا دانِيالُ، يا عَبدَ اللهِ الحَيِّ، هَلِ استَطاعَ إلَهُكَ الَّذِي تَخدِمُهُ وَتَعبُدُهُ دائِماً أنْ يُنقِذَكَ مِنَ الأُسُودِ؟»

When he had come near the den to Daniel, he cried out with a troubled voice. The king spoke and said to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you constantly serve, been able to deliver you from the lions?”

21 ف َأجابَ دانِيالُ المَلِكَ: «أيُّها المَلِكُ، فَلتَعِشْ إلَى الأبَدِ!

Then Daniel spoke to the king, “ O king, live forever!

22 إ لَهِي أرسَلَ مَلاكَهُ فَأغلَقَ أفواهَ الأُسُودِ فَلَمْ تُؤذِنِي، لأنَّهُ وَجَدَنِي بَرِيئاً. وَحَتَّى أنتَ أيُّها المَلِكُ تَعلَمُ بِأنِّي لَمْ أعمَلْ شَيئاً سَيِّئاً.»

My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths and they have not harmed me, inasmuch as I was found innocent before Him; and also toward you, O king, I have committed no crime.”

23 ف َفَرِحَ المَلِكُ كَثِيراً، وَأمَرَ بِإخراجِ دانِيالَ مِنَ الحُفْرَةِ. فَخَرَجَ دانِيالُ مِنَ الحُفْرَةِ سالِماً دُونَ أذَىً، لأنَّهُ آمَنَ بِإلَهِهِ.

Then the king was very pleased and gave orders for Daniel to be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den and no injury whatever was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.

24 ث ُمَّ أمَرَ المَلِكُ بِإحضارِ الَّذِينَ اشتَكُوْا عَلَى دانِيالَ، وَأمَرَ بِطَرحِهِمْ هُمْ وَأولادِهِمْ وَنِسائِهِمْ إلَى الحُفْرَةِ. وَما أنْ مَسُّوا أرْضَ الحُفْرَةِ، حَتَّى هَجَمَت الأُسُودُ عَلَيهِمْ فَمَزَّقَتْ لَحمَهُمْ، وَسَحَقَتْ عِظامَهُمْ.

The king then gave orders, and they brought those men who had maliciously accused Daniel, and they cast them, their children and their wives into the lions’ den; and they had not reached the bottom of the den before the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.

25 ث ُمَّ كَتَبَ المَلِكُ هَذِهِ الرِّسالَةَ: «إلَى كُلِّ الشُّعُوبِ وَالأُمَمِ وَاللُّغاتِ السّاكِنِينَ فِي الإمبَراطُورِيَّةِ، لِيَكُنْ لَكُمْ سَلامٌ جَزِيلٌ.

Then Darius the king wrote to all the peoples, nations and men of every language who were living in all the land: “ May your peace abound!

26 أ نا دارِيوسَ أُصدِرُ هَذا المَرسُومَ: عَلَى كُلِّ واحِدٍ فِي كُلِّ مُقاطَعاتِ مَملَكَتِي أنْ يَهابَ إلَهَ دانِيالَ وَيُكرِمُهُ. «‹هُوَ الإلَهُ الحَيُّ الأزَلِيُّ، وَمُلْكُهُ لَنْ يَفنَى أبَداً، وَسُلطانُهُ لَيسَتْ لَهُ نِهايَةٌ.

I make a decree that in all the dominion of my kingdom men are to fear and tremble before the God of Daniel; For He is the living God and enduring forever, And His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed, And His dominion will be forever.

27 ه ُوَ إلَهٌ يُخَلِّصُ وَيُنقِذُ. هُوَ إلَهٌ يَعمَلُ آياتٍ وَعَجائِبَ فِي السَّماءِ وَعَلَى الأرْضِ. وَهُوَ الَّذِي أنقَذَ دانِيالَ مِنَ الأُسُودِ.›»

“He delivers and rescues and performs signs and wonders In heaven and on earth, Who has also delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.”

28 ه َذا هُوَ دانِيالُ الَّذِي نَجَحَ أثناءَ مُلكِ دارِيوسَ المادِيِّ وَمُلكِ كُورَشَ الفارِسِيِّ.

So this Daniel enjoyed success in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.