Daniel in the lions' den, in Aramaic

וְדָרְיָוֶשׁ מָדָיָא קַבֵּל מַלְכוּתָא כְּבַר שְׁנִין שִׁתִּין וְתַרְתֵּין׃

Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old.

שְׁפַר קֳדָם דָּרְיָוֶשׁ וַהֲקִים עַל־ מַלְכוּתָא לַאֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנַיָּא מְאָה וְעֶשְׂרִין דִּי לֶהֱוֺן בְּכָל־ מַלְכוּתָא׃

It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred twenty local governors, who should be throughout the whole kingdom;

וְעֵלָּא מִנְּהוֹן סָרְכִין תְּלָתָא דִּי דָנִיֵּאל חַד־ מִנְּהוֹן דִּי־ לֶהֱוֺן אֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנַיָּא אִלֵּין יָהֲבִין לְהוֹן טַעְמָא וּמַלְכָּא לָא־ לֶהֱוֵא נָזִק׃

and over them three presidents, of whom Daniel was one, that these local governors might give account to them, and that the king should suffer no loss.

אֱדַיִן דָּנִיֵּאל דְּנָה הֲוָא מִתְנַצַּח עַל־ סָרְכַיָּא וַאֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנַיָּא כָּל־ קֳבֵל דִּי רוּחַ יַתִּירָא בֵּהּ וּמַלְכָּא עֲשִׁית לַהֲקָמוּתֵהּ עַל־ כָּל־ מַלְכוּתָא׃

Then this Daniel was distinguished above the presidents and the local governors, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.

אֱדַיִן סָרְכַיָּא וַאֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנַיָּא הֲווֹ בָעַיִן עִלָּה לְהַשְׁכָּחָה לְדָנִיֵּאל מִצַּד מַלְכוּתָא וְכָל־ עִלָּה וּשְׁחִיתָה לָא־ יָכְלִין לְהַשְׁכָּחָה כָּל־ קֳבֵל דִּי־ מְהֵימַן הוּא וְכָל־ שָׁלוּ וּשְׁחִיתָה לָא הִשְׁתְּכַחַת עֲלוֹהִי׃

Then the presidents and the local governors sought to find occasion against Daniel as touching the kingdom; but they could find no occasion or fault, because he was faithful. There wasn’t any error or fault found in him.

אֱדַיִן גֻּבְרַיָּא אִלֵּךְ אָמְרִין דִּי לָא נְהַשְׁכַּח לְדָנִיֵּאל דְּנָה כָּל־ עִלָּא לָהֵן הַשְׁכַּחְנָה עֲלוֹהִי בְּדָת אֱלָהֵהּ׃

Then these men said, “We won’t find any occasion against this Daniel, unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God.”

אֱדַיִן סָרְכַיָּא וַאֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנַיָּא אִלֵּן הַרְגִּשׁוּ עַל־ מַלְכָּא וְכֵן אָמְרִין לֵהּ דָּרְיָוֶשׁ מַלְכָּא לְעָלְמִין חֱיִי׃

Then these presidents and local governors assembled together to the king, and said this to him, “King Darius, live forever!

אִתְיָעַטוּ כֹּל סָרְכֵי מַלְכוּתָא סִגְנַיָּא וַאֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנַיָּא הַדָּבְרַיָּא וּפַחֲוָתָא לְקַיָּמָה קְיָם מַלְכָּא וּלְתַקָּפָה אֱסָר דִּי כָל־ דִּי־ יִבְעֵה בָעוּ מִן־ כָּל־ אֱלָהּ וֶאֱנָשׁ עַד־ יוֹמִין תְּלָתִין לָהֵן מִנָּךְ מַלְכָּא יִתְרְמֵא לְגֹב אַרְיָוָתָא׃

All the presidents of the kingdom, the deputies and the local governors, the counselors and the governors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a strong decree, that whoever asks a petition of any god or man for thirty days, except of you, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.

כְּעַן מַלְכָּא תְּקִים אֱסָרָא וְתִרְשֻׁם כְּתָבָא דִּי לָא לְהַשְׁנָיָה כְּדָת־ מָדַי וּפָרַס דִּי־ לָא תֶעְדֵּא׃

Now, O king, establish the decree and sign the writing, that it not be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which doesn’t alter.”

כָּל־ קֳבֵל דְּנָה מַלְכָּא דָּרְיָוֶשׁ רְשַׁם כְּתָבָא וֶאֱסָרָא׃

Therefore King Darius signed the writing and the decree.

וְדָנִיֵּאל כְּדִי יְדַע דִּי־ רְשִׁים כְּתָבָא עַל לְבַיְתֵהּ וְכַוִּין פְּתִיחָן לֵהּ בְּעִלִּיתֵהּ נֶגֶד יְרוּשְׁלֶם וְזִמְנִין תְּלָתָה בְיוֹמָא הוּא בָּרֵךְ עַל־ בִּרְכוֹהִי וּמְצַלֵּא וּמוֹדֵא קֳדָם אֱלָהֵהּ כָּל־ קֳבֵל דִּי־ הֲוָא עָבֵד מִן־ קַדְמַת דְּנָה׃

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.

אֱדַיִן גֻּבְרַיָּא אִלֵּךְ הַרְגִּשׁוּ וְהַשְׁכַּחוּ לְדָנִיֵּאל בָּעֵא וּמִתְחַנַּן קֳדָם אֱלָהֵהּ׃

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

בֵּאדַיִן קְרִיבוּ וְאָמְרִין קֳדָם־ מַלְכָּא עַל־ אֱסָר מַלְכָּא הֲלָא אֱסָר רְשַׁמְתָּ דִּי כָל־ אֱנָשׁ דִּי־ יִבְעֵה מִן־ כָּל־ אֱלָהּ וֶאֱנָשׁ עַד־ יוֹמִין תְּלָתִין לָהֵן מִנָּךְ מַלְכָּא יִתְרְמֵא לְגוֹב אַרְיָותָא עָנֵה מַלְכָּא וְאָמַר יַצִּיבָא מִלְּתָא כְּדָת־ מָדַי וּפָרַס דִּי־ לָא תֶעְדֵּא׃

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.”

בֵּאדַיִן עֲנוֹ וְאָמְרִין קֳדָם מַלְכָּא דִּי דָנִיֵּאל דִּי מִן־ בְּנֵי גָלוּתָא דִּי יְהוּד לָא־ שָׂם עליך מַלְכָּא טְעֵם וְעַל־ אֱסָרָא דִּי רְשַׁמְתָּ וְזִמְנִין תְּלָתָה בְּיוֹמָא בָּעֵא בָּעוּתֵהּ׃

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.”

אֱדַיִן מַלְכָּא כְּדִי מִלְּתָא שְׁמַע שַׂגִּיא בְּאֵשׁ עֲלוֹהִי וְעַל דָּנִיֵּאל שָׂם בָּל לְשֵׁיזָבוּתֵהּ וְעַד מֶעָלֵי שִׁמְשָׁא הֲוָא מִשְׁתַּדַּר לְהַצָּלוּתֵהּ׃

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.

בֵּאדַיִן גֻּבְרַיָּא אִלֵּךְ הַרְגִּשׁוּ עַל־ מַלְכָּא וְאָמְרִין לְמַלְכָּא דַּע מַלְכָּא דִּי־ דָת לְמָדַי וּפָרַס דִּי־ כָל־ אֱסָר וּקְיָם דִּי־ מַלְכָּא יְהָקֵים לָא לְהַשְׁנָיָה׃

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.”

בֵּאדַיִן מַלְכָּא אֲמַר וְהַיְתִיו לְדָנִיֵּאל וּרְמוֹ לְגֻבָּא דִּי אַרְיָוָתָא עָנֵה מַלְכָּא וְאָמַר לְדָנִיֵּאל אֱלָהָךְ דִּי אנתה פָּלַח־ לֵהּ בִּתְדִירָא הוּא יְשֵׁיזְבִנָּךְ׃

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.”

וְהֵיתָיִת אֶבֶן חֲדָה וְשֻׂמַת עַל־ פֻּם גֻּבָּא וְחַתְמַהּ מַלְכָּא בְּעִזְקְתֵהּ וּבְעִזְקָת רַבְרְבָנוֹהִי דִּי לָא־ תִשְׁנֵא צְבוּ בְּדָנִיֵּאל׃

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.

אֱדַיִן אֲזַל מַלְכָּא לְהֵיכְלֵהּ וּבָת טְוָת וְדַחֲוָן לָא־ הַנְעֵל קָדָמוֹהִי וְשִׁנְתֵּהּ נַדַּת עֲלוֹהִי׃

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.

בֵּאדַיִן מַלְכָּא בִּשְׁפַּרְפָּרָא יְקוּם בְּנָגְהָא וּבְהִתְבְּהָלָה לְגֻבָּא דִי־ אַרְיָוָתָא אֲזַל׃

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

וּכְמִקְרְבֵהּ לְגֻבָּא לְדָנִיֵּאל בְּקָל עֲצִיב זְעִק עָנֵה מַלְכָּא וְאָמַר לְדָנִיֵּאל דָּנִיֵּאל עֲבֵד אֱלָהָא חַיָּא אֱלָהָךְ דִּי אנתה פָּלַח־ לֵהּ בִּתְדִירָא הַיְכִל לְשֵׁיזָבוּתָךְ מִן־ אַרְיָוָתָא׃

When he came near to Daniel in the den, 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?”

אֱדַיִן דָּנִיֶּאל עִם־ מַלְכָּא מַלִּל מַלְכָּא לְעָלְמִין חֱיִי׃

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

אֱלָהִי שְׁלַח מַלְאֲכֵהּ וּסֲגַר פֻּם אַרְיָוָתָא וְלָא חַבְּלוּנִי כָּל־ קֳבֵל דִּי קָדָמוֹהִי זָכוּ הִשְׁתְּכַחַת לִי וְאַף קדמיך מַלְכָּא חֲבוּלָה לָא עַבְדֵת׃

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

בֵּאדַיִן מַלְכָּא שַׂגִּיא טְאֵב עֲלוֹהִי וּלְדָנִיֵּאל אֲמַר לְהַנְסָקָה מִן־ גֻּבָּא וְהֻסַּק דָּנִיֵּאל מִן־ גֻּבָּא וְכָל־ חֲבָל לָא־ הִשְׁתְּכַח בֵּהּ דִּי הֵימִן בֵּאלָהֵהּ׃

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.

וַאֲמַר מַלְכָּא וְהַיְתִיו גֻּבְרַיָּא אִלֵּךְ דִּי־ אֲכַלוּ קַרְצוֹהִי דִּי דָנִיֵּאל וּלְגֹב אַרְיָוָתָא רְמוֹ אִנּוּן בְּנֵיהוֹן וּנְשֵׁיהוֹן וְלָא־ מְטוֹ לְאַרְעִית גֻּבָּא עַד דִּי־ שְׁלִטוּ בְהוֹן אַרְיָוָתָא וְכָל־ גַּרְמֵיהוֹן הַדִּקוּ׃

The king commanded, and they brought those men who had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions—them, their children, and their wives; and the lions mauled them, and broke all their bones in pieces before they came to the bottom of the den.

בֵּאדַיִן דָּרְיָוֶשׁ מַלְכָּא כְּתַב לְכָל־ עַמְמַיָּא אֻמַיָּא וְלִשָּׁנַיָּא דִּי־ דארין בְּכָל־ אַרְעָא שְׁלָמְכוֹן יִשְׂגֵּא׃

Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages who dwell in all the earth: “Peace be multiplied to you.

מִן־ קֳדָמַי שִׂים טְעֵם דִּי בְּכָל־ שָׁלְטָן מַלְכוּתִי לֶהֱוֺן זאעין וְדָחֲלִין מִן־ קֳדָם אֱלָהֵהּ דִּי־ דָנִיֵּאל דִּי־ הוּא אֱלָהָא חַיָּא וְקַיָּם לְעָלְמִין וּמַלְכוּתֵהּ דִּי־ לָא תִתְחַבַּל וְשָׁלְטָנֵהּ עַד־ סוֹפָא׃

“I make a decree that in all the dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. “For he is the living God, and steadfast forever. His kingdom is that which will not be destroyed. His dominion will be even to the end.

מְשֵׁיזִב וּמַצִּל וְעָבֵד אָתִין וְתִמְהִין בִּשְׁמַיָּא וּבְאַרְעָא דִּי שֵׁיזִיב לְדָנִיֵּאל מִן־ יַד אַרְיָוָתָא׃

He delivers and rescues. He works signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.”

וְדָנִיֵּאל דְּנָה הַצְלַח בְּמַלְכוּת דָּרְיָוֶשׁ וּבְמַלְכוּת כּוֹרֶשׁ פרסיא׃

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