A reading from the book of Daniel.

It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom 120 set traps to be throughout the whole kingdom,

and over them three high officials of whom Daniel was one, to whom these set traps should

give account so that the king might suffer no loss.

Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps

because an excellent spirit was in him, and the king planned to set him over the whole

kingdom.

Then the high officials and the satraps sought to find a ground for complaint against Daniel with regard to the kingdom. Then the high officials and the satraps sought to find a ground for complaint against

Daniel with regard to the kingdom, but they could find no ground for complaint or any fault

because he was faithful, and no error or fault was found in him. Then these men said we shall not

find any ground for complaint against this Daniel, unless we find it in connection with the law of his God.

Then these high officials and satraps came by agreement to the king and said to him, O King Darius, live forever.

All the high officials of the kingdom, the prefects and the satrabs,

the counselors and the governors are agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce

an injunction that whoever makes petition to any God or man for 30 days except to you,

O king, shall be cast into the den of lions.

Now, O King, established the injunction and signed the document so that it cannot be changed

according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, which cannot be revoked. Therefore, King

Darius signed the document and injunction.

When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows

in his upper chamber opened toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day

and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had

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