A reading from the book of Daniel.

It pleased Darias to set over the kingdom 120 satraps to be throughout the whole kingdom,

and over them three high officials, of whom Daniel was one, to whom these satraps 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, but they could find no ground for complaint or any fault because he was fateful,

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 satraps, 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, establish 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 Dariah signed the document, an 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 done previously.

Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition

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