The Night the Lions Went Hungry.

וְדָרְיָ֙וֶשׁ֙ ׳מָדָיָא׳ ״מָֽדָאָ֔ה״ קַבֵּ֖ל מַלְכוּתָ֑א כְּבַ֥ר שְׁנִ֖ין שִׁתִּ֥ין וְתַרְתֵּֽין׃

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

שְׁפַר֙ קֳדָ֣ם דָּרְיָ֔וֶשׁ וַהֲקִים֙ עַל־מַלְכוּתָ֔א לַאֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנַיָּ֖א מְאָ֣ה וְעֶשְׂרִ֑ין דִּ֥י לֶהֱוֺ֖ן בְּכָל־מַלְכוּתָֽא׃

[2] 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.

וְעֵ֤לָּא מִנְּהוֹן֙ סָרְכִ֣ין תְּלָתָ֔א דִּ֥י דָנִיֵּ֖אל חַֽד־מִנְּה֑וֹן דִּֽי־לֶהֱוֺ֞ן אֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנַיָּ֣א אִלֵּ֗ין יָהֲבִ֤ין לְהוֹן֙ טַעְמָ֔א וּמַלְכָּ֖א לָֽא־לֶהֱוֵ֥א נָזִֽק׃

[3] 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.

אֱדַ֙יִן֙ דָּנִיֵּ֣אל דְּנָ֔ה הֲוָ֣א מִתְנַצַּ֔ח עַל־סָרְכַיָּ֖א וַאֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנַיָּ֑א כָּל־קֳבֵ֗ל דִּ֣י ר֤וּחַ יַתִּירָא֙ בֵּ֔הּ וּמַלְכָּ֣א עֲשִׁ֔ית לַהֲקָמוּתֵ֖הּ עַל־כָּל־מַלְכוּתָֽא׃

[4] 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.

אֱדַ֨יִן סָֽרְכַיָּ֜א וַאֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנַיָּ֗א הֲו֨וֹ בָעַ֧יִן עִלָּ֛ה לְהַשְׁכָּחָ֥ה לְדָנִיֵּ֖אל מִצַּ֣ד מַלְכוּתָ֑א וְכָל־עִלָּ֨ה וּשְׁחִיתָ֜ה לָא־יָכְלִ֣ין לְהַשְׁכָּחָ֗ה כָּל־קֳבֵל֙ דִּֽי־מְהֵימַ֣ן ה֔וּא וְכָל־שָׁלוּ֙ וּשְׁחִיתָ֔ה לָ֥א הִשְׁתְּכַ֖חַת עֲלֽוֹהִי׃

[5] 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.”

אֱ֠דַיִן גֻּבְרַיָּ֤א אִלֵּךְ֙ אָֽמְרִ֔ין דִּ֣י לָ֧א נְהַשְׁכַּ֛ח לְדָנִיֵּ֥אל דְּנָ֖ה כָּל־עִלָּ֑א לָהֵ֕ן הַשְׁכַּ֥חְנָֽה עֲל֖וֹהִי בְּדָ֥ת אֱלָהֵֽהּ׃ ס

[6] Then these high officials and satraps came by agreement to the king and said to him, “O King Darius, live forever!

אֱ֠דַיִן סָרְכַיָּ֤א וַאֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנַיָּא֙ אִלֵּ֔ן הַרְגִּ֖שׁוּ עַל־מַלְכָּ֑א וְכֵן֙ אָמְרִ֣ין לֵ֔הּ דָּרְיָ֥וֶשׁ מַלְכָּ֖א לְעָלְמִ֥ין חֱיִֽי׃

[7] 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 thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions.

אִתְיָעַ֜טוּ כֹּ֣ל׀ סָרְכֵ֣י מַלְכוּתָ֗א סִגְנַיָּ֤א וַֽאֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנַיָּא֙ הַדָּֽבְרַיָּ֣א וּפַחֲוָתָ֔א לְקַיָּמָ֤ה קְיָם֙ מַלְכָּ֔א וּלְתַקָּפָ֖ה אֱסָ֑ר דִּ֣י כָל־דִּֽי־יִבְעֵ֣ה בָ֠עוּ מִן־כָּל־אֱלָ֨הּ וֶֽאֱנָ֜שׁ עַד־יוֹמִ֣ין תְּלָתִ֗ין לָהֵן֙ מִנָּ֣ךְ מַלְכָּ֔א יִתְרְמֵ֕א לְגֹ֖ב אַרְיָוָתָֽא׃

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

כְּעַ֣ן מַלְכָּ֔א תְּקִ֥ים אֱסָרָ֖א וְתִרְשֻׁ֣ם כְּתָבָ֑א דִּ֣י לָ֧א לְהַשְׁנָיָ֛ה כְּדָת־מָדַ֥י וּפָרַ֖ס דִּי־לָ֥א תֶעְדֵּֽא׃

[9] Therefore King Darius signed the document and injunction.

כָּל־קֳבֵ֖ל דְּנָ֑ה מַלְכָּא֙ דָּֽרְיָ֔וֶשׁ רְשַׁ֥ם כְּתָבָ֖א וֶאֱסָרָֽא׃

[10] When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open 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.

וְ֠דָנִיֵּאל כְּדִ֨י יְדַ֜ע דִּֽי־רְשִׁ֤ים כְּתָבָא֙ עַ֣ל לְבַיְתֵ֔הּ וְכַוִּ֨ין פְּתִיחָ֥ן לֵהּ֙ בְּעִלִּיתֵ֔הּ נֶ֖גֶד יְרוּשְׁלֶ֑ם וְזִמְנִין֩ תְּלָתָ֨ה בְיוֹמָ֜א ה֣וּא׀ בָּרֵ֣ךְ עַל־בִּרְכ֗וֹהִי וּמְצַלֵּ֤א וּמוֹדֵא֙ קֳדָ֣ם אֱלָהֵ֔הּ כָּל־קֳבֵל֙ דִּֽי־הֲוָ֣א עָבֵ֔ד מִן־קַדְמַ֖ת דְּנָֽה׃ ס

[11] Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and plea before his God.

אֱ֠דַיִן גֻּבְרַיָּ֤א אִלֵּךְ֙ הַרְגִּ֔שׁוּ וְהַשְׁכַּ֖חוּ לְדָנִיֵּ֑אל בָּעֵ֥א וּמִתְחַנַּ֖ן קֳדָ֥ם אֱלָהֵֽהּ׃

[12] Then they came near and said before the king, concerning the injunction, “O king! Did you not sign an injunction, that anyone who makes 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 and said, “The thing stands fast, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked.”

בֵּ֠אדַיִן קְרִ֨יבוּ וְאָמְרִ֥ין קֳדָם־מַלְכָּא֮ עַל־אֱסָ֣ר מַלְכָּא֒ הֲלָ֧א אֱסָ֣ר רְשַׁ֗מְתָּ דִּ֣י כָל־אֱנָ֡שׁ דִּֽי־יִבְעֵה֩ מִן־כָּל־אֱלָ֨הּ וֶֽאֱנָ֜שׁ עַד־יוֹמִ֣ין תְּלָתִ֗ין לָהֵן֙ מִנָּ֣ךְ מַלְכָּ֔א יִתְרְמֵ֕א לְג֖וֹב אַרְיָותָ֑א עָנֵ֨ה מַלְכָּ֜א וְאָמַ֗ר יַצִּיבָ֧א מִלְּתָ֛א כְּדָת־מָדַ֥י וּפָרַ֖ס דִּי־לָ֥א תֶעְדֵּֽא׃

[13] Then they answered and said before the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or the injunction you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.”

בֵּ֠אדַיִן עֲנ֣וֹ וְאָמְרִין֮ קֳדָ֣ם מַלְכָּא֒ דִּ֣י דָנִיֵּ֡אל דִּי֩ מִן־בְּנֵ֨י גָלוּתָ֜א דִּ֣י יְה֗וּד לָא־שָׂ֨ם ׳עֲלַיִךְ׳ ״עֲלָ֤ךְ״ מַלְכָּא֙ טְעֵ֔ם וְעַל־אֱסָרָ֖א דִּ֣י רְשַׁ֑מְתָּ וְזִמְנִ֤ין תְּלָתָה֙ בְּיוֹמָ֔א בָּעֵ֖א בָּעוּתֵֽהּ׃

[14] Then the king, when he heard these words, was much distressed and set his mind to deliver Daniel. And he labored till the sun went down to rescue him.

אֱדַ֨יִן מַלְכָּ֜א כְּדִ֧י מִלְּתָ֣א שְׁמַ֗ע שַׂגִּיא֙ בְּאֵ֣שׁ עֲל֔וֹהִי וְעַ֧ל דָּנִיֵּ֛אל שָׂ֥ם בָּ֖ל לְשֵׁיזָבוּתֵ֑הּ וְעַד֙ מֶֽעָלֵ֣י שִׁמְשָׁ֔א הֲוָ֥א מִשְׁתַּדַּ֖ר לְהַצָּלוּתֵֽהּ׃

[15] Then these men came by agreement to the king and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no injunction or ordinance that the king establishes can be changed.”

בֵּאדַ֙יִן֙ גֻּבְרַיָּ֣א אִלֵּ֔ךְ הַרְגִּ֖שׁוּ עַל־מַלְכָּ֑א וְאָמְרִ֣ין לְמַלְכָּ֗א דַּ֤ע מַלְכָּא֙ דִּֽי־דָת֙ לְמָדַ֣י וּפָרַ֔ס דִּֽי־כָל־אֱסָ֥ר וּקְיָ֛ם דִּֽי־מַלְכָּ֥א יְהָקֵ֖ים לָ֥א לְהַשְׁנָיָֽה׃

[16] Then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king declared to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!”

בֵּאדַ֜יִן מַלְכָּ֣א אֲמַ֗ר וְהַיְתִיו֙ לְדָ֣נִיֵּ֔אל וּרְמ֕וֹ לְגֻבָּ֖א דִּ֣י אַרְיָוָתָ֑א עָנֵ֤ה מַלְכָּא֙ וְאָמַ֣ר לְדָנִיֵּ֔אל אֱלָהָ֗ךְ דִּ֣י ׳אַנְתָּה׳ ״אַ֤נְתְּ״ פָּֽלַֽח־לֵהּ֙ בִּתְדִירָ֔א ה֖וּא יְשֵׁיזְבִנָּֽךְ׃

[17] And 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.

וְהֵיתָ֙יִת֙ אֶ֣בֶן חֲדָ֔ה וְשֻׂמַ֖ת עַל־פֻּ֣ם גֻּבָּ֑א וְחַתְמַ֨הּ מַלְכָּ֜א בְּעִזְקְתֵ֗הּ וּבְעִזְקָת֙ רַבְרְבָנ֔וֹהִי דִּ֛י לָא־תִשְׁנֵ֥א צְב֖וּ בְּדָנִיֵּֽאל׃

[18] Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; no diversions were brought to him, and sleep fled from him.

אֱ֠דַיִן אֲזַ֨ל מַלְכָּ֤א לְהֵֽיכְלֵהּ֙ וּבָ֣ת טְוָ֔ת וְדַחֲוָ֖ן לָא־הַנְעֵ֣ל קָֽדָמ֑וֹהִי וְשִׁנְתֵּ֖הּ נַדַּ֥ת עֲלֽוֹהִי׃

[19] Then, at break of day, the king arose and went in haste to the den of lions.

בֵּאדַ֣יִן מַלְכָּ֔א בִּשְׁפַּרְפָּרָ֖א יְק֣וּם בְּנָגְהָ֑א וּבְהִ֨תְבְּהָלָ֔ה לְגֻבָּ֥א דִֽי־אַרְיָוָתָ֖א אֲזַֽל׃

[20] As he came near to the den where Daniel was, he cried out in a tone of anguish. The king declared to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?”

וּכְמִקְרְבֵ֣הּ לְגֻבָּ֔א לְדָ֣נִיֵּ֔אל בְּקָ֥ל עֲצִ֖יב זְעִ֑ק עָנֵ֨ה מַלְכָּ֜א וְאָמַ֣ר לְדָנִיֵּ֗אל דָּֽנִיֵּאל֙ עֲבֵד֙ אֱלָהָ֣א חַיָּ֔א אֱלָהָ֗ךְ דִּ֣י ׳אַנְתָּה׳ ״אַ֤נְתְּ״ פָּֽלַֽח־לֵהּ֙ בִּתְדִירָ֔א הַיְכִ֥ל לְשֵׁיזָבוּתָ֖ךְ מִן־אַרְיָוָתָֽא׃

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

אֱדַ֙יִן֙ דָּנִיֶּ֔אל עִם־מַלְכָּ֖א מַלִּ֑ל מַלְכָּ֖א לְעָלְמִ֥ין חֱיִֽי׃

[22] My God sent his angel and shut the lions' mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.”

אֱלָהִ֞י שְׁלַ֣ח מַלְאֲכֵ֗הּ וּֽסֲגַ֛ר פֻּ֥ם אַרְיָוָתָ֖א וְלָ֣א חַבְּל֑וּנִי כָּל־קֳבֵ֗ל דִּ֤י קָֽדָמ֙וֹהִי֙ זָכוּ֙ הִשְׁתְּכַ֣חַת לִ֔י וְאַ֤ף ׳קָדָמַיִךְ׳ ״קָֽדָמָךְ֙״ מַלְכָּ֔א חֲבוּלָ֖ה לָ֥א עַבְדֵֽת׃

[23] Then the king was exceedingly glad, and commanded that Daniel be taken 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.

בֵּאדַ֣יִן מַלְכָּ֗א שַׂגִּיא֙ טְאֵ֣ב עֲל֔וֹהִי וּלְדָ֣נִיֵּ֔אל אֲמַ֖ר לְהַנְסָקָ֣ה מִן־גֻּבָּ֑א וְהֻסַּ֨ק דָּנִיֵּ֜אל מִן־גֻּבָּ֗א וְכָל־חֲבָל֙ לָא־הִשְׁתְּכַ֣ח בֵּ֔הּ דִּ֖י הֵימִ֥ן בֵּאלָהֵֽהּ׃

[24] And the king commanded, and those men who had maliciously accused Daniel were brought and cast into the den of lions—they, their children, and their wives. And before they reached the bottom of the den, the lions overpowered them and broke all their bones in pieces.

וַאֲמַ֣ר מַלְכָּ֗א וְהַיְתִ֞יו גֻּבְרַיָּ֤א אִלֵּךְ֙ דִּֽי־אֲכַ֤לוּ קַרְצ֙וֹהִי֙ דִּ֣י דָֽנִיֵּ֔אל וּלְגֹ֤ב אַרְיָוָתָא֙ רְמ֔וֹ אִנּ֖וּן בְּנֵיה֣וֹן וּנְשֵׁיה֑וֹן וְלָֽא־מְט֞וֹ לְאַרְעִ֣ית גֻּבָּ֗א עַ֠ד דִּֽי־שְׁלִ֤טֽוּ בְהוֹן֙ אַרְיָ֣וָתָ֔א וְכָל־גַּרְמֵיה֖וֹן הַדִּֽקוּ׃

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

בֵּאדַ֜יִן דָּרְיָ֣וֶשׁ מַלְכָּ֗א כְּ֠תַב לְֽכָל־עַֽמְמַיָּ֞א אֻמַיָּ֧א וְלִשָּׁנַיָּ֛א ׳דִּֽי־דָאֲרִין׳ ״דִּֽי־דָיְרִ֥ין״ בְּכָל־אַרְעָ֖א שְׁלָמְכ֥וֹן יִשְׂגֵּֽא׃

[26] I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God, enduring forever; his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end.

מִן־קֳדָמַי֮ שִׂ֣ים טְעֵם֒ דִּ֣י׀ בְּכָל־שָׁלְטָ֣ן מַלְכוּתִ֗י לֶהֱוֺ֤ן ׳זָאֲעִין׳ ״זָיְעִין֙״ וְדָ֣חֲלִ֔ין מִן־קֳדָ֖ם אֱלָהֵ֣הּ דִּי־דָֽנִיֵּ֑אל דִּי־ה֣וּא׀ אֱלָהָ֣א חַיָּ֗א וְקַיָּם֙ לְעָ֣לְמִ֔ין וּמַלְכוּתֵהּ֙ דִּֽי־לָ֣א תִתְחַבַּ֔ל וְשָׁלְטָנֵ֖הּ עַד־סוֹפָֽא׃

[27] He delivers and rescues; he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, he who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions.”

מְשֵׁיזִ֣ב וּמַצִּ֗ל וְעָבֵד֙ אָתִ֣ין וְתִמְהִ֔ין בִּשְׁמַיָּ֖א וּבְאַרְעָ֑א דִּ֚י שֵׁיזִ֣יב לְדָֽנִיֵּ֔אל מִן־יַ֖ד אַרְיָוָתָֽא׃

[28] So this Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

וְדָנִיֵּ֣אל דְּנָ֔ה הַצְלַ֖ח בְּמַלְכ֣וּת דָּרְיָ֑וֶשׁ וּבְמַלְכ֖וּת כּ֥וֹרֶשׁ ׳פָּרְסָיָא׳ ״פָּרְסָאָֽה׃״ פ