Chapter 96

¹ So in this way Daniel too, though forbidden to pray, did not submit to the king’s decree, lest he set the glory of God beneath the glory of men.

² For if anyone dies for God’s sake, he ought to rejoice over this, having found eternal life.

³ Those, then, who labor well, living purely and with fear in this world, ought to give no occasion to those who seek an occasion, so that in this very thing they themselves may rather be put to shame; just as the commissioners then sought to find an occasion against Daniel and did not find one, because he was faithful.

⁴ But if some compel us not to worship God nor to ask anything of him, threatening us with death, it is far more delightful to die than to do what is commanded by them. For who shall separate us from the love of God? Tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or peril, or sword?

⁵ And for this reason the blessed Daniel, fearing God rather and giving himself up to death, was preserved from the lions by the angel.

⁶ For if, in fear of the decree, he had kept quiet during the thirty days, his faith toward God would no longer have been pure; for no one is able to serve two masters.

⁷ For such has the devil’s craft always been: to persecute and afflict and wear down the saints, so that they may not lift up holy hands in prayer to God, since he knows that the prayer of the saints provides peace to the world, but punishment to the evil one.

⁸ Just as also in the wilderness, whenever Moses lifted up his hands, Israel prevailed, but whenever he let them down, Amalek prevailed.

⁹ In the same way this happens even now and is fulfilled in our case. For whenever we cease from praying, the adversary prevails against us; but whenever we persevere in prayer, the power and authority of the evil one is brought to nothing.