Chapter 99

¹ Then, accordingly, Darius, being unable to contradict the satraps any further, gave the order that Daniel be brought, and they cast him into the den of lions.

² And the king answered and said to him: “Your God, whom you serve continually, he himself will deliver you”—urging him to take courage; for he said, in effect: “Since I, for my part, though I willed it, was not able, even though I am king, your God whom you serve will himself deliver you, so that the things impossible with men may be shown to be possible with God.”

³ And they brought a stone and set it upon the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet, so that nothing in Daniel’s case might be altered.

⁴ And this too was a work of malice; for the satraps, being wary lest the king should secretly order him to be drawn up out of the den, demanded that the stone be sealed.

⁵ In the same way the rulers of the Pharisees also acted in the case of the Savior, sealing the stone together with the guard.