20 And when he came to the den, he cried out with a¹ lamenting voice to Daniel. The king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, ^ahas your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?”  ‡

21 Then Daniel said to the king, ^a“O king, live forever!  ‡

23 Now the king was exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no injury whatever was found on him, ^abecause he believed in his God.  ‡

24 And the king gave the command, ^aand they brought those men who had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions—them, ^btheir children, and their wives; and the lions overpowered them, and broke all their bones in pieces before they ever came to the bottom of the den.  ‡