The King Remembers Daniel's God

I, King Darius, I was content,
To rule over my realm give consent
To governors many.
O’er these gov’nors plenty
Were three whose position I did cement.

Of them, I thought to set o’er the land,
Dan’l, a fine Jew of ex’lence grand.
But they came against him,
My rulers, on a whim,
And tried to make Dan’l fall they planned.

These faultfinding, contemptible men
Though they spied on him ‘gain and again,
Could not find a mistake
That they could use to make
Dan’l lose my favor, meet his end.

Except in the matter of his God.
So they came before me in a squad
And said, “Long live the king!
We all have made writing
That says, 'whoe'er petitions a god

Or man beside you, O splendid king,
Into the lions’ den you will fling.’
So with us do align,
And this writing do sign
That it not be altered according

To the Median and Persian law.”
In their intent I could see no flaw,
So the writing I signed.
Could not have been more blind,
For with this, they’d caught him in their claw.

When Dan’l heard that the writing I signed,
As e’er, to God in pray’r he inclined.
At his house, in his room,
His pray’r he did resume,
Thanking his God with a one-track mind.

Once Dan’l pray’ng to God they did see,
The wicked men came up before me
Say’ng, “D’you recall O king,
That you signed the writing
That says that a man bowing the knee

To any god or man besides you,
Shall the lion’s den be thrown into?
Well, Dan’l we have found
With his face to the ground,
Praying to God, though the law he knew.

Then I was very upset with me
And I sought how to set Dan’l free.
But soon it was the time
To punish Dan’l’s “crime”
And him thrown to lions have to see.

So I commanded, and him they brought
And threw him to the lions for nought.
“Your God,” I Dan’l told,
“For whom you’ve been so bold,
He will get you out of this tight spot.”

They rolled a stone to cover the den.
Enclosing Dan’l within the pen.
That night, I could not eat
Or in bed keep my feet,
And when the morning came once again,

Then I went in haste to the lion’s den
And cried out to Dan’l in the pen,
“Has He delivered you?
God to whom you’re true?”
I was relieved and overjoyed when

Dan’l said, “O King I am most fine.
These lions came not near me to dine.
My God has guarded me,
For my innocency.
For with Him I always do align.”

At this I was exceedingly glad,
And Dan’l brought out of the den I had
And made a commandment
That his same punishment
Be given to those men, who were bad.

So those that accused Daniel were caught
And likewise their wives and children brought
And to the lions cast.
The lions attacked fast,
And overpowered them, the foul lot,

They crushed all of their bones in pieces –
From their teeth and claws, no releases.
Then all nations I wrote
And of God I did gloat,
Praising Him whose kingdom ne’er ceases.

Saying, “May you prosper greatly.
Effective now I give a decree
That the God of Dan’l
Be feared by all who dwell
In my kingdom, whether slave or free.

For He is the living God truly,
His kingdom remains eternally,
And likewise His power.
From the evil men’s hour
And the lions, Dan’l rescued He.”