Enye inkosi yaseBhabhiloni kwakuthiwa nguDariyu umMede. UDariyu wabona ukuthi uDanyeli wayewenza kuhle umsebenzi wakhe. Wamnika isikhundla esiphezu kwesamadoda wonke aqakathekileyo elizweni. Amadoda lawo aba lomhawu aze acabanga ukubulala uDanyeli. Ayekwazi ukuthi uDanyeli wayekhuleka kuJehova kathathu nsuku zonke, yikho athi kuDariyu: ‘Nkosi, kumele kube lomthetho othi abantu bonke bakhuleke kuwe kuphela. Loba ngubani ongasoze enze njalo kumele aphoselwe emgodini wezilwane.’ UDariyu walithanda icebo lelo yikho wawubhala phansi umthetho lowo.

UDanyeli wathi esizwa ngomthetho lowo wahle waya endlini yakhe. Wafika waguqa phambi kwewindi elivuliweyo wakhuleka kuJehova. Amadoda lawo alomhawu angena endlini yakhe amthola ekhuleka. Agijima aya kuDariyu afika athi: ‘UDanyeli kakulalelanga. Ulokhu ekhuleka kuNkulunkulu wakhe kathathu nsuku zonke.’ UDariyu wayemthanda uDanyeli njalo wayengafuni abulawe. Watshona ecabanga ngokuthi angenzani ukuze uDanyeli angabulawa. Kodwa inkosi yayingenelisi ukuntshintsha umthetho nxa yayisiwubhale phansi. Yikho uDariyu watshela izinceku zakhe ukuthi  ziphosele uDanyeli emgodini wezilwane.

Ngobusuku lobo inkosi yayikhathazeke kakhulu ngoDanyeli yaze yehluleka lokulala. Ekuseni, yagijima yaya emgodini wezilwane yamemeza yathi: ‘UNkulunkulu wakho ukuvikelile yini?’

UDanyeli waphendula wathi: ‘Ingilosi kaJehova ivale umlomo wezilwane. Kazingilimazanga.’ UDariyu wathaba kakhulu. Wathi uDanyeli akhutshwe emgodini wezilwane. UDanyeli wayengalimalanga ngitsho. Inkosi yasisithi: ‘Thathani amadoda lawana acebele uDanyeli liwaphosele emgodini.’ Lapho amadoda lawo ephoselwa emgodini, izilwane zahle zawadla.

UDariyu walobela abantu bakhe wathi: ‘Wonke umuntu kumele akhonze uNkulunkulu kaDanyeli. Uvikele uDanyeli ukuze angadliwa yizilwane.’

Wena ukhuleka nsuku zonke yini njengoDanyeli?