So the king gave orders for Daniel to be taken and thrown into the pit filled with lions. He said to Daniel, "May your God, whom you serve so loyally, rescue you."

A stone was put over the mouth of the pit, and the king placed his own royal seal and the seal of his noblemen on the stone, so that no one could rescue Daniel.

Good people suffer many troubles, but the LORD saves them from them all;

You let us fall into a trap and placed heavy burdens on our backs.

You let our enemies trample us; we went through fire and flood, but now you have brought us to a place of safety.

What if the LORD had not been on our side? Answer, O Israel!

then they would have swallowed us alive in their furious anger against us;

the raging torrent would have drowned us."

So they took me and let me down by ropes into Prince Malchiah's well, which was in the palace courtyard. There was no water in the well, only mud, and I sank down in it.

"I was trapped like a bird by enemies who had no cause to hate me.

Water began to close over me, and I thought death was near.

We want to remind you, friends, of the trouble we had in the province of Asia. The burdens laid upon us were so great and so heavy that we gave up all hope of staying alive.

From such terrible dangers of death he saved us, and will save us; and we have placed our hope in him that he will save us again,

And this small and temporary trouble we suffer will bring us a tremendous and eternal glory, much greater than the trouble.

My dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful test you are suffering, as though something unusual were happening to you.

Rather be glad that you are sharing Christ's sufferings, so that you may be full of joy when his glory is revealed.