9:1 In the first year of Darius 1 son of Ahasuerus, 2 who was of Median descent and who had been 3 appointed king over the Babylonian 4 empire – 9:2 in the first year of his reign 5 I, Daniel, came to understand from the sacred books 6 that, according to the word of the LORD 7 disclosed to the prophet Jeremiah, the years for the fulfilling of the desolation of Jerusalem 8 were seventy in number. 9:3 So I turned my attention 9 to the Lord God 10 to implore him by prayer and requests, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. 11 9:4 I prayed to the LORD my God, confessing in this way:
“O Lord, 12 great and awesome God who is faithful to his covenant 13 with those who love him and keep his commandments,