10. The king went with Daniel to Bel’s temple.
11. Bel’s priests said, "We’re going outside now. Your Majesty, you set out the food and mix the wine. Lock the door and seal it with your own seal. Early tomorrow, if you don’t find that Bel has eaten everything, you can kill us. Otherwise, kill Daniel for lying about us!" (
12. The priests weren’t worried because they had made a hidden entrance under the table, which they regularly used to enter to eat everything.)
13. When the priests went out, the king set out Bel’s food.
14. But Daniel ordered his servants to bring ashes and sprinkle the whole temple, with only the king watching. Then everyone went out, locked the door, sealed it with the king’s seal, and left.
15. The priests came that night, as usual, with their wives and children, and ate and drank everything.
16. The king and Daniel got up very early the next morning.
17. The king said,"Are the seals unbroken, Daniel?"He answered,"Unbroken, Your Majesty."
18. As soon as the doors were opened, the king looked at the table and yelled,"You are great, Bel! There’s nothing fake about you!"
19. But Daniel laughed and held the king back from going in. He said,"Look at the floor. Whose tracks are these?"
20. The king said,"I see the footprints of men, women, and children!"
21. Then the king became angry. He arrested the priests, their wives, and children. They showed him the hidden doors through which they regularly entered to eat what was on the table.
22. The king killed them and handed Bel over to Daniel, who tore it and its temple down.