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.
23. Now there was a big snake that the Babylonians worshipped.
24. The king said to Daniel,"You can’t say that this one isn’t a living god. So worship it!"