1. And so Daniel was living with the king, and he was honored above all his friends.
2. Now there was an idol with the Babylonians named Bel. And each day there was expended on him twelve great measures of fine flour, and forty sheep, and six vessels of wine.
3. The king likewise worshipped him and went each day to adore him, but Daniel adored his God. And the king said to him, "Why do you not adore Bel?"
4. And answering, he said to him, "Because I do not worship idols made with hands, but the living God, who created heaven and earth, and who holds power over all flesh."
5. And the king said to him, "Does not Bel seem to you to be a living god? Do you not see how much he eats and drinks every day?"
6. Then Daniel said, smiling, "O king, do not make a mistake, for this one is clay on the inside and brass on the outside, and he has never eaten."
7. And the king, being angry, called for his priests and said to them, "If you do not tell me who it is that has eaten these expenses, you will die.
8. But if you can show that Bel has eaten these, Daniel will die, because he has blasphemed against Bel." And Daniel said to the king, "Let it be according to your word."
9. Now the priests of Bel were seventy, besides their wives, and little ones, and sons. And the king went with Daniel into the temple of Bel.
10. And the priests of Bel said, "Behold, we are going out, and you, O king, set out the meats, and mix the wine, and close the door, and seal it with your ring.
11. And when you have entered in the morning, if you have not found that Bel has consumed all, we will suffer death, or else Daniel will, who has lied against us."
12. But they had no concern because they had made a secret entrance under the table, and they always went in through it and devoured those things.
13. And so it happened, after they had departed, that the king set the foods before Bel, and Daniel commanded his servants, and they brought ashes, and he sifted them throughout the temple in the sight of the king, and, as they left, they shut the door, and after sealing it with the king's ring, they departed.
14. But the priests entered by night, according to their custom, with their wives, and their sons, and they ate and drank everything.
15. But the king arose at first light, and Daniel with him.
16. And the king said, "Are the seals unbroken, Daniel?" And he answered, "They are unbroken, O king."
17. And as soon as he had opened the door, the king stared at the table, and cried out with a loud voice, "Great are you, O Bel, and there is not any deceit with you."
18. And Daniel laughed, and he held back the king, so that he would not enter, and he said, "Look at the pavement, notice whose footsteps these are."
19. And the king said, "I see the footsteps of men, and women, and children." And the king was angry.