Old Testament

New Testament

Daniel 14:13-22 Catholic Public Domain Version (CPDV)

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.

20. Then he apprehended the priests, and their wives, and their sons, and they showed him the secret doors through which they entered and consumed the things that were on the table.

21. Therefore, the king slaughtered them and delivered Bel into the power of Daniel, who overturned him and his temple.

22. And there was a great dragon in that place, and the Babylonians worshipped him.

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