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.
23. And the king said to Daniel, "Behold, now you cannot say that this is not a living god; therefore, adore him."
24. And Daniel said, "I adore the Lord, my God, for he is the living God. But that one is not a living god.
25. Therefore, you give me the power, O king, and I will execute this dragon without sword or club." And the king said, "I give it to you."
26. And so Daniel took pitch, and fat, and hair, and cooked them together. And he made lumps and put them into the dragon's mouth, and the dragon burst open. And he said, "Behold, this is what you worship."
27. When the Babylonians had heard this, they were greatly indignant. And gathering together against the king, they said, "The king has become a Jew. He has destroyed Bel, he has executed the dragon, and he has slaughtered the priests."