10
Now the priests of Bel were threescore and ten, besides their wives and children. And the king went with Daniel into the temple of Bel.
11
So Bel's priests said, "Lo, we go out; but thou, O king, set out the meat and make ready the wine, and shut the door fast and seal it with thine own signet.
12
And tomorrow when thou comest in, if thou findest not that Bel hath eaten up all, we will suffer death, or else Daniel, who speaketh falsely against us."
13
And they little regarded it, for under the table they had made a secret entrance whereby they entered in continually and consumed those things.
14
So when they had gone forth, the king set meats before Bel. Now Daniel had commanded his servants to bring ashes, and those they strewed throughout all the temple in the presence of the king alone; then went they out, and shut the door and sealed it with the king's signet, and so departed.
15
Now in the night came the priests with their wives and children, as they were wont to do, and ate and drank up all.
16
In the morning early the king arose, and Daniel with him.
17
And the king said, "Daniel, are the seals whole?" And he said, "Yea, O king, they are whole."
18
And as soon as he had opened the door, the king looked upon the table and cried with a loud voice, "Great art thou, O Bel, and with thee is no deceit at all!"
19
Then laughed Daniel and held back the king, that he should not go in, and said, "Behold now the pavement, and mark well whose footsteps are these."
20
And the king said, "I see the footsteps of men, women, and children." And then the king was angry,