4
The king revered it and went every day to worship it. But Daniel worshiped his own God. So the king said to him, "Why do you not worship Bel?"
5
He answered, "Because I do not revere idols made with hands, but the living God, who created heaven and earth and has dominion over all living creatures."
6
The king said to him, "Do you not think that Bel is a living god? Do you not see how much he eats and drinks every day?"
7
And Daniel laughed, and said, "Do not be deceived, O king, for this thing is only clay inside and bronze outside, and it never ate or drank anything."
8
Then the king was angry and called the priests of Bel and said to them, "If you do not tell me who is eating these provisions, you shall die.