10
Now the priests of Bel were threescore and ten, beside 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 on the meat, and make ready the wine, and shut the door fast and seal it with thine own signet;
12
And to morrow when thou comest in, if thou findest not that Bel hath eaten up all, we will suffer death: or else Daniel, that speaketh falsely against us.
13
And they little regarded it: for under the table they had made a privy entrance, whereby they entered in continually, and consumed those things.
14
So when they were 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 did eat and drink up all.
16
In the morning betime the king arose, and Daniel with him.
17
And the king said, Daniel, are the seals whole? And he said, Yea, O king, they be whole.
18
And as soon as he had opened the dour, 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 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,