16
Early in the morning the king rose and came, and Daniel with him.
17
And the king said, "Are the seals unbroken, Daniel?" He answered, "They are unbroken, O king."
18
As soon as the doors were opened, the king looked at the table, and shouted in a loud voice, "You are great, O Bel; and with you there is no deceit, none at all."
19
Then Daniel laughed, and restrained the king from going in, and said, "Look at the floor, and notice whose footsteps these are."
20
The king said, "I see the footsteps of men and women and children."
21
Then the king was enraged, and he seized the priests and their wives and children; and they showed him the secret doors through which they were accustomed to enter and devour what was on the table.
22
Therefore the king put them to death, and gave Bel over to Daniel, who destroyed it and its temple.
23
There was also a great dragon, which the Babylonians revered.
24
And the king said to Daniel, "You cannot deny that this is a living god; so worship him."
25
Daniel said, "I will worship the Lord my God, for he is the living God.
26
But if you, O king, will give me permission, I will slay the dragon without sword or club." The king said, "I give you permission."