9
Now the priests of Bel were seventy, besides their wives, and little ones, and children. And the king went with Daniel into the temple of Bel.
10
And the priests of Bel said: Behold we go out: and do thou, O king, set on the meats, and make ready the wine, and shut the door fast, and seal it with thy own ring:
11
And when thou comest in the morning, if thou findest not that Bel hath eaten up all, we will suffer death, or else Daniel that hath lied against us.
12
And they little regarded it, because they had made under the table a secret entrance, and they always came in by it, and consumed those things.
13
So it came to pass after they were gone out, the king set the meats before Bel: and Daniel commanded his servants, and they brought ashes, and he sifted them all over the temple before the king: and going forth they shut the door, and having sealed it with the king's ring, they departed.
14
But the priests went in by night, according to their custom, with their wives and their children: and they ate and drank up all.
15
And the king arose early in the morning, and Daniel with him.
16
And the king said: Are the seals whole, Daniel? And he answered: They are whole, O king.
17
And as soon as he had opened the door, the king looked upon the table, and cried out with a loud voice: Great art thou, O Bel, and there is not any deceit with thee.
18
And Daniel laughed: and he held the king that he should not go in: and he said: Behold the pavement, mark whose footsteps these are.
19
And the king said: I see the footsteps of men, and women, and children. And the king was angry.