el, and they for fear
conversed with you: but a daughter of Juda would not abide your
wickedness.

13:58. Now, therefore, tell me, under what tree didst thou take them
conversing together. And he answered: Under a holm tree.

13:59. And Daniel said to him: Well hast thou also lied against thy own
head: for the angel of the Lord waiteth with a sword to cut thee in two,
and to destroy you.

13:60. With that all the assembly cried out with a loud voice, and they
blessed God, who saveth them that trust in him.

13:61. And they rose up against the two elders, (for Daniel had
convicted them of false witness by their own mouth) and they did to them
as they had maliciously dealt against their neighbour,

13:62. To fulfil the law of Moses: and they put them to death, and
innocent blood was saved in that day.

13:63. But Helcias, and his wife, praised God, for their daughter,
Susanna, with Joakim, her husband, and all her kindred, because there
was no dishonesty found in her.

13:64. And Daniel became great in the sight of the people from that day,
and thence forward.

13:65. And king Astyages was gathered to his fathers; and Cyrus, the
Persian, received his kingdom.

Daniel Chapter 14

The history of Bel, and of the great serpent worshipped by the
Babylonians.

14:1. And Daniel was the king's guest, and was honoured above all his
friends.

The king's guest... It seems most probable, that the king here spoken of
was Evilmerodach, the son and successor of Nabuchodonosor, and a great
favourer of the Jews.

14:2. Now the Babylonians had an idol called Bel: and there was spent
upon him every day twelve great measures of fine flour, and forty sheep,
and six vessels of wine.

14:3. The king also worshipped him, and went every day to adore him: but
Daniel adored his God. And the king said to him: Why dost thou not adore
Bel?

14:4. And he answered, and said to him: Because I do not worship idols
made with hands, but the living God, that created heaven and earth, and
hath power over all flesh.

14:5. And the king said to him: Doth not Bel seem to thee to be a living
god? Seest thou not how much he eateth and drinketh every day?

14:6. Then Daniel smiled, and siad: O king, be not deceived: for this is
but clay within, and brass without, neither hath he eaten at any time.

14:7. And the king being angry, called for his priests, and siad to
them: If you tell me not who it is that eateth up these expenses, you
shall