die.

14:8. But if you can shew that Bel eateth these things, Daniel shall
die, because he hath blasphemed against Bel. And Daniel said to the
king: Be it done according to thy word.

14:9. Now the priests of Bel were seventy, beside their wives, and
little ones, and children. And the king went with Daniel into the temple
of Bel.

14:10. 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:

14:11. 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.

14:12. 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.

14:13. 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.

14:14. But the priests went in by night, according to their custom, with
their wives, and their children: and they eat and drank up all.

14:15. And the king arose early in the morning, and Daniel with him.

14:16. And the king said: Are the seals whole, Daniel? And he answered:
They lare whole, O king.

14:17. 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.

14:18. 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.

14:19. And the king said: I see the footsteps of men, and women, and
children. And the king was angry.

14:20. Then he took the priests, and their wives, and their children:
and they shewed him the private doors by which they came in, and
consumed the things that were on the table.

14:21. The king, therefore, put them to death, and delivered Bel into
the power of Daniel: who destroyed him and his temple.

14:22. And there was a great dragon in that place, and the Babylonians
worshipped him.

14:23. And the king said to Daniel: Behold, thou canst not say now, that
this is not a living god: adore him, therefore.

14:24. And Daniel said: I adore the Lord, my God: for he is the living
God: but t