Bel and the Dragon 4–9

4 The king revered it and went every day to worship it. But Daniel worshiped his own God.

5 And the king said to him, “Why do you not worship Bel?” He answered, “Because I do not revere man-made idols, but the living God, who created heaven and earth and has dominion over all flesh.”

6 The king said to him, “Do you not think that Bel is a living God? Do you not see how much he eats and drinks every day?” 7 Then Daniel laughed, and said, “Do not be deceived, O king; for this is but clay inside and brass outside, and it never ate or drank anything.”

8 Then the king was angry, and he called his priests and said to them, “If you do not tell me who is eating these provisions, you shall die. 9 But if you prove that Bel is eating them, Daniel shall die, because he blasphemed against Bel.” And Daniel said to the king, “Let it be done as you have said.”