Bel and the Dragon 1 — GMV

1 Verse 1 And King Astyages was gathered to his fathers, and Cyrus of Persia received his kingdom. ^{Verse 2} And Daniel conversed with the king, and was honored above all his friends. ^{Verse 3} Now the Babylonians had an idol, called Bel, and there were spent upon him every day twelve great measures of fine flour, and forty sheep, and six vessels of wine. ^{Verse 4} And the king worshiped it, and went daily to adore it: but Daniel worshiped his own God. And the king said unto him, Why dost not thou worship Bel? ^{Verse 5} Who answered and said, Because I may not worship idols made with hands, but the living God, who hath created the heaven and the earth, and hath sovereignty over all flesh. ^{Verse 6} Then said the king unto him, Thinkest thou not that Bel is a living god? seest thou not how much he eateth and drinketh every day? ^{Verse 7} Then Daniel smiled, and said, O king, be not deceived: for this is but clay within, and brass without, and did never eat or drink anything. ^{Verse 8} So the king was wroth, and called for his priests, and said unto them, If ye tell me not who this is that devoureth these expenses, ye shall die. ^{Verse 9} But if ye can certify me that Bel devoureth them, then Daniel shall die: for he hath spoken blasphemy against Bel. And Daniel said unto the king, Let it be according to thy word. ^{Verse 10} Now the priests of Bel were threescore and ten, beside their wives and children. And the king went with Daniel into the temple of Bel. ^{Verse 11} So Bel’s priests said, Lo, we go out: but thou, O king, set on the meat, and make ready the wine, and shut the door fast, and seal it with thine own signet; ^{Verse 12} and tomorrow when thou comest in, if thou findest not that Bel hath eaten up all, we will suffer death: or else Daniel, that speaketh falsely against us. ^{Verse 13} And they little regarded it: for under the table they had made a privy entrance, whereby they entered in continually, and consumed those things. ^{Verse 14} So when they were gone forth, the king set meats before Bel. Now Daniel had commanded his servants to bring ashes, and those they strewed throughout all the temple in the presence of the king alone: then went they out, and shut the door, and sealed it with the king’s signet, and so departed. ^{Verse 15} Now in the night came the priests with their wives and children, as they were wont to do, and did eat and drink up all. ^{Verse 16} In the morning betime the king arose, and Daniel with him. ^{Verse 17} And the king said, Daniel, are the seals whole? And he said, Yea, O king, they be whole. ^{Verse 18} And as soon as he had opened the door, the king looked upon the table, and cried with a loud voice, Great art thou, O Bel, and with thee is no deceit at all. ^{Verse 19} Then laughed Daniel, and held the king that he should not go in, and said, Behold now the pavement, and mark well whose footsteps are these. ^{Verse 20} And the king said, I see the footsteps of men, women, and children. And then the king was angry, ^{Verse 21} and took the priests with their wives and children, who showed him the private doors, where they came in, and consumed such things as were upon the table. ^{Verse 22} Therefore the king slew them, and delivered Bel into Daniel’s power, who destroyed him and his temple. ^{Verse 23} And in that same place there was a great dragon, which they of Babylon worshiped. ^{Verse 24} And the king said unto Daniel, Wilt thou also say that this is of brass? lo, he liveth, he eateth and drinketh; thou canst not say that he is no living god: therefore worship him. ^{Verse 25} Then said Daniel unto the king, I will worship the Lord my God: for he is the living God. ^{Verse 26} But give me leave, O king, and I shall slay this dragon without sword or staff. The king said, I give thee leave. ^{Verse 27} Then Daniel took pitch, and fat, and hair, and did seethe them together, and made lumps thereof: this he put in the dragon’s mouth, and so the dragon burst in sunder: and Daniel said, Lo, these are the gods ye worship. ^{Verse 28} When they of Babylon heard that, they took great indignation, and conspired against the king, saying, The king is become a Jew, and he hath destroyed Bel, he hath slain the dragon, and put the priests to death. ^{Verse 29} So they came to the king, and said, Deliver us Daniel, or else we will destroy thee and thy house. ^{Verse 30} Now when the king saw that they pressed him sore, being constrained, he delivered Daniel unto them; ^{Verse 31} who cast him into the lions’ den: where he was six days. ^{Verse 32} And in the den there were seven lions, and they had given them every day two carcasses, and two sheep: which then were not given to them, to the intent they might devour Daniel. ^{Verse 33} Now there was in Jewry a prophet, called Habakkuk, who had made pottage, and had broken bread in a bowl, and was going into the field, for to bring it to the reapers. ^{Verse 34} But the angel of the Lord said unto Habakkuk, Go, carry the dinner that thou hast into Babylon unto Daniel, who is in the lions’ den. ^{Verse 35} And Habakkuk said, Lord, I never saw Babylon; neither do I know where the den is. ^{Verse 36} Then the angel of the Lord took him by the crown, and bare him by the hair of his head, and through the vehemency of his spirit set him in Babylon over the den. ^{Verse 37} And Habakkuk cried, saying, O Daniel, Daniel, take the dinner which God hath sent thee. ^{Verse 38} And Daniel said, Thou hast remembered me, O God: neither hast thou forsaken them that seek thee and love thee. ^{Verse 39} So Daniel arose, and did eat: and the angel of the Lord set Habakkuk in his own place again immediately. ^{Verse 40} Upon the seventh day the king went to bewail Daniel: and when he came to the den, he looked in, and, behold, Daniel was sitting. ^{Verse 41} Then cried the king with a loud voice, saying, Great art thou, O Lord God of Daniel, and there is none other beside thee. ^{Verse 42} And he drew him out, and cast those that were the cause of his destruction into the den: and they were devoured in a moment before his face.