1 After King Astyages was gathered to his ancestors, Cyrus the Persian succeeded to his kingdom.
2 Daniel was a companion of the king and was held in higher honor than any of the Friends of the King.
3 The Babylonians had an idol called Bel, and every day they provided for it six bushels of fine flour, forty sheep, and six measures of wine.
4 The king revered it and went every day to worship it; but Daniel worshiped only his God.
5 When the king asked him, “Why do you not worship Bel?” Daniel replied, “Because I do not revere idols made with hands, but only the living God who made heaven and earth and has dominion over all flesh.”
6 Then the king continued, “You do not think Bel is a living god? Do you not see how much he eats and drinks every day?”
7 Daniel began to laugh. “Do not be deceived, O king,” he said; “it is only clay inside and bronze outside; it has never eaten or drunk anything.”