Daniel 14:20-42

Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition

²⁰ The king said, “I see the footsteps of men and women and children.”

²¹ Then the king was enraged, and he seized the priests and their wives and children; and they showed him the secret doors through which they were accustomed to enter and devour what was on the table. ²² Therefore the king put them to death, and gave Bel over to Daniel, who destroyed it and its temple.

Daniel Kills the Dragon

²³ There was also a great dragon, which the Babylonians revered. ²⁴ And the king said to Daniel, “You cannot deny that this is a living god; so worship him.” ²⁵ Daniel said, “I will worship the Lord my God, for he is the living God. ²⁶ But if you, O king, will give me permission, I will slay the dragon without sword or club.” The king said, “I give you permission.”

²⁷ Then Daniel took pitch, fat, and hair, and boiled them together and made cakes, which he fed to the dragon. The dragon ate them, and burst open. And Daniel said, “See what you have been worshiping!”

²⁸ When the Babylonians heard it, they were very indignant and conspired against the king, saying, “The king has become a Jew; he has destroyed Bel, and slain the dragon, and slaughtered the priests.” ²⁹ Going to the king, they said, “Hand Daniel over to us, or else we will kill you and your household.” ³⁰ The king saw that they were pressing him hard, and under compulsion he handed Daniel over to them.

Daniel in the Lions’ Den

³¹ They threw Daniel into the lions’ den, and he was there for six days. ³² There were seven lions in the den, and every day they had been given two human bodies and two sheep; but these were not given to them now, so that they might devour Daniel.

³³ Now the prophet Hab′akkuk was in Judea. He had boiled pottage and had broken bread into a bowl, and was going into the field to take it to the reapers. ³⁴ But the angel of the Lord said to Hab′akkuk, “Take the dinner which you have to Babylon, to Daniel, in the lions’ den.” ³⁵ Hab′akkuk said, “Sir, I have never seen Babylon, and I know nothing about the den.” ³⁶ Then the angel of the Lord took him by the crown of his head, and lifted him by his hair and set him down in Babylon, right over the den, with the rushing sound of the wind itself.

³⁷ Then Hab′akkuk shouted, “Daniel, Daniel! Take the dinner which God has sent you.” ³⁸ And Daniel said, “Thou hast remembered me, O God, and hast not forsaken those who love thee.” ³⁹ So Daniel arose and ate. And the angel of God immediately returned Hab′akkuk to his own place.

⁴⁰ On the seventh day the king came to mourn for Daniel. When he came to the den he looked in, and there sat Daniel. ⁴¹ And the king shouted with a loud voice, “Thou art great, O Lord God of Daniel, and there is no other besides thee.” ⁴² And he pulled Daniel^[a] out, and threw into the den the men who had attempted his destruction, and they were devoured immediately before his eyes.