Daniel 14

1Era Daniel uno de los comensales del rey, quien le honraba más que a todos sus amigos,

2Había a la sazón en Babilonia un ídolo llamado Bel; y se gastaban para él cada día doce ambas de flor de harina, cuarenta ovejas y seis cántaros de vino.

3Le tributaba culto también el rey e iba todos los días a adorarlo. Daniel, empero, adoraba a su Dios. Y el rey le dijo: “¿Por qué no adoras a Bel?”

4A lo que respondió, diciendo: “Porque no adoro a los ídolos hechos de mano, sino al Dios vivo, que creó el cielo y la tierra, y es Señor de toda carne.”

5El rey le replicó: “¿Crees tú acaso que Bel no es un dios vivo? ¿No ves cuánto come y bebe cada día?”

6A esto contestó Daniel riendo: “No te dejes engañar, oh rey; porque él por dentro es de barro, y por fuera de bronce, y nunca come.”

7Montó el rey en cólera, y llamó a los sacerdotes del ídolo, a los cuales dijo: “Si no me decís quién come todo eso que se gasta, moriréis.

8Pero si me hacéis ver que todo eso lo come Bel, morirá Daniel por haber blasfemado contra Bel.” Y dijo Daniel al rey: “Sea como has dicho.”

9Eran los sacerdotes de Bel setenta, sin contar las mujeres, los párvulos y los hijos. Fue el rey con Daniel al templo de Bel,

10y dijeron los sacerdotes de Bel: “He aquí que nosotros nos salimos fuera; y tú, oh rey, haz poner las viandas y servir el vino, después cierra la puerta, y séllala con tu anillo.

11Y si mañana temprano, al entrar no hallares que todo se lo ha comido Bel, moriremos nosotros sin remedio, o morirá Daniel, que ha mentido contra nosotros.”

12Ellos no tenían miedo, pues habían hecho debajo de la mesa una comunicación secreta, y siempre entraban por allí y se lo comían (todo).

13Luego que se hubieron salido, hizo el rey poner las viandas delante de Bel, y Daniel mandó a sus criados traer ceniza, y la hizo esparcir con una criba por todo el templo en presencia del rey. Después salieron, cerraron la puerta, sellándola con el anillo del rey, y se fueron.

14Durante la noche entraron los sacerdotes, según su costumbre, con sus mujeres e hijos, y se lo comieron y bebieron todo.

15Se levantó el rey muy de mañana, y del mismo modo Daniel;

16y preguntó el rey: “¿Están intactos los sellos, Daniel?” Respondió este: “Intactos están, oh rey.”

17Abrió luego el rey la puerta y miró a la mesa y exclamó en alta voz: “Grande eres, oh Bel y no hay en ti engaño alguno.”

18Mas Daniel se rio y detuvo al rey para que no entrase dentro, y dijo: “Mira al pavimento, y ve de quién son estas pisadas.”

19“Veo, dijo el rey, pisadas de hombres, de mujeres y de niños.”

20Con esto se irritó el rey e hizo prender a los sacerdotes y a sus mujeres e hijos; y le mostraron el postigo secreto por donde entraban a comer cuanto había sobre la mesa.

21El rey los hizo morir y entregó a Bel en poder de Daniel quien lo destruyo juntamente con el templo.

22Había en aquel lugar un dragón grande al cual adoraban los babilonios.

23Y dijo el rey a Daniel: “Mira, ahora ya no podrás negar que este es un dios vivo. Adórale, pues.”

24A lo que respondió Daniel: “Yo adoro al Señor, mi Dios, porque Él es el Dios vivo; mas ese no es dios vivo.

25Y tú, rey, dame permiso, y mataré al dragón sin espada ni palo.”

26A lo cual dijo el rey: “Te lo doy.” Tomó Daniel pez, sebo y pelos, lo coció todo junto e hizo unas pellas, las qué arrojó en la boca del dragón, el cual reventó. Entonces dijo Daniel: “Ved aquí al que adorabais.”

27Cuando supieron esto los babilonios, se irritaron en extremo; y levantándose contra el rey, dijeron: “El rey se ha hecho judío: destruyó a Bel, mató al dragón y quitó la vida a los sacerdotes.”

28Y fueron al rey y le dijeron: “Entréganos a Daniel, de lo contrario te mataremos a ti y a tu familia.”

29Viéndose el rey reciamente acometido y sin salida, les entregó a Daniel,

30y ellos le arrojaron en el foso de los leones, donde estuvo seis días.

31Había en el foso siete leones, y les daban cada día dos cuerpos y dos ovejas; pero nada les dieron entonces, para que devorasen a Daniel.

32Estaba a la sazón en Judea el profeta Habacuc, el cual había cocido un potaje y desmenuzado unos panes en una vasija, para ir al campo y llevarlo a los segadores.

33Y dijo el ángel del Señor a Habacuc: “Esa comida que tienes llévala a Babilonia, a Daniel que está en el foso de los leones.”

34Contestó Habacuc: “Señor, yo no he visto a Babilonia ni tengo noticia del foso.”

35Entonces el ángel del Señor le tomó por la coronilla de la cabeza y con la velocidad de su espíritu le llevó de los cabellos de su cabeza hacia Babilonia encima del foso.

36Gritó Habacuc y dijo: “Daniel, siervo de Dios, toma la comida que Dios te envía.”

37Entonces dijo Daniel: “Tú, Señor, te has acordado de mí y no has desamparado a los que te aman.”

38Y se levantó Daniel y comió. Entretanto el ángel de Señor se dio prisa para restituir a Habacuc a su lugar.

39Al día séptimo vino el rey para hacer él duelo por Daniel; y llegando al foso miró hacia dentro y vio a Daniel sentado en medio de los leones.

40Entonces exclamó el rey en voz alta diciendo: “Grande eres Señor, Dios de Daniel.”

41Y le hizo sacar del foso de los leones. Pero a aquellos que habían maquinado su ruina, los hizo echar en el foso y fueron al punto devorados en su presencia.

42Entonces dijo el rey: “Teman al Dios de Daniel todos los moradores del orbe; porque Él es el Salvador, el que obra prodigios y maravillas sobre la tierra y libró a Daniel del foso de los leones.”

1Erat autem Daniel conviva regis, et honoratus super omnes amicos ejus.

2Erat quoque idolum apud Babylonios nomine Bel: et impendebantur in eo per dies singulos similæ artabæ duodecim, et oves quadraginta, vinique amphoræ sex.

3Rex quoque colebat eum, et ibat per singulos dies adorare eum: porro Daniel adorabat Deum suum. Dixitque ei rex: Quare non adoras Bel?

4Qui respondens ait ei: Quia non colo idola manufacta, sed viventem Deum, qui creavit cælum, et terram, et habet potestatem omnis carnis.

5Et dixit rex ad eum: Non videtur tibi esse Bel vivens deus? an non vides quanta comedat et bibat quotidie?

6Et ait Daniel arridens: Ne erres, rex: iste enim intrinsecus luteus est, et forinsecus æreus, neque comedit aliquando.

7Et iratus rex vocavit sacerdotes ejus, et ait eis: Nisi dixeritis mihi quis est qui comedat impensas has, moriemini.

8Si autem ostenderitis quoniam Bel comedat hæc, morietur Daniel, quia blasphemavit in Bel. Et dixit Daniel regi: Fiat juxta verbum tuum.

9Erant autem sacerdotes Bel septuaginta, exceptis uxoribus, et parvulis, et filiis. Et venit rex cum Daniele in templum Bel.

10Et dixerunt sacerdotes Bel: Ecce nos egredimur foras: et tu, rex, pone escas, et vinum misce, et claude ostium, et signa annulo tuo:

11et cum ingressus fueris mane, nisi inveneris omnia comesta a Bel, morte moriemur, vel Daniel qui mentitus est adversum nos.

12Contemnebant autem, quia fecerant sub mensa absconditum introitum, et per illum ingrediebantur semper, et devorabant ea.

13Factum est igitur postquam egressi sunt illi, rex posuit cibos ante Bel: præcepit Daniel pueris suis, et attulerunt cinerem, et cribravit per totum templum coram rege: et egressi clauserunt ostium, et signantes annulo regis abierunt.

14Sacerdotes autem ingressi sunt nocte juxta consuetudinem suam, et uxores et filii eorum, et comederunt omnia, et biberunt.

15Surrexit autem rex primo diluculo, et Daniel cum eo.

16Et ait rex: Salvane sunt signacula, Daniel? Qui respondit: Salva, rex.

17Statimque cum aperuisset ostium, intuitus rex mensam, exclamavit voce magna: Magnus es, Bel, et non est apud te dolus quisquam.

18Et risit Daniel, et tenuit regem ne ingrederetur intro: et dixit: Ecce pavimentum: animadverte cujus vestigia sint hæc.

19Et dixit rex: Video vestigia virorum, et mulierum, et infantium. Et iratus est rex.

20Tunc apprehendit sacerdotes, et uxores, et filios eorum: et ostenderunt ei abscondita ostiola, per quæ ingrediebantur, et consumebant quæ erant super mensam.

21Occidit ergo illos rex, et tradidit Bel in potestatem Danielis: qui subvertit eum, et templum ejus.

22Et erat draco magnus in loco illo, et colebant eum Babylonii.

23Et dixit rex Danieli: Ecce nunc non potes dicere quia iste non sit deus vivens: adora ergo eum.

24Dixitque Daniel: Dominum Deum meum adoro, quia ipse est Deus vivens: iste autem non est deus vivens.

25Tu autem, rex, da mihi potestatem, et interficiam draconem absque gladio et fuste. Et ait rex: Do tibi.

26Tulit ergo Daniel picem, et adipem, et pilos, et coxit pariter: fecitque massas, et dedit in os draconis, et diruptus est draco. Et dixit: Ecce quem colebatis.

27Quod cum audissent Babylonii, indignati sunt vehementer: et congregati adversum regem, dixerunt: Judæus factus est rex: Bel destruxit, draconem interfecit, et sacerdotes occidit.

28Et dixerunt cum venissent ad regem: Trade nobis Danielem, alioquin interficiemus te, et domum tuam.

29Vidit ergo rex quod irruerent in eum vehementer: et necessitate compulsus, tradidit eis Danielem.

30Qui miserunt eum in lacum leonum, et erat ibi diebus sex.

31Porro in lacu erant leones septem, et dabantur eis duo corpora quotidie, et duæ oves: et tunc non data sunt eis, ut devorarent Danielem.

32Erat autem Habacuc propheta in Judæa, et ipse coxerat pulmentum, et intriverat panes in alveolo: et ibat in campum ut ferret messoribus.

33Dixitque angelus Domini ad Habacuc: Fer prandium quod habes in Babylonem Danieli, qui est in lacu leonum.

34Et dixit Habacuc: Domine, Babylonem non vidi, et lacum nescio.

35Et apprehendit eum angelus Domini in vertice ejus, et portavit eum capillo capitis sui, posuitque eum in Babylone supra lacum in impetu spiritus sui.

36Et clamavit Habacuc, dicens: Daniel serve Dei, tolle prandium quod misit tibi Deus.

37Et ait Daniel: Recordatus es mei, Deus, et non dereliquisti diligentes te.

38Surgensque Daniel comedit. Porro angelus Domini restituit Habacuc confestim in loco suo.

39Venit ergo rex die septimo ut lugeret Danielem: et venit ad lacum, et introspexit, et ecce Daniel sedens in medio leonum.

40Et exclamavit voce magna rex, dicens: Magnus es, Domine Deus Danielis. Et extraxit eum de lacu leonum.

41Porro illos, qui perditionis ejus causa fuerant, intromisit in lacum, et devorati sunt in momento coram eo.

42Tunc rex ait: Paveant omnes habitantes in universa terra Deum Danielis: quia ipse est salvator, faciens signa et mirabilia in terra: qui liberavit Danielem de lacu leonum.

1And Daniel was the king’s guest, and was honoured above all his friends.

2Now 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 sixty vessels of wine.

3The king also worshipped him, and went every day to adore him: but Daniel adored his God. And the king said to him: Why dost thou not adore Bel?

4And he answered, and said to him: Because I do not worship idols made with hands, but the living God, that created heaven and earth, and hath power over all flesh.

5And the king said to him: Doth not Bel seem to thee to be a living god? Seest thou not how much he eateth and drinketh every day?

6Then Daniel smiled and said: O king, be not deceived: for this is but clay within, and brass without, neither hath he eaten at any time.

7And the king being angry called for his priests, and said to them: If you tell me not, who it is that eateth up these expenses, you shall die.

8But 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.

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

10And 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:

11And 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.

12And 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.

13So 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.

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

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

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

17And 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.

18And Daniel laughed: and he held the king that he should not go in: and he said: Behold the pavement, mark whose footsteps these are.

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

20Then 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.

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

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

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

24And Daniel said: I adore the Lord my God: for he is the living God: but that is no living god.

25But give me leave, O king, and I will kill this dragon without sword or club. And the king said: I give thee leave.

26Then Daniel took pitch, and fat, and hair, and boiled them together: and he made lumps, and put them into the dragon’s mouth, and the dragon burst asunder. And he said: Behold him whom you worshipped.

27And when the Babylonians had heard this, they took great indignation: and being gathered together against the king, they said: The king is become a Jew. He hath destroyed Bel, he hath killed the dragon, and he hath put the priests to death.

28And they came to the king, and said: Deliver us Daniel, or else we will destroy thee and thy house.

29And the king saw that they pressed upon him violently: and being constrained by necessity he delivered Daniel to them.

30And they cast him into the den of lions, and he was there six days.

31And in the den there were seven lions, and they had given to them two carcasses every day, and two sheep: but then they were not given unto them, that they might devour Daniel.

32Now there was in Judea a prophet called Habacuc, and he had boiled pottage, and had broken bread in a bowl: and was going into the field, to carry it to the reapers.

33And the angel of the Lord said to Habacuc: Carry the dinner which thou hast into Babylon to Daniel, who is in the lions’ den.

34And Habacuc said: Lord, I never saw Babylon, nor do I know the den.

35And the angel of the Lord took him by the top of his head, and carried him by the hair of his head, and set him in Babylon over the den in the force of his spirit.

36And Habacuc cried, saying: O Daniel, thou servant of God, take the dinner that God hath sent thee.

37And Daniel said: Thou hast remembered me, O God, and thou hast not forsaken them that love thee.

38And Daniel arose and ate. And the angel of the Lord presently set Habacuc again in his own place.

39And upon the seventh day the king came to bewail Daniel: and he came to the den, and looked in, and behold Daniel was sitting in the midst of the lions.

40And the king cried out with a loud voice, saying: Great art thou, O Lord the God of Daniel. And he drew him out of the lions’ den.

41But those that bad been the cause of his destruction, he cast into the den, and they were devoured in a moment before him.

42Then the king said: Let all the inhabitants of the whole earth fear the God of Daniel: for he is the Saviour, working signs, and wonders in the earth: who hath delivered Daniel out of the lions’ den.