The Book of
Daniel
1
1 In
the third year
of the reign
of Jehoiakim king
of Judah,
Nebuchadnezzar king
of Babylon came to
Jerusalem and
besieged it.
2 The Lord
gave Jehoiakim
king of Judah
into his hand,
with some of
the vessels of
the house of
God;
and he carried
them into the land
of Shinar to
the house of
his god. He
brought the
vessels into
the treasure house
of his god.
3 The
king spoke to Ashpenaz,
the master of
his eunuchs, that
he should bring in
some of the
children of Israel,
even of the royal
offspring
and of the
nobles:
4 youths
in whom was no
defect, but well-favored,
skillful in all
wisdom, endowed
with knowledge,
understanding science,
and who had
the ability to
stand in the
king’s palace; and
that he should
teach them the
learning and the
language of the
Chaldeans.
5 The
king appointed for
them a daily
portion of the
king’s delicacies
and of the
wine which he
drank, and that
they should be
nourished three
years, that at
its end they
should stand
before the king.
6 Now among
these of the
children of Judah
were Daniel,
Hananiah, Mishael,
and Azariah.
7 The
prince of the
eunuchs gave names
to them: to
Daniel he gave
the name
Belteshazzar; to
Hananiah, Shadrach;
to Mishael,
Meshach; and to
Azariah, Abednego.
8 But
Daniel purposed in
his heart that
he would not
defile himself
with the king’s
delicacies, nor
with the wine
which he drank.
Therefore he
requested of the
prince of the
eunuchs that
he might not
defile himself.
9 Now
God made Daniel
find kindness and
compassion in the
sight of the
prince of the
eunuchs.
10 The
prince of the
eunuchs said to
Daniel, “I fear
my lord the king,
who has appointed
your food and
your drink. For
why should he
see your faces
worse looking than
the youths who
are of your
own age? Then
you would endanger
my head with
the king.”
11 Then
Daniel said to
the steward whom the
prince of the
eunuchs had
appointed over
Daniel, Hananiah,
Mishael, and
Azariah:
12 “Test
your servants, I
beg you, ten
days; and let
them give us
vegetables to eat
and water to
drink.
13 Then let
our faces be
examined before
you, and the
face of the
youths who eat of
the king’s
delicacies; and as
you see, deal
with your
servants.”
14 So
he listened to
them in this
matter, and tested
them for ten
days.
15 At
the end of
ten days,
their faces appeared
fairer and they
were fatter in
flesh than all
the youths who ate
of the king’s
delicacies.
16 So
the steward took
away their
delicacies and the
wine that they
were given to
drink, and gave
them vegetables.
17 Now
as for these four
youths, God gave
them knowledge and
skill in all
learning and
wisdom; and Daniel
had understanding
in all visions
and dreams.
18 At
the end of
the days which
the king had
appointed for bringing
them in, the
prince of the
eunuchs brought
them in before
Nebuchadnezzar.
19 The
king talked with
them; and among
them all was
found no one
like Daniel,
Hananiah, Mishael,
and Azariah. Therefore
stood they before
the king.
20 In
every matter of
wisdom and understanding
concerning which
the king inquired
of them, he
found them ten
times better than
all the magicians
and enchanters who
were in all
his realm.
21 Daniel
continued even to
the first year of
King Cyrus.