Daniel 1

1In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.

2And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the vessels of the house of God. He brought them to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, and he brought the vessels into the treasury of his god.

3Then the king told Ashpenaz, the chief of his court officials, to bring some of the sons of Israel, both from the royal offspring and from the nobles,

4young men in whom there was no defect at all, good in appearance, skillful in all wisdom, knowledgeable in learning, discerning in understanding, and who had the ability to stand in the king’s palace, and to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans.

5And the king assigned to them a daily portion from the king’s food and from the wine he drank, and to bring them up for three years; and at the end of them they were to stand before the king.

6And among them, from the sons of Judah, were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.

7And the chief of the eunuchs gave them names: he gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar, Hananiah the name Shadrach, Mishael the name Meshach, and Azariah the name Abed-nego.

8But Daniel resolved in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king’s food or with the wine he drank, and he sought permission from the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

9And God gave Daniel favor and compassion before the chief of the eunuchs.

10But the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who assigned your food and your drink. Why should he see your faces looking worse than the youths who are of your own age? Then you would endanger my head with the king.”

11Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,

12Please test your servants for ten days, and let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink.

13Then let our appearance and the appearance of the youths who are eating the king’s food be seen before you, and according to what you see, deal with your servants.

14So he listened to them in this matter and tested them for ten days.

15And at the end of ten days, their appearance seemed better, and they were healthier in flesh than all the youths who were eating the king’s food.

16So the steward kept taking away their choice food and the wine they were to drink, and kept giving them vegetables.

17As for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and insight in every kind of literature and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in every vision and dream.

18And at the end of the days that the king had said to bring them in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them before Nebuchadnezzar.

19The king spoke with them, and among them all no one was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; so they stood before the king.

20And in every matter of wisdom and understanding that the king asked of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters who were in all his kingdom.

21And Daniel remained until the first year of King Cyrus.