 1 In the third year of the reign of King Jehoiakim of Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 The Lord gave King Jehoiakim of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God that he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god. Then 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 some of the children of Israel and of the king's descendants and of the rulers. 4 Bring sons in whom was no blemish but who were handsome and skillful in all wisdom. Those who had knowledge and understanding, even those who were able to stand in the king's palace and to whom they might teach the writing and the language of the Chaldeans. 5 The king appointed for them a daily provision of the king's meat and of the wine that he drank, to nourish and educate them for three years so that at the end they might stand before the king. 6 Among them were four of the children of Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. 7 The ruler of the eunuchs gave them new names. He called Daniel Belteshazzar, Hananiah Shadrach, Mishael Meshach, and Azariah Abednego. 8 Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king's meat nor with the wine that he drank. Therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. 9 Now God had brought Daniel into the favor and tender compassion+ of the chief of the eunuchs. 10 So the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who has chosen your meat and your drink. Why should he see your faces looking worse than the children who are of your kind? Then you would make me endanger my head to the king. 11 Daniel said to Melzar, whom the chief of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 I beseech you to try+ your servants for ten days. Let them give us vegetables+ to eat and water to drink. 13 Then compare+ our appearance+ with that of the children who eat the king's meat. As you then see, deal with your servants. 14 So he listened to them in this matter and tried+ them for ten days. 15 At the end of ten days their faces looked fairer and better+ in flesh than all the children who had eaten the king's meat. 16 So Melzar took away their portion of the meat and wine that they were to drink and gave them vegetables+. 17 As for these four children, 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 that the king had said he would bring them in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. 19 The king talked with them and among them all were found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. So they stood before the king. 20 In matters of wisdom and understanding that the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers who were in all his kingdom. 21 Daniel continued to the first year of King Cyrus.
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