CHAPTER 1
In the third
year
of the reign
of Jehoiakim
king
of Judah,
Nebuchadnezzar
king
of Babylon
came
to Jerusalem
and besieged
it.
And the Lord
delivered
into his hand
Jehoiakim
king
of Judah,
along with some
of the articles
from the house
of God.
He carried these off
to the land
of Shinar,
to the house
of his god,
where
he put
them
into the treasury
of his god.
Then the king
ordered
Ashpenaz,
the chief
of his court officials,
to bring in
some
Israelites
from the royal
family
and the nobility—
young men
without
blemish,
handsome,
gifted
in all
wisdom,
knowledgeable,
quick
to understand,
and qualified
to serve
in the king’s
palace—
and to teach them
the language
and literature
of the Chaldeans.
The king
assigned
them
daily
provisions
of the royal
food
and wine.
They were to be trained
for three
years,
at the end
of which they were to enter
the king’s service.
The chief
official
gave
them new names:
To Daniel
he gave
the name Belteshazzar;
to Hananiah,
Shadrach;
to Mishael,
Meshach;
and to Azariah,
Abednego.
But Daniel
resolved
in
his heart
that
he would not
defile
himself with the king’s
food
or wine.
So he asked
the chief
official
for permission
not
to defile himself.
but he
said
to Daniel,
“I
fear
my lord
the king,
who
has assigned
your food
and drink.
For
why
should he see
your faces
looking thinner
than
those of the other young men
your age?
You would endanger
my head
before the king."
Then Daniel
said
to
the steward
whom
the chief
official
had set
over
Daniel,
Hananiah,
Mishael,
and Azariah,
“Please
test
your servants
for ten
days.
Let us be given
only vegetables
to eat
and water
to drink.
Then compare
our appearances
with those
of the young men
who are eating
the royal
food,
and deal
with
your servants
according to what
you see.”
And at
the end
of ten
days,
their appearance was
better
and healthier
than all
the young men
who were eating
the king’s
food.
Thus
the steward
continued to withhold
their choice food
and the wine
they were to drink,
and he gave
them
vegetables instead.
To these
four
young men
God
gave
knowledge
and understanding
in every kind
of literature
and wisdom.
And Daniel
had insight
into all kinds
of visions
and dreams.
Now at the end
of the time
specified
by the king,
the chief
official
presented
them to
Nebuchadnezzar.
And the king
spoke with them,
and among
all the young men
he found
no one
equal to Daniel,
Hananiah,
Mishael,
and Azariah.
So they entered
the king's service.
In every
matter
of wisdom
and understanding
about which
the king
consulted
them,
he found them
ten
times
better than
all
the magicians
and enchanters
in his entire
kingdom.