Chapter 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 ; " (Elohim). 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-favoured, skilful 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 amongst 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 amongst them all was found no one like Daniel , Hananiah , Mishael , and Azariah . Therefore they stood before the king .
20 In every matter of wisdom and understanding concerning which the king enquired 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 .