Daniel 1

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

2The Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some vessels from the house of God, and he brought them to the land of Shinar to the house of his god; he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.

3The king told Ashpenaz, chief of his eunuchs, to bring some children of Israel from the royal seed and from the nobles.

4Youths without spot or blemish, handsome in appearance and perceptive in all wisdom, conversant with knowledge and discerning in understanding, who had the strength to stand in the king's palace, and whom they would instruct in the writings and language of the Chaldeans.

5The king assigned them a daily ration of royal delicacies and the wine he drank, to rear them three years, so that at its end they would stand before the king.

6Among them from Judah's sons were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.

7The chief of the eunuchs assigned names to them: he named Daniel Belteshazzar, Hananiah Shadrach, Mishael Meshach, and Azariah Abednego.

8Daniel resolved in his heart not to defile himself with the king's portion of meat and with the wine he drank, and he requested of the chief of the eunuchs not to defile himself.

9God granted Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs.

10The chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, "I fear my lord the king, who appointed your food and your drink; why should he see your faces sadder than the youths your age? You would then endanger my head to the king."

11Daniel said to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.

12Please try your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink.

13Let our appearance be seen before you, alongside the appearance of the youths who eat the king's portion of food; and as you see, deal with your servants.

14He heeded them regarding this matter and tested them ten days.

15At the end of ten days their appearance looked better and their flesh fatter than all the youths who ate the king's portion.

16So Melzar took away their portion of meat and the wine for their drinking, and gave them vegetables.

17God gave these four youths knowledge and discernment in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.

18At the end of the days the king had indicated for bringing them, the chief of the eunuchs brought them before Nebuchadnezzar.

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

20In every matter of wisdom and understanding that the king sought from them, he found them ten times superior to all the magicians and sorcerers throughout his entire kingdom.

21Daniel remained until the first year of King Cyrus.