In the third year
of the reign
of Jehoiakim
king
of Judah
came
Nebuchadnezzar
king
of Babylon
unto Jerusalem
, and besieged
it.
And the Lord gave
Jehoiakim
king
of Judah
into his hand
, with part
of the vessels
of the house
of God
: which he carried
into the land
of Shinar
to the house
of his god
; and he brought
the vessels
into the treasure
house
of his god
.
And the king spake
unto Ashpenaz
the master
of his eunuchs
, that he should bring
certain of the children
of Israel
, and of the king's
seed
, and of the princes
;
Children in whom was no blemish
, but well
favoured
, and skilful
in all wisdom
, and cunning
in knowledge
, and understanding
science
, and such as had ability
in them to stand
in the king's
palace
, and whom they might teach
the learning
and the tongue
of the Chaldeans
.
And the king appointed
them a daily
provision
of the king's
meat
, and of the wine
which he drank
: so nourishing
them three
years
, that at the end
thereof they might stand
before
the king
.
Now among these were of the children of Judah
, Daniel
, Hananiah
, Mishael
, and Azariah
:
Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs
gave
names
: for he gave
unto Daniel
the name of Belteshazzar
; and to Hananiah
, of Shadrach
; and to Mishael
, of Meshach
; and to Azariah
, of Abednego
.
But Daniel purposed
in his heart
that he would not defile
himself with the portion
of the king's
meat
, nor with the wine
which he drank
: therefore he requested
of the prince
of the eunuchs
that he might not defile
himself.
Now God had brought
Daniel
into favour
and tender love
with
the prince
of the eunuchs
.
And the prince of the eunuchs
said
unto Daniel
, I fear
my lord
the king
, who hath appointed
your meat
and your drink
: for why should he see
your faces
worse liking
than the children
which are of your sort
? then shall ye make me endanger
my head
to the king
.
Then said Daniel
to Melzar
, whom the prince
of the eunuchs
had set
over Daniel
, Hananiah
, Mishael
, and Azariah
,
Prove thy servants
, I beseech thee, ten
days
; and let them give
us pulse
to eat
, and water
to drink
.
Then let our countenances be looked upon
before
thee, and the countenance
of the children
that eat
of the portion
of the king's
meat
: and as thou seest
, deal
with thy servants
.
So he consented to them in this matter
, and proved
them ten
days
.
And at the end of ten
days
their countenances
appeared
fairer
and fatter
in flesh
than all the children
which did eat
the portion
of the king's
meat
.
Thus Melzar took away
the portion of their meat
, and the wine
that they should drink
; and gave
them pulse
.
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
.
Now at the end of the days
that the king
had said
he should bring
them in, then the prince
of the eunuchs
brought
them in before
Nebuchadnezzar
.
And the king communed
with them; and among them all was found
none like Daniel
, Hananiah
, Mishael
, and Azariah
: therefore stood
they before
the king
.
And in all matters of wisdom
and understanding
, that the king
enquired
of them, he found
them ten times
better
than all the magicians
and astrologers
that were in all his realm
.
And Daniel continued even unto the first
year
of king
Cyrus
.