King James Version

1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 And the Lord gave into his hand Jehoiakim king of Judah and some of the vessels of the house of God, and he brought them to the land of Shinar, to the house of his God, and the vessels he brought to the treasure house of his God. 3 And the king said to Ashpenaz, chief of his eunuchs, to bring from the children of Israel and from the royal offspring and from the nobles. 4 Children who have no blemish, good in appearance, well-versed in all wisdom, knowledgeable in understanding, and capable of standing in the king's palace and teaching the book and the language of the Chaldeans. 5 And the king appointed for them a daily provision from the king's food and from the wine of his drink, and to raise them three years, and at the end of that they would stand before the king. 6 And among the sons of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. 7 And he appointed to them the chief of the eunuchs names, and he gave to Daniel the name Belteshazzar, and to Hananiah, Shadrach, and to Mishael, Meshach, and to Azariah, Abednego. 8 And Daniel set it upon his heart that he would not defile himself with the king's food and with the wine of his drink, and he sought from the chief of the eunuchs that he would not defile himself. 9 And God gave Daniel favor and mercy in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs. 10 And the chief 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 looking worse than the young men who are your age? Then you would endanger my head before the king." 11 And Daniel said to the chief official who had been appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. 12 Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us some of the vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 And let our appearance be seen before you, and the appearance of the children who eat the king's delicacies; and as you see, do with your servants. 14 And he heard them concerning this matter, and he tried them for ten days. 15 And after a few days, ten, their appearance was good and they were healthy in body, more than all the young men who ate the king's delicacies. 16 And the cupbearer took the goblets and the wine of their feast and gave them seeds. 17 And to these children, God gave knowledge and skill in all book-learning and wisdom, and Daniel understood all visions and dreams. 18 And after a few days, which the king had spoken to bring them, the chief of the eunuchs brought them before Nebuchadnezzar. 19 And he spoke with them, the king, and there was found none among all like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; and they stood before the king. 20 And all the words of wisdom and understanding that the king sought from them, he found them to be more than all the magicians and enchanters who were in all his kingdom. 21 And Daniel was until the first year of King Cyrus.