1In the third7969 year8141 of the reign4438 of Jehoiakim3079 king4428 of Judah3063 came935 Nebuchadnezzar5019 king4428 of Babylon894 unto Jerusalem3389, and besieged6696 it.
2And the Lord136 gave5414 Jehoiakim3079 king4428 of Judah3063 into his hand3027, with part7117 of the vessels3627 of the house1004 of God430: which he carried935 into the land776 of Shinar8152 to the house1004 of his god430; and he brought935 the vessels3627 into the treasure214 house1004 of his god430.
3And the king4428 spake559 unto Ashpenaz828 the master7227 of his eunuchs5631, that he should bring935 certain of the children1121 of Israel3478, and of the king's4410 seed2233, and of the princes6579;
4Children3206 in whom was no blemish3971 3971, but well2896 favoured4758, and skilful7919 in all wisdom2451, and cunning3045 in knowledge1847, and understanding995 science4093, and such as had ability3581 in them to stand5975 in the king's4428 palace1964, and whom they might teach3925 the learning5612 and the tongue3956 of the Chaldeans3778.
5And the king4428 appointed4487 them a daily3117 3117 provision1697 of the king's4428 meat6598, and of the wine3196 which he drank4960: so nourishing1431 them three7969 years8141, that at the end7117 thereof they might stand5975 before6440 the king4428.
6Now among these were of the children1121 of Judah3063, Daniel1840, Hananiah2608, Mishael4332, and Azariah5838:
7Unto whom the prince8269 of the eunuchs5631 gave7760 names8034: for he gave7760 unto Daniel1840 the name of Belteshazzar1095; and to Hananiah2608, of Shadrach7714; and to Mishael4332, of Meshach4335; and to Azariah5838, of Abednego5664.
8But Daniel1840 purposed7760 in his heart3820 that he would not defile1351 himself with the portion6598 of the king's4428 meat6598, nor with the wine3196 which he drank4960: therefore he requested1245 of the prince8269 of the eunuchs5631 that he might not defile1351 himself.
9Now God430 had brought5414 Daniel1840 into favour2617 and tender love7356 with6440 the prince8269 of the eunuchs5631.
10And the prince8269 of the eunuchs5631 said559 unto Daniel1840, I fear3373 my lord113 the king4428, who hath appointed4487 your meat3978 and your drink4960: for why should he see7200 your faces6440 worse liking2196 than the children3206 which are of your sort1524? then shall ye make me endanger2325 my head7218 to the king4428.
11Then said559 Daniel1840 to Melzar4453, whom the prince8269 of the eunuchs5631 had set4487 over Daniel1840, Hananiah2608, Mishael4332, and Azariah5838,
12Prove5254 thy servants5650, I beseech thee, ten6235 days3117; and let them give5414 us pulse2235 to eat398, and water4325 to drink8354.
13Then let our countenances4758 be looked upon7200 before6440 thee, and the countenance4758 of the children3206 that eat398 of the portion6598 of the king's4428 meat6598: and as thou seest7200, deal6213 with thy servants5650.
14So he consented8085 to them in this matter1697, and proved5254 them ten6235 days3117.
15And at the end7117 of ten6235 days3117 their countenances4758 appeared7200 fairer2896 and fatter1277 in flesh1320 than all the children3206 which did eat398 the portion6598 of the king's4428 meat6598.
16Thus Melzar4453 took away5375 the portion of their meat6598, and the wine3196 that they should drink4960; and gave5414 them pulse2235.
17As for these four702 children3206, God430 gave5414 them knowledge4093 and skill7919 in all learning5612 and wisdom2451: and Daniel1840 had understanding995 in all visions2377 and dreams2472.
18Now at the end7117 of the days3117 that the king4428 had said559 he should bring935 them in, then the prince8269 of the eunuchs5631 brought935 them in before6440 Nebuchadnezzar5019.
19And the king4428 communed1696 with them; and among them all was found4672 none like Daniel1840, Hananiah2608, Mishael4332, and Azariah5838: therefore stood5975 they before6440 the king4428.
20And in all matters1697 of wisdom2451 and understanding998, that the king4428 enquired1245 of them, he found4672 them ten times6235 better3027 than all the magicians2748 and astrologers825 that were in all his realm4438.
21And Daniel1840 continued even unto the first259 year8141 of king4428 Cyrus3566.