1In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.
2And my Lord (Adonai) gave into his hand Jehoiakim king of Judah, and part 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.
3And the king said to Ashpenaz the chief of his eunuchs, to bring from the sons of Israel, and from the seed of the kingship, and from the nobles,
4youths in whom was no blemish, and good of appearance, and skillful in all wisdom, and knowing knowledge, and understanding thought, and in whom was strength to stand in the palace of the king; and to teach them the writing and the tongue of the Chaldeans.
5And the king appointed for them a daily portion, day by day, of the king's food, and of the wine of his drinking, and to rear them three years; and at the end of them they should stand before the king.
6And there were among them, of the sons of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.
7And the chief of the eunuchs set names for them: and to Daniel he gave Belteshazzar, and to Hananiah Shadrach, and to Mishael Meshach, and to Azariah Abed-nego.
8And Daniel set upon his heart that he would not defile himself with the king's food, nor with the wine of his drinking; and he sought from the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
9And God gave Daniel to favor and to compassion before the chief of the eunuchs.
10And 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 sad beyond the youths who are of your own age? and you would endanger my head to the king."
11And Daniel said to the steward, whom the chief of the eunuchs had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,
12"Test now your servants ten days; and let them give us from the vegetables, that we may eat, and water, that we may drink.
13And let our appearance be seen before you, and the appearance of the youths who eat the king's food; and as you see, deal with your servants."
14And he listened to them in this matter, and tested them ten days.
15And at the end of ten days their appearance was seen as good, and they were fatter in flesh (basar) than all the youths who ate the king's food.
16And the steward took away their food, and the wine of their drinking, and gave them vegetables.
17And these youths, the four of them, God gave them knowledge and skill in all writing and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
18And at the end of the days which the king had said to bring them in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.
19And the king spoke with them; and from all of them none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; and they stood before the king.
20And in every matter of wisdom of understanding which the king inquired of them, he found them ten hands above all the magicians and enchanters who were in all his kingdom.
21And Daniel continued until the first year of Cyrus the king.