Daniel 1

1In the third yearH8141 of the reignH4438 of JehoiakimH3079 kingH4428 of JudahH3063 cameH935 NebuchadnezzarH5019 kingH4428 of BabylonH894 unto JerusalemH3389, and besieged it. 2And the LordH136 gaveH5414 JehoiakimH3079 kingH4428 of JudahH3063 into his handH3027, with part of the vesselsH3627 of the houseH1004 of GodH430; and he carried them into the landH776 of ShinarH8152 to the houseH1004 of his godH430: and he broughtH935 the vesselsH3627 into the treasure-house of his godH430. 3And the kingH4428 spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchsH5631, that he should bringH935 in certain of the children of IsraelH3478, even of the seedH2233 royal and of the nobles; 4youthsH3206 in whom was no blemishH3971, but well-favored, and skilful in all wisdomH2451, and endued with knowledgeH1847, and understandingH995 science, and such as had abilityH3581 to standH5975 in the king’sH4428 palaceH1964; and that he should teachH3925 them the learning and the tongueH3956 of the ChaldeansH3778. 5And the kingH4428 appointedH5975 for them a daily portion of the king’sH4428 dainties, and of the wineH3196 which he drankH4960, and that they should be nourished threeH7969 yearsH8141; that at the endH7117 thereof they should standH5975 before the kingH4428. 6Now among these wereH1961, of the children of JudahH3063, DanielH1840, HananiahH2608, MishaelH4332, and AzariahH5838. 7And the princeH8269 of the eunuchsH5631 gave namesH8034 unto them: unto DanielH1840 he gave the nameH8034 of BelteshazzarH1095; and to HananiahH2608, of Shadrach; and to MishaelH4332, of Meshach; and to AzariahH5838, of Abed-nego.

8But DanielH1840 purposed in his heartH3820 that he would not defile himself with the king’sH4428 dainties, nor with the wineH3196 which he drankH4960: therefore he requested of the princeH8269 of the eunuchsH5631 that he might not defile himself. 9Now GodH430 madeH5414 DanielH1840 to find kindness and compassionH7356 in the sight of the princeH8269 of the eunuchsH5631. 10And the princeH8269 of the eunuchsH5631 saidH559 unto DanielH1840, I fearH3373 my lordH113 the kingH4428, who hath appointedH4487 your foodH3978 and your drinkH4960: for whyH4100 should he seeH7200 your facesH6440 worse lookingH7200 than the youthsH3206 that are of your own age? so would ye endanger my headH7218 with the kingH4428. 11Then saidH559 DanielH1840 to the steward whom the princeH8269 of the eunuchsH5631 had appointedH4487 over DanielH1840, HananiahH2608, MishaelH4332, and AzariahH5838: 12Prove thy servantsH5650, I beseech thee, tenH6235 daysH3117; and let them giveH5414 us pulse to eatH398, and waterH4325 to drinkH8354. 13Then let our countenances be lookedH7200 upon before thee, and the countenance of the youthsH3206 that eatH398 of the king’sH4428 dainties; and as thou seest, deal with thy servantsH5650.

14So he hearkened unto them in this matterH1697, and proved them tenH6235 daysH3117. 15And at the endH7117 of tenH6235 daysH3117 their countenances appearedH7200 fairer, and they were fatter in fleshH1320, than all the youthsH3206 that did eatH398 of the king’sH4428 dainties. 16So the steward tookH5375 awayH5375 their dainties, and the wineH3196 that they should drinkH4960, and gaveH5414 them pulse.

17Now as for these fourH702 youthsH3206, GodH430 gaveH5414 them knowledgeH4093 and skillH2451 in all learning and wisdomH2451: and DanielH1840 had understandingH995 in all visionsH2377 and dreamsH2472. 18And at the endH7117 of the daysH3117 which the kingH4428 had appointed for bringingH935 them in, the princeH8269 of the eunuchsH5631 broughtH935 them in before NebuchadnezzarH5019. 19And the kingH4428 communed with them; and among them all was foundH4672 none like DanielH1840, HananiahH2608, MishaelH4332, and AzariahH5838: therefore stoodH5975 they before the kingH4428. 20And in every matterH1697 of wisdomH2451 and understandingH998, concerning which the kingH4428 inquired of them, he foundH4672 them tenH6235 times better than all the magiciansH2748 and enchanters that were in all his realm. 21And DanielH1840 continued even unto the first yearH8141 of kingH4428 CyrusH3566.