Daniel 1

1In the thirdH7969 yearH8141 of the reignH4438 of JehoiakimH3079 kingH4428 of JudahH3063, NebuchadnezzarH5019 kingH4428 of BabylonH894 cameH935 to JerusalemH3389 and besiegedH6696 itH5921. 2And the LordH136 deliveredH5414 into his handH3027 JehoiakimH3079 kingH4428 of JudahH3063, along with someH7117 of the articlesH3627 from the houseH1004 of GodH430. He carried these offH935 to the landH776 of ShinarH8152,1 to the houseH1004 of his godH430, where he putH935 them in the treasuryH1004H214 of his godH430.

3Then the kingH4428 orderedH559 AshpenazH828, the chiefH7227 of his court officialsH5631, to bring inH935 someH4480 IsraelitesH1121H3478 from the royalH4410 familyH22332 and the nobilityH6579— 4young menH3206 withoutH369 blemishH3971, handsomeH2896H4758, giftedH7919 in allH3605 wisdomH2451, knowledgeableH3045H1847, quickH4093 to understandH995, and qualifiedH3581 to serveH5975 in the king’sH4428 palaceH1964—and to teach themH3925 the languageH3956 and literatureH5612 of the ChaldeansH3778.3

5The kingH4428 assignedH4487 them dailyH3117 provisionsH1697 of the royalH4428 foodH6598 and wineH3196H4960. They were to be trainedH1431 for threeH7969 yearsH8141, after whichH7117 they were to enterH5975H6440 the king’s serviceH4428.

6Among these young men were someH1961 from JudahH3063: DanielH1841, HananiahH2608, MishaelH4332, and AzariahH5838. 7The chiefH8269 officialH5631 gave themH7760 new namesH8034: To DanielH1841 he gaveH7760 the name BelteshazzarH1095; to HananiahH2608, ShadrachH7714; to MishaelH4332, MeshachH4335; and to AzariahH5838, AbednegoH5664.

Daniel’s Faithfulness

8But DanielH1841 madeH7760 upH5921 his mindH3820 thatH834 he would notH3808 defile himselfH1351 with the king’sH4428 foodH6598 or wineH3196H4960. So he askedH1245 the chiefH8269 officialH5631 for permissionH834 notH3808 to defile himselfH1351.

9Now GodH430 had grantedH5414 DanielH1841 favorH2617 and compassionH7356 fromH6440 the chiefH8269 officialH5631, 10but heH8269H5631 saidH559 to DanielH1841, “IH589 fearH3373 my lordH113 the kingH4428, whoH834 has assignedH4487 your foodH3978 and drinkH4960. ForH834 whyH4100 should he seeH7200 your facesH6440 looking thinnerH2196 thanH4480 those of the other young menH3206 your ageH1524? You would endangerH2325 my headH7218 before the kingH4428!”

11Then DanielH1841 saidH559 toH413 the stewardH4453 whomH834 the chiefH8269 officialH5631 had appointedH4487 overH5921 DanielH1841, HananiahH2608, MishaelH4332, and AzariahH5838, 12“PleaseH4994 testH5254 your servantsH5650 for tenH6235 daysH3117. Let us be givenH5414 onlyH4480 vegetablesH2235 to eatH398 and waterH4325 to drinkH8354. 13Then compareH7200H6440 our appearancesH4758 with thoseH4758 of the young menH3206 who are eatingH398 the royalH4428 foodH6598, and dealH6213 withH5973 your servantsH5650 according to whatH834 you seeH7200.”

14So he consentedH8085 to thisH1697H2088 and tested themH5254 for tenH6235 daysH3117. 15And atH4480 the endH7117 of tenH6235 daysH3117, they lookedH7200H4758 healthierH2896 and better nourishedH1277H1320 than allH3605 the young menH3206 who were eatingH398 the king’sH4428 foodH6598. 16SoH1961 the stewardH4453 continued to withholdH5375 their choice foodH6598 and the wineH3196 they were to drinkH4960, and he gaveH5414 them vegetablesH2235 instead.

Daniel’s Wisdom

17To theseH428 fourH702 young menH3206 GodH430 gaveH5414 knowledgeH4093 and understandingH7919 in every kindH3605 of literatureH5612 and wisdomH2451. And DanielH1841 had insightH995 into all kindsH3605 of visionsH2377 and dreamsH2472.

18Now at the endH7117 of the timeH3117 specifiedH559 by the kingH4428, the chiefH8269 officialH5631 presented themH935 toH6440 NebuchadnezzarH5019. 19And the kingH4428 spoke with themH1696, and amongH854 allH3605 the young men he foundH4672 no oneH3808 equal to DanielH1841, HananiahH2608, MishaelH4332, and AzariahH5838. So they enteredH5975H6440 the king’s serviceH4428.

20In everyH3605 matterH1697 of wisdomH2451 and understandingH998 about whichH834 the kingH4428 consultedH1245 them, he found themH4672 tenH6235 timesH3027 better thanH5921 allH3605 the magiciansH825 and enchantersH2748 in his entireH3605 kingdomH4438. 21And DanielH1841 remainedH1961 there untilH5704 the firstH259 yearH8141 of KingH4428 CyrusH3566.