Daniel 1:1-7

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.