Daniel 1:3-10

3Then the kingH4428 orderedH559 AshpenazH828, the chiefH7227 of his court officialsH5631, to bring inH935 someH4480 IsraelitesH1121H3478 from the royalH4410 familyH22331 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 ChaldeansH3778.2

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.

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!”