Daniel Chapter 1

The Choice Young Men

1In the thirdH7969 yearH8141 of the reignH4438 of 1JehoiakimH3079 kingH4428 of JudahH3063, 2NebuchadnezzarH5019 kingH4428 of BabylonH894 cameH935 to JerusalemH3389 and besiegedH6696H5921 it. 2The 3LordH136 gaveH5414 JehoiakimH3079 kingH4428 of JudahH3063 into his handH3027, along with someH4480H7117 of the 4vesselsH3627 of the houseH1004 of GodH430; and he broughtH935 them to the landH776 of 5ShinarH8152, to the houseH1004 of his 6godH430, and he broughtH935 the vesselsH3627 into the treasuryH1004H214 of his 78godH430.

3Then the kingH4428 9orderedH559 AshpenazH828, the chiefH7227 of his 10officialsH5631, to bringH935 in someH4480 of the sonsH1121 of IsraelH3478, including someH4480 of the 11royalH4410 12familyH2233 and of the noblesH6579, 4youthsH3206 in whomH834 was 13noH369H3605 defectH3971, who were good-lookingH2896H4758, showingH7919 14intelligenceH7919 in everyH3605 branch of wisdomH2451, endowedH3045 with understandingH995 and discerningH995 knowledgeH4093, and whoH834 had abilityH3851 for 15servingH5975 in the king’sH4428 16courtH1964; and he ordered him to teachH3925 them the 17literatureH5612 and 18languageH3956 of the 19ChaldeansH3778. 5The kingH4428 appointedH4487 for them a dailyH3117 rationH1697 from the 20king’sH4428 choiceH6598 foodH6598 and from the wineH3196 whichH4960 he drankH4960, and appointed that they should be 21educatedH1431 threeH7969 yearsH8141, at the endH7117 of which they were to 2223enterH5975 the king’sH4428 personalH6440 serviceH5975H6440. 6Now among them from the sonsH1121 of JudahH3063 were 24DanielH1840, HananiahH2608, MishaelH4332 and AzariahH5838. 7Then the commanderH8269 of the officialsH5631 assignedH7760 new namesH8034 to them; and to DanielH1840 he assignedH7760 the name 25BelteshazzarH1095, to HananiahH2608 26ShadrachH7714, to MishaelH4332 27MeshachH4335 and to AzariahH5838 28Abed-negoH5664.

Daniel’s Resolve

8But DanielH1840 29madeH7760 up his mindH3820 that he would not 30defileH1351 himself with the 31king’sH4428 choiceH6598 foodH6598 or with the 32wineH3196 whichH4960 he drankH4960; so he soughtH1245 permission from the commanderH8269 of the officialsH5631 that he might not defileH1351 himself. 9Now GodH430 grantedH5414 DanielH1840 3334favorH2617 and compassionH7356 in the sightH6440 of the commanderH8269 of the officialsH5631, 10and the commanderH8269 of the officialsH5631 saidH559 to DanielH1840, “I am afraidH3372 of my lordH113 the kingH4428, whoH834 has appointedH4487 your foodH3978 and your drinkH4960; for whyH4100 should he seeH7200 your facesH6440 lookingH2196 moreH4480 haggardH2196 thanH4480 the youthsH3206 whoH834 are your own ageH1524? Then you would 35make me forfeitH2325 my headH7218 to the kingH4428.” 11But DanielH1840 saidH559 to the overseerH4453 whomH834 the commanderH8269 of the officialsH5631 had appointedH4487 overH5921 DanielH1840, HananiahH2608, MishaelH4332 and AzariahH5838, 12“PleaseH4994 testH5254 your servantsH5650 for tenH6235 daysH3117, and let us be 36givenH5414 someH4480 vegetablesH2235 to eatH398 and waterH4325 to drinkH8354. 13Then let our appearanceH4758 be 37observedH7200 in your presenceH6440 and the appearanceH4758 of the youthsH3206 whoH834 are eatingH398 the king’sH4428 choiceH6598 foodH6598; and dealH6213 with your servantsH5650 according to whatH3512 you seeH7200.”

14So he listenedH8085 to them in thisH2088 matterH1697 and testedH5254 them for tenH6235 daysH3117. 15At the endH7117 of tenH6235 daysH3117 their appearanceH4758 seemedH7200 38betterH2896 and 39they were fatterH1277H1320 thanH4480 allH3605 the youthsH3206 whoH834 had been eatingH398 the king’sH4428 choiceH6598 foodH6598. 16So the overseerH4453 continuedH1961 to 40withholdH5375 their choiceH6598 foodH6598 and the wineH3196 they were to drinkH4960, and keptH5414 41givingH5414 them vegetablesH2235.

17As for theseH428 fourH702 youthsH3206, 42GodH430 gaveH5414 them knowledgeH4093 and intelligenceH7919 in everyH3605 branch of 43literatureH5612 and wisdomH2451; DanielH1840 even understoodH995 allH3605 kinds of 44visionsH2377 and dreamsH2472.

18Then at the endH7117 of the daysH3117 whichH834 the kingH4428 had 45specifiedH559 46for presentingH935 them, the commanderH8269 of the officialsH5631 47presentedH935 them beforeH6440 NebuchadnezzarH5019. 19The kingH4428 talkedH1696 with them, and out of them allH3605 not one was foundH4672 like 48DanielH1840, HananiahH2608, MishaelH4332 and AzariahH5838; so they 4950enteredH5975 the king’sH4428 personalH6440 serviceH5975H6440. 20As for everyH3605 matterH1697 of 51wisdomH2451 52and understandingH998 about whichH834 the kingH4428 consultedH1245 them, he foundH4672 them 53tenH6235 timesH3027 54betterH5921 thanH5921 allH3605 the 5556magiciansH2748 and conjurersH825 whoH834 were in allH3605 his realmH4438. 21And DanielH1840 57continuedH1961 untilH5704 the 58firstH259 yearH8141 of CyrusH3566 the kingH4428.