Daniel 1:8-16

8But Daniel 1made up his mind that he would not 2defile himself with the 3king’s choice food or with the 4wine which he drank; so he sought permission from the commander of the officials that he might not defile himself. 9Now God granted Daniel 5favor and compassion in the sight of the commander of the officials. 10The commander of the officials said to Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has allotted your food and your drink; for why should he see your faces looking gaunt in comparison to the youths who are your own age? Then you would 6make me forfeit my head to the king.” 11But Daniel said to the overseer whom the commander of the officials had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12“Please put your servants to the test for ten days, and let us be 7given some vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13Then let our appearance be 8examined in your presence and the appearance of the youths who are eating the king’s choice food; and deal with your servants according to what you see.”

14So he listened to them in this matter, and put them to the test for ten days. 15And at the end of ten days their appearance seemed 9better, and 10they were fatter than all the youths who had been eating the king’s choice food. 16So the overseer continued to 11withhold their choice food and the wine they were to drink, and kept 12giving them vegetables.