Daniel 1:3-16

3Then the kingH4428 toldH559 AshpenazH828, the chiefH7227 of his 1officialsH5631, to bringH935 inH935 someH4480 of the sonsH1121 of IsraelH3478, including someH4480 of the 2royalH4410 3familyH2233 and of the noblesH6579, 4youthsH3206 in whomH834 there was 4noH369H3605 impairmentH3971, who were good-lookingH2896H4758, suitableH7919 forH7919 5instructionH7919 in everyH3605 kind of expertiseH2451, endowedH3045 with understandingH995 and discerningH995 knowledgeH4093, and whoH834 had abilityH3851 to 6serveH5975 in the king’sH4428 7courtH1964; and he ordered Ashpenaz to teachH3925 them the 8literatureH5612 and 9languageH3956 of the 10ChaldeansH3778. 5The kingH4428 also allottedH4487 for them a dailyH3117 rationH1697 from the 11king’sH4428 choiceH6598 foodH6598 and from the wineH3196 which he drankH4960, and ordered that they be educatedH1431 for threeH7969 yearsH8141, at the endH7117 of which they were to 1213enterH5975 the king’sH4428 personalH6440 serviceH5975H6440. 6Now among them from the sonsH1121 of JudahH3063 were 14DanielH1840, HananiahH2608, MishaelH4332, and AzariahH5838. 7Then the commanderH8269 of the officialsH5631 assignedH7760 new namesH8034 to them; and to DanielH1840 he assignedH7760 the name 15BelteshazzarH1095, to HananiahH2608 16ShadrachH7714, to MishaelH4332 17MeshachH4335, and to AzariahH5838 18Abed-negoH5664.

8But DanielH1840 19madeH7760 upH7760 his mindH3820 that he would not 20defileH1351 himself with the 21king’sH4428 choiceH6598 foodH6598 or with the 22wineH3196 which he drankH4960; so he soughtH1245 permission from the commanderH8269 of the officialsH5631 that he might not defileH1351 himself. 9Now GodH430 grantedH5414 DanielH1840 23favorH2617 and compassionH7356 in the sightH6440 of the commanderH8269 of the officialsH5631. 10The commanderH8269 of the officialsH5631 saidH559 to DanielH1840, “I am afraidH3372 of my lordH113 the kingH4428, whoH834 has allottedH4487 your foodH3978 and your drinkH4960; for whyH4100 should he seeH7200 your facesH6440 lookingH2196 gauntH2196 inH4480 comparisonH4480 toH4480 the youthsH3206 whoH834 are your own ageH1524? Then you would 24make 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 putH5254 your servantsH5650 toH5254 theH5254 testH5254 for tenH6235 daysH3117, and let us be 25givenH5414 someH4480 vegetablesH2235 to eatH398 and waterH4325 to drinkH8354. 13Then let our appearanceH4758 be 26examinedH7200 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 putH5254 them toH5254 theH5254 testH5254 for tenH6235 daysH3117. 15And at the endH7117 of tenH6235 daysH3117 their appearanceH4758 seemedH7200 27betterH2896, and 28they were fatterH1277H1320 thanH4480 allH3605 the youthsH3206 whoH834 had been eatingH398 the king’sH4428 choiceH6598 foodH6598. 16So the overseerH4453 continuedH1961 to 29withholdH5375 their choiceH6598 foodH6598 and the wineH3196 they were to drinkH4960, and keptH5414 30givingH5414 them vegetablesH2235.