1:1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to Jerusalem, and besieged it.
1:2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.
1:3 And the king spoke to Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring [certain] of the children of Israel, and of the kings seed, and of the princes;
1:4 Children in whom [was] no blemish, but of good appearance, and skilful in all wisdom, and possessing knowledge, and understanding science, and such as [had] ability in them to stand in the kings palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the language of the Chaldeans.
1:5 And the king appointed them a daily provision of the kings food, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end of which they might stand before the king.
1:6 Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:
1:7 To whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave to Daniel [the name] of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego.
1:8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the kings food, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
1:9 Now God had brought Daniel into favour and compassion with the prince of the eunuchs.
1:10 And the prince of the eunuchs said to Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your food and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse looking than the children who [are] of your age? then shall ye make [me] endanger my head to the king.
1:11 Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,
1:12 Test thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us vegetables to eat, and water to drink.
1:13 Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the kings food: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.
1:14 So he consented to them in this matter, and tried them ten days.
1:15 And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children who ate the portion of the kings food.
1:16 Thus Melzar took away the portion of their food, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them vegetables.
1:17 As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
1:18 Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.
1:19 And the king talked with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore they stood before the king.
1:20 And in all matters of wisdom [and] understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians [and] astrologers that [were] in all his realm.
1:21 And Daniel continued [even] to the first year of king Cyrus.