Daniel

VIN^{(i) 1} In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 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. ³ And the king ordered Ashpenaz, the commander of his court officials, to bring some of the Israelites from the royal family and from the lords, ⁴ youths in whom was no blemish, but handsome, well educated, knowledgeable, understanding science, and such as had the ability to stand in the king's palace; that he should teach them the learning and the language of the Chaldeans. ⁵ The king assigned them fine food and choice wine on a daily basis, ordering them to be trained for three years, at the end of which time they would enter the king's service. ⁶ Now among these were, of the Judeans, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. ⁷ The prince of the eunuchs gave names to them: to Daniel he gave the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego. ⁸ And Daniel having resolved not to pollute himself with the table of the king nor with the wine which he drank, intreated the chamberlain that he might not be denied. ⁹ God caused the officer in charge to show special favor and kindness to Daniel. ¹⁰ The officer in charge said to Daniel: "I fear my lord the king. He has appointed your food and your drink. Why should he see your faces worse looking than other young people your age? Would you endanger my head with the king?" ¹¹ But Daniel said to the guard whom the chief officer had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, ¹² "Please test your servants for ten days and let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. ¹³ Then compare how we look with the young men who ate the king's rich food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you observe." ¹⁴ So he hearkened to them and tried them ten days. ¹⁵ At the end of ten days their faces appeared better and fatter than all the youths who ate of the king's royal food. ¹⁶ So the steward took away their royal food, and the wine that they should drink, and gave them vegetables. ¹⁷ And as for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and understanding in all literature and science; and Daniel was skilled in all visions and dreams. ¹⁸ And at the end of the days that the king had said to bring them in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. ¹⁹ The king talked with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore they entered the king's service. ²⁰ In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters who were in all his kingdom. ²¹ And Daniel continued even unto the first year of King Cyrus.