Daniel 1

Daniel Taken to Babylon

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 some of the vessels of the house of God. And he brought them to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, and placed the vessels in the treasury of his god.3 Then the king commanded Ashpenaz, his chief eunuch, to bring some of the people of Israel, both of the royal familyt and of the nobility,4 youths without blemish, of good appearance and skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning, and competent to stand in the king's palace, and to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans.5 The king assigned them a daily portion of the food that the king ate, and of the wine that he drank. They were to be educated for three years, and at the end of that time they were to stand before the king.6 Among these were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah of the tribe of Judah.7 And the chief of the eunuchs gave them names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego.

Daniel's Faithfulness

8 But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king's food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself.9 And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs,10 and the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, "I fear my lord the king, who assigned your food and your drink; for why should he see that you were in worse condition than the youths who are of your own age? So you would endanger my head with the king."11 Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had assigned over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,12 "Test your servants for ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink.13 Then let our appearance and the appearance of the youths who eat the king's food be observed by you, and deal with your servants according to what you see."14 So he listened to them in this matter, and tested them for ten days.15 At the end of ten days it was seen that they were better in appearance and fatter in flesh than all the youths who ate the king's food.16 So the steward took away their food and the wine they were to drink, and gave them vegetables.

17 As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.18 At the end of the time, when the king had commanded that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.19 And the king spoke with them, and among all of them none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Therefore they stood before the king.20 And in every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in all his kingdom.21 And Daniel was there until the first year of King Cyrus.

Daniel 1

Daniel Finds Favor in Babylon

1 In the thirds year of the reign of King Jehoiakim of Judah, King Nebuchadnezzars of Babylon advanced against Jerusalems and laid it under siege.s

2 Now the Lordt deliveredt King Jehoiakim of Judah into his power,t along with some of the vesselst of the temple of God.t He brought them to the land of Babylonias to the temple of his godt and putt the vessels in the treasury of his god.
3 The king commandedt Ashpenaz,s who was in charge of his court officials,s to chooset some of the Israelites who were of royal and noble descentt –4 young men in whom there was no physical defect and who were handsome,t well versed in all kinds of wisdom, well educatedt and having keen insight,t and who were capablet of entering the king’s royal servicet – and to teach them the literature and languages of the Babylonians.t5 So the king assigned them a daily rationt from his royal delicaciest and from the wine he himself drank. They were to be trainedt for the next three years. At the end of that time they were to enter the king’s service.t6 As it turned out,t among these young ment were some from Judah:t Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.s

7 But the overseer of the court officials renamed them. He gaves Daniel the name Belteshazzar, Hananiah he named Shadrach, Mishael he named Meshach, and Azariah he named Abednego.s
8 But Daniel made up his mindt that he would not defilets himself with the royal delicacies or the royal wine.t He therefore asked the overseer of the court officials for permission not to defile himself.9 Then God made the overseer of the court officials sympathetic to Daniel.t10 But het responded to Daniel, “I fear my master the king. He is the one who has decidedt your food and drink. What would happen if he saw that you looked malnourished in comparison to the other young men your age?t If that happened,t you would endanger my lifet with the king!”11 Daniel then spoke to the wardens whom the overseer of the court officials had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:12 “Please test your servants for ten days by providing us with some vegetables to eat and water to drink.13 Then compare our appearancet with that oft the young men who are eating the royal delicacies;t deal with ust in light of what you see.”

14 So the wardent agreed to their proposalt and tested them for tens days.
15 At the end of the ten days their appearance was better and their bodies were healthiert than all the young men who had been eating the royal delicacies.16 So the warden removed the delicacies and the winet from their diett and gave them a diet of vegetables instead.

17 Now as for these four young men, God endowed them with knowledge and skill in all sorts of literature and wisdom – and Daniel had insight into all kinds of visions and dreams.
18 When the time appointed by the king arrived,t the overseer of the court officials brought them into Nebuchadnezzar’s presence.19 When the king spoke with them, he did not find among the entire groupt anyone like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, or Azariah. So they entered the king’s service.t20 In every matter of wisdom ands insight the king asked them about, he found them to be ten timest better than any of the magicians and astrologers that were in his entire empire.

21 Now Daniel lived on until the firsts year of Cyrus the king.