Daniel 1

Daniel and His Friends Obey God

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 articles of the house of God, which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the articles into the treasure house of his god.3 Then the king instructed Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, to bring some of the children of Israel and some of the kings descendants and some of the nobles,4 young men in whom there was no blemish, but good-looking, gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge and quick to understand, who had ability to serve in the kings palace, and whom they might teach the language and literature of the Chaldeans.5 And the king appointed for them a daily provision of the kings delicacies and of the wine which he drank, and three years of training for them, so that at the end of that time they might serve before the king.6 Now from among those of the sons of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.7 To them the chief of the eunuchs gave names: he gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abed-Nego.8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the kings delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.9 Now God had brought Daniel into the favor and goodwill of the chief of the eunuchs.10 And the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who has appointed your food and drink. For why should he see your faces looking worse than the young men who are your age? Then you would endanger my head before the king.11 So Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,12 Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink.13 Then let our appearance be examined before you, and the appearance of the young men who eat the portion of the kings delicacies; and as you see fit, so deal with your servants.14 So he consented with them in this matter, and tested them ten days.15 And at the end of ten days their features appeared better and fatter in flesh than all the young men who ate the portion of the kings delicacies.16 Thus the steward took away their portion of delicacies and the wine that they were to drink, and gave them vegetables.17 As for these four young men, God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.18 Now at the end of the days, when the king had said that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.19 Then the king interviewed them, and among them all none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; therefore they served before the king.20 And in all matters of wisdom and understanding about which the king examined them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers who were in all his realm.21 Thus Daniel continued 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.