Chapter 1

In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came¹ Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged⁴ it.

And the Lord gave⁴ Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried⁵⁵ into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought⁵² the vessels into the treasure house of his god.

And the king spake⁴ unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring⁵³ [certain] of the children of Israel, and of the king's seed, and of the princes;

Children in whom [was] no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful⁵⁶ in all wisdom, and cunning⁶ in knowledge, and understanding⁵⁶ science, and such as [had] ability in them to stand² in the king's palace, and whom they might teach¹⁵ the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.

And the king appointed¹⁷ them a daily ³¹¹⁷ provision of the king's meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing¹⁵ them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand⁴ before the king.

Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:

Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave⁴ names: for he gave⁴ unto Daniel [the name] of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego.

But Daniel purposed⁴ in his heart that he would not defile¹⁰¹ himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested¹⁷ of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile¹⁰¹ himself.

Now God had brought⁴ Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.

And the prince of the eunuchs said⁴ unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed¹⁴ your meat and your drink: for why should he see⁴ your faces worse liking⁶ than the children which [are] of your sort? then shall ye make [me] endanger¹⁴ my head to the king.

Then said⁴ Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set¹⁴ over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,

Prove¹⁶ thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give⁴ us pulse to eat,⁴ and water to drink.⁴

Then let our countenances be looked upon¹¹ before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat⁶ of the portion of the king's meat: and as thou seest,⁴ deal³ with thy servants.

So he consented⁴ to them in this matter, and proved¹⁷ them ten days.

And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared⁸ fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat⁶ the portion of the king's meat.

Thus Melzar took away⁶ the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave⁶ them pulse.

As for these four children, God gave¹ them knowledge and skill⁵³ in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding⁵² in all visions and dreams.

Now at the end of the days that the king had said¹ he should bring them in,⁵³ then the prince of the eunuchs brought⁵⁵ them in before Nebuchadnezzar.

And the king communed¹⁷ with them; and among them all was found⁸ none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood⁴ they before the king.

And in all matters of wisdom [and] understanding, that the king enquired¹⁴ of them, he found⁴ them ten times better than all the magicians [and] astrologers that [were] in all his realm.

And Daniel continued [even] unto the first year of king Cyrus.