1:1
In the third year of the reign of Yehoyaqim, king of Yehudah, Nevukhadnetzar, king of Bavel, came to Yerushalayim and besieged it.
1:2
And Yahuah gave Yehoyaqim, king of Yehudah, into his hand, together with part of the vessels of the House of Elohim. And he brought them into the land of Shin’ar, to the house of his mighty one, and he brought the vessels into the treasury of his mighty one.
1:3
Then the king said to Ashpenaz, chief of his eunuchs, that he should bring from the sons of Yisra’el, and from the Seed of the Kingdom, and from the nobles,
1:4
young men in whom there was no blemish, good in appearance, discerning in all wisdom, knowing knowledge, understanding learning, and having strength to stand in the palace of the king, and that he should teach them the writing and tongue of the Kasdim.
1:5
And the king appointed for them a daily portion from the king’s delicacies and from the wine which he drank, and that they should be raised for three years, so that at the end of those years they might stand before the king.
1:6
And among them were Dani’el, Chananyah, Misha’el, and Azaryah, from the sons of Yehudah.
1:7
And the chief of the eunuchs gave names to them. To Dani’el he gave the name Belteshatzar. To Chananyah, Shadrakh. To Misha’el, Meshakh. And to Azaryah, Aved-Nego.
1:8
But Dani’el set it upon his heart that he would not defile himself with the king’s delicacies or with the wine which he drank. Therefore he sought from the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
1:9
And Elohim gave Dani’el favor and compassion before the chief of the eunuchs.
1:10
And the chief of the eunuchs said to Dani’el: “I fear my master the king, who appointed your food and your drink. For why should he see your faces looking more diminished than the young men of your age? Then you would make my head guilty before the king.”
1:11
Then Dani’el said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had appointed over Dani’el, Chananyah, Misha’el, and Azaryah:
1:12
“Test, I ask you, your servants for ten days. Let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink.
1:13
Then let our appearance be seen before you, and the appearance of the young men who eat from the king’s delicacies. And according to what you see, deal with your servants.”
1:14
So he listened to them in this matter and tested them for ten days.
1:15
And at the end of ten days their appearance was better and their flesh fuller than all the young men who ate from the king’s delicacies.
1:16
So the steward continued taking away their delicacies and the wine appointed for them to drink, and gave them vegetables.
1:17
And as for these four young men, Elohim gave them knowledge and understanding in every writing and wisdom. And Dani’el had understanding in every vision and dream.
1:18
And at the end of the days which the king had spoken for bringing them in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them before Nevukhadnetzar.
1:19
And the king spoke with them, and among them all there was found none like Dani’el, Chananyah, Misha’el, and Azaryah. Therefore they stood before the king.
1:20
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 who were throughout all his Kingdom.
1:21
And Dani’el remained until the first year of King Koresh.