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 Master gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the vessels of the house of God, and he carried them into the land of Shinar to the house of his god. And he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.
3 The king spoke to Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring in some of the children of Israel, even of the royal offspring and of the nobles; 4 young men in whom was no defect, but well-favored, and skillful in all wisdom, and endowed with understanding and discerning knowledge, and who had the ability to serve in the king’s palace; and that he should teach them the writing and the language of the Chaldeans. 5 The king appointed for them a daily portion of the king’s special food, and of the wine which he drank, and that they should be nourished three years; and at the end they were to serve before the king.
6 Now among these were of the children of Judah: 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 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king’s special food, nor with the wine which he drank. Therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. 9 Now God made Daniel find kindness and compassion in the sight of the prince of the eunuchs. 10 The prince of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my master the king, who has appointed your food and your drink. For why should he see your faces worse looking than the young men who are of your own age? Then you would endanger my head with the king.”
11 Then Daniel said to the steward whom the prince of the eunuchs had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: 12 “Please test your servants ten days. And let them give us vegetables to eat, and water to drink. 13 Then let our faces be examined before you, and the face of the young men who eat of the king’s special food; and according to what you see, do with your servants.” 14 So he listened to them in this matter and tested them for ten days.
15 At the end of ten days their faces appeared better, and they had fatter flesh than all the young men who ate of the king’s special food. 16 So the steward took away their special food, and the wine that they would drink, and gave them vegetables.
17 Now as for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
18 At the end of the days which the king had appointed for bringing them in, the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. 19 The king talked with them, and among them all, no one was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Therefore they served before the king. 20 In every matter of wisdom and understanding, concerning which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters who were in all his realm.
21 And it was that Daniel continued even to the first year of king Cyrus.