In the
third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of
Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto
Jerusalem, and besieged it.
02 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into
his hand, with part of the vessels of the house
of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar
to the house of his god; and he brought the
vessels into the treasure house of his god.
03 And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of
his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the
children of Israel, and of the king's seed, and
of the princes;
04 Children in whom was no blemish, but well
favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning
in knowledge, and understanding science, and such
as had ability in them to stand in the king's
palace, and whom they might teach the learning
and the tongue of the Chaldeans.
05 And the king appointed them a daily provision
of the king's meat, and of the wine which he
drank: so nourishing them three years, that at
the end thereof they might stand before the king.
06 Now among these were of the children of Judah,
Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:
07 Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave
names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of
Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and
to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of
Abednego.
08 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would
not defile himself with the portion of the king's
meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore
he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he
might not defile himself.
09 Now God had brought Daniel into favour and
tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.
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10 And the prince of the eunuchs said unto
Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath
appointed your meat and your drink: for why
should he see your faces worse liking than the
children which are of your sort? then shall ye
make me endanger my head to the king.
11 Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of
the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah,
Mishael, and Azariah,
12 Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days;
and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to
drink.
13 Then let our countenances be looked upon
before thee, and the countenance of the children
that eat of the portion of the king's meat: and
as thou seest, deal with thy servants.
14 So he consented to them in this matter, and
proved them ten days.
15 And at the end of ten days their countenances
appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the
children which did eat the portion of the king's
meat.
16 Thus Melzar took away the portion of their
meat, and the wine that they should drink; and
gave them pulse.
17 As for these four children, God gave them
knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom:
and Daniel had understanding in all visions and
dreams.
18 Now at the end of the days that the king had
said he should bring them in, then the prince of
the eunuchs brought them in before
Nebuchadnezzar.
19 And the king communed with them; and among
them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah,
Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before
the king.
20 And in all matters of wisdom and
understanding, that the king enquired of them, he
found them ten times better than all the
magicians and astrologers that were in all his
realm.
21 And Daniel continued even unto the first year
of king Cyrus.
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