Daniel 1
1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to Jerusalem, and laid siege against it;
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 into his hand Jehoiakim king of Judah, and a part of the vessels of the house of God, and he brought them into the land of Shinar, into the house of his gods, —and, the vessels, brought he into the treasure-house of his gods.
And the Lord delivered into his hand Jehoiakim king of Judah, along with some of the articles from the house of God. He carried these off to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, where he put them in the treasury of his god.
3 Then did the king give word to Ashpenaz, the chief of his eunuchs, —that he should bring in, of the sons of Israel, even of the seed royal, and of the nobles,
Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, the chief of his court officials, to bring in some Israelites from the royal family and the nobility—
4 youths in whom was no blemish, but comely of countenance, and skilful in all wisdom, and possessed of knowledge, and able to impart instruction, and who had vigour in them, to stand in the palace of the king, —and that they should be taught the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.
young men without blemish, handsome, gifted in all wisdom, knowledgeable, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace—and to teach them the language and literature of the Chaldeans.
5 And the king appointed them the provision of each day upon its day, out of the delicacies of the king and out of the wine which he drank, and so to let them grow three years, —and, at the end thereof, that they should stand before the king.
The king assigned them daily provisions of the royal food and wine. They were to be trained for three years, after which they were to enter the king’s service.
6 Now there were, among them, out of the sons of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah;
Among these young men were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.
7 and the ruler of the eunuchs gave them names, —yea he gave to Daniel the name of Belteshazzar, and to Hananiah of Shadrach, and to Mishael of Meshach, and to Azariah of Abed-nego.
The chief official gave them new names: To Daniel he gave the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.
8 But Daniel laid it upon his heart, that he would not defile himself with the delicacies of the king, nor with the wine which he drank, —therefore sought he of the ruler of the eunuchs, that he might not defile himself.
But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king’s food or wine. So he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself.
9 But, although God had brought Daniel into lovingkindness and tender compassion, before the ruler of the eunuchs,
Now God had granted Daniel favor and compassion from the chief official,
10 yet said the ruler of the eunuchs unto Daniel, I do fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your food and your drink, —for why should he see your faces more sad than those of the youths of your own age? so should ye bring me under the penalty of mine own head unto the king.
but he said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. For why should he see your faces looking thinner than those of the other young men your age? You would endanger my head before the king!”
11 Then said Daniel, unto the overseer whom the ruler of the eunuchs had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:
Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,
12 I pray thee—prove thy servants, ten days, —and let them give us vegetable food, that we may eat, and water that we may drink:
“Please test your servants for ten days. Let us be given only vegetables to eat and water to drink.
13 then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenances of the youths who have been eating the delicacies of the king, —and, as thou shalt see, deal thou with thy servants.
Then compare our appearances with those of the young men who are eating the royal food, and deal with your servants according to what you see.”
14 So then he hearkened unto them, according to this word, —and proved them ten days;
So he consented to this and tested them for ten days.
15 and, at the end of ten days, their countenances appeared more comely, and fatter in flesh, —than any of the youths who had been eating the delicacies of the king.
And at the end of ten days, they looked healthier and better nourished than all the young men who were eating the king’s food.
16 Thus it came about that the overseer continued taking away their delicacies, and the wine appointed them to drink, —and kept on giving them vegetable food.
So the steward continued to withhold their choice food and the wine they were to drink, and he gave them vegetables instead.
17 And, as for these four youths, God, gave them, knowledge and skill, in all learning and wisdom, —and, Daniel, had discernment, in all visions and dreams.
To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding in every kind of literature and wisdom. And Daniel had insight into all kinds of visions and dreams.
18 Now, at the end of the days after which the king had given word to bring them in, then did the ruler of the eunuchs bring them in, before Nebuchadnezzar.
Now at the end of the time specified by the king, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar.
19 So then the king, spake with them, and there was not found, from among them all, one like unto Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, —therefore stood they before the king;
And the king spoke with them, and among all the young men he found no one equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. So they entered the king’s service.
20 and, in any matter of wisdom and discernment as to which the king, enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the sacred scribes—the magicians, who were in all his realm.
In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king consulted them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his entire kingdom.
21 Now Daniel continued, until the first year of Cyrus the king.
And Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus.
