[0] In whatever tribe the alien resides, there you shall assign him his
inheritance, says the Lord GOD. [1] In the third year of the reign of
Jehoi'akim king of Judah, Nebuchadnez'zar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem
and besieged it. [2] And the Lord gave Jehoi'akim king of Judah into his
hand, with some of the vessels of the house of God; and he brought them to
the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, and placed the vessels in the
treasury of his god. [3] Then the king commanded Ash'penaz, his chief
eunuch, to bring some of the people of Israel, both of the royal family and
of the nobility, [4] youths without blemish, handsome and skilful in all
wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning, and competent to
serve in the king's palace, and to teach them the letters and language of
the Chalde'ans. [5] The king assigned them a daily portion of the rich food
which the king ate, and of the wine which he drank. They were to be
educated for three years, and at the end of that time they were to stand
before the king. [6] Among these were Daniel, Hanani'ah, Mish'a-el, and
Azari'ah of the tribe of Judah. [7] And the chief of the eunuchs gave them
names: Daniel he called Belteshaz'zar, Hanani'ah he called Shadrach,
Mish'a-el he called Meshach, and Azari'ah he called Abed'nego. [8] But
Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king's rich food,
or with the wine which he drank; therefore he asked the chief of the
eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself. [9] And God gave Daniel favor
and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs; [10] and the chief
of the eunuchs said to Daniel, "I fear lest my lord the king, who appointed
your food and your drink, should see that you were in poorer condition than
the youths who are of your own age. So you would endanger my head with the
king." [11] Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs
had appointed over Daniel, Hanani'ah, Mish'a-el, and Azari'ah; [12] "Test
your servants for ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to
drink. [13] Then let our appearance and the appearance of the youths who
eat the king's rich food be observed by you, and according to what you see
deal with your servants." [14] So he hearkened to them in this matter, and
tested them for ten days. [15] At the end of ten days it was seen that they
were better in appearance and fatter in flesh than all the youths who ate
the king's rich food. [16] So the steward took away their rich food and the
wine they were to drink, and gave them vegetables. [17] As for these four
youths, God gave them learning and skill in all letters and wisdom; and
Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. [18] At the end of the
time, when the king had commanded that they should be brought in, the chief
of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnez'zar. [19] And the king
spoke with them, and among them all none was found like Daniel, Hanani'ah,
Mish'a-el, and Azari'ah; therefore they stood before the king. [20] And 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 that were in all his kingdom. [21] And Daniel continued until
the first year of King Cyrus.
