DA-1:1  In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of

Judah came

Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.

DA-1:2  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.

DA-1:3  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;

DA-1:4  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.

DA-1:5  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.

DA-1:6  Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel,

Hananiah,

Mishael, and Azariah:

DA-1:7  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.

DA-1:8  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.

DA-1:9  Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love

with the prince

of the eunuchs.

DA-1:10  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.

DA-1:11  Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the

eunuchs had set

over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,

DA-1:12  Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let

them give us

pulse to eat, and water to drink.

DA-1:13  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.

DA-1:14  So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them

ten days.

DA-1:15  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.

DA-1:16  Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and

the wine that

they should drink; and gave them pulse.

DA-1:17  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.

DA-1:18  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.

DA-1:19  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.

DA-1:20  And in all matters of wisdom [and] understanding, that

the king

inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the

magicians [and]

astrologers that [were] in all his realm.

DA-1:21  And Daniel continued [even] unto the first year of king

Cyrus.

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