1:1  In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah
came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and
besieged it.
 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.
 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;
 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.
 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.
 1:6  Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel,
Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:
 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.
 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.
 1:9  Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love
with the prince of the eunuchs.
 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.
 1:11  Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the
eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,
 1:12  Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let
them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.
 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.
 1:14  So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them
ten days.
 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.
 1:16  Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the
wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.
 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.
 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.
 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.
 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.
 1:21  And Daniel continued [even] unto the first year of king
Cyrus.