Daniel
Chapter One
1 ¶ 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 Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the
articles of the house of God, which he carried into the land of Shinar to the
house of his god; and he brought the articles into the treasure house of his
god.
3 Then the king instructed Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, to bring some
of the children of Israel and some of the king's descendants and some of the
nobles,
4 young men in whom there was no blemish, but good-looking, gifted in all wisdom,
possessing knowledge and quick to understand, who had ability to serve in the
king's palace, and whom they might teach the language and literature of the
Chaldeans.
5 And the king appointed for them a daily provision of the king's delicacies
and of the wine which he drank, and three years of training for them, so that
at the end of that time they might serve before the king.
6 Now from among those of the sons of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael,
and Azariah.
7 To them the chief of the eunuchs gave names: he gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar;
to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abed-Nego.
8 ¶ But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with
the portion of the king's delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore
he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
9 Now God had brought Daniel into the favor and goodwill of the chief of the
eunuchs.
Ge 39:21; Ps 106:46; Pr 16:7
10 And the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, "I fear my lord the king,
who has appointed your food and drink. For why should he see your faces looking
worse than the young men who are your age? Then you would endanger my head before
the king."
11 So Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had set over
Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,
12 "Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables
to eat and water to drink.
13 "Then let our appearance be examined before you, and the appearance
of the young men who eat the portion of the king's delicacies; and as you see
fit, so deal with your servants."
14 So he consented with them in this matter, and tested them ten days.
15 And at the end of ten days their features appeared better and fatter in flesh
than all the young men who ate the portion of the king's delicacies.
16 Thus the steward took away their portion of delicacies and the wine that
they were to drink, and gave them vegetables.
17 ¶ As for these four young men, God gave them knowledge and skill in
all literature and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
18 Now at the end of the days, when the king had said that they should be brought
in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.
19 Then the king interviewed them, and among them all none was found like Daniel,
Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; therefore they served before the king.
20 And in all matters of wisdom and understanding about which the king examined
them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers
who were in all his realm.
21 Thus Daniel continued until the first year of King Cyrus.
Go to Chapter Two
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