1
In
the
third
year
of
the
reign
of
Jehoiakim
king
of
Judah
came
Nebuchadnezzar
king
of
Babylon
unto
Jerusalem,
and
besieged
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.
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;
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.
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.
6
Now
among
these
were
of
the
children
of
Judah,
Daniel,
Hananiah,
Mishael,
and
Azariah:
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.
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.
9
Now
God
had
brought
Daniel
into
favour
and
tender
love
with
the
prince
of
the
eunuchs.
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.
11
Then
said
Daniel
to
Melzar,
whom
the
prince
of
the
eunuchs
had
set
over
Daniel,
Hananiah,
Mishael,
and
Azariah,
12
Prove
thy
servants,
I
beseech
thee,
ten
days;
and
let
them
give
us
pulse
to
eat,
and
water
to
drink.
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.
14
So
he
consented
to
them
in
this
matter,
and
proved
them
ten
days.
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.
16
Thus
Melzar
took
away
the
portion
of
their
meat,
and
the
wine
that
they
should
drink;
and
gave
them
pulse.
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.
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.
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.
20
And
in
all
matters
of
wisdom
[and]
understanding,
that
the
king
enquired
of
them,
he
found
them
ten
times
better
than
all
the
magicians
[and]
astrologers
that
[were]
in
all
his
realm.
21
And
Daniel
continued
[even]
unto
the
first
year
of
king
Cyrus.