Daniel 1
1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to Jerusalem, and laid siege against it;
In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylonia came to Jerusalem and surrounded the city to cut off all supplies to it.
2 and the Lord gave into his hand Jehoiakim king of Judah, and a part of the vessels of the house of God, and he brought them into the land of Shinar, into the house of his gods, —and, the vessels, brought he into the treasure-house of his gods.
The Lord gave Nebuchadnezzar victory over Jehoiakim king of Judah, and he gave him some of the sacred objects from the house of God. He brought them into the land of Babylonia, to the house of his god, and he placed the sacred objects in his god's treasury.
3 Then did the king give word to Ashpenaz, the chief of his eunuchs, —that he should bring in, of the sons of Israel, even of the seed royal, and of the nobles,
The king spoke to Ashpenaz, his chief official, to bring in some of the people of Israel, both of the royal family and of the nobility—
4 youths in whom was no blemish, but comely of countenance, and skilful in all wisdom, and possessed of knowledge, and able to impart instruction, and who had vigour in them, to stand in the palace of the king, —and that they should be taught the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.
young men without blemish, attractive in appearance, skillful in all wisdom, filled with knowledge and understanding, and qualified to serve in the king's palace. He was to teach them the Babylonians' literature and language.
5 And the king appointed them the provision of each day upon its day, out of the delicacies of the king and out of the wine which he drank, and so to let them grow three years, —and, at the end thereof, that they should stand before the king.
The king counted out for them a daily portion of his delicacies and some of the wine that he drank. These young men were to be trained for three years, and after that, they would serve the king.
6 Now there were, among them, out of the sons of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah;
Among these were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, some of the people of Judah.
7 and the ruler of the eunuchs gave them names, —yea he gave to Daniel the name of Belteshazzar, and to Hananiah of Shadrach, and to Mishael of Meshach, and to Azariah of Abed-nego.
The chief official gave them names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego.
8 But Daniel laid it upon his heart, that he would not defile himself with the delicacies of the king, nor with the wine which he drank, —therefore sought he of the ruler of the eunuchs, that he might not defile himself.
But Daniel intended in his mind that he would not pollute himself with the king's delicacies or with the wine that he drank. So he asked permission from the chief official that he might not pollute himself.
9 But, although God had brought Daniel into lovingkindness and tender compassion, before the ruler of the eunuchs,
Now God gave Daniel favor and compassion through the respect that the chief official had for him.
10 yet said the ruler of the eunuchs unto Daniel, I do fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your food and your drink, —for why should he see your faces more sad than those of the youths of your own age? so should ye bring me under the penalty of mine own head unto the king.
The chief official said to Daniel, “I am afraid of my master the king. He has commanded what food and drink you should have. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men of your own age? The king might have my head because of you.”
11 Then said Daniel, unto the overseer whom the ruler of the eunuchs had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:
Then Daniel spoke to the steward whom the chief official had assigned over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.
12 I pray thee—prove thy servants, ten days, —and let them give us vegetable food, that we may eat, and water that we may drink:
He said, “Please test us, your servants, for ten days. Give us only some vegetables to eat and water to drink.
13 then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenances of the youths who have been eating the delicacies of the king, —and, as thou shalt see, deal thou with thy servants.
Then compare our appearance with the appearance of the young men who eat the king's delicacies, and treat us, your servants, based on what you see.”
14 So then he hearkened unto them, according to this word, —and proved them ten days;
So the steward agreed with him to do this, and he tested them for ten days.
15 and, at the end of ten days, their countenances appeared more comely, and fatter in flesh, —than any of the youths who had been eating the delicacies of the king.
At the end of ten days their appearance was more healthy, and they were better nourished, than all the young men who ate the king's delicacies.
16 Thus it came about that the overseer continued taking away their delicacies, and the wine appointed them to drink, —and kept on giving them vegetable food.
So the steward took away their delicacies and their wine and gave them only vegetables.
17 And, as for these four youths, God, gave them, knowledge and skill, in all learning and wisdom, —and, Daniel, had discernment, in all visions and dreams.
As for these four young men, God gave them knowledge and insight in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel could understand all kinds of visions and dreams.
18 Now, at the end of the days after which the king had given word to bring them in, then did the ruler of the eunuchs bring them in, before Nebuchadnezzar.
At the end of the time set by the king to bring them in, the chief official brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.
19 So then the king, spake with them, and there was not found, from among them all, one like unto Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, —therefore stood they before the king;
The king spoke with them, and among the whole group there were none to compare with Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. They stood before the king, ready to serve him.
20 and, in any matter of wisdom and discernment as to which the king, enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the sacred scribes—the magicians, who were in all his realm.
In every question of wisdom and understanding that the king asked them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and those who claimed to speak with the dead, who were in his entire kingdom.
21 Now Daniel continued, until the first year of Cyrus the king.
Daniel was there until the first year of King Cyrus.
