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¹ In the third year of the reign of Yehoiakim king of Yehudah came Nevukhadnetztzar king of Bavel to Yerushalayim, and besieged it. ² The Lord gave Yehoiakim king of Yehudah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God; and he carried them into the land of Shin`ar to the house of his god: and he brought the vessels into the treasure-house of his god. <sup>3</sup> The king spoke to Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring in [certain] of the children of Yisra'el, even of the seed royal and of the nobles; <sup>4</sup> youths in whom was no blemish, but well-favored, and skillful in all wisdom, and endowed with knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability to stand in the king's palace; and that he should teach them the learning and the language of the Kasdim. <sup>5</sup> The king appointed for them a daily portion of the king's dainties, and of the wine which he drank, and that they should be nourished three years; that at the end of it they should stand before the king. <sup>6</sup> Now among these were, of the children of Yehudah, Daniyel, Hananyah, Misha'el, and `Azaryah. ⁷ The prince of the eunuchs gave names to them: to Daniyel he gave [the name of] Belteshatztzar; and to Hananyah, [of] Shadrakh; and to Misha'el, [of] Meshakh; and to `Azaryah, [of] `Aved-Nego.

⁸ But Daniyel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king's dainties, 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 made Daniyel to find kindness and compassion in the sight of the prince of the eunuchs. ¹⁰ The prince of the eunuchs said to Daniyel, I fear my lord the king, who has appointed your food and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse looking than the youths who are of your own age? so would you endanger my head with the king. ¹¹ Then said Daniyel to the steward whom the prince of the eunuchs had appointed over Daniyel, Hananyah, Misha'el, and `Azaryah: ¹² Prove your servants, I beg you, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink. ¹³ Then let our faces be looked on before you, and the face of the youths who eat of the king's dainties; and as you see, deal with your servants. ¹⁴ So he listened to them in this matter, and proved them ten days. ¹⁵ At the end of ten days their faces appeared fairer, and they were fatter in flesh, than all the youths who ate of the king's dainties. ¹⁶ So the steward took away their dainties, and the wine that they should drink, and gave them pulse.

¹⁷ Now as for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniyel had understanding in all visions and dreams. ¹⁸ At the end of the days which the king had appointed for bringing them in, the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nevukhadnetztzar. ¹⁹ The king talked with them; and among them all was found none like Daniyel, Hananyah, Misha'el, and `Azaryah: therefore stood they before the king. ²⁰ In every matter of wisdom and understanding, concerning which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters who were in all his realm. ²¹ Daniyel continued even to the first year of king Koresh.