1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.
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 part of the vessels of the house of God; and he carried them into the land of Shinar to the house of his god: and he brought the vessels into the treasure-house of his god.
2 And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried off to the temple of his god in Babylonia and put in the treasure house of his god.
3 And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring in (certain) of the children of Israel, even of the seed royal and of the nobles;
3 Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring in some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility--
4 youths in whom was no blemish, but well-favored, and skilful in all wisdom, and endued with knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability to stand in the kings palace; and that he should teach them the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.
4 young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the kings palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians.
5 And the king appointed for them a daily portion of the kings dainties, and of the wine which he drank, and that they should be nourished three years; that at the end thereof they should stand before the king.
5 The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the kings table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the kings service.
6 Now among these were, of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.
6 Among these were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.
7 And the prince of the eunuchs gave names unto them: unto Daniel he gave (the name of) Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, (of) Shadrach; and to Mishael, (of) Meshach; and to Azariah, (of) Abed-nego.
7 The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.
8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the kings dainties, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
8 But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.
9 Now God made Daniel to find kindness and compassion in the sight of the prince of the eunuchs.
9 Now God had caused the official to show favor and sympathy to Daniel,
10 And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your food and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse looking than the youths that are of your own age? so would ye endanger my head with the king.
10 but the official told Daniel, "I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you."
11 Then said Daniel to the steward whom the prince of the eunuchs had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:
11 Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed 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.
12 "Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink.
13 Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the youths that eat of the kings dainties; and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.
13 Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see."
14 So he hearkened unto them in this matter, and proved them ten days.
14 So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.
15 And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer, and they were fatter in flesh, than all the youths that did eat of the kings dainties.
15 At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food.
16 So the steward took away their dainties, and the wine that they should drink, and gave them pulse.
16 So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.
17 Now as for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
17 To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.
18 And at the end of the days which the king had appointed for bringing them in, the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.
18 At the end of the time set by the king to bring them in, the chief official presented them to 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.
19 The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the kings service.
20 And 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 that were in all his realm.
20 In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.
21 And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus.
21 And Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus.