²And the Lord delivered into his hands Joakim, the king of Juda, and part of the vessels of the house of God: and he carried them away into the land of Sennaar, to the house of his god, and the vessels he brought into the treasure house of his god.

³And the king spoke to Asphenez, the master of the eunuchs, that he should bring in some of the children of Israel, and of the king’s seed, and of the princes,

⁴Children in whom there was no blemish, well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, acute in knowledge, and instructed in science, and such as might stand in the king’s palace, that he might teach them the learning, and tongue of the Chaldeans.

⁵And the king appointed them a daily provision, of his own meat, and of the wine of which he drank himself, that being nourished three years, afterwards they might stand before the king.

⁶Now there was among them of the children of Juda, Daniel, Ananias, Misael, and Azarias.

⁷And the master of the eunuchs gave them names: to Daniel, Baltassar: to Ananias, Sidrach: to Misael, Misach: and to Azarias, Abdenago.

⁸But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not be defiled with the king’s table, nor with the wine which he drank: and he requested the master of the eunuchs that he might not be defiled.

⁹And God gave to Daniel grace and mercy in the sight of the prince of the eunuchs.

¹⁰And the prince of the eunuchs said to Daniel: I fear my lord, the king, who hath appointed you meat and drink: who if he should see your faces leaner than those of the other youths, your equals, you shall endanger my head to the king.

¹¹And Daniel said to Malasar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had appointed over Daniel, Ananias, Misael, and Azarias:

¹²Try, I beseech thee, thy servants for ten days, and let pulse be given us to eat, and water to drink:

¹³And look upon our faces, and the faces of the children that eat of the king’s meat: and as thou shalt see, deal with thy servants.

¹⁴And when he had heard these words, he tried them for ten days.

¹⁵And after ten days, their faces appeared fairer and fatter than all the children that ate of the king’s meat.

¹⁶So Malasar took their portions, and the wine that they should drink: and he gave them pulse.

¹⁷And to these children God gave knowledge, and understanding in every book, and wisdom: but to Daniel the understanding also of all visions and dreams.

¹⁸And when the days were ended, after which the king had ordered they should be brought in: the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nabuchodonosor.

¹⁹And when the king had spoken to them, there were not found among them all such as Daniel, Ananias, Misael, and Azarias: and they stood in the king’s presence.

²⁰And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the diviners, and wise men, that were in all his kingdom.

²¹And Daniel continued even to the first year of king Cyrus.

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