Daniel:1

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* In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah , Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it . * 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 . * And the king spoke to Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs that he should bring [some ] of the sons of Israel , and of the king 's seed , and of the rulers ; * sons [in ] whom was no blemish , but who were handsome and skillful in all wisdom ; and who had knowledge and understanding , even those who were able to stand in the king 's palace , and to whom they might teach the writing and the language of the Chaldeans . * And the king gave them the portion of a day in its day from the king 's food , and the wine which he drank , even to rear them three years , so that at their end they might stand before the king . * And among them were [four ] of the sons of Judah : Daniel , Hananiah , Mishael , and Azariah , * to whom the ruler of the eunuchs gave names . For he called Daniel , Belteshazzar ; and Hananiah , Shadrach ; and Mishael , Meshach ; and Azariah , Abednego . * But Daniel laid on his heart that he would not defile himself with the king 's food , nor with the wine which he drank . So he asked permission of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself . * And God had given Daniel kindness and compassion before the chief of the eunuchs . * And the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel , I fear my lord the king , who has chosen your food and your drink . For why should he see your faces worse looking than the boys who [are ] of your kind ? Then you would forfeit my head to the king . * And Daniel said to Melzar , whom the chief of the eunuchs had set over Daniel , Hananiah , Mishael , and Azariah , * I beg you , try your servants ten days . And let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink . * Then let our look be seen before you , and the look of the boys who eat of the king 's food . And as you see , deal with your servants . * So he listened to them in this matter , and tried them for ten days . * And at the end of ten days their faces looked fairer and fatter in flesh than all the boys who had eaten the king 's food . * So Melzar took away their part of the food , and the wine that they were to drink , and gave them vegetables . * As for these four boys , God gave them knowledge and skill in all writing and wisdom . And Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams . * And at the end of the days that the king had said he would bring them in , the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar . * And the king talked with them . And among them all were found none like Daniel , Hananiah , Mishael , and Azariah . So they stood before the king . * And [in ] any matters of wisdom [and ] understanding that the king asked them , he found them ten times better than all the horoscopists [and ] conjurers who were in all his kingdom . * And Daniel continued to the first year of King Cyrus .

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