Daniel:1

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* In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah , came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to Jerusalem , and laid siege against it ; * 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 . * 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 , * 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 . * 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 . * Now there were , among them , out of the sons of Judah , Daniel , Hananiah , Mishael , and Azariah ; * 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 . * 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 , although God had brought Daniel into lovingkindness and tender compassion , before the ruler of the eunuchs , * 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 . * Then said Daniel , unto the overseer whom the ruler of the eunuchs had appointed over Daniel , Hananiah , Mishael , and Azariah : * I pray theeprove thy servants , ten days , and let them give us vegetable food , that we may eat , and water that we may drink : * 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 . * So then he hearkened unto them , according to this word , and proved them ten-days ; * 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 . * 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 . * 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 . * 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 . * 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 ; * 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 scribesthe magicians , who were in all his realm . * Now Daniel continued , until the first year of Cyrus the king .

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