Dual Panel1In the third<7969> year<8141> of the reign<4438> of Jehoiakim<3079> king<4428> of Judah<3063>, Nebuchadnezzar<5019> king<4428> of Babylon<894> came<935> to Jerusalem<3389> and besieged<6696><5921> it.
2The Lord<136> gave<5414> Jehoiakim<3079> king<4428> of Judah<3063> into his hand<3027>, along with some<4480><7117> of the vessels<3627> of the house<1004> of God<430>; and he brought<935> them to the land<776> of Shinar<8152>, to the house<1004> of his god<430>, and he brought<935> the vessels<3627> into the treasury<1004><214> of his god<430>.
3Then the king<4428> ordered<559> Ashpenaz<828>, the chief<7227> of his officials<5631>, to bring<935> in some<4480> of the sons<1121> of Israel<3478>, including some<4480> of the royal<4410> family<2233> and of the nobles<6579>,
4youths<3206> in whom<834> was no<369><3605> defect<3971>, who were good-looking<2896><4758>, showing<7919> intelligence<7919> in every<3605> branch of wisdom<2451>, endowed<3045> with understanding<995> and discerning<995> knowledge<4093>, and who<834> had ability<3581> for serving<5975> in the king's<4428> court<1964>; and he ordered him to teach<3925> them the literature<5612> and language<3956> of the Chaldeans<3778>.
5The king<4428> appointed<4487> for them a daily<3117> ration<1697> from the king's<4428> choice<6598> food<6598> and from the wine<3196> which<4960> he drank<4960>, and appointed that they should be educated<1431> three<7969> years<8141>, at the end<7117> of which they were to enter<5975> the king's<4428> personal<6440> service<5975><6440>.
6Now among them from the sons<1121> of Judah<3063> were Daniel<1840>, Hananiah<2608>, Mishael<4332> and Azariah<5838>.
7Then the commander<8269> of the officials<5631> assigned<7760> new names<8034> to them; and to Daniel<1840> he assigned<7760> the name Belteshazzar<1095>, to Hananiah<2608> Shadrach<7714>, to Mishael<4332> Meshach<4335> and to Azariah<5838> Abed-nego<5664>.
8But Daniel<1840> made<7760> up his mind<3820> that he would not defile<1351> himself with the king's<4428> choice<6598> food<6598> or with the wine<3196> which<4960> he drank<4960>; so he sought<1245> permission from the commander<8269> of the officials<5631> that he might not defile<1351> himself.
9Now God<430> granted<5414> Daniel<1840> favor<2617> and compassion<7356> in the sight<6440> of the commander<8269> of the officials<5631>,
10and the commander<8269> of the officials<5631> said<559> to Daniel<1840>, "I am afraid<3372> of my lord<113> the king<4428>, who<834> has appointed<4487> your food<3978> and your drink<4960>; for why<4100> should he see<7200> your faces<6440> looking<2196> more<4480> haggard<2196> than<4480> the youths<3206> who<834> are your own age<1524>? Then you would make me forfeit<2325> my head<7218> to the king<4428>."
11But Daniel<1840> said<559> to the overseer<4453> whom<834> the commander<8269> of the officials<5631> had appointed<4487> over<5921> Daniel<1840>, Hananiah<2608>, Mishael<4332> and Azariah<5838>,
12"Please<4994> test<5254> your servants<5650> for ten<6235> days<3117>, and let us be given<5414> some<4480> vegetables<2235> to eat<398> and water<4325> to drink<8354>.
13"Then let our appearance<4758> be observed<7200> in your presence<6440> and the appearance<4758> of the youths<3206> who<834> are eating<398> the king's<4428> choice<6598> food<6598>; and deal<6213> with your servants<5650> according to what<3512> you see<7200>."
14So he listened<8085> to them in this<2088> matter<1697> and tested<5254> them for ten<6235> days<3117>.
15At the end<7117> of ten<6235> days<3117> their appearance<4758> seemed<7200> better<2896> and they were fatter<1277><1320> than<4480> all<3605> the youths<3206> who<834> had been eating<398> the king's<4428> choice<6598> food<6598>.
16So the overseer<4453> continued<1961> to withhold<5375> their choice<6598> food<6598> and the wine<3196> they were to drink<4960>, and kept<5414> giving<5414> them vegetables<2235>.
17As for these<428> four<702> youths<3206>, God<430> gave<5414> them knowledge<4093> and intelligence<7919> in every<3605> branch of literature<5612> and wisdom<2451>; Daniel<1840> even understood<995> all<3605> kinds of visions<2377> and dreams<2472>.
18Then at the end<7117> of the days<3117> which<834> the king<4428> had specified<559> for presenting<935> them, the commander<8269> of the officials<5631> presented<935> them before<6440> Nebuchadnezzar<5019>.
19The king<4428> talked<1696> with them, and out of them all<3605> not one was found<4672> like Daniel<1840>, Hananiah<2608>, Mishael<4332> and Azariah<5838>; so they entered<5975> the king's<4428> personal<6440> service<5975><6440>.
20As for every<3605> matter<1697> of wisdom<2451> and understanding<998> about which<834> the king<4428> consulted<1245> them, he found<4672> them ten<6235> times<3027> better<5921> than<5921> all<3605> the magicians<2748> and conjurers<825> who<834> were in all<3605> his realm<4438>.
21And Daniel<1840> continued<1961> until<5704> the first<259> year<8141> of Cyrus<3566> the king<4428>.