1 I n the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, come hath Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to Jerusalem, and layeth siege against it;

In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.

2 a nd the Lord giveth into his hand Jehoiakim king of Judah, and some of the vessels of the house of God, and he bringeth them in the land of Shinar, the house of his god, and the vessels he hath brought in the treasure-house of his god.

And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with a 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 placed the vessels in the treasury of his god.

3 A nd the king saith, to Ashpenaz master of his eunuchs, to bring in out of the sons of Israel, (even of the royal seed, and of the chiefs,)

And the king told Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, to bring in some of the children of Israel, both of the royal family and of the nobility—

4 l ads in whom there is no blemish, and of good appearance, and skilful in all wisdom, and possessing knowledge, and teaching thought, and who have ability to stand in the palace of the king, and to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans.

Youths without blemish, well-favored in appearance and skillful in all wisdom, discernment, and understanding, apt in learning knowledge, competent to stand and serve in the king’s palace—and to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans.

5 A nd the king doth appoint for them a rate, day by day, of the king's portion of food, and of the wine of his drinking, so as to nourish them three years, that at the end thereof they may stand before the king.

And the king assigned for them a daily portion of his own rich and dainty food and of the wine which he drank. They were to be so educated and so nourished for three years that at the end of that time they might stand before the king.

6 A nd there are among them out of the sons of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,

Among these were of the children of Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.

7 a nd the chief of the eunuchs setteth names on them, and he setteth on Daniel, Belteshazzar; and on Hananiah, Shadrach; and on Mishael, Meshach; and on Azariah, Abed-Nego.

The chief of the eunuchs gave them names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego.

8 A nd Daniel purposeth in his heart that he will not pollute himself with the king's portion of food, and with the wine of his drinking, and he seeketh of the chief of the eunuchs that he may not pollute himself.

But Daniel determined in his heart that he would not defile himself by the king’s rich and dainty food or by the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not to defile himself.

9 A nd God giveth Daniel for kindness and for mercies before the chief of the eunuchs;

Now God made Daniel to find favor, compassion, and loving-kindness with the chief of the eunuchs.

10 a nd the chief of the eunuchs saith to Daniel, `I am fearing my lord the king, who hath appointed your food and your drink, for why doth he see your faces sadder than the lads which of your circle? then ye have made my head indebted to the king,'

And the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, I fear, lest my lord the king, who has appointed your food and your drink, should see your faces worse looking or more sad than the other youths of your age. Then you would endanger my head with the king.

11 A nd Daniel saith unto the Meltzar, whom the chief of the eunuchs hath appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,

Then said Daniel to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,

12 ` Try, I pray thee, thy servants, ten days; and they give to us of the vegetables, and we eat, and water, and we drink;

Prove your servants, I beseech you, for ten days and let us be given a vegetable diet and water to drink.

13 a nd our appearance is seen before thee, and the appearance of the lads who are eating the king's portion of food, and as thou seest -- deal with thy servants.'

Then let our appearance and the appearance of the youths who eat of the king’s dainties be observed and compared by you, and deal with us your servants according to what you see.

14 A nd he hearkeneth to them, to this word, and trieth them ten days:

So consented to them in this matter and proved them ten days.

15 a nd at the end of ten days their appearance hath appeared better and fatter in flesh then any of the lads who are eating the king's portion of food.

And at the end of ten days it was seen that they were looking better and had taken on more flesh than all the youths who ate of the king’s rich dainties.

16 A nd the Meltzar is taking away their portion of food, and the wine of their drink, and is giving to them vegetables.

So the steward took away their dainties and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables.

17 A s to these four lads, God hath given to them knowledge and understanding in every literature, and wisdom; and Daniel hath given instruction about every vision and dreams.

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.

18 A nd at the end of the days that the king had said to bring them in, bring them in doth the chief of the eunuchs before Nebuchadnezzar.

Now at the end of the time which the king had set for bringing, the chief of the eunuchs brought them before Nebuchadnezzar.

19 A nd the king speaketh with them, and there hath none been found among them all like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, and they stand before the king;

And the king conversed with them, and among them all none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; therefore they were assigned to stand before the king.

20 a nd any matter of wisdom understanding that the king hath sought of them, he findeth them ten hands above all the scribes, the enchanters, who in all his kingdom.

And in all matters of wisdom and understanding concerning which the king asked them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters who were in his whole realm.

21 A nd Daniel is unto the first year of Cyrus the king.

And Daniel continued there even to the first year of King Cyrus.