Daniel 1
Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem and carried off young men of Judah's nobility to serve in Babylon's court. Daniel and his three friends refused the king's food, ate only vegetables and water, and God gave them knowledge and wisdom ten times greater than all the magicians in the kingdom.
| v | King James Version | Modern English |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it. | In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. |
| 2 | 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. | The Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the house of God. He carried these to the land of Shinar, to the house of His god, and placed the articles in the treasury of His god. |
| 3 | And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king's seed, and of the princes; | The king told Ashpenaz, the chief of his court officials, to bring some of the people of Israel — those from the royal family and the nobility — |
| 4 | Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans. | young men without any physical defect, handsome, skilled in all wisdom, knowledgeable, quick to understand, and able to serve in the king's palace. He wanted them taught the language and literature of the Babylonians. |
| 5 | And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king's meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king. | The king assigned them a daily portion of his own food and wine. They were to be trained for three years, after which they would serve before the king. |
| 6 | Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: | Among those chosen were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah — all from the tribe of Judah. |
| 7 | Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego. | The chief official gave them new names. Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego. |
| 8 | But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. | Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king's food or wine. He asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. |
| 9 | Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs. | God caused the chief official to show Daniel kindness and goodwill. |
| 10 | And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king. | The chief official told Daniel, "I am afraid of my lord the king, who assigned your food and drink. If he sees that you look worse than the other young men your age, it will cost me my head before the king." |
| 11 | Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, | Daniel then spoke to the steward whom the chief official had placed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. |
| 12 | Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink. | "Please test us for ten days," he said. "Give us only vegetables to eat and water to drink." |
| 13 | Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants. | Then compare our appearance with the young men who eat the king's food, and treat us according to what you see. |
| 14 | So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days. | The steward agreed to this and tested them for ten days. |
| 15 | And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat. | At the end of ten days, Daniel and his friends looked healthier and better nourished than all the young men who ate the king's food. |
| 16 | Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse. | So the steward took away their portion of food and wine and gave them vegetables instead. |
| 17 | As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. | God gave these four young men knowledge and skill in all literature and learning. Daniel also had the ability to understand all kinds of visions and dreams. |
| 18 | Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. | When the time set by the king was over, the chief official brought them before Nebuchadnezzar. |
| 19 | And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king. | The king spoke with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. So they entered the king's service. |
| 20 | And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm. | In every matter of wisdom and understanding that the king asked them about, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his entire kingdom. |
| 21 | And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus. | Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus. |