THE BOOK OF
DANIEL

Daniel 1 ©

By what means Daniel and his companions came to be admitted into the king of Babel’s court, v. 1, etc. How piously they carried themselves there, 8. How wonderfully God assisted them, 17. And the extraordinary wisdom wherewith the Lord endued them, especially Daniel, above all the wise men and astrologers of the Chaldeans, 19, 20.

1

IN 1the third year of the reign of 2Jehoiakim king of Judah camea3Nebuchadnezzar king of 4Babylon 5unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.

2

And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with 6part of the vessels of the house of God: 7which he carried 8into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels 9into the treasure house 10of his god.

3

¶And the king spake unto Ashpenaz 11the master of his 12eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and 13of the king's seed, and of the 14princes;

4

Children in whom was 15no blemish, but 16well favoured, and 17skilful in all wisdom, and cunning 18in knowledge, and 19understanding science, and such as had 20ability in them 21to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach 22the learning and the 23tongue of the Chaldeans.

5

And the king 24appointed them 25a daily 26provision of the king's meat, and of the wine 27which he drank: so nourishing them 28three years, that at the end thereof they might 29stand before the king.

6

Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:

7

Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs 30gave 31names: for he gave unto 32Daniel the name of 33Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abed-nego.

8

34But Daniel 35purposed in his heart that he would not 36defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine 37which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

9

Now God 38had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.

10

And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, 39I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: 40for why should he see your faces worse likingb than the children 41which are of your sort? 42then shall ye make me 43endanger 44my head to the king.

11

45Then said Daniel 46to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs 47had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,

12

48Prove 49thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us 50pulse to 51eat, 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 52as thou seest, deal with thy servants.

14

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

15

And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared 53fairer and fatter in flesh 54than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat.

16

Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and 55the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.c

17

¶As for these four children, God gave them 56knowledge and skill in all 57learning and wisdom: and 58Daniel had understanding in all 59visions and dreams.

18

Now at the end 60of the days that the king had said 61he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.

19

62And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood 63they before the king.

20

And in all matters 64of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them 65ten times 66better than all the 67magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.

21

And 68Daniel 69continued even 70unto 71the first year of king Cyrus.