IN THE 3RD YEAR OF JEHOIAKIM, NEBECHADNEZAR CAME TO JERUSALEM

2 THE LORD DELIVERED KING OF JUDAH INTO HIS HAND

3 THEN THE KING ORDERED CHIEF OF HIS OFFICIALS TO BRING IN SOME OF THE ISRAELITES FROM THE ROYAL FAMILY

4 YOUNG EN WITHOUT ANY PHYSICAL DEFECT

5 HE WAS TO TEACH THEM THE LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE OF THE BABYLONIANS

6 AMONG THESE WERE SOME FROM JUDAH

7 THE CHIEF OFFICIAL GAVE THEM NEW NAMES

8 BUT DANIEL RESLOVED NOT TO DEFILE HIMSELF WITH THE ROYAL FOOD AND WINE

9 NOW GOD HAD CAUSED THE OFFICIAL TO SHOW FAVOR AND SYMPATHY TO DANIEL

10 WHY SHOULD HE SEE YOU LOKKING WORSE  THE KING WOULD THEN HAVE MY HEAD BECAUSE OF YOU

11 DANIEL SAID TO THE GUARD

12 PLEASE TEST YOUR SERVANTS FOR 10 DAYS.GIVE US NOTHING BUT VEGETABLES TO EAT AND WATER TO DRINK

13 THEN COMPARE OUR APPEARANCE WITH THAT OF THE YOUG MEN WHO EAT THE ROYAL FOOD

14 SO HE AGREED TO THIS AND TESTED THEM FOR 10 DAYS

15 AT THE END OF THE 10 DAYS THEY LOOKED HEALTHIER AND BETTER NOURISHED

16 SO THE GUARD TOOK AWAY THEIR CHOICE FOOD

17 TO THESE 4 YOUNG MEN GOD GAVE KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

18 AT THE END OF THE TIME SET BY THE KING TO BRING THEM IN, THE CHIEF OFFICIAL PRESENTED THEM TO NEBECHADNEZZAR

19 THE KING TALKED WITH THEM, AND HE FOUD NONE EQUAL TO DANIEL

20 IN EVERY MATTER OF WISDOM, HE FOUND THEM 10 TIMES BETTER THAN ALL THE MAGICIANS AND ENCHANTERS IN HIS WHOLE KINGDOM

21 AND DANIEL REMAINED THERE UTIL THE FIRST YEAR OF KING CYRUS