11 But Daniel said to the overseer whom the commander of the officials had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 “Please put your servants to the test for ten days, and let us be (A)given some vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then let our appearance be [a]examined in your presence and the appearance of the youths who are eating the king’s choice food; and deal with your servants according to what you see.”

14 So he listened to them in this matter, and put them to the test for ten days. 15 And at the end of ten days their appearance seemed (B)better, and [b]they were fatter than all the youths who had been eating the king’s choice food. 16 So the overseer continued to [c]withhold their choice food and the wine they were to drink, and kept (C)giving them vegetables.

17 And as for these four youths, (D)God gave them knowledge and intelligence in every kind of [d]literature and expertise; Daniel even understood all kinds of (E)visions and dreams.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Daniel 1:13 Lit seen
  2. Daniel 1:15 Lit fat of flesh
  3. Daniel 1:16 Lit take away
  4. Daniel 1:17 Or writing

11 Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, 12 “Please test(A) your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.”(B) 14 So he agreed to this and tested(C) them for ten days.

15 At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food.(D) 16 So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.(E)

17 To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding(F) of all kinds of literature and learning.(G) And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.(H)

Read full chapter