⁵ The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine^(A) from the king’s table.^(B) They were to be trained for three years,^(C) and after that they were to enter the king’s service.^(D)

⁶ Among those who were chosen were some from Judah: Daniel,^(E) Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.^{(F) 7} The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar;^(G) to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.^(H)

⁸ But Daniel resolved not to defile^(I) himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.

⁶ So these administrators and satraps went as a group to the king and said: “May King Darius live forever!^{(A) 7} The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors^(B) have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or human being during the next thirty days, except to you, Your Majesty, shall be thrown into the lions’ den.^(C)