⁴ young men without any physical defect, handsome,^(A) showing aptitude for every kind of learning,^(B) well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language^(C) and literature of the Babylonians.^[a]

¹¹ There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods^(A) in him. In the time of your father he was found to have insight and intelligence and wisdom^(B) like that of the gods.^(C) Your father, King Nebuchadnezzar, appointed him chief of the magicians, enchanters, astrologers and diviners.^(D)

²² Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians^(A) and was powerful in speech and action.

Saying 6

²⁵ In all Israel there was not a man so highly praised for his handsome appearance as Absalom. From the top of his head to the sole of his foot there was no blemish in him.

¹⁰ The astrologers^(A) answered the king, “There is no one on earth who can do what the king asks! No king, however great and mighty, has ever asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or astrologer.^(B)

¹⁷ To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding^(A) of all kinds of literature and learning.^(B) And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.^(C)

¹⁸ At the end of the time^(D) set by the king to bring them into his service, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. ¹⁹ The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service.^{(E) 20} In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians^(F) and enchanters in his whole kingdom.^(G)

¹⁹ Anyone who injures their neighbor is to be injured in the same manner: ²⁰ fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth.^(A) The one who has inflicted the injury must suffer the same injury.

¹⁸ No man who has any defect^(A) may come near: no man who is blind^(B) or lame,^(C) disfigured or deformed; ¹⁹ no man with a crippled foot or hand, ²⁰ or who is a hunchback or a dwarf, or who has any eye defect, or who has festering or running sores or damaged testicles.^{(D) 21} No descendant of Aaron the priest who has any defect^(E) is to come near to present the food offerings to the Lord.^(F) He has a defect; he must not come near to offer the food of his God.^(G)