Daniel 1
Modern English Version
Daniel Taken to Babylon
1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 The Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God, and he carried them into the land of Shinar to the house of his god. And he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.
3 The king spoke to Ashpenaz the master of his officials that he should bring some of the sons of Israel and some of the king’s descendants and some of the nobles, 4 youths in whom was no blemish, who were handsome and skillful in every branch of wisdom and gifted with understanding and discerning knowledge, and such as had ability in them to serve in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the language of the Chaldeans. 5 The king appointed them a daily provision of the king’s food and of the wine which he drank. They were to be educated for three years, that at the end of it they might serve before the king.
6 Now among them were of the sons of Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 7 to whom the commander of the officials gave names. And he gave to Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.
8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s food, nor with the wine which he drank. Therefore he requested of the master of the officials that he might not defile himself. 9 Now God had brought Daniel into favor and compassion with the master of the officials. 10 The master of the officials said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king who has appointed your food and your drink. For why should he see your faces worse-looking than the youths who are your age? Then you would endanger my head before the king.”
11 Then Daniel said to the steward, whom the master of the officials had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 “Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then let our countenances be looked upon before you, and the countenance of the youths who eat of the portion of the king’s food. And as you see, deal with your servants.” 14 So he consented to them in this matter and tested them for ten days.
15 At the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter than all the youths who ate the portion of the king’s food. 16 Thus the guard continued to take away the portion of their food and the wine that they were to drink, and gave them vegetables.
17 As for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and skill in every branch of learning and wisdom. And Daniel had understanding in all kinds of visions and dreams.
18 Now at the end of the days that the king had set for them to be brought in, the master of the officials brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. 19 The king spoke with them, and, among them all, none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Therefore they served before the king. 20 In all matters of wisdom and understanding which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.
21 Daniel continued even to the first year of King Cyrus.
Daniel 1
Lexham English Bible
Daniel’s Development in the King’s Court
1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim the king of Judah into his hand and some of[a] of the utensils of the temple of God,[b] and he brought them to the land of Shinar to the temple of his gods, and he brought the utensils to the treasury[c] of his gods.
3 And the king ordered[d] Ashpenaz, the commander of his court officials, to bring some of the Israelites[e] from the royal family[f] and from the lords,[g] 4 youths who have no physical defect,[h] and who are handsome,[i] and who are prudent[j] in all wisdom and endowed with knowledge,[k] and who understand insight, and who have the ability[l] in them to serve in the palace of the king. And the king ordered him to teach them the literature and the language of the Chaldeans. 5 And the king assigned to them his daily portion[m] from the fine food of the king, and from the wine that he drank,[n] and instructed that they were to be educated for three years.[o] And at the end of their training, they were to be stationed[p] before[q] the king. 6 Now there was among them from the Judeans,[r] Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. 7 And the commander of the court officials gave them names, and he called Daniel, Belteshazzar; and Hananiah, Shadrach; and Mishael, Meshach; and Azariah, Abednego.
Daniel’s Resolve
8 Now Daniel resolved[s] that he would not defile himself with the fine food of the king, and with the wine that he drank,[t] and so he requested from the commander of the court officials permission so that he would not defile himself. 9 And God[u] gave Daniel favor and compassion before[v] the commander of the court officials, 10 and the commander of the court officials said to Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord, the king, who has determined your food and your drink, for why should[w] he see your face having a worse appearance than the young men who are your age?[x] Then you will endanger my head with the king.” 11 Then[y] Daniel asked the guard[z] whom the commander of the court officials had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 “Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us some of the vegetables,[aa] and let us eat and let us drink water. 13 Then[ab] let our appearances and the appearance of the young men who are eating the fine food of the king be compared before you,[ac] and then deal with your servants according to what you see.”[ad] 14 So he agreed to this proposal with them, and he tested them for ten days. 15 And at the end of ten days their appearances appeared better and they were healthier of body than all the young men who were eating the fine food of the king. 16 So[ae] the guard continued to withhold[af] their fine food and the wine of their drink, and he gave them[ag] vegetables.
17 And as for these four young men,[ah] God[ai] gave to them knowledge and insight into all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had insight into all visions[aj] and dreams. 18 And at the end of the time the king had set to bring them, the commander of the court officials brought them in before[ak] Nebuchadnezzar. 19 And the king spoke with them, and among all of them no one was found like[al] Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; then they stood before[am] the king. 20 And in every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king inquired from them, he found them ten times better than all of the magicians[an] and conjurers[ao] that were in his entire kingdom.[ap] 21 And Daniel was there until the first year of Cyrus the king.
Footnotes
- Daniel 1:2 Literally “from the end/extremity/limits”
- Daniel 1:2 Hebrew “the God”
- Daniel 1:2 Literally “the house of the treasury”
- Daniel 1:3 Literally “said to”
- Daniel 1:3 Literally “from the sons/children of Israel”
- Daniel 1:3 Literally “from the seed of the kingship”
- Daniel 1:3 Or “nobles”
- Daniel 1:4 Literally “there is not in them any physical defect”
- Daniel 1:4 Literally “good/pleasing of appearance”
- Daniel 1:4 Or “insightful”
- Daniel 1:4 Literally “who have knowledge of knowledge”
- Daniel 1:4 Literally “strength”
- Daniel 1:5 Literally “the portion of the day on its day”
- Daniel 1:5 Literally “the wine of his drink”
- Daniel 1:5 Literally “and to be educated them years three”
- Daniel 1:5 Literally “they would stand”
- Daniel 1:5 Literally “to the face of”
- Daniel 1:6 Literally “from the children of Judah”
- Daniel 1:8 Literally “Daniel placed upon his heart”
- Daniel 1:8 Literally “the wine of his drink”
- Daniel 1:9 Hebrew “the God”
- Daniel 1:9 Literally “to the face of”
- Daniel 1:10 Literally “to what would”
- Daniel 1:10 Literally “like your age”; “your” is plural
- Daniel 1:11 Hebrew “And”
- Daniel 1:11 Or “overseer”
- Daniel 1:12 Literally “from the vegetables”
- Daniel 1:13 Hebrew “And”
- Daniel 1:13 Literally “in your presence”
- Daniel 1:13 Literally “and according to/that you see”
- Daniel 1:16 Literally “And it happened”
- Daniel 1:16 Literally “he was … withdrawing”
- Daniel 1:16 Hebrew “to them”
- Daniel 1:17 Literally “And these young men, four of them”
- Daniel 1:17 Hebrew “the God”
- Daniel 1:17 Hebrew “vision”
- Daniel 1:18 Literally “to the face of”
- Daniel 1:19 Literally “and he was not found from all of them like”
- Daniel 1:19 Literally “to the face of”
- Daniel 1:20 Or “soothsayer-priests”
- Daniel 1:20 Or “enchanters”
- Daniel 1:20 Literally “in the whole of his kingdom”
The Holy Bible, Modern English Version. Copyright © 2014 by Military Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House.
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