Daniel 1:12-20

Easy-to-Read Version

¹² He said, “Please give us this test for ten days: Don’t give us anything but vegetables to eat and water to drink. ¹³ Then after ten days, compare us with the other young men who eat the king’s food. See for yourself who looks healthier, and then decide how you want to treat us, your servants.”

¹⁴ So the guard agreed to test Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah for ten days. ¹⁵ After ten days, Daniel and his friends looked healthier than all the young men who ate the king’s food. ¹⁶ So the guard continued to take away the king’s special food and wine and to give only vegetables to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.

¹⁷ God gave these four young men the wisdom and ability to learn many different kinds of writing and science. Daniel could also understand all kinds of visions and dreams.

¹⁸ At the end of the three years of training, Ashpenaz brought all the young men to King Nebuchadnezzar. ¹⁹ The king talked to them and found that none of the young men were as good as Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. So these four young men became the king’s servants. ²⁰ Every time the king asked them about something important, they showed great wisdom and understanding. The king found they were ten times better than all the magicians and wise men in his kingdom.