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Daniel’s Heart

But Daniel set in his heart that he would not (A)defile himself with the (B)king’s choice food or with the (C)wine which he drank; so he sought permission from the commander of the officials that he might not defile himself. Now God granted Daniel (D)lovingkindness and compassion before the commander of the officials, 10 and the commander of the officials said to Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has appointed your food and your drink; for why should he see your faces looking more haggard than the youths who are your own age? Then you would [a]make me forfeit my head to the king.” 11 But Daniel said to the overseer whom the commander of the officials had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 “Please test your servants for ten days, and let us be (E)given some vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then let our appearance be [b]observed before you 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 tested them for ten days. 15 At the end of ten days it was seen that their appearance was (F)better and that [c]they were fatter than all the youths who had been eating the king’s choice food. 16 So the overseer continued to [d]withhold their choice food and the wine they were to drink, and kept (G)giving them vegetables.

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Footnotes

  1. Daniel 1:10 Lit make my head guilty
  2. Daniel 1:13 Lit seen
  3. Daniel 1:15 Lit fat of flesh
  4. Daniel 1:16 Lit take away

Daniel’s Resolve

Now Daniel resolved[a] that he would not defile himself with the fine food of the king, and with the wine that he drank,[b] and so he requested from the commander of the court officials permission so that he would not defile himself. And God[c] gave Daniel favor and compassion before[d] 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[e] he see your face having a worse appearance than the young men who are your age?[f] Then you will endanger my head with the king.” 11 Then[g] Daniel asked the guard[h] 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,[i] and let us eat and let us drink water. 13 Then[j] let our appearances and the appearance of the young men who are eating the fine food of the king be compared before you,[k] and then deal with your servants according to what you see.”[l] 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[m] the guard continued to withhold[n] their fine food and the wine of their drink, and he gave them[o] vegetables.

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Footnotes

  1. Daniel 1:8 Literally “Daniel placed upon his heart”
  2. Daniel 1:8 Literally “the wine of his drink”
  3. Daniel 1:9 Hebrew “the God”
  4. Daniel 1:9 Literally “to the face of”
  5. Daniel 1:10 Literally “to what would”
  6. Daniel 1:10 Literally “like your age”; “your” is plural
  7. Daniel 1:11 Hebrew “And”
  8. Daniel 1:11 Or “overseer”
  9. Daniel 1:12 Literally “from the vegetables”
  10. Daniel 1:13 Hebrew “And”
  11. Daniel 1:13 Literally “in your presence”
  12. Daniel 1:13 Literally “and according to/that you see”
  13. Daniel 1:16 Literally “And it happened”
  14. Daniel 1:16 Literally “he was … withdrawing”
  15. Daniel 1:16 Hebrew “to them”