Daniel Chooses God’s Standard

⁸ Daniel determined within himself not to become defiled by the king’s menu of rich foods or by the king’s wine, so he requested permission^[a] from the chief officer not to defile himself. ⁹ God granted to Daniel grace and compassion on the part of the chief officer. ¹⁰ The chief officer told Daniel, “I fear his majesty the king, who has determined what you eat and drink. If he notices that your faces are more pale than the other^[b] young men in your group, I will forfeit my head to the king.”

¹¹ But Daniel told the guard whom the chief officer had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, ¹² “Please test your servants for ten days and let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. ¹³ Then compare how we^[c] look with the young men who ate the king’s rich food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you observe.”

¹⁴ So he listened to what Daniel said^[d] and tested them for ten days. ¹⁵ At the end of ten days their appearance was better and their faces were well-nourished^[e] compared to the young men who ate the king’s rich food. ¹⁶ So the guard took away their rich food and wine,^[f] giving them vegetables.