Daniel’s Resolve

⁸ 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. ⁹ 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.