Daniel Removed to Babylon

1In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim (YHWH raises up) king of Judah (praised), Nebuchadnezzar (may Nebo protect the crown) king of Babylon (confusion by mixing) came to Jerusalem (city of peace) and besieged it. 2And the Lord {Adonai} delivered into his hand Jehoiakim (YHWH raises up) king of Judah (praised), along with some of the articles from the house of God {Elohim}. He carried these off to the land of Shinar (Babylonia),a to the house of his god, where he put them in the treasury of his god.

3Then the king ordered Ashpenaz (I will make prominent the sprinkled), the chief of his court officials, to bring in some Israelites (God prevails) from the royal family \from the seed of the kingdom/b and the nobility— 4young men without blemish, handsome, gifted in all wisdom, knowledgeable, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace—and to teach them the language and literature of the Chaldeans (the Babylonians).c

5The king assigned them daily provisions of the royal food and wine. They were to be trained for three years, after which they were to enter the king’s service.

6Among these young men were some from Judah (praised): Daniel (God is my judge), Hananiah (God has favored), Mishael (who is what God is), and Azariah (YHWH has helped). 7The chief official gave them new names: To Daniel (God is my judge) he gave the name Belteshazzar (lord of the straitened's treasure); to Hananiah (God has favored), Shadrach (royal / the great scribe); to Mishael (who is what God is), Meshach (guest of a king); and to Azariah (YHWH has helped), Abednego (servant of Nebo).

Daniel’s Faithfulness

8But Daniel (God is my judge) made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king’s food or wine. So he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself.

9Now God {Elohim} had granted Daniel (God is my judge) favor and compassion from the chief official, 10but he said to Daniel (God is my judge), “I fear my lord the king, who has assigned your⁺ food and drink. For why should he see your⁺ faces looking thinner than those of the other young men your⁺ age? You⁺ would endanger my head before the king!”

11Then Daniel (God is my judge) said to the steward whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah (God has favored), Mishael (who is what God is), and Azariah (YHWH has helped), 12“Please test your servants for ten days. Let us be given only vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13Then compare our appearances with those of the young men who are eating the royal food, and deal with your servants according to what you see.”

14So he consented to this and tested them for ten days. 15And at the end of ten days, they looked healthier and better nourished than all the young men who were eating the king’s food. 16So the steward continued to withhold their choice food and the wine they were to drink, and he gave them vegetables instead.

Daniel’s Wisdom

17To these four young men God {Elohim} gave knowledge and understanding in every kind of literature and wisdom. And Daniel (God is my judge) had insight into all kinds of visions and dreams.

18Now at the end of the time specified by the king, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar (may Nebo protect the crown). 19And the king spoke with them, and among all the young men he found no one equal to Daniel (God is my judge), Hananiah (God has favored), Mishael (who is what God is), and Azariah (YHWH has helped). So they entered the king’s service.

20In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king consulted them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his entire kingdom. 21And Daniel (God is my judge) remained there until the first year of King Cyrus (possess the furnace).