1In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, came and besieged Jerusalem. 2And the LORD turned Jehoiakim, king of Judah, over to him, along with some of the articles from the Temple of God, which Nebuchadnezzar then carried off to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god; and so he brought these articles into the treasure house of his god. 3And Nebuchadnezzar also ordered Ashpenaz, the head of his court officials, to bring certain young princes from Judah’s royal family, 4Youths in whom there was found no physical defects - handsome, well educated, endowed with wisdom, an aptitude to learn and an understanding of science, and suited to stand in the king's palace - that they might teach them the Chaldean knowledge and language. 5And the king appointed them a daily ration of the king's food, and the wine which he drank; to so nourish them for three years, that at the end of three years, they might stand before the king. 6Now among those who were thus chosen were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 7To whom Ashpenaz, the head of his court officials gave new names: to Daniel he gave the name of Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abed-nego.

8But Daniel resolved in his heart not to defile himself with rations of food and wine that the king ate and drank. Therefore, he asked Ashpenaz, the head of his court officials, for permission to not eat these unacceptable (forbidden) things and so defile himself. 9Now God had given Daniel favor and compassion with Melzar, whom Ashpenaz had set over Daniel and his three companions, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. 10And Melzar said to Daniel, “I fear my lord, the king, who has ordered this food and drink for you; for if he should see you looking worse than the other children of your age, then the king would have my head!” 11Then Daniel said to Melzar, 12“Please try this with us for ten days; in which they give us only vegetables to eat, and water to drink. 13Then compare our appearances with that of the youths that are eating the king's food; and then deal with us according to what you observe.” 14So he agreed to try this for ten days. 15And at the end of ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than all the youths who were eating the king's food. 16So then Melzar took away their rations of the royal food and wine; and gave them vegetables and water.

17God gave these four young men knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom; and He gave Daniel a special ability to interpret and understand all kinds of visions and dreams. 18Now, at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them into his service, Ashpenaz brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. 19And the king talked with them; and among them all he found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; and so, they entered the king’s service. 20And in every matter of wisdom and understanding that the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in his entire realm. 21And Daniel remained there in the royal service until the first year of King Cyrus.