Study Desk

Now among them from the sons of Judah were ^(C1)Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.

Then the commander of the officials assigned new names to them; and to Daniel he assigned the name ^(C1)Belteshazzar, to Hananiah ^(C2)Shadrach, to Mishael ^(C2)Meshach, and to Azariah ^(C2)Abed-nego.

But Daniel ^(F1)made up his mind that he would not ^(C1)defile himself with the ^(C2)king's choice food or with the ^(C3)wine which he drank; so he sought permission from the commander of the officials that he might not defile himself.

Now God granted Daniel ^(C1)favor and compassion in the sight of the commander of the officials.

The commander of the officials said to Daniel, "I am afraid of my lord the king, who has allotted your food and your drink; for why should he see your faces looking gaunt in comparison to the youths who are your own age? Then you would ^(F1)make me forfeit my head to the king."

But Daniel said to the overseer whom the commander of the officials had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,

"Please put your servants to the test for ten days, and let us be ^(C1)given some vegetables to eat and water to drink.

"Then let our appearance be ^(F1)examined in your presence and the appearance of the youths who are eating the king's choice food; and deal with your servants according to what you see."

So he listened to them in this matter, and put them to the test for ten days.

And at the end of ten days their appearance seemed ^(C1)better, and ^(F1)they were fatter than all the youths who had been eating the king's choice food.

So the overseer continued to ^(F1)withhold their choice food and the wine they were to drink, and kept ^(C1)giving them vegetables.

And as for these four youths, ^(C1)God gave them knowledge and intelligence in every kind of ^(F1)literature and expertise; Daniel even understood all kinds of ^(C2)visions and dreams.

Then at the end of the days which the king had ^(F1)specified ^(F2)for presenting them, the commander of the officials ^(F3)presented them before Nebuchadnezzar.

And the king talked with them, and out of them all not one was found like ^(C1)Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; so they ^(F1)(C2)entered the king's personal service.