1 No ano terceiro do reinado de Jeoaquim, rei de Judá, veio Nabucodonosor, rei da Babilônia, a Jerusalém e a sitiou. 2 O Senhor lhe entregou nas mãos a Jeoaquim, rei de Judá, e alguns dos utensílios da Casa de Deus; a estes, levou-os para a terra de Sinar, para a casa do seu deus, e os pôs na casa do tesouro do seu deus. 3 Disse o rei a Aspenaz, chefe dos seus eunucos, que trouxesse alguns dos filhos de Israel, tanto da linhagem real como dos nobres, 4 jovens sem nenhum defeito, de boa aparência, instruídos em toda a sabedoria, doutos em ciência, versados no conhecimento e que fossem competentes para assistirem no palácio do rei e lhes ensinasse a cultura e a língua dos caldeus. 5 Determinou-lhes o rei a ração diária, das finas iguarias da mesa real e do vinho que ele bebia, e que assim fossem mantidos por três anos, ao cabo dos quais assistiriam diante do rei. 6 Entre eles, se achavam, dos filhos de Judá, Daniel, Hananias, Misael e Azarias.

1 IN THE third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.

2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God; and he carried them into the land of Shinar to the house of his god, and the vessels he brought into the treasure-house of his god.

3 And the king spoke unto Ashpenaz his chief officer, that he should bring in certain of the children of Israel, and of the seed royal, and of the nobles,

4 youths in whom was no blemish, but fair to look on, and skilful in all wisdom, and skilful in knowledge, and discerning in thought, and such as had ability to stand in the king's palace; and that he should teach them the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.

5 And the king appointed for them a daily portion of the king's food, and of the wine which he drank, and that they should be nourished three years; that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.

6 Now among these were, of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.