1 No terceiro ano do reinado de Jeoaquim, rei de Judá, veio Nabucodonozor, rei de Babilônia, a Jerusalém e a sitiou.2 O Senhor entregou-lhe nas mãos a Jeoaquim, rei de Judá, e uma parte dos vasos da casa de Deus; ele os levou para a terra de Sinear para a casa do seu deus, e pôs os vasos na casa do tesouro do seu deus.3 O rei disse a Aspenaz, chefe dos seus eunucos, que trouxesse alguns dos filhos de Israel, a saber, da linhagem real e dos nobres,4 mancebos nos quais não houvesse defeito algum, mas de boa presença, instruídos em toda a sabedoria, conhecedores de ciência, entendidos em conhecimentos, e que tivessem habilidade para assistirem no palácio do rei; e que lhes ensinasse as letras e a língua dos caldeus.5 O rei designou-lhe uma porção quotidiana das iguarias reais e do vinho que ele bebia, e que fossem mantidos por três anos; para que, passados estes, assistissem diante do rei.6 Ora entre estes se achavam, dos filhos de Judá, Daniel, Hananias, Misael e Azarias.7 O príncipe dos eunucos lhes pôs por nome: a Daniel, o de Beltessazar; a Hananias, o de Sadraque; a Misael, o de Mesaque; e a Azarias, o de Abede-Nego.8 Daniel, porém, assentou no seu coração não se contaminar com as iguarias reais nem com o vinho que o rei bebia; portanto pediu ao príncipe dos eunucos que lhe permitisse não contaminar-se.9 Ora Deus fez que Daniel achasse graça e misericórdia diante do príncipe dos eunucos.10 O príncipe dos eunucos disse a Daniel: Eu tenho medo do rei meu senhor, o qual ordenou que se vos desse de comer e de beber; pois porque veria ele os vossos rostos mais tristes que os dos outros mancebos da vossa idade? assim poríeis em perigo a minha cabeça para com o rei.11 Então disse Daniel ao despenseiro, a quem o príncipe dos eunucos tinha constituído sobre Daniel, Hananias, Misael e Azarias:12 Experimenta, peço-te, os teus servos dez dias; e que se nos dêem legumes a comer e água a beber.13 Depois se examinem diante de ti os nossos semblantes e os dos mancebos que comem das iguarias reais; e, conforme vires, há-te com os teus servos.14 Assim os ouviu sobre isto, e os experimentou dez dias.15 No fim dos dez dias apareceram os seus semblantes melhores, e eles estavam mais gordos de carne do que todos os mancebos que comiam das iguarias reais.16 Assim o despenseiro tirou-lhes as iguarias e o vinho que deviam beber, e lhes dava legumes.17 Ora quanto a estes quatro mancebos, deu-lhes Deus o conhecimento, e a inteligência em todas as letras e em toda a sabedoria: Daniel sabia discernir todas as visões e sonhos.18 Passados os dias, depois dos quais o rei tinha ordenado que fossem apresentados, o príncipe dos eunucos os apresentou diante de Nabucodonozor.19 O rei conversou com eles; e entre todos eles não foram achados outros tais como Daniel, Hananias, Misael e Azarias, portanto ficaram assistindo diante do rei.20 Em toda a matéria de sabedoria e discernimento, a respeito da qual lhes perguntou o rei, achou que eles excediam dez vezes todos os mágicos e encantadores que havia em todo o seu reino.21 Daniel conservou-se até o primeiro ano do rei Ciro.

1 In the third year of the reign of Joakim king of Juda, Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon came to Jerusalem, and besieged it.2 And the Lord delivered into his hands Joakim the king of Juda, and part of the vessels of the house of God: and he carried them away into the land of Sennaar, to the house of his god, and the vessels he brought into the treasure house of his god.3 And the king spoke to Asphenez the master of the eunuchs, that he should bring in some of the children of Israel, and of the king's seed and of the princes,4 Children in whom there was no blemish, well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, acute in knowledge, and instructed in science, and such as might stand in the king's palace, that he might teach them the learning, and the tongue of the Chaldeans.5 And the king appointed them a daily provision, of his own meat, and of the wine of which he drank himself, that being nourished three years, afterwards they might stand before the king.6 Now there were among them of the children of Juda, Daniel, Ananias, Misael, and Azarias.7 And the master of the eunuchs gave them names: to Daniel, Baltassar: to Ananias, Sidrach: to Misael, Misach: and to Azarias, Abdenago.8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not be defiled with the king's table, nor with the wine which he drank: and he requested the master of the eunuchs that he might not be defiled.9 And God gave to Daniel grace and mercy in the sight of the prince of the eunuchs.10 And the prince of the eunuchs said to Daniel: I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed you meat and drink: who if he should see your faces leaner than those of the other youths your equals, you shall endanger my head to the king.11 And Daniel said to Malasar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had appointed over Daniel, Ananias, Misael, and Azarias:12 Try, I beseech thee, thy servants for ten days, and let pulse be given us to eat, and water to drink:13 And look upon our faces, and the faces of the children that eat of the king's meat: and as thou shalt see, deal with thy servants.14 And when he had heard these words, he tried them for ten days.15 And after ten days their faces appeared fairer and fatter than all the children that ate of the king's meat.16 So Malasar took their portions, and the wine that they should drink: and he gave them pulse.17 And to these children God gave knowledge, and understanding in every book, and wisdom: but to Daniel the understanding also of all visions and dreams.18 And when the days were ended, after which the king had ordered they should be brought in: the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nabuchodonosor.19 And when the king had spoken to them, there were not found among them all such as Daniel, Ananias, Misael, and Azarias: and they stood in the king's presence.20 And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the diviners, and wise men, that were in all his kingdom.21 And Daniel continued even to the first year of king Cyrus.