Daniel 1

A educação de Daniel e outros jovens hebreus na corte de Nabucodonosor

1 No terceiro ano do reinado de *2Rs 24.1;2Cr 36.5-6Jeoaquim, rei de Judá, veio *Jr 25.1;52.12,28-30Nabucodonosor, rei de Babilônia, a Jerusalém e a sitiou. 2 O *Dn 2.37-38;Is 42.24Senhor entregou-lhe nas mãos a Jeoaquim, rei de Judá, e uma parte dos *Dn 5.2;2Cr 36.7;Jr 27.19-20vasos da Casa de Deus; ele os levou para a terra de *Gn 10.10;11.2;Is 11.11;Zc 5.11Sinear, para a casa do seu deus, e pôs os vasos na casa do tesouro do seu *Jr 50.2;51.44deus. 3 O rei disse a Aspenaz, *Dn 1.7chefe dos seus eunucos, que trouxesse alguns dos filhos de Israel, a saber, *2Rs 24.14;Is 39.7da linhagem real e dos nobres, 4 mancebos nos quais não houvesse *2Sm 14.25defeito algum, mas de boa presença, *Dn 1.17;Dn 9.22instruídos em toda a sabedoria, conhecedores de ciência, entendidos em conhecimentos e que tivessem *Dn 1.19habilidade para assistirem no palácio do rei; e que lhes ensinasse *Dn 1.20as letras e a *Dn 2.4;Is 36.11;Jr 5.15língua dos *Dn 2.2,4,5,10;3.8;4.7;5.7,11,30;9.1caldeus. 5 O rei designou-lhe uma porção quotidiana das *Dn 1.8iguarias reais e do vinho que ele bebia, e que fossem mantidos *Dn 1.18por três anos, para que, passados estes, *Dn 1.19;1Sm 16.22;Jr 15.1assistissem diante do rei. 6 Ora, entre estes se achavam, dos filhos de Judá, *Ez 14.14,20;28.3;Mt 24.15Daniel, Hananias, Misael e Azarias. 7 *Dn 1.3,10-11,18O príncipe dos eunucos lhes pôs por nome: a Daniel, o de *Dn 2.26;4.8;5.12Beltessazar; a Hananias, o de *Dn 2.49;3.12Sadraque; a Misael, o de Mesaque; e a Azarias, o de Abede-Nego.

Daniel e seus amigos recusam participar dos manjares do rei

8 Daniel, porém, assentou no seu coração não *Lv 11.47;Ez 4.13-14;Os 9.3-4se contaminar com as *Dn 1.5;Sl 141.4iguarias reais nem com *Dn 5.4;Dt 32.38o vinho que o rei bebia; portanto, pediu ao príncipe dos eunucos que lhe permitisse não contaminar-se. 9 Ora, Deus fez que Daniel achasse *Jó 5.15-16;Sl 106.46;Pv 16.7graça e misericórdia diante do príncipe dos eunucos. 10 O *Dn 1.7príncipe 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 por que 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 deem *Dn 1.16legumes 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 isso, e os experimentou dez dias. 15 No fim dos dez dias, apareceram os seus semblantes *Êx 23.25;Pv 10.22melhores, 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 *Dn 1.12e lhes dava legumes.

17 Ora, quanto a esses quatro mancebos, deu-lhes *Dn 1.20;Dn 2.21,23;1Rs 3.12,28;Jó 32.8Deus o conhecimento e a inteligência em todas as letras e em toda a sabedoria. Daniel sabia discernir todas as *Dn 2.19;7.1;8.1visões e sonhos. 18 Passados *Dn 1.5os dias, depois dos quais o rei tinha ordenado que fossem apresentados, *Dn 1.3,7o príncipe dos eunucos os apresentou diante de Nabucodonosor. 19 O rei conversou com eles; e, entre todos eles, não foram achados outros tais como *Dn 1.6-7Daniel, Hananias, Misael e Azarias; portanto, ficaram *Dn 1.5;Gn 41.46;1Rs 17.1;Pv 22.29;Jr 15.1assistindo diante do rei. 20 Em toda a matéria de *Dn 1.17;1Rs 4.30-31sabedoria e discernimento a respeito da qual lhes perguntou o rei, achou que eles *Dn 2.27-28,46,48excediam *Gn 31.7;Nm 14.22;Ne 4.12;Jó 19.3dez vezes todos *Dn 2.2;4.18;5.7;Is 19.3os mágicos e encantadores que havia em todo o seu reino. 21 Daniel conservou-se até o *Dn 6.28;10.1primeiro ano do rei Ciro.

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: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.

3 And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king’s seed, and of the princes; 4 Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans. 5 And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king’s meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.*1.5 the wine…: Heb. the wine of his drink 6 Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: 7 Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abed-nego.

8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. 9 Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs. 10 And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king.*1.10 worse…: Heb. sadder*1.10 sort: or, term, or, continuance? 11 Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,*1.11 Melzar: or, the steward 12 Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.*1.12 pulse: Heb. of pulse*1.12 to eat…: Heb. that we may eat, etc 13 Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king’s meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants. 14 So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days. 15 And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king’s meat. 16 Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.

17 As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.*1.17 Daniel…: or, he made Daniel understand 18 Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. 19 And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king. 20 And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.*1.20 wisdom…: Heb. wisdom of understanding 21 And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus.