1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to 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 spoke to Ashpenaz, the chief of his officials that he should bring some of the sons of Israel, and of the king’s seed, and of the nobles,

4 young men in whom was no blemish, but who were of good appearance and having understanding in all wisdom, having knowledge and understanding science, even those with ability in them to stand in the king’s palace; to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans.

5 And the king appointed for them a daily portion every day, from the king’s food, and of the wine which he drank, even to raise them three years, so that at the end of that time they might stand before the king.

6 And there were among those of the sons of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,

7 to whom the chief of the officials gave names. For he called Daniel, Belteshazzar; and Hananiah, Shadrach; and Mishael, Meshach; and Azariah, Abednego.

8 And Daniel determined in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king’s food, or with the wine which he drank. So he asked of the chief of the officials that he might not defile himself.

9 Now God had brought Daniel into kindness and compassion with the chief of the officials.

10 And the chief of the officials said to Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who has appointed your food and your drink. For why should he see your faces looking worse than the other boys who are your age? Then you would endanger my head before the king.

11 And Daniel said to Melzar, whom the chief of the officials had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,

12 Please, test your servants ten days, and let us be given vegetables to eat, and water to drink.

13 Then let our appearance be examined before you, and the appearance of the boys who eat of the king’s food; and as you see fit, do so with your servants.

14 And he consented to them in this matter and tested them ten days.

15 And at the end of ten days their appearance looked better and fatter of flesh than all the boys who were eating the king’s food.

16 So Melzar took away their food and the wine that they were to drink, and he gave them vegetables.

17 As for these four boys, God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom. And Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.

18 And at the end of the days that the king had said that they should be brought in, the chief of the officials brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.

19 And the king talked with them. And among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. So they served before the king.

20 And in any matter of wisdom and understanding that the king inquired of them, he found them to be ten times better than all the magicians and conjurers who were in all his kingdom.

21 And Daniel continued to the first year of King Cyrus.

1 NO ano terceiro do reinado de Joaquim, rei de Judá, veio Nabucodonosor, rei de Babilônia, a Jerusalém, e a sitiou. 2 E o Senhor entregou nas suas mãos a Joaquim, rei de Judá, e uma parte dos vasos da casa de Deus, e ele os levou para a terra de Sinar, para a casa do seu deus, e pôs os vasos na casa do tesouro do seu deus. 3 E disse o rei a Aspenaz, chefe dos seus eunucos, que trouxesse alguns dos filhos de Israel, e da linhagem real e dos nobres, 4 Mancebos em quem não houvesse defeito algum, formosos de parecer, e instruídos em toda a sabedoria, sábios em ciência, e entendidos no conhecimento, e que tivessem habilidade para viverem no palácio do rei, a fim de que fossem ensinados nas letras e na língua dos caldeus. 5 E o rei lhes determinou a ração de cada dia, da porção do manjar do rei, e do vinho que ele bebia, e que assim fossem criados por três anos, para que no fim deles pudessem estar diante do rei. 6 E entre eles se achavam, dos filhos de Judá, Daniel, Hananias, Misael e Azarias. 7 E o chefe dos eunucos lhes pôs outros nomes, a saber: a Daniel pôs o de Beltessazar, e a Hananias, o de Sadraque, e a Misael o de Mesaque, e a Azarias o de Abednego. 8 E Daniel assentou no seu coração não se contaminar com a porção do manjar do rei, nem com o vinho que ele bebia; portanto pediu ao chefe dos eunucos que lhe concedesse não se contaminar. 9 Ora deu Deus a Daniel graça e misericórdia diante do chefe dos eunucos. 10 E disse o chefe dos eunucos a Daniel: Tenho medo do meu senhor, o rei, que determinou a vossa comida e a vossa bebida: porque veria ele os vossos rostos mais tristes do que os dos mancebos que são vossos iguais? assim arriscareis a minha cabeça para com o rei. 11 Então disse Daniel ao despenseiro a quem o chefe dos eunucos havia constituído sobre Daniel, Hananias, Misael e Azarias: 12 Experimenta, peço-te, os teus servos dez dias, fazendo que se nos deem em legumes a comer, e água a beber. 13 Então se veja diante de ti o nosso parecer, e o parecer dos mancebos que comem a porção do manjar do rei, e, conforme vires, te hajas com os teus servos. 14 E ele conveio nisto, e os experimentou dez dias. 15 E, ao fim dos dez dias, apareceram os seus semblantes melhores; eles estavam mais gordos do que todos os mancebos que comiam porção do manjar do rei. 16 Desta sorte, o despenseiro tirou a porção do manjar deles, e o vinho que deviam beber, e lhes dava legumes. 17 Ora, a estes quatro mancebos Deus deu o conhecimento e a inteligência em todas as letras, e sabedoria; mas a Daniel deu entendimento em toda a visão e sonhos. 18 E ao fim dos dias, em que o rei tinha dito que os trouxessem, o chefe dos eunucos os trouxe diante de Nabucodonosor. 19 E o rei falou com eles; e entre todos eles não foram achados outros tais como Daniel, Hananias, Misael e Azarias; por isso permaneceram diante do rei. 20 E em toda a matéria de sabedoria e de inteligência, sobre que o rei lhes fez perguntas, os achou dez vezes mais doutos do que todos os magos ou astrólogos que havia em todo o seu reino. 21 E Daniel esteve até ao primeiro ano do rei Ciro.