In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim, king of Judah,
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came
and laid siege to Jerusalem.
The Lord handed over to him Jehoiakim, king of Judah,
and some of the vessels of the temple of God;
he carried them off to the land of Shinar,
and placed the vessels in the temple treasury of his god.
The king told Ashpenaz, his chief chamberlain,
to bring in some of the children of Israel of royal blood
and of the nobility, young men without any defect,
handsome, intelligent and wise,
quick to learn, and prudent in judgment,
such as could take their place in the king's palace;
they were to be taught the language and literature of the Chaldeans;
after three years' training they were to enter the king's service.
The king allotted them a daily portion of food and wine
from the royal table.
Among these were men of Judah: Daniel, Hananiah,
Mishael, and Azariah.
But Daniel was resolved not to defile himself
with the king's food or wine;
so he begged the chief chamberlain to spare him this defilement.
Though God had given Daniel the favor and sympathy
of the chief chamberlain, he nevertheless said to Daniel,
"I am afraid of my lord the king;
it is he who allotted your food and drink.
If he sees that you look wretched
by comparison with the other young men of your age,
you will endanger my life with the king."
Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief chamberlain
had put in charge of Daniel, Hananiah,
Mishael, and Azariah,
"Please test your servants for ten days.
Give us vegetables to eat and water to drink.
Then see how we look in comparison with the other young men
who eat from the royal table,
and treat your servants according to what you see."
He acceded to this request, and tested them for ten days;
after ten days they looked healthier and better fed
than any of the young men who ate from the royal table.
So the steward continued to take away
the food and wine they were to receive, and gave them vegetables.
To these four young men God gave knowledge and proficiency
in all literature and science,
and to Daniel the understanding of all visions and dreams.
At the end of the time the king had specified for their preparation,
the chief chamberlain brought them before Nebuchadnezzar.
When the king had spoken with all of them,
none was found equal to Daniel, Hananiah,
Mishael, and Azariah;
and so they entered the king's service.
In any question of wisdom or prudence which the king put to them,
he found them ten times better
than all the magicians and enchanters in his kingdom.
1 Katika mwaka wa tatu wa utawala wa Yehoyakimu mfalme wa Yuda, Nebukadneza mfalme wa Babeli akaja na kuzingira Yerusalemu. 2 Bwana akamtia Yehoyakimu mfalme wa Yuda mikononi mwake, pamoja na vyombo vya hekalu la Mungu; akavichukua mpaka nchi ya Shinar, akaviweka katika hazina ya hekalu la Mungu wake. "Mfalme akamwambia Ashpenazi, mkuu wa majumba yake, ""Walete baadhi ya wana wa Israeli wa damu ya kifalme na wa watu mashuhuri, vijana wasio na kasoro yoyote, wazuri, wenye akili na wenye hekima, wenye kujifunza haraka, na wenye busara katika hukumu, ambao wangeweza kuchukua nafasi yao katika jumba la mfalme; walipaswa kufundishwa lugha na fasihi ya Wakaldayo; baada ya miaka mitatu ya mafunzo walipaswa kuingia katika huduma ya mfalme.""" Mfalme aliwapa sehemu ya kila siku ya chakula na divai kutoka meza ya kifalme. Miongoni mwao walikuwa wanaume wa Yuda: Danieli, Hanania, Mishaeli, na Azaria. Lakini Danieli alikuwa ameamua kutojitia unajisi kwa chakula cha mfalme wala divai; kwa hiyo akamsihi mkuu wa majumba ya mfalme amwondolee unajisi huo. "Hata ingawa Mungu alikuwa amempa Danieli kibali na huruma ya mkuu wa majumba ya mfalme, bado Danieli akamwambia, ""Ninamwogopa bwana wangu mfalme, kwa sababu ndiye aliyekupeni chakula na kinywaji.""" "Ikiwa ataona kwamba unaonekana kuwa mnyonge ukilinganishwa na vijana wengine wa umri wako, utahatarisha maisha yangu mbele ya mfalme.""" "13 Ndipo Danieli akamwambia yule msimamizi wa nyumba ambaye mkuu wa majumba ya mfalme alikuwa amemweka juu ya Danieli, Hanania, Mishaeli na Azaria, ""Tafadhali, jaribu watumishi wako kwa siku kumi." Tupe mboga za kula na maji ya kunywa. "Basi, angalia jinsi tunavyoonekana kwa kulinganishwa na vijana wengine wanaokula kwenye meza ya mfalme, na utendee watumishi wako kulingana na kile unachoona.""" Akawafanya hivyo, akawajaribu kwa siku kumi; na baada ya siku kumi wakaonekana kuwa na afya na wamekula vizuri kuliko vijana wote waliokula kwenye meza ya mfalme. Basi msimamizi akaendelea kuchukua chakula na divai waliyopaswa kupokea, na kuwapa mboga. "Mungu aliwapa vijana hao wanne ujuzi na ustadi katika mambo yote ya fasihi na ya kisayansi, naye Danieli akawapa uelewaji wa maono na ndoto zote.""" Baada ya muda ambao mfalme alikuwa ameamuru wa kutayarisha, mkuu wa majumba ya mfalme akawaleta mbele ya Nebukadneza. Mfalme alipokuwa amezungumza nao wote, hakupatikana mtu yeyote aliye sawa na Danieli, Hanania, Mishaeli na Azaria; kwa hiyo wakaingia katika utumishi wa mfalme. Katika kila jambo la hekima na busara alilowauliza mfalme, aliwaona kuwa bora mara kumi kuliko wachawi na wachawi wote katika ufalme wake.