New International Version

New King James Version

Daniel’s Training in Babylon

In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.

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Daniel and His Friends Obey God

In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.

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And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried off to the temple of his god in Babyloniaa and put in the treasure house of his god.

2

And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the articles of [a]the house of God, which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the articles into the treasure house of his god.

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Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring into the king’s service some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility —

3

Then the king instructed Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, to bring some of the children of Israel and some of the king’s descendants and some of the nobles,

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young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians.b

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young men in whom there was no blemish, but good-looking, gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge and quick to understand, who had ability to serve in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the language and [b]literature of the Chaldeans.

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The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king’s table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king’s service.

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And the king appointed for them a daily provision of the king’s delicacies and of the wine which he drank, and three years of training for them, so that at the end of that time they might serve before the king.

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Among those who were chosen were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.

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Now from among those of the sons of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.

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The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.

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To them the chief of the eunuchs gave names: he gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abed-Nego.

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But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.

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But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

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Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel,

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Now God had brought Daniel into the favor and [c]goodwill of the chief of the eunuchs.

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but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned yourc food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.”

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

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Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah,

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So Daniel said to [d]the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,

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“Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink.

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“Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink.

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Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.”

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Then let our appearance be examined before you, and the appearance of the young men who eat the portion of the king’s delicacies; and as you see fit, so deal with your servants.”

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So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.

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So he consented with them in this matter, and tested them ten days.

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At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food.

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And at the end of ten days their features appeared better and fatter in flesh than all the young men who ate the portion of the king’s delicacies.

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So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.

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Thus [e]the steward took away their portion of delicacies and the wine that they were to drink, and gave them vegetables.

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To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.

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As for these four young men, God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.

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At the end of the time set by the king to bring them into his service, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar.

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Now at the end of the days, when the king had said that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.

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The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service.

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Then the king [f]interviewed them, and among them all none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; therefore they served before the king.

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In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.

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And in all matters of wisdom and understanding about which the king examined them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers who were in all his realm.

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And Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus.

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Thus Daniel continued until the first year of King Cyrus.

Parallel

New International Version

New King James Version

Daniel 1

Daniel 1