¹ 猶大王約雅敬在位第三年，巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒來到耶路撒冷，將城圍困。

² 主將猶大王約雅敬，並神殿中器皿的幾分交付他手。他就把這器皿帶到示拿地，收入他神的廟裡，放在他神的庫中。

³ 王吩咐太監長亞施毗拿，從以色列人的宗室和貴冑中帶進幾個人來，

⁴ 就是年少沒有殘疾、相貌俊美、通達各樣學問、知識聰明俱備、足能侍立在王宮裡的，要教他們迦勒底的文字言語。

⁵ 王派定將自己所用的膳和所飲的酒，每日賜他們一分，養他們三年。滿了三年，好叫他們在王面前侍立。

⁶ 他們中間有猶大族的人：但以理、哈拿尼雅、米沙利、亞撒利雅。

⁷ 太監長給他們起名：稱但以理為伯提沙撒，稱哈拿尼雅為沙得拉，稱米沙利為米煞，稱亞撒利雅為亞伯尼歌。

⁸ 但以理卻立志不以王的膳和王所飲的酒玷污自己，所以求太監長容他不玷污自己。

⁹ 神使但以理在太監長眼前蒙恩惠，受憐憫。

¹⁰ 太監長對但以理說：我懼怕我主我王，他已經派定你們的飲食；倘若他見你們的面貌比你們同歲的少年人肌瘦，怎麼好呢？這樣，你們就使我的頭在王那裡難保。

¹¹ 但以理對太監長所派管理但以理、哈拿尼雅、米沙利、亞撒利雅的委辦說：

¹² 求你試試僕人們十天，給我們素菜吃，白水喝，

¹³ 然後看看我們的面貌和用王膳那少年人的面貌，就照你所看的待僕人罷！

¹⁴ 委辦便允准他們這件事，試看他們十天。

¹⁵ 過了十天，見他們的面貌比用王膳的一切少年人更加俊美肥胖。

¹⁶ 於是委辦撤去派他們用的膳，飲的酒，給他們素菜吃。

¹⁷ 這四個少年人，神在各樣文字學問（學問：原文是智慧）上賜給他們聰明知識；但以理又明白各樣的異象和夢兆。

¹⁸ 尼布甲尼撒王預定帶進少年人來的日期滿了，太監長就把他們帶到王面前。

¹⁹ 王與他們談論，見少年人中無一人能比但以理、哈拿尼雅、米沙利、亞撒利雅，所以留他們在王面前侍立。

²⁰ 王考問他們一切事，就見他們的智慧聰明比通國的術士和用法術的勝過十倍。

²¹ 到古列王元年，但以理還在。

² The Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God; and he carried them into the land of Shinar to the house of his God: and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his God.

³ The king spoke to Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring in [certain] of the children of Israel, even of the seed royal and of the nobles;

⁴ youths in whom was no blemish, but well-favored, and skillful in all wisdom, and endowed with knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability to stand in the king's palace; and that he should teach them the learning and the language of the Chaldeans.

⁵ The king appointed for them a daily portion of the king's dainties, and of the wine which he drank, and that they should be nourished three years; that at its end they should stand before the king.

⁶ Now among these were, of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.

⁷ The prince of the eunuchs gave names to them: to Daniel he gave [the name of] Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, [of] Shadrach; and to Mishael, [of] Meshach; and to Azariah, [of] Abednego.

⁸ But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king's dainties, 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 made Daniel to find kindness and compassion in the sight of the prince of the eunuchs.

¹⁰ The prince of the eunuchs said to Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who has appointed your food and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse looking than the youths who are of your own age? so would you endanger my head with the king.

¹¹ Then Daniel said to the steward whom the prince of the eunuchs had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:

¹² Test your servants, I beg you, ten days; and let them give us vegetables to eat, and water to drink.

¹³ Then let our faces be looked on before you, and the face of the youths who eat of the king's dainties; and as you see, deal with your servants.

¹⁴ So he listened to them in this matter, and proved them ten days.

¹⁵ At the end of ten days their faces appeared fairer, and they were fatter in flesh, than all the youths who ate of the king's dainties.

¹⁶ So the steward took away their dainties, and the wine that they should drink, and gave them pulse.

¹⁷ Now as for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.

¹⁸ At the end of the days which the king had appointed for bringing them in, the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.

¹⁹ The king talked with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king.

²⁰ In every matter of wisdom and understanding, concerning which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters who were in all his realm.

²¹ Daniel continued even to the first year of king Cyrus.