Daniel 1:8-21 - Daniel's Resolve

⁸ And Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's food, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. ⁹ (And God brought Daniel into grace and mercy with the prince of the eunuchs.) ¹⁰ And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who has appointed your food and your drink; for when he shall see your faces more downcast than the other young men who are like unto you, then ye shall condemn my head before the king.

¹¹ Then Daniel said to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, ¹² Prove, now, with thy slaves ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink. ¹³ Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenances of the young men that eat of the portion of the king's food; and as thou seest, deal with thy slaves. 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 the young men who ate the portion of the king's food. ¹⁶ Thus Melzar took the portion of their food and the wine that they should drink and gave them vegetables.

¹⁷ And unto these four young men, God gave them knowledge and intelligence in all letters and science; furthermore Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. ¹⁸ Now at the end of the days after which the king had said he should bring them in, the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. ¹⁹ And the king communed with them, and none among them all was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; and therefore they stood before the king. ²⁰ And in all matters of wisdom and intelligence, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm. ²¹ And Daniel continued even unto the first year of King Cyrus.