Thematic Bible

Daniel 1:1

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

Daniel 1:2

And the Lord gave Jehoiakim the king of Judah into his hand and {some of} of the utensils of the temple of God, and he brought them [to] the land of Shinar [to] the temple of his gods, and he brought the utensils to {the treasury} of his gods.

Daniel 1:3

And the king {ordered} Ashpenaz, the commander of his court officials, to bring {some of the Israelites} from {the royal family} and from the lords,

Daniel 1:4

youths who {have no physical defect}, and [who are] {handsome}, and [who are] prudent in all wisdom and {endowed with knowledge}, and [who] understand insight, and who [have] the {ability} in them to serve in the palace of the king. [And the king ordered him] to teach them the literature and the language of [the] Chaldeans.

Daniel 1:5

And the king assigned to them {his daily portion} from the fine food of the king, and from {the wine that he drank}, and [instructed that] {they were to be educated for three years}. And at the end [of] their [training], {they were to be stationed} {before} the king.

Daniel 1:6

Now there was among them {from the Judeans}, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.

Daniel 1:7

And the commander of the court officials gave them names, and he called Daniel, Belteshazzar; and Hananiah, Shadrach; and Mishael, Meshach; and Azariah, Abednego.

Daniel 1:8

Now {Daniel resolved} that he would not defile himself with the fine food of the king, and with {the wine that he drank}, and [so] he requested from the commander of the court officials [permission so] that he would not defile himself.

Daniel 1:9

And God gave Daniel favor and compassion {before} the commander of the court officials,

Daniel 1:10

and the commander of the court officials said to Daniel, "I [am] afraid [of] my lord, the king, who has determined your food and your drink, for {why should} he see your face having a worse appearance than the young men who {are your age}? Then you will endanger my head with the king."

Daniel 1:11

Then Daniel asked the guard whom the commander of the court officials [had] appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,

Daniel 1:12

"Please test your servants [for] ten days, and let them give us {some of the vegetables}, and let us eat and let us drink water.

Daniel 1:13

Then let our appearances and the appearance of the young men who are eating the fine food of the king be compared {before you}, and [then] deal with your servants {according to what you see}."

Daniel 1:14

So he agreed to this proposal with them, and he tested them [for] ten days.

Daniel 1:15

And at the end of ten days their appearances appeared better and [they were] healthier of body than all the young men who were eating the fine food of the king.

Daniel 1:16

{So} the guard {continued to withhold} their fine food and the wine of their drink, and he gave them vegetables.

Daniel 1:17

{And as for these four young men}, God gave to them knowledge and insight into all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had insight into all visions and dreams.

Daniel 1:18

And at the end of the time the king had set to bring them, the commander of the court officials brought them in {before} Nebuchadnezzar.

Daniel 1:19

And the king spoke with them, {and among all of them no one was found like} Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; then they stood {before} the king.

Daniel 1:20

And in every matter of wisdom [and] understanding [about] which the king inquired from them, he found them ten times better [than] all [of] the magicians [and] conjurers that {were in his entire kingdom}.

Daniel 1:21

And Daniel was [there] until the first year of Cyrus the king.