1:1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoi'akim king of Judah, Nebuchadnez'zar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.
1:1 In the third year of the reign of King Jehoiakim of Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.

1:2 And the Lord gave Jehoi'akim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the vessels of the house of God; and he brought them to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, and placed the vessels in the treasury of his god.
1:2 The Lord let King Jehoiakim of Judah fall into his power, as well as some of the vessels of the house of God. These he brought to the land of Shinar, and placed the vessels in the treasury of his gods.

1:3 Then the king commanded Ash'penaz, his chief eunuch, to bring some of the people of Israel, both of the royal family and of the nobility,
1:3 Then the king commanded his palace master Ashpenaz to bring some of the Israelites of the royal family and of the nobility,

1:4 youths without blemish, handsome and skilful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning, and competent to serve in the king's palace, and to teach them the letters and language of the Chalde'ans.
1:4 young men without physical defect and handsome, versed in every branch of wisdom, endowed with knowledge and insight, and competent to serve in the king's palace; they were to be taught the literature and language of the Chaldeans.

1:5 The king assigned them a daily portion of the rich food which the king ate, and of the wine which he drank. They were to be educated for three years, and at the end of that time they were to stand before the king.
1:5 The king assigned them a daily portion of the royal rations of food and wine. They were to be educated for three years, so that at the end of that time they could be stationed in the king's court.

1:6 Among these were Daniel, Hanani'ah, Mish'a-el, and Azari'ah of the tribe of Judah.
1:6 Among them were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, from the tribe of Judah.

1:7 And the chief of the eunuchs gave them names: Daniel he called Belteshaz'zar, Hanani'ah he called Shadrach, Mish'a-el he called Meshach, and Azari'ah he called Abed'nego.
1:7 The palace master gave them other names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego.

1:8 But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king's rich food, or with the wine which he drank; therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself.
1:8 But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the royal rations of food and wine; so he asked the palace master to allow him not to defile himself.

1:9 And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs;
1:9 Now God allowed Daniel to receive favor and compassion from the palace master.

1:10 and the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, "I fear lest my lord the king, who appointed your food and your drink, should see that you were in poorer condition than the youths who are of your own age. So you would endanger my head with the king."
1:10 The palace master said to Daniel, "I am afraid of my lord the king; he has appointed your food and your drink. If he should see you in poorer condition than the other young men of your own age, you would endanger my head with the king."

1:11 Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had appointed over Daniel, Hanani'ah, Mish'a-el, and Azari'ah;
1:11 Then Daniel asked the guard whom the palace master had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:

1:12 "Test your servants for ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink.
1:12 "Please test your servants for ten days. Let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink.

1:13 Then let our appearance and the appearance of the youths who eat the king's rich food be observed by you, and according to what you see deal with your servants."
1:13 You can then compare our appearance with the appearance of the young men who eat the royal rations, and deal with your servants according to what you observe."

1:14 So he hearkened to them in this matter, and tested them for ten days.
1:14 So he agreed to this proposal and tested them for ten days.

1:15 At the end of ten days it was seen that they were better in appearance and fatter in flesh than all the youths who ate the king's rich food.
1:15 At the end of ten days it was observed that they appeared better and fatter than all the young men who had been eating the royal rations.

1:16 So the steward took away their rich food and the wine they were to drink, and gave them vegetables.
1:16 So the guard continued to withdraw their royal rations and the wine they were to drink, and gave them vegetables.

1:17 As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all letters and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
1:17 To these four young men God gave knowledge and skill in every aspect of literature and wisdom; Daniel also had insight into all visions and dreams.

1:18 At the end of the time, when the king had commanded that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnez'zar.
1:18 At the end of the time that the king had set for them to be brought in, the palace master brought them into the presence of Nebuchadnezzar,

1:19 And the king spoke with them, and among them all none was found like Daniel, Hanani'ah, Mish'a-el, and Azari'ah; therefore they stood before the king.
1:19 and the king spoke with them. And among them all, no one was found to compare with Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; therefore they were stationed in the king's court.

1:20 And 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 that were in all his kingdom.
1:20 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 in his whole kingdom.

1:21 And Daniel continued until the first year of King Cyrus.
1:21 And Daniel continued there until the first year of King Cyrus.