1In the third year of Jehoiakim's reign, Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, rolled up on Jerusalem and laid siege. Savage move.

2The Lord handed Jehoiakim over to him, plus some of God's stuff, and Nebuchadnezzar took it all to Shinar for his own god's crib. Bussin' vibes.

3The king told Ashpenaz, his main dude in charge of the eunuchs, to scoop some of the Israelite kids and royal fam.

4These kids had no flaws, were super cute, and had mad skills in wisdom and knowledge. They were ready to pop off in the king's palace and learn the Chaldean ways.

5The king set them up with a daily feast of his food and wine for three years, so they could flex before him.

6Among them were Judah's kids: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.

7The eunuch prince renamed them: Daniel became Belteshazzar; Hananiah was now Shadrach; Mishael turned into Meshach; and Azariah was called Abed-nego.

8But Daniel was like, "No cap, I’m not gonna defile myself with the king's food or wine," so he hit up the eunuch prince to keep it chill.

9God gave Daniel major vibes with the eunuch prince, making him low-key fond of him.

10The eunuch prince was shook, saying, "I fear my lord the king who picked your food. What if you look worse than the other kids? You’d get me in trouble for real."

11Daniel then spoke to Melzar, the eunuch prince's guy in charge of him and the others.

12He said, "Yo, let’s do a test for ten days. Just give us veggies to eat and water to drink."

13Then, check our faces compared to the kids eating the king’s food, and do what you think is best.

14The eunuch prince was cool with it and let them try it for ten days.

15After ten days, they looked way better and healthier than all the kids munching on the king's meals.

16So Melzar took away their meat and wine and gave them veggies instead.

17For these four kids, God blessed them with knowledge and skills in all learning and wisdom; Daniel was also lit with insights into visions and dreams.

18At the end of the time the king said to bring them in, the eunuch prince brought them before Nebuchadnezzar.

19The king talked with them, and none were as impressive as Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, so they stood out before the king.

20In all the wisdom and understanding the king asked about, they were ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers in his whole kingdom.

21Daniel kept it going until the first year of King Cyrus.

1In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.

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

3And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king’s seed, and of the princes;

4Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.

5And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king’s meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.

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

7Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abed–nego.

8But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

9Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.

10And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king.

11Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,

12Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.

13Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king’s meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.

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

15And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king’s meat.

16Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.

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

18Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.

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

20And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.

21And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus.