Daniel 1

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched onJerusalem and besieged it.	1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came and laid siege to Jerusalem.
2 The Lord let Jehoiakim king of Judah fal into his power, as well as some of the vessels belonging to theTemple of God. These he took away to Shinar, putting the vessels into the treasury of his own gods.	2 The Lord handed over to him Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and some of the vessels of the temple of God, which he carried off to the land of Shinar, and placed in the temple treasury of his god.
3 From the Israelites, the king ordered Ashpenaz, his chief eunuch, to bring a certain number of boys ofroyal or noble descent;	3 The king told Ashpenaz, his chief chamberlain, to bring in some of the Israelites of royal blood and of the nobility,
4 they had to be without any physical defect, of good appearance, versed in every branch of wisdom,wel -informed, discerning, suitable for service at the royal court. Ashpenaz was to teach them to speak and writethe language of the Chaldaeans.	4 young men without any defect, handsome, intelligent and wise, quick to learn, and prudent in judgment, such as could take their place in the king's palace; they were to be taught the language and literature of the Chaldeans;
5 The king assigned them a daily allowance of food and wine from the royal table. They were to receive an education lasting for three years, after which they would enter the royal service.	5 after three years' training they were to enter the king's service. The king allotted them a daily portion of food and wine from the royal table.
6 Among them were the Judaeans Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.	6 Among these were men of Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.
7 The chief eunuch gave them other names, cal ing Daniel Belteshazzar, Hananiah Shadrach, MishaelMeshach, and Azariah Abed-Nego.	7 The chief chamberlain changed their names: Daniel to Belteshazzar, Hananiah to Shadrach, Mishael to Meshach, and Azariah to Abednego.
8 Daniel, who was determined not to incur pol ution by food and wine from the royal table, begged thechief eunuch to spare him this defilement.	8 But Daniel was resolved not to defile himself with the king's food or wine; so he begged the chief chamberlain to spare him this defilement.
9 God al owed Daniel to receive faithful love and sympathy from the chief eunuch.	9 Though God had given Daniel the favor and sympathy of the chief chamberlain,
10 But the eunuch warned Daniel, 'I am afraid of my lord the king: he has assigned you food and drink,and if he sees you looking thinner in the face than the other boys of your age, my head wil be in danger with theking because of you.'	10 he nevertheless said to Daniel, "I am afraid of my lord the king; it is he who allotted your food and drink. If he sees that you look wretched by comparison with the other young men of your age, you will endanger my life with the king."
11 To the guard assigned to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah by the chief eunuch, Daniel thensaid,	11 Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief chamberlain had put in charge of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,
12 'Please al ow your servants a ten days' trial, during which we are given only vegetables to eat andwater to drink.	12 "Please test your servants for ten days. Give us vegetables to eat and water to drink.
13 You can then compare our looks with those of the boys who eat the king's food; go by what you see,and treat your servants accordingly.'	13 Then see how we look in comparison with the other young men who eat from the royal table, and treat your servants according to what you see."
14 The man agreed to do what they asked and put them on ten days' trial.	14 He acceded to this request, and tested them for ten days;
15 When the ten days were over, they looked better and fatter than any of the boys who had eaten theiral owance from the royal table;	15 after ten days they looked healthier and better fed than any of the young men who ate from the royal table.
16 so the guard withdrew their al owance of food and the wine they were to drink, and gave themvegetables.	16 So the steward continued to take away the food and wine they were to receive, and gave them vegetables.
17 To these four boys God gave knowledge and skil in every aspect of literature and learning; Danielalso had the gift of interpreting every kind of vision and dream.	17 To these four young men God gave knowledge and proficiency in all literature and science, and to Daniel the understanding of all visions and dreams.
18 When the time stipulated by the king for the boys to be presented to him came round, the chiefeunuch presented them to Nebuchadnezzar.	18 At the end of the time the king had specified for their preparation, the chief chamberlain brought them before Nebuchadnezzar.
19 The king conversed with them, and among all the boys found none to equal Daniel, Hananiah, Mishaeland Azariah. So they became members of the king's court,	19 When the king had spoken with all of them, none was found equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; and so they entered the king's service.
20 and on whatever point of wisdom or understanding he might question them, he found them ten timesbetter than all the magicians and soothsayers in his entire kingdom. Daniel remained there until the first year ofKing Cyrus.	20 In any question of wisdom or prudence which the king put to them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his kingdom.
	21 Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus.