In the third <H7969> year <H8141> of the reign <H4438> of Jehoiakim <H3079> king <H4428> of Judah <H3063> came <H0935> Nebuchadnezzar <H5019> king <H4428> of Babylon <H0894> unto Jerusalem, <H3389> and besieged <H6696> it.
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And the Lord <H0136> gave <H5414> Jehoiakim <H3079> king <H4428> of Judah <H3063> into his hand, <H3027> with part <H7117> of the vessels <H3627> of the house <H1004> of God: <H0430> which he carried <H0935> into the land <H0776> of Shinar <H8152> to the house <H1004> of his god; <H0430> and he brought <H0935> the vessels <H3627> into the treasure <H0214> house <H1004> of his god. <H0430>
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And the king <H4428> spake <H0559> unto Ashpenaz <H0828> the master <H7227> of his eunuchs, <H5631> that he should bring <H0935> [certain] of the children <H1121> of Israel, <H3478> and of the king's <H4410> seed, <H2233> and of the princes; <H6579>
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Children <H3206> in whom [was] no blemish, <H3971> but well <H2896> favoured, <H4758> and skilful <H7919> in all wisdom, <H2451> and cunning <H3045> in knowledge, <H1847> and understanding <H0995> science, <H4093> and such as [had] ability <H3581> in them to stand <H5975> in the king's <H4428> palace, <H1964> and whom they might teach <H3925> the learning <H5612> and the tongue <H3956> of the Chaldeans. <H3778>
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And the king <H4428> appointed <H4487> them a daily <H3117> <H3117> provision <H1697> of the king's <H4428> meat, <H6598> and of the wine <H3196> which he drank: <H4960> so nourishing <H1431> them three <H7969> years, <H8141> that at the end <H7117> thereof they might stand <H5975> before <H6440> the king. <H4428>
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Now among these were of the children <H1121> of Judah, <H3063> Daniel, <H1840> Hananiah, <H2608> Mishael, <H4332> and Azariah: <H5838>
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Unto whom the prince <H8269> of the eunuchs <H5631> gave <H7760> names: <H8034> for he gave <H7760> unto Daniel <H1840> [the name] of Belteshazzar; <H1095> and to Hananiah, <H2608> of Shadrach; <H7714> and to Mishael, <H4332> of Meshach; <H4335> and to Azariah, <H5838> of Abednego. <H5664>
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But Daniel <H1840> purposed <H7760> in his heart <H3820> that he would not defile <H1351> himself with the portion of the king's <H4428> meat, <H6598> nor with the wine <H3196> which he drank: <H4960> therefore he requested <H1245> of the prince <H8269> of the eunuchs <H5631> that he might not defile <H1351> himself.
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Now God <H0430> had brought <H5414> Daniel <H1840> into favour <H2617> and tender love <H7356> with <H6440> the prince <H8269> of the eunuchs. <H5631>
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And the prince <H8269> of the eunuchs <H5631> said <H0559> unto Daniel, <H1840> I fear <H3373> my lord <H0113> the king, <H4428> who hath appointed <H4487> your meat <H3978> and your drink: <H4960> for why should he see <H7200> your faces <H6440> worse liking <H2196> than the children <H3206> which [are] of your sort? <H1524> then shall ye make [me] endanger <H2325> my head <H7218> to the king. <H4428>
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Then said <H0559> Daniel <H1840> to Melzar, <H4453> whom the prince <H8269> of the eunuchs <H5631> had set <H4487> over Daniel, <H1840> Hananiah, <H2608> Mishael, <H4332> and Azariah, <H5838>
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Prove <H5254> thy servants, <H5650> I beseech thee, ten <H6235> days; <H3117> and let them give <H5414> us pulse <H2235> to eat, <H0398> and water <H4325> to drink. <H8354>
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Then let our countenances <H4758> be looked upon <H7200> before <H6440> thee, and the countenance <H4758> of the children <H3206> that eat <H0398> of the portion of the king's <H4428> meat: <H6598> and as thou seest, <H7200> deal <H6213> with thy servants. <H5650>
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So he consented <H8085> to them in this matter, <H1697> and proved <H5254> them ten <H6235> days. <H3117>
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And at the end <H7117> of ten <H6235> days <H3117> their countenances <H4758> appeared <H7200> fairer <H2896> and fatter <H1277> in flesh <H1320> than all the children <H3206> which did eat <H0398> the portion of the king's <H4428> meat. <H6598>
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Thus Melzar <H4453> took away <H5375> the portion of their meat, <H6598> and the wine <H3196> that they should drink; <H4960> and gave <H5414> them pulse. <H2235>
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As for these four <H0702> children, <H3206> God <H0430> gave <H5414> them knowledge <H4093> and skill <H7919> in all learning <H5612> and wisdom: <H2451> and Daniel <H1840> had understanding <H0995> in all visions <H2377> and dreams. <H2472>
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Now at the end <H7117> of the days <H3117> that the king <H4428> had said <H0559> he should bring them in, <H0935> then the prince <H8269> of the eunuchs <H5631> brought <H0935> them in before <H6440> Nebuchadnezzar. <H5019>
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And the king <H4428> communed <H1696> with them; and among them all was found <H4672> none like Daniel, <H1840> Hananiah, <H2608> Mishael, <H4332> and Azariah: <H5838> therefore stood <H5975> they before <H6440> the king. <H4428>
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And in all matters <H1697> of wisdom <H2451> [and] understanding, <H0998> that the king <H4428> enquired <H1245> of them, he found <H4672> them ten <H6235> times <H3027> better than all the magicians <H2748> [and] astrologers <H0825> that [were] in all his realm. <H4438>
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And Daniel <H1840> continued [even] unto the first <H0259> year <H8141> of king <H4428> Cyrus. <H3566>