1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it. 2 And 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.
3 ¶ And 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; 4 Children 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. 5 And 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. 6 Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: 7 Unto 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.
8 ¶ But 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. 9 Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs. 10 And 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. 11 Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink. 13 Then 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. 14 So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days. 15 And 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. 16 Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.
17 ¶ As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. 18 Now 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. 19 And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king. 20 And 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. 21 And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus.
Četri israēliešu jaunekļi Bābeles ķēniņa galmā
(Sal. 2Ķēn 24:10–17)1 Jūdas ķēniņa Jehojākīma trešajā valdīšanas gadā pret Jeruzālemi nāca Bābeles ķēniņš Nebūkadnecars un aplenca to. 2 Kungs atdeva viņam Jūdas ķēniņu Jehojākīmu un arī lielu daļu Dieva nama trauku. Ķēniņš tos nogādāja Šināras zemē, savu dievu namā – traukus viņš novietoja dievu nama mantnīcā.
3 Ķēniņš pavēlēja einuhu priekšniekam atlasīt no Israēla dēliem, no ķēniņu un augstmaņu dzimtas, 4 jaunekļus bez nevienas vainas, izskatīgus, gudrībās izveicīgus, zinīgus un sapratīgus mācībā, spējīgus kalpot ķēniņa pilī – un mācīt tiem kaldiešu rakstus un valodu. 5 Ķēniņš noteica ik dienas dot tiem lieliskus ķēniņa ēdienus un vīnu, ko viņš pats dzer, – trīs gadus lai spēcina viņus, un, kad mācību laiks būs beidzies, lai tie stājas ķēniņa priekšā. 6 Starp Jūdas dēliem bija Daniēls, Hananja, Mīšaēls un Azarja. 7 Einuhu priekšnieks tiem deva citus vārdus: Daniēlam – Bēltšacars, Hananjam – Šadrahs, Mīšaēlam – Mēšahs, Azarjam – Abēd-Nego.
8 Bet Daniēls apsvēra savā prātā, kā lai neapgānās ar lieliskajiem ķēniņa ēdieniem un vīnu, ko tas dzer. Viņš runāja ar einuhu priekšnieku par to, kā lai neapgānās. 9 Dievs deva Daniēlam, ka einuhu priekšnieks kļuva laipns un līdzjūtīgs. 10 Einuhu priekšnieks sacīja Daniēlam: “Es bīstos sava kunga, ķēniņa, kas jums noteicis ko ēst un dzert. Ja nu viņš ierauga, ka esat panīkuši, nevis kā citi jūsu vecuma jaunekļi, tad jūs mani nosūdzēsiet ķēniņam!”
11 Daniēls nu saka einuhu priekšnieka ieceltajam uzraugam pār Daniēlu, Hananju, Mīšaēlu un Azarju: 12 “Pārbaudi savus kalpus desmit dienas – lai mums dod ēst dārzeņus un dzert ūdeni. 13 Pēc tam lai mūs salīdzina ar citiem jaunekļiem, kas ēd ķēniņa lieliskos ēdienus. Un tad dari ar saviem kalpiem, kā pats redzi.” 14 Viņš tos uzklausīja un pārbaudīja desmit dienas. 15 Pēc desmit dienām viņš redzēja, ka tie izskatās labāk un ir apaļīgāki par jaunekļiem, kas ēduši lieliskos ķēniņa ēdienus. 16 Tad uzraugs nelika tiem ēst lieliskos ēdienus un dzert vīnu, bet deva tiem dārzeņus.
17 Šiem četriem jaunekļiem Dievs deva izpratni mācībās, dažādu rakstu zināšanu un gudrību un Daniēlam arī prasmi skaidrot visādus redzējumus un sapņus.
18 Noteiktā laika beigās, kad ķēniņš lika tos atvest, einuhu priekšnieks tos ieveda pie Nebūkadnecara, 19 un ķēniņš runāja ar tiem. Viņu vidū nebija neviena tāda kā Daniēls, Hananja, Mīšaēls un Azarja. Tādēļ tie palika pie ķēniņa. 20 Ikvienā gudrības un saprāta jautājumā ķēniņš tos atzina desmitreiz pārākus par visiem viņa valsts magiem un burvjiem. 21 Daniēls tur palika līdz pat ķēniņa Kīra pirmajam valdīšanas gadam.
