Good News Translation GNT
New International Version NIV
12 "Test us for ten days," he said. "Give us vegetables to eat and water to drink.
12
“Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink.
13 Then compare us with the young men who are eating the food of the royal court, and base your decision on how we look."
13
Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.”
14 He agreed to let them try it for ten days.
14
So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.
15 When the time was up, they looked healthier and stronger than all those who had been eating the royal food.
15
At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food.
16 So from then on the guard let them continue to eat vegetables instead of what the king provided.
16
So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.
17 God gave the four young men knowledge and skill in literature and philosophy. In addition, he gave Daniel skill in interpreting visions and dreams.
17
To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.
18 At the end of the three years set by the king, Ashpenaz took all the young men to Nebuchadnezzar.
18
At the end of the time set by the king to bring them into his service, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar.
19 The king talked with them all, and Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah impressed him more than any of the others. So they became members of the king's court.
19
The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service.
20 No matter what question the king asked or what problem he raised, these four knew ten times more than any fortuneteller or magician in his whole kingdom.
20
In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.
21 Daniel remained at the royal court until Cyrus, the emperor of Persia, conquered Babylonia.
21
And Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.