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The LordgaveJehoiakimking of Judah into his hand, along with some* of the vessels of the house of God; and he brought them to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, and he brought the vessels into the treasury* of his god.
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Then the kingorderedAshpenaz, the chief of his officials, to bring in some of the sons of Israel, including some of the royalfamily and of the nobles,
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youths in whom was no*defect, who were good-looking*, showingintelligence in every branch of wisdom, endowed with understanding and discerningknowledge, and who had ability for serving in the king'scourt; and he ordered him to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans.
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The kingappointed for them a dailyration from the king'schoicefood and from the winewhich he drank, and appointed that they should be educatedthreeyears, at the end of which they were to enter the king'spersonalservice*.
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Then the commander of the officialsassigned new names to them; and to Daniel he assigned the name Belteshazzar, to HananiahShadrach, to MishaelMeshach and to AzariahAbed-nego.
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But Danielmade up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king'schoicefood or with the winewhich he drank; so he sought permission from the commander of the officials that he might not defile himself.
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and the commander of the officialssaid to Daniel, "I am afraid of my lord the king, who has appointed your food and your drink; for why should he see your faceslookingmorehaggardthan the youthswho are your own age? Then you would make me forfeit my head to the king."
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"Then let our appearance be observed in your presence and the appearance of the youthswho are eating the king'schoicefood; and deal with your servants according to what you see."
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As for thesefouryouths, Godgave them knowledge and intelligence in every branch of literature and wisdom; Daniel even understoodall kinds of visions and dreams.
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The kingtalked with them, and out of them all not one was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king'spersonalservice*.
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As for everymatter of wisdom and understanding about which the kingconsulted them, he found them tentimesbetterthanall the magicians and conjurerswho were in all his realm.