8But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king's food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself.

9And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs,

10and the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, "I fear my lord the king, who assigned your food and your drink; for why should he see that you were in worse condition than the youths who are of your own age? So you would endanger my head with the king."

11Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had assigned over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,

12"Test your servants for ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink.

13Then let our appearance and the appearance of the youths who eat the king's food be observed by you, and deal with your servants according to what you see."

14So he listened to them in this matter, and tested them for ten days.

15At the end of ten days it was seen that they were better in appearance and fatter in flesh than all the youths who ate the king's food.

16So the steward took away their food and the wine they were to drink, and gave them vegetables.

17As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.

18At the end of the time, when the king had commanded that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.

19And the king spoke with them, and among all of them none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Therefore they stood before the king.

20And in every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in all his kingdom.

21And Daniel was there until the first year of King Cyrus.